Chapter 1: A Broken Dream

*Seraphina*

“Time to go, Princess.”

The prison guard’s words dripped with bored disdain as he shoved me out of the cell that had been my home for the past three years. But even despite his mockery, my heart beat wildly with excitement.

“Good luck out there,” said Tina. Out of reflex, my hands balled up into fists. I looked back to see her smirking at me, a reminder of the cruelty I’d faced over my time with her and the other prisoners. But even those memories couldn’t ruin my happiness. Not today. Instead of responding, I walked out with my head held high, ignoring the smug laughter that tumbled out of the cell.

I followed the guard out to the release area, barely able to contain myself as I went through the motions of the final steps towards freedom. I’d been dreaming of this day for such a long time that, even when I felt the cool midday breeze lick my face, even when I could view the world outside unencumbered by the four walls of the prison yard, it still took me a while to accept that my sentence was over. There would be no more bars, no more restrictions, no more beatings at the hands of my cellmates and other prisoners who took advantage of the fact that I was a wolf shifter without a wolf.

Instead, I could finally start the life I’d been dreaming of. That dream alone buoyed me, and kept me going even on the days when things were hardest, and all I’d wanted to do was give up. It was the thought of the moment that I’d see Eric’s face again and could once more be in his arms, safe and loved.

My head jerked from left to right, scanning the parking area as the gate drew back. I could not see him yet, but I knew he’d be here. When a waving arm popped out of a black V-class stationed a few feet away, I was unsure if its owner was truly looking for me. But I was the only person being released today, with the rest of the lot virtually empty save the patrolling guards peppered throughout. Still, I hesitated. I wondered for a brief moment if it was Eric.

Only when the owner of the waving arm got out of the car and offered me a flashing smile did I realize I had no idea who this stranger was, but he evidently seemed to know me. I made my way towards him, unsure but curious.

“Seraphina Lovelace,” he said, not asking a question but rather stating a fact.

I nodded slowly, my brows drawn together in confusion. He nodded as though that was confirmation enough. The man was tall and slender, dressed immaculately in a well-tailored suit. His hair slicked back, and if those things weren’t enough, his posture alone indicated that he was incredibly out of place in a prison parking lot. I wondered if he was getting paid enough for whatever it was he was doing here. He steps aside, opening one of the luxury vehicle’s rear doors. “I’m a friend of Eric’s. My name’s James. He sent me to get you.”

Relief immediately flooded through me. While I hadn’t forgotten the details of Eric’s face, I did forget just how wealthy he actually was. It shouldn’t really surprise me that he’d have “friends” he could send to do things he didn’t have time to do. I knew he was a busy man. Plus, if I was being picked up, well… my mind began to race with thoughts of what could potentially be a surprise reunion party with just the two of us. What if he’d decided to plan something special for me? After all, it had been three years and he was the reason for my sentence in the first place.

All of his promises about what life would be like once I got out began to flutter through my mind.

A tentative smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I nodded politely at James before getting into the car. He closed the door behind me and then made his way to the driver’s seat. As we tore out of the prison parking lot, I couldn’t help but steal a final glance back as Star Lake Correctional Center rapidly shrunk into the distance behind us.

“You look good for someone fresh out of prison.” My head shot back around to see James looking at me in the rearview mirror, his gaze seemingly as curious as mine had been just five minutes before. Suddenly self-conscious, I brushed a stray curl of hair behind my ear. I didn’t know him well enough to figure out whether he was teasing me or being genuine, but I hoped I looked at least halfway decent for when I met Eric.

“Thanks,” I said, choosing to take him seriously. I looked back out of the window. “I would’ve at least gotten my hair done but you know, they don’t really have many salons in there.”

That made him chuckle. It was as though some ice had thawed, and I could feel some of my old humor coming back slowly. I didn’t know when the last time was that I made someone laugh *with* me instead of *at* me. It was a warming feeling.

“You’re funny,” he said.

This time, I took the initiative to ask a question, thinking that then, at least, we had some sort of rapport going.

“So,” I began, folding my arms and catching his gaze once more. “You’re Eric’s friend?”

“Yes,” James replied, voice casual.

I raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Hmm. Interesting.”

“What about that is interesting to you?” he asked.

“Nothing, really. Except that you’re not exactly dressed like a friend doing a favor for another,” I pointed out. James’ own brows quirked up. “In fact, you’re dressed as though you’re doing business. Which wouldn’t be reasonable if Eric himself was too busy with his own business to fetch me.”

“Oh?” he said.

“Not that it’s any of my business, but you are apparently my escort, so I thought I’d bring it up,” I finished, hoping he would be gracious enough to tell me the truth about who he was without me having to dig. But he didn’t. Instead, he just laughed again.

“You’re quite the little spitfire, aren’t you?” he murmured, then went quiet as we pulled into another parking lot. I hadn’t been paying much attention as we passed from the city's outskirts into the heart of its business district, though now I could see that we were waiting outside a fancy restaurant.

“Where are we going?” I asked, and James simply shook his head and climbed out of the car. He opened my door for me, offering a hand.

“You must be hungry,” is all he said.

As if in response, my stomach let out an undignified growl. I frowned at my own body’s self-betrayal, but I couldn’t deny that I was starving. James smiled in victory, helping me out of the car and into the high-end-looking building.

“I’m completely underdressed,” I commented, nerves beginning to spike when I realized that the casual jeans and T-shirt combo I was sporting would certainly be out of place where heels, ties, maitre’ds, and waiters with accents were running things. James' smile turned indulgent.

