The True Alpha of Lupine (Seraphina and Ronan) novel Chapter 135

SERAPHINA

After my conversation with Grace, my heart was restless. I began replaying every argument between Ronan and me, questioning whether I’d overreacted to his possessiveness. The unease was so heavy I couldn’t bring myself to wash the meat near him. I ended up taking another job. I needed space to untangle everything

between us.

“Can I have some meat too?” Asher’s deep, velvety voice came from my side, warm enough to curl against my skin.

I glanced up to find him smiling, fresh from the hunt, broad shoulders still damp from sweat and the earthy scent of the forest clinging to him. Thanks to him, everyone was feasting on fresh pork tonight.

“Of course,” I matched his smile and served him a generous portion.

One of his brows arched. “I got more than the others?” He leaned in, his breath brushing my cheek as he murmured, “Should I take that as a sign I’m special?”

The faint brush of his shoulder against mine sent a ripple through me. My fingers stilled for a beat. Did he just flirt with me? Why did he, the Alpha who usually kept every man at arm’s length, decide to flirt with me tonight?

“Seth!” Grace’s voice cut through, pulling me back. She was surrounded by a circle of Alphas, laughter and firelight flickering over them. “You’ve been hoarding the grill long enough. Pass it over and come sit. I saved you a spot.” She glanced at Asher and tapped her on the empty chair on her right,”You too.”

I served myself a plate and settled across from her, away from the other Alphas. I wanted to eat in peace.

“It’s really delicious,” Grace moaned around a bite.

I agreed instantly after tasting mine. “Juicy…perfect.”

“Then it deserves this,” Finn said smoothly, handing me a slender glass of wine.

I gasped. Wine? How did he smuggle it inside the Academy? Thankfully no Alpha instructors had joined this feast. It was also the reason the Alphas were freely smoking.

The scent of the wine alone was intoxicating, deep, rich, aged to perfection. I recognized it instantly. A rare vintage, the kind you only tasted once in your life… if you were lucky.

And it was a rare find. I had last tested it on my eighteenth birthday with my friends.

I took it without hesitation. “Thank you.” One sip and a low sound escaped me before I could stop it. “Gods… it’s exquisite. Thank you for sharing this, Finn.”

His eyes warmed as he poured me more. “Drink,” he urged, his voice low enough to feel intimate.

Grace glanced between us before clearing her throat. “Alpha Finn, if you have any left, I’d like to taste this ‘heavenly wine‘ too.” Her smirk carried meaning. Asher’s quiet, serious gaze flicked between us.

That’s when I realized something. Finn had given me his share as well. I paused, unsettled. Such a rare, exquisite wine…and he’d given it all to me.

“I have another bottle for you, Grace,” He poured her a different vintage, old, yes…but not this.

I sat with a strange feeling in my chest, my mind drifting to Finn’s recent behavior toward me. Then someone took the empty seat on my left.

It was Ryker.

Why? He never sat beside anyone, most didn’t dare be near him. Now, though, his tall frame was right next to

Chapter 135 Why?

mine, drawing a few curious glances.

“Alpha Ryker, you’re back,” Grace said with a smile. “You never seem to touch an axe, yet you chopped that wood faster than anyone.”

He only nodded, but his gaze shifted to the wine in my hand then to

Finn

Their eyes met, silent but loaded.

“Please serve Alpha Ryker a plate,” Grace told her Omega.

“All the grilled meat has already been served,” the Omega said softly. “Should I grill more?”

“No need,” Ryker raised a hand, then turned to me, “Mind if I get a bite?” His voice was low, his blue eyes steady on mine before dropping to my lips.

My pulse skipped. His face was so close…

“Sure,” I set my glass down and reached for the water, hoping to divert attention from the heat building between us.

Asher and Finn were already watching. Ryker took a small piece of meat, half–eaten by me, and placed it in his mouth without hesitation. The intimacy of it made my shoulders tense. What if someone noticed? Sharing a plate was practically a lover’s act among Alphas. It would only deepen the animosity I’d already begun to feel from the others.

I didn’t lift my eyes to him, but something warm unfurled in my chest. So that’s where he’d been.

Another Alpha called out, “Yeah, l’want to know too.”

Cassius leaned forward. “Since the last challenge near the waterfall was interrupted by the storm, it couldn’t be finished. But many of us already passed four other tasks. It wouldn’t be fair if all forty of us competed in the final round.”

Grace nodded. “True, that’s why only those who took part in the blindfold fight will compete in this task.”

“Then-” Reed’s gaze cut to me, “why the hell is a useless nobody who didn’t lift a finger getting to compete?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify