Seraphina’s PovI stood by my bedroom window, staring out at the sprawling gardens of the Vanderwood estate. My decision weighed heavily on my heart, twisting it into knots of uncertainty and regret. I had agreed to help Madeline, to give her a chance with Alfred, the man she loved. It was a selfless act, one I knew was right, but it didn’t make the pain any less bearable.I had to be strong. If I was to stay Garfield's niece, Alfred and I could never be together. It was better this way. Madeline was more suitable for him, and she could make him happy. I had to believe that.My plan was simple. I would invite Alfred to lunch, using my name to ensure he would come. But I wouldn’t be waiting for him at the restaurant; it would be Madeline. This way, they'd have a chance to talk and reconnect, to speak honestly, and perhaps rekindle what they once had.The day arrived, and my nerves were beyond calm. I paced my room, wringing my hands as I went over every detail of my plan.
Alfred’s PovThe day started like any other, with the sun rising over the lush forest surrounding our pack's territory. But by the end of the day, everything felt like a tornado had ravaged said forest. My heart was heavy as I drove Seraphina home, knowing that we had to face my father's anger.When we arrived, Garfield was already waiting, his face a mask of fury. He had definitely seen the news headline.He waited till we got out of the vehicle and approached the stairs leading up to the main entrance. "Alfred, what were you thinking?" he barked the moment we were within earshot. "Your relationship with Madeline could put Seraphina in the midst of all this drama!"Seraphina stepped forward, her expression calm despite the storm brewing around us. "Uncle, it's not Alfred's fault. It's all just a misunderstanding."Garfield's expression softened when he looked at Seraphina. "Do you really like Elliot?" he asked gently. "If you do, I would be happy to see you two together
Alfred’s POVThe mansion was eerily quiet as I paced the length of the grand hall, my thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. The sunlight filtering through the tall windows did nothing to warm the cold knot in my chest. I had to talk to Seraphina, to explain myself, but every attempt I made was met with a wall of silence. She didn’t want to listen or understand and had left without a backward glance, leaving me standing alone with my unspoken words. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. Understanding young women was beyond me. I could only discern that Seraphina seemed annoyed whenever I was near, as if my presence was a burden to her. It hurt, more than I cared to admit. Regardless of her feelings, she was still family, and I wanted nothing more than to see her happy—whether as a friend or cousin. Yet, seeing her frequently with Elliot stirred a bitterness within me that I struggled to swallow. They spent so much time together, disappearing on outings that she never cared to explain. T
Alfred's /Seraphina’s POV Alfred’s POVI didn’t care what Madeline was thinking. My mind was consumed with Seraphina. As I carried her back to her bedroom, I could feel her weight shifting slightly, her head resting against my shoulder. Her vulnerability pierced through my own emotional barriers, and the walls I'd built to protect myself from the reality of my feelings started to crumble. Gently placing her on the bed, I watched her stir, her delicate features twisted in a troubled sleep. I fetched a wet towel and started to wipe her cheeks, my movements slow and careful. Each touch seemed to bring a semblance of peace to her distressed face, and I found myself lost in the moment, forgetting everything else. As I sat beside her, Seraphina mumbled in her sleep, her words incoherent at first, then growing clearer. “I don’t like Alfred... I hate him,” she whispered, her voice laced with a pain that cut through me like a knife. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, and I felt a pang o
Alfred’s PovWhen I saw the notification on my phone, my heart skipped a beat. "Famous Pop star Madeline and Alpha King Alfred Vanderwood will hold a press conference at noon tomorrow to address some of the controversies regarding their relationship," the headline read. I had yet to be informed in advance. Panic surged through me as I immediately dialed Madeline's number, my hands trembling with urgency."Madeline, what on earth are you doing?" I demanded the moment she picked up. "Why wasn't I told about this press conference? Why are we even having a press conference to begin with?""Alfred, please understand," Madeline continued, her voice tinged with desperation. "I didn't want to blindside you, but the media's attention has been relentless. If we made it official, I thought it would take the pressure off both of us.""I thought you'd be used to that sort of thing by now," I said. Why's this any different?"Madeline's voice was soft, almost pleading. "Alfred, I'm s
Seraphina/ Alfred’s PovSeraphina’s Pov"This is it; I am really leaving this place," I thought to myself as I wandered the grand hallways of the Vanderwood castle. Each step echoed my footsteps, a soft reminder of my many years here.My first stop was the kitchen, where the clattering of pots and pans had always been a comforting sound. I could almost hear the laughter and chatter of late-night snack raids with Alfred. We’d sneak down, careful not to wake anyone, and argue who made the best sandwiches. Mine were, of course. Once, we made a towering sandwich with everything we could find and shared it while sitting on the counter, our feet swinging in the air. I dragged my fingers over the countertop as if bidding it a final farewell.Next, I wandered into the banquet hall. The chandeliers sparkled overhead, glowing warmly on the long, polished marble floors. I remembered my first dance with Alfred here. It was at a grand ball, and I had been so nervous. But Alfred had
