The Alpha Fell for the Villainess

The first thing Seraphina noticed about the Blackwoods was that none of them looked normal.

Not rich normal.

Wolf normal.

Predator normal.

The banquet hall went quiet for half a second when they walked in.

Tristan Blackwood entered first.

Tall. Calm. Expensive suit. The kind of Alpha people trusted immediately.

Aurora practically glowed beside him.

Of course she did.

She’d spent years making sure she landed the perfect future Alpha.

Then came Kieran Blackwood.

Late.

Hands in his pockets.

Tie loose.

Looking like he’d rather be drunk somewhere else.

Several older Alphas frowned immediately.

One woman whispered:

“Still pathetic, I see.”

Kieran heard her.

He smirked anyway.

Interesting.

Seraphina watched carefully.

Everybody respected Tristan.

Nobody respected Kieran.

Which meant one thing.

Weak wolf.

Or at least that’s what everyone believed.

Kieran’s eyes drifted lazily around the ballroom—

then landed on her.

And stopped.

That surprised her.

Not because men stared.

Men always stared.

But Kieran looked amused instead of hungry.

Like he’d just found something entertaining.

Aurora noticed immediately.

Her smile tightened.

Good.

Magnus stepped toward the Blackwoods.

“Alpha Tristan. Kieran.”

Tristan shook his hand politely.

Kieran grabbed champagne from a passing tray first.

Priorities.

“This is my daughter Aurora,” Magnus said smoothly.

Aurora smiled perfectly.

Tristan kissed the back of her hand.

“And this,” Magnus continued after the smallest pause, “is Seraphina.”

There it was again.

That hesitation.

Like even introducing her embarrassed him.

Seraphina smiled without warmth.

Kieran looked directly at the bruise on her cheek.

Then at Magnus.

Interesting.

“You hit walls often?” Kieran asked casually.

Silence.

Magnus’s jaw tightened instantly.

Aurora jumped in too quickly.

“She had an accident.”

Seraphina took a sip of champagne.

“Yeah. Your father’s hand accidentally hit my face.”

A servant choked nearby.

Tristan looked uncomfortable.

Aurora looked furious.

Magnus looked murderous.

Kieran?

Kieran laughed.

Actual laughter.

“Oh, I like her.”

Aurora’s nails visibly dug into her champagne glass.

Good.

Tristan shot his younger brother a warning look.

“Kieran.”

“What?” Kieran shrugged. “She’s the first honest person here.”

Magnus’s expression stayed cold.

“Seraphina is still adjusting to pack life.”

Seraphina almost rolled her eyes.

Pack life.

Rich people loved renaming abuse.

Aurora stepped beside Tristan possessively.

“We should sit before dinner starts.”

Tristan nodded immediately.

Kieran stayed where he was.

Still watching Seraphina.

That made her uneasy.

Not because he was attracted to her.

Because he looked observant.

People who noticed things were dangerous.

Especially wolves pretending to be stupid.

Dinner dragged.

Political conversations.

Pack alliances.

Marriage contracts disguised as romance.

Seraphina hated every second.

She barely touched her food.

Across the table, Kieran drank enough whiskey to kill a human.

Aurora finally sighed dramatically.

“You should try the lamb, Seraphina. Unless you’re unfamiliar with proper meals.”

There it was.

Seraphina smiled slowly.

“Don’t worry. I know how eating works.”

A few guests laughed awkwardly.

Aurora’s expression tightened.

Magnus spoke quietly without looking at her.

“Behave.”

Seraphina ignored him completely.

Tristan attempted to shift the conversation.

“The southern packs are becoming unstable.”

Kieran leaned back lazily.

“Most Alphas are unstable.”

“Northern borders were attacked last month,” Tristan continued.

Kieran shrugged.

“Then maybe stop electing idiots.”

One older Alpha scoffed openly.

“Easy to criticize when you contribute nothing.”

The table went silent.

Aurora immediately looked uncomfortable.

Tristan’s jaw tightened slightly.

So that happened often.

Interesting.

Kieran smiled without emotion.

“You’re right,” he said lightly. “I’m completely useless.”

The room relaxed too fast after that.

Like everyone preferred him harmless.

Seraphina noticed.

And suddenly something in her stomach twisted.

