SERAPHINE’S POV I sat in my office, my hands working methodically as I mixed herbal extracts into small vials. Healing was a task I had always found solace in—a task that demanded focus and helped quiet the noise in my head. Silver Crest Academy, with all its bustling chaos, gave me purpose. Today, however, the usual hum of my work felt disrupted, like the air itself was charged with something unusual. “Have you heard? Three identical triplets just arrived at the academy,” one of the younger healers murmured as she passed by my door. I rolled my eyes, brushing off the comment. Students and staff were always enamored with gossip, especially when it involved anything remotely dramatic. I had no time for distractions. There were too many responsibilities on my shoulders, and I couldn’t afford to indulge in idle talk.Still, when I saw Raiden walking briskly past my office moments later, my instincts sharpened. He wasn’t just walking—he was practically running, his face set with tensio
REED’S POVThe drive home stretched on, each second dragging as my mind spiraled deeper into the chaos that had become my reality. The hum of the car engine was the only sound, blending with the faint whispers of Liana’s soft breathing. My grip on the steering wheel was vice-like, my knuckles whitening under the strain. It felt like if I let go, even for a second, everything would fall apart—both the car and my sanity.I risked another glance at her, curled up in the passenger seat. Her hair framed her face like a halo, the gentle rise and fall of her chest so steady, so calm, it was maddening. How could she sleep after what had happened? How could she find peace in a world that seemed hellbent on tearing her apart?I forced my gaze back to the road, the memory of her limping figure still fresh in my mind. Her ankle had been twisted, swollen beyond reason, and the pain in her eyes when she tried to take even a single step… It was unbearable. She hadn’t cried, though. Not once. That st
ORION’S POVThe silence of the night was deceptive—a calm before the chaos I was about to unleash. The Blood Moon Pack, nestled in the shadow of a thick forest, was oblivious to the danger creeping toward it. The moon was a mere sliver in the sky, offering little light as my men and I waited just beyond the treeline. I could hear the faint hum of their nightly routines: laughter from a few houses, the occasional bark of a restless dog, and the quiet rustle of leaves as the wind passed through.I crouched low, my dagger, glinting in the dim moonlight, and scanned the village ahead. Smoke curled from chimneys, blending into the starless sky. These people—soft, complacent—had no idea what awaited them. My orders were clear: infiltrate, destroy, and extract information about the girl. Liana Harper, as the pack members screamed her name out just by the picture I showed them. A name whispered among Kade’s circle, tied to something far greater than anyone in this pack could comprehend.“Move
REED’S POVThe living room felt heavier than usual. The dim light from the overhead chandelier did little to illuminate the tension in the air. Callum was pacing, his boots scuffing against the wooden floor, while Asher leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his ever-present frown deeper than usual. Malcolm sat stiffly in the armchair, his fingers tapping a restless rhythm on the armrest. I stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, trying to gather my thoughts as the weight of the missing silver blade pressed down on me.It was Callum who broke the silence, his voice sharp and clipped. “The blade is really gone.”I turned to face him, my brows furrowing. “We’re all aware of that, Callum. The real question is—who took it?”Malcolm shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his face pale. “Do we have any solid leads? Any idea who might’ve done this?”Asher, ever the skeptic, pushed off the wall. “I think it’s Maddox,” he said, his tone cold. “He’s been way too quiet lately. If he’s
LILA’S POVThe weight of the blade felt heavier than I expected. It wasn’t just silver—it was power, chaos, and death molded into a weapon and sealed with the blood with the most powerful Alpha to have ever existed. And now, it rested in my trembling hands, hidden beneath the folds of my cloak as I slipped through the shadows of the Crescent Moon Company. My heart hammered in my chest, the sound drowning out the muffled chatter of employees as they passed me by, oblivious to the treachery unfolding right under