*Seraphina*“Seraphina?”His voice was gentle, yet hit me full force with the strength of a wrecking ball. The walls I’d tried so hard to build up ever since I decided to accept that he deserved to be with Madeline started to crack. All the old feelings I’d bordered up behind those walls —the rush of attraction, pinpricks of desire, the longing, the fear —all came rushing through like a wave. I was overwhelmed. No, this was ridiculous. There was no way that was Alfred. Sure, it looked exactly like him, even down to the way he usually styled his hair and the way he carried out his unassumingly formal gait. Yes, I could’ve sworn that I heard him call my name. But it must’ve been my imagination because there was no way Alfred would’ve left Madeline to chase after a Welfare brat. Only a fool would trade in a superstar for a jailbird, and Alfred was no fool.It didn’t matter that my heart leaped at the thought that the part of me I tried hard to ignore hoped against hope th
*Seraphina*His words were the last thing I expected. All I’d known of Alfred until now was his stoic resolve, the coldness he usually wore like armor. Yes, there’d been glimpses of affection I thought I could see when he did things out of kindness or offered to help or protect me. But such an open declaration of his feelings had left me completely shaken down to the core. I didn’t think he was the kind of man who said these things to women. But there was such vulnerability in the way he talked to me and touched me that I knew he was sincere. It was like I could see the arrogance I’d first encountered back at Archeron evaporate before my very eyes. It felt like a lifetime ago that I’d strapped him down to that bed and teased him about saving his life. Even though I wanted nothing more than to return his affection and tell him the truth about my feelings, there was still too much that I couldn’t ignore. Madeline was genuinely in love with him, too, and she wasn’t
Seraphina’s POVAs Alfred and I walked up the front steps of my Uncle Garfield’s grand estate, a heavy sense of dread settled in my stomach. The tall, imposing mansion loomed over us, its ornate windows and grand columns casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun. I wasn’t ready for what was coming, but I had to maintain my composure. Alfred had dropped me off after a day of learning new recipes from various chefs around town, but explaining that to Garfield would be tricky.When Garfield opened the door, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Seraphina, back so soon? I thought you had a full day planned.”Thinking quickly, I forced a smile and said, “The chef I was supposed to meet with fell ill, so we had to delay our plans. I thought it’d be nice to spend some extra time here.”Garfield’s eyes softened, and a broad smile spread across his face. “Well, that’s a pleasant surprise! I’m happy to have more time with my favorite niece. And Alfred, it’s good to see you again.”
Alfred’s POVThe sunlight filtering through the curtains nudged me awake. My eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, I was blissfully lost in the memory of last night. The passion, the closeness, the way Seraphina melted under my touch. Her cries for mercy still echoed in my mind, a sweet symphony that played over and over.I reached out, expecting to find her warm body next to mine, but my hand fell on an empty bed. Panic surged through me. Had she left? Had she decided to run away again?"Seraphina?" I called out, my voice thick with worry. There was no answer, only the silence of the room, which felt like a cold void.I jumped out of bed, my heart pounding in my chest. My mind raced with thoughts of losing her, of her slipping through my fingers once more. I could barely breathe as I hurriedly pulled on my clothes.But then, a sound reached my ears—the sizzle of something cooking. I followed the noise, my fear slowly being replaced with hope. I reached the kitchen,
*Seraphina*His words were the last thing I expected. All I’d known of Alfred until now was his stoic resolve, the coldness he usually wore like armor. Yes, there’d been glimpses of affection I thought I could see when he did things out of kindness or offered to help or protect me. But such an open declaration of his feelings had left me completely shaken down to the core. I didn’t think he was the kind of man who said these things to women. But there was such vulnerability in the way he talked to me and touched me that I knew he was sincere. It was like I could see the arrogance I’d first encountered back at Archeron evaporate before my very eyes. It felt like a lifetime ago that I’d strapped him down to that bed and teased him about saving his life. Even though I wanted nothing more than to return his affection and tell him the truth about my feelings, there was still too much that I couldn’t ignore. Madeline was genuinely in love with him, too, and she wasn’t