Because weak men didn’t survive in wolf families.

Especially not Alpha bloodlines.

So either Kieran really was worthless—

or he wanted people to think he was.

That thought stayed with her.

Dinner ended an hour later.

Music started in the ballroom.

Couples moved toward the dance floor.

Aurora immediately pulled Tristan away.

Of course she did.

She wanted everyone watching them.

Future Alpha.

Future Luna.

Perfect couple.

Fake as hell.

Seraphina slipped toward the balcony instead.

She needed air.

And preferably less rich people.

The cold hit her immediately.

Better.

She leaned against the railing and lit a cigarette.

“Those’ll kill you.”

Kieran’s voice.

Of course.

Seraphina didn’t turn around.

“So will your family.”

Kieran laughed quietly and stepped beside her.

Up close, he smelled like whiskey, smoke, and wolf.

Strong wolf.

Too strong.

Seraphina noticed immediately.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

“You hate parties?” he asked.

“I hate rich people.”

“You’re rich now.”

She looked at him finally.

“No. I’m useful now. That’s different.”

Kieran stared at her for a second.

Then smiled slowly.

“There she is again.”

“There who is?”

“The honest version.”

Seraphina snorted softly.

“You don’t know me.”

“No,” Kieran agreed. “But I know bullshit when I hear it.”

That surprised her a little.

Most people played games around her.

Kieran seemed bored by games entirely.

Dangerous.

He leaned against the railing beside her.

“You know Aurora’s been glaring at you all night.”

“She’s scared.”

Kieran smirked.

“You enjoy that.”

“Yes.”

“At least you admit it.”

Seraphina exhaled smoke slowly.

“She spent years pretending I didn’t exist while my mother died in a shitty apartment.”

Kieran glanced at her.

“Your mother’s sick?”

The question came too casually.

But Seraphina still answered.

“Dying.”

Something shifted in Kieran’s expression for half a second.

Gone immediately.

“Magnus keeping her alive to control you?”

Seraphina looked at him sharply.

So he really did notice things.

“Something like that.”

Kieran stayed quiet a moment.

Then:

“You should run.”

She laughed.

“And go where?”

“Anywhere not here.”

Seraphina looked through the ballroom windows.

Aurora dancing with Tristan.

Magnus shaking hands with pack leaders.

All those powerful wolves pretending to love each other.

Then she looked back at Kieran.

“I think I’d rather ruin their lives first.”

That made him grin.

Actually grin.

God.

He looked better dangerous.

That was unfortunate.

“You’re insane,” he said.

“I’ve been told.”

The balcony doors suddenly opened.

Aurora stepped outside.

The second she saw them standing close together, her face changed instantly.

Raw and ugly.

Interesting.

Aurora forced a smile.

“Kieran,” she said lightly, “Father’s looking for you.”

Kieran didn’t move.

“Then he should keep looking.”

Aurora’s smile cracked slightly.

Seraphina almost laughed.

Aurora stepped closer.

“You shouldn’t encourage rumors, Seraphina.”

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

“What rumors?”

Aurora looked between them.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

Kieran finally spoke.

“She was talking to me, Aurora. Not proposing marriage.”

Aurora stiffened.

Seraphina noticed something immediately.

Kieran annoyed Aurora naturally.

Which meant she already looked down on him.

Interesting dynamic.

Aurora lowered her voice.

“You should remember your position.”

Seraphina smiled slowly.

“You first.”

Aurora’s eyes flashed.

Then suddenly—

she shoved the cigarette from Seraphina’s hand.

Hard enough to burn Seraphina’s fingers.

“Oops,” Aurora said coldly.

Silence.

Kieran’s expression changed instantly.

Not playful anymore.

Dangerous.

Seraphina looked down at the reddening burn on her skin.

Then back at Aurora.

And smiled.

That smile made Aurora step back slightly.

Good.

Because Seraphina finally understood something important.

Aurora was terrified of losing attention.

Terrified of losing power.

Terrified of another woman taking what she believed belonged to her.

Which meant Seraphina already knew exactly how to hurt her.

Kieran watched her carefully.

Too carefully.

Like he realized the same thing she did.

And for the first time that night—

Seraphina wondered if the “useless” Blackwood brother might actually be the most dangerous person in the room.