For the Taking ✅

19 • Smell

Seraphina POV

"So how has you training been coming along?" Desmond asked passing me a bowl of mash potatoes. It was just us two in the dinning room.

I shrugged. "I'm sure Ivy thinks that I need a lot more practice." I mumbled serving myself.

It was true. Ivy thought I had much still to learn and get better at. I could hear her voice now telling me how uncoordinated I was and how unfocused I planned my attacks. Fighting wasn't something easy that I could do, I was fast, strong, or as agile as werewolves. Learning to fight seemed counterproductive to me. It left mee realizing just how out matched I was.

"Well, since you're feeling much better I'd like you to start back up with Ivy tomorrow." I placed the bowl down and looked over at him. "If you're up to it." He added.

Footsteps that have come to both leave me buzzing with excitement and apprehensively stiff approached the dinning room. Desmond and I peered up as Osiris sat himself reticently at he head of the table. He rolled up his sleeves not once looking over to us.

A part of me was annoyed another grateful for his lack of interest in me. I wasn't sure why it bothered me but the fact he didn't acknowledge felt hurtful.

Desmond cleared his throat, an attempt to catch Osiris's attention, but it did nothing but make the atmosphere to become thick and uninviting. It made my skin crawl with the awkwardness.

"How was the evening patrol brother?" Desmond started putting a fork-full of chicken in his mouth.

Osiris began filling his plate. "Same old."

There was silence again except for the screeching of our silverware. I gulped down half my glass of wine nestling my limit of apprehension.

I wiped my bottom lip training my eyes over toward Osiris with a new found confidence.

"Desmond shared with me that you spoke with Philip." Osiris stopped his scooping of mash potatoes his eyes were still glued to the bowl when he froze.

Regret filled my body as he slowly placed the bowl back down. I shouldn't have brought up the subject, I should have just kept my mouth shut. But no, little ole Seraphina had to open her trap.

Osiris slide a slice of chicken breast onto his plate when he peered through his eyelashes over at us. His face was unreadable.

"I didn't know we were discussing private alpha meetings with just anyone Desmond." His monotone voice and harsh words squished what little confidence I still had.

I couldn't understand his cryptic behavior. One minute he'll let me get my way the next he seemingly despises me. The mixed signals were throwing me off.

Desmond gave his brother a sneer. "I wouldn't normally share such information but seeing as this impacted Sera I think it'd be appropriate to tell her that she doesn't need to worry about her mother."

Osiris sighed with a bored expression opening up the napkin and laying it on his lap.

"You could have told her, she didn't need to worry anymore without sharing the part about the alpha meeting."

"She's my mate Osiris and the beta female of the pack now. She has every right to know this kind of stuff."

Osiris's jaw clenched while his shadowy eyes turned infinitely black on his brother then on me.

"She's not just anyone." Desmond commented causing his older brother's lip to twitch.

It felt good having Desmond stand up for me and correct his older brother. Osiris has been nothing short of rude and put off toward me, finding any error I make as monumental. I knew alphas to be controlling but I never had one this indulged in me, not even Philip dealt this much with me.