“With a face like yours, you won’t need flashy clothing, a pretty girl like you. Plus, what you’re wearing is already better than an orange jumpsuit, no?” he said.

Even though he had just paid me a compliment, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease as he confirmed our booking, and we followed our head waiter to a table. I kept looking around for Eric, thinking he must be on his way soon if he was not here already. Why else would he get his “friend” to take me here? This place definitely wasn’t cheap.

But my mess of thoughts and questions remained unanswered as James told me to order anything I wanted off the menu. When I hesitated, still uncertain of how to conduct myself, he decided to do it for me, and within less than ten minutes, plate after plate of delectable dishes were brought out and arranged in front of me.

The smell of high-quality food immediately filled my nostrils and made my mouth water. Succulent meat slathered in fruity sauces, fork-tender potatoes, honey-glazed fish, a colorful array of vegetable sides… everything was complemented by the bottle of expensive, vein-red wine that James poured out between us in two generous glasses.

When I tried to ask about Eric once more, James simply held up a hand and gestured for me to eat first. I didn’t resist, falling to the temptation of the feast before me. I tried to eat as demurely as possible, but after three years of surviving off of grayish prison gruel, I had to force myself to slow down.

When I was finally satiated, following the food with a sip of the wine, I leaned back. My eyes drifted off to the nearest window displaying the storefront directly opposite the restaurant. There was a bridal boutique, one that I’d known was famous for its beautiful wedding dresses. In the display window, there were three beautiful gowns一one fairytale-like princess style with a dramatic skirt that flared out at the hips, another more modern dress with a sexy skin-tight silhouette, and the last one with a tasteful sleek cut, wide-straps, and lace adorning the bodice.

In my mind’s eye, I could picture myself in each of those, complete with a veil. This was where I’d want to find my wedding dress. I’d always wanted a beach wedding too, nothing overly extravagant, with only our close relatives and friends. And in one of those dresses, I could see myself walking down the aisle to meet Eric, his beautiful dark eyes filled with love and adoration mirrored in my own. I’d missed him so much that I couldn’t wait to marry 一

“You were right about me having business to do today, Miss Lovelace. I hope you’ll forgive the deceit, but I’m actually Eric’s lawyer,” James said.

His words were like cold water thrown onto a fire. My thoughts came to a grinding halt, my head whipping around to look at James. His elbows were on the table, fingers steepled below his chin, and now he looked every bit the lawyer.

I’d known that there was more to why he was sent for me with the way he’d been dressed, but I hadn’t expected this. What reason could Eric possibly have for sending me a lawyer?

“I don’t understand,” I told him, my heartbeat beginning to pick up again, but this time for different reasons.

James sighed as though he was more than prepared for my reaction. “Mr. Rutherford is grateful for everything you’ve done so far to help him in his endeavors. But unfortunately, he believes that your relationship has run its course. However, it’s not without compensation.”

He pulled out a checkbook and pen. I stared blankly at the line waiting for me to name my price.

That was what I was worth to Eric… after everything we’d been through and everything I’d done for him, the love he swore he felt for me was worth nothing more than a couple of zeros in a checkbook. He couldn’t even face me himself. He’d essentially hired a lawyer to break up with me.

It felt like I’d been stabbed through the heart, and for a second, I worried that I was dying.

When I was in prison, facing abuse at the hands of Tina and her gang of bullies wasn’t uncommon for me. In fact, coming away with broken bones and bruises had been a part of my daily reality for three years. Trying to fight back only worsened my chances.

But none of the physical pain I’d been through could even compare to what I was feeling now.

The ray of hope I’d held onto in that dank cell had just been ripped from my hands without so much as a warning, and it was like I’d been left shaken, rocked in the very foundation of what I thought was the truth. I thought Eric loved me. I loved him so much that I’d been willing to go to jail for his crime.

All because he promised me that at the end of all of this, we’d be together.

“You’re lying,” I said in a monotone, knowing it was stupid but not caring either way. “He wouldn’t do that to me. Not after what I’ve done for him. We love each other, he promised, he 一”

“I’m sorry, Miss Lovelace,” James interrupted, ever the professional. “But Mr. Rutherford has assured me that he’s more than willing to be generous with you, especially considering your past together.”

“I went to prison for him,” I said, the words coming out heavy with tears that I refused to cry in front of Eric’s lawyer. With each syllable, the pain only rebounded, stronger and more devastating, and my voice began to raise in pitch. “I took the fall for his crime because I loved him!”

“Lower your voice, please,” James said, his eyes flitting around as though I should care that anyone could hear me.

He must have been trying to soothe me with more words, but they fell on deaf ears. Everything else in the restaurant blurred together一the sound of the chattering patrons, the soft classical music playing in the background, and James’s attempts to calm me down.

I pushed back from the table and ran. I didn’t know where I was going, but I ran as though I could somehow bypass the crushing agony threatening to overwhelm me. I ended up outside the restaurant, and a single image forced me to stop.

Eric, climbing out of a limo, pulled up to the very boutique I’d been eyeing earlier. Eric, the man who I’d given up three years of my life for, who I loved more than my own freedom. Eric, the man escorting a girl I didn’t recognize out of the back of the limo.

She was dressed like royalty, dipped in designer from head to toe. And the love of my life gazed down at her adoringly, his face soft with the look I thought he’d been reserving for me. His arm went around her waist as they disappeared into the boutique together, excitedly talking with each other.

It was the exact same scene I’d fantasized about every day for the past three years, except that I was not taking part in it. The dream morphed into a living nightmare before my eyes, the source of strength I’d held onto for years now, turning into the very weight that broke me into a thousand pieces.