Serafine's POV"Who am I? What am I?" My voice barely escaped my lips while making my way out of the room. With my mother's revelation, it felt like it weighed down on me.It's cool night air that hits my skin, but it does little for the storm inside of me. Damn, all the things I thought I knew about myself, my past was all one big fat lie. My mother, the one person I trusted most in this world, had kept the truth from me all these years.I started walking through the woods and honestly had no idea where I was going. It all becomes a blur before me, the trees, nothing at all. The power in me is surging, the wolf and witch pulling me in different directions. I was no longer Serafine. I was the daughter of Lucian, Alpha of the Fiery Fang Pack. A product of a forbidden love.I feel so lost, confused-my body shaking with the weight of it all.Before I realize where I am going, I am at Damien's cabin. My heart speeds up as I want comfort, not fear. Him. I just can't face this one on my
Damien’s POV“It’s Lucian. He’s here.”The words left my mouth like a curse, the weight of them heavy in the air. Serafine stood beside me and her breath was quite catching . The night is thick with tension that can make you fear.She barely has time to react before the ground shakes beneath us. Lucian’s warriors, shadows in the moonlight, begin to close in on the Freedom Pack."Damien," Serafine whispers, her voice trembling. “What does he want?”"He wants you,” I said, barely able to suppress the growl in my throat. “And he’ll stop at nothing.”Serafine’s face hardens, her fear slipping behind a wall of resolve. “Oh God, I can’t let him take me.”I instantly felt proud of her for her courage, though I was a little bit scared. I pulled her close, making sure my forehead touched hers for some moments. “We’ll stop him together.”Before either of us can say more, a deafening crack splits the air. The ground beneath our feet trembles as dark, twisted roots shoot up from the earth, coili
Serafine's POV"This is far from over, Serafine," Lucian's voice echoes in my brain as he vanishes into the night.It was long after he was gone that the weight of his words stood in the balance.I felt my heartbeat racing and caught my breath in short spurts, while doing nothing other than standing and staring at the place where he had vanished.A cold shiver ran down my spine. Deep inside, I knew he meant each word, and that terrified me.I looked at Damien, who was furiously hot. The bleeding around his arm doesn't let up yet, but he acts like it's not even there.
David's POV"It's too late," Amara says with an icily calm tone, her hand holding onto Serafine as the magic swirled on Abigail.I watch, tense, from afar as Serafine struggles against the hold Amara has on her, her eyes wild with panic. My instincts scream at me to intervene, yet something holds me in place.The air is thick with the weight of Amara's power. Even from where I am standing, I can feel the dark magic pulsating from her-a cold reminder that this was not a woman one underestimated.Abigail's wails shred through the night, and I felt the earthquake beneath my feet. Her small body convulses, caught in a maelstrom of uncontrollable magic.
Serafine's POV"And all goes dark."The silence is deafening. My heart pounds in my chest. Abigail's scream still echoes in my ears, but everything feels cold and empty.Abigail?" I called out, shakily, a mere whisper. My knees buckle and I drop to the ground, my hands shaking while I reach out for her. "Please, not my baby…My fingers fell across something soft, and a wave of relief washed over me. I grasp her small hand in mine and squeeze hard. Her skin is still warm to the touch, but she does not move.The magic that churned around her just a moment before was gon
Henry's POV"We need to get back. Now."I stood near the packhouse, watching them fade into the darkness as Serafine's words echoed in my mind. There's an unease in the air tonight, more than it is usually.A storm is brewing, and no one can see the clouds yet.I've been part of the Freedom Pack long enough to know when something's wrong.The whispers, the fear. It's not just about Lucian anymore. Something's eating its way from the inside out. And I don't like it.As Beta, it's my job to
Serafine's POV"It's not just me. There are others. Lucian… he'd planned this out for ages. And it's not over.Tina's words cut through the thickness of silence that hung over the packhouse.My head can barely process it all: Tina, of all people, a traitor? And now she claims there are more of them? My stomach twisted.I stand at the edge of the room watching the others. Damien, Daniel, and David all tense, their eyes ablaze with anger.The ripple of their emotions washes through our bond, a mixture of betrayal and frustration. They do not trust Tina, nor