*Seraphina*“Seraphina?”His voice was gentle, yet hit me full force with the strength of a wrecking ball. The walls I’d tried so hard to build up ever since I decided to accept that he deserved to be with Madeline started to crack. All the old feelings I’d bordered up behind those walls —the rush of attraction, pinpricks of desire, the longing, the fear —all came rushing through like a wave. I was overwhelmed. No, this was ridiculous. There was no way that was Alfred. Sure, it looked exactly like him, even down to the way he usually styled his hair and the way he carried out his unassumingly formal gait. Yes, I could’ve sworn that I heard him call my name. But it must’ve been my imagination because there was no way Alfred would’ve left Madeline to chase after a Welfare brat. Only a fool would trade in a superstar for a jailbird, and Alfred was no fool.It didn’t matter that my heart leaped at the thought that the part of me I tried hard to ignore hoped against hope th
Seraphina/ Alfred’s PovSeraphina’s Pov"This is it; I am really leaving this place," I thought to myself as I wandered the grand hallways of the Vanderwood castle. Each step echoed my footsteps, a soft reminder of my many years here.My first stop was the kitchen, where the clattering of pots and pans had always been a comforting sound. I could almost hear the laughter and chatter of late-night snack raids with Alfred. We’d sneak down, careful not to wake anyone, and argue who made the best sandwiches. Mine were, of course. Once, we made a towering sandwich with everything we could find and shared it while sitting on the counter, our feet swinging in the air. I dragged my fingers over the countertop as if bidding it a final farewell.Next, I wandered into the banquet hall. The chandeliers sparkled overhead, glowing warmly on the long, polished marble floors. I remembered my first dance with Alfred here. It was at a grand ball, and I had been so nervous. But Alfred had
Alfred’s PovWhen I saw the notification on my phone, my heart skipped a beat. "Famous Pop star Madeline and Alpha King Alfred Vanderwood will hold a press conference at noon tomorrow to address some of the controversies regarding their relationship," the headline read. I had yet to be informed in advance. Panic surged through me as I immediately dialed Madeline's number, my hands trembling with urgency."Madeline, what on earth are you doing?" I demanded the moment she picked up. "Why wasn't I told about this press conference? Why are we even having a press conference to begin with?""Alfred, please understand," Madeline continued, her voice tinged with desperation. "I didn't want to blindside you, but the media's attention has been relentless. If we made it official, I thought it would take the pressure off both of us.""I thought you'd be used to that sort of thing by now," I said. Why's this any different?"Madeline's voice was soft, almost pleading. "Alfred, I'm s
Alfred's /Seraphina’s POV Alfred’s POVI didn’t care what Madeline was thinking. My mind was consumed with Seraphina. As I carried her back to her bedroom, I could feel her weight shifting slightly, her head resting against my shoulder. Her vulnerability pierced through my own emotional barriers, and the walls I'd built to protect myself from the reality of my feelings started to crumble. Gently placing her on the bed, I watched her stir, her delicate features twisted in a troubled sleep. I fetched a wet towel and started to wipe her cheeks, my movements slow and careful. Each touch seemed to bring a semblance of peace to her distressed face, and I found myself lost in the moment, forgetting everything else. As I sat beside her, Seraphina mumbled in her sleep, her words incoherent at first, then growing clearer. “I don’t like Alfred... I hate him,” she whispered, her voice laced with a pain that cut through me like a knife. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, and I felt a pang o
Alfred’s POVThe mansion was eerily quiet as I paced the length of the grand hall, my thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. The sunlight filtering through the tall windows did nothing to warm the cold knot in my chest. I had to talk to Seraphina, to explain myself, but every attempt I made was met with a wall of silence. She didn’t want to listen or understand and had left without a backward glance, leaving me standing alone with my unspoken words. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. Understanding young women was beyond me. I could only discern that Seraphina seemed annoyed whenever I was near, as if my presence was a burden to her. It hurt, more than I cared to admit. Regardless of her feelings, she was still family, and I wanted nothing more than to see her happy—whether as a friend or cousin. Yet, seeing her frequently with Elliot stirred a bitterness within me that I struggled to swallow. They spent so much time together, disappearing on outings that she never cared to explain. T
Alfred’s PovThe day started like any other, with the sun rising over the lush forest surrounding our pack's territory. But by the end of the day, everything felt like a tornado had ravaged said forest. My heart was heavy as I drove Seraphina home, knowing that we had to face my father's anger.When we arrived, Garfield was already waiting, his face a mask of fury. He had definitely seen the news headline.He waited till we got out of the vehicle and approached the stairs leading up to the main entrance. "Alfred, what were you thinking?" he barked the moment we were within earshot. "Your relationship with Madeline could put Seraphina in the midst of all this drama!"Seraphina stepped forward, her expression calm despite the storm brewing around us. "Uncle, it's not Alfred's fault. It's all just a misunderstanding."Garfield's expression softened when he looked at Seraphina. "Do you really like Elliot?" he asked gently. "If you do, I would be happy to see you two together