Serafine's POV I really can't seem to get the vision out of my mind. It had been days since I had seen the triplets lying in their own blood, days since I had witnessed a battle played out in vivid colors. The image of their deaths was seared into my mind, and no matter how hard I tried to clear my head, to focus on something else. And now, something more. Something worse. Some sort of sickness has started to seep through the pack, infecting our warriors. It began small, only a few coughs, a few pairs of tired eyes, but now it's more. Day by day, the warriors grow weaker, slower; it drains them of their strength. They're trying to hide it, but I can see how it's taking its toll on them. And the worst part? This is all my fault, or so it would seem. I stand at the window, my gaze drifting out into the yard below where a group of warriors gathers. Their voices carry up to me-low murmurs interlaced with confusion and frustration. They do not know what is happening, but in my
"This is my fight now."I can feel the weight of those words as I unleash the magic inside me, channeling everything I have into this strange man who surprisingly was as strong or perhaps stronger than I am. The air crackles and hums, vibrating with energy that seems to move with time to my heartbeat. I watch as his expression changes, his eyes widening in surprise. Then I feel something else, a shift deep inside, a change that isn't altogether my own.I feel some strength gathering within me, and in an instant, it runs hard through my veins. The energy suddenly surges and explodes inside me like a continuing storm ready to tear me apart. With each surge, it becomes so much stronger than the one before and I am fighting hard to keep it inside me. My hands are shaking terribly, and my breathing is reduced. With a sense of anticipation, I realize that I could be losing this battle not to this man in front of me but to myself.Stay back!" I scream, but it sounds more like I'm plea
"Do you feel that? What is this?"The words echo in my mind as I step into the clearing,the chaotic power, like a hurricane, surrounds me. I followed my mother for quite a long time when the air changed, it tugged at me begging me to follow her to this place before it was too late.Now, from behind the scenes, I finally see before me the scene of Serafine standing in front of the mysterious man who had set into action so much pain and manipulation, The air is really crackling with tension, and the dark magic wraps them like a cover."Let her go!" I scream, my voice carrying across the clearing. The weight of my power surges forward inside me, tightening against the reins of my control. I don't think, I act.They both turn to me then, surprised across the man's face. "You!" he exclaims, his composure cracking for a moment. "What are you doing here?"I move forward, my veins coursing with determination and fear. "I felt your presence," I say, locking eyes with him. "I knew you we
"We have to keep running until there's no other choice but to fight."With every step, it beats in my chest, fighting my way through the thick underbrush of the forest, placing distance between myself and chaos at the stronghold. The darkness wraps around me. My mind races with thoughts of all that has brought me to this moment in life. The weight of the world is held on my shoulders and with it, the balance of my family's fate.Before me, I see the bush he told me to meet him at, with every step my pulse quickens. The thought of his wicked grin seems to flash before my mind a chilling reminder of my bargain struck. A deep breath is taken and in it, I steady myself for what is about to be. Strong, though frightened, I must be.Finally reaching the place, it is bathed in moonlight, the tall grass gently swaying with the wind of the night. There he was, waiting to see me with that annoying smirk, arms folded at his chest, as if the world belongs to him. "Serafine," he calls, with
"Let's get this over with."The words are still on my lips when the dungeon door swings open, and the man steps out, pulling me along with him. But before we can take more than a few steps, the sound of heavy boots echoes down the corridor. I froze, my heart pounding as Lucian's familiar silhouette emerged from the shadows, his cold eyes narrowing at us.What are you doing here?" Lucian demands, his eyes flicking with suspicion from the man to me and back again.The man's hand tightens on my arm for a moment before he releases me, his face smoothing into casual indifference. "Just checking the prisoners," he returned smoothly, his tone didn't betray him."I wanted to make sure everything was in order.A mocking smile curls around Lucian's lips. "You're not normally this watchful" he says, stepping closer to him. "What's the real reason you're here?Nothing in the man's face alters, but I catch a flicker in his eyes that says he works something out. "The ritual draws near," he says
"We are left alone again, imprisoned by this impossible choice and its weight presses upon me now more than ever."Days run together in a haze of dark depression. The chill, wet air rises up from the dungeon, filling our bones, and constantly reminds us that we are imprisoned. Every moment seems like a fight to cling on to that little hope. But despite all, I find myself awaiting Abigail's visits with a mind set to expect little or no warmth, yet still hoping something may penetrate that wall she has thrown up around herself.The next time she comes, she lingers by the door longer than she usually does, hesitates a second before stepping into the dim light. I see it in her eyes now, something flickering inside that wasn't there before. Is it a doubt? Or regret? I cannot tell, but enough to make my heart beat just a little bit faster.She sets the tray down in front of me, her eyes not even flicking in my direction before she turns to leave, but I just can't let her go. "Abigail,
"As much as I try to keep hope alive, I couldn't help this nagging feeling that Lucian's grip on Abigail was increasing. and the time for all of us was running out."The air was thick in this dungeon like the walls were closing in on us. Days will pass in tense silence, our minds focused on nothing else but the ritual that closes in with each passing heartbeat. We know we can't wait any longer. The more time we spend here, the more powerful Lucian will become over Abigail, over our combined destinies. And the more his power grows, the smaller our window becomes.We sit in the darkness, tired, and on our shoulders weighs the heavy mantle of our tiredness. No one needs to say it, but it's there, hanging in the air amongst us, like a ghost not invited.Susan breaks the silence. Her voice is soft but firm as she turns to each one of us. "We have to accept that man's offer," she states. "There's nothing else we can do.And then the words came like a kick to the stomach, and a moment pa
"I don't know. I really don't know."The words just seem to hang in the air, heavy with weight, almost choking. It is as if the dark dungeon walls are closing in on me as my mind finalizes the weight of our situation. The others are staring at me, their eyes drilling into me for some sort of answer, a decision that would somehow change everything. Only I don't have one. The very thought of agreeing to the terms of that man makes my skin crawl, and yet… the desperation in our situation is simply not to be denied."No," I whisper, shaking my head. "We can't… I can't do this.The triplets exchange a glance, their faces filled with a mixture of pain and uncertainty. Damien steps forward, frustration and sorrow etched on his face. "Serafine, we gotta think this through," he says in a low, urgent tone. "I hate the thought of it as much as you do, but what choice do we have?I glare at him, narrowing my eyes. "There must be some other way," I answer, though my voice carries no convictio
"Am I really on the right side?" The sound of Abigail's question echoes through her head The creaky door to the dungeon drags me back into the reality before me.I look up, expecting to see Abigail or another of Lucian's followers come inside to mock us some more. Instead, it is him, the man who has been to see us before the one that proposed such a crazy deal. He steps inside, into the poor light and as I have come to expect, a dark silhouette greets me with a curled smile that truly chills.Well, well," he says, his voice dripping with mockery. "It would appear that you still have not made a decision. I gotta say, for one so hesitant, it's quite disappointing." He moved closer, his eyes glowing with amusement and annoyance. "I am a busy man, and I don't like waiting around."We got nothing to say to you," Damien growls from the corner, his voice weak but defiant. "Go back to wherever you came from."The man chuckles, shaking his head. "You're in no position to make demands, w
This dungeon is cold,the walls heavy with the weight of despair. Every day is no different: I pace down the narrow corridor, carrying trays of food to my family,if they still are, that is. Chains rattle around me, their metallic clicking no louder than the guilt whispering in my ear. I force myself to remain calm, my expression cold, detached. I have nothing else for them to see. If I do, it all will fall apart.I set a tray down in front of my mother, and she reaches out, catching my wrist. Her touch is soft in every movement. "Abigail," she murmurs, her voice hoarse. "Please, you don't have to do this. You are stronger than what Lucian's influence has done. Come back to us.I pull my hand away, the gesture sharp, deliberate. "It's too late" I say, keeping my tone as flat as possible. "I've made my choice.But even as I say it, an ache burns hollow in my gut. I glance around at Serafine, the triplets, Amara, Susan,all of them shackled, weakened. They have been reduced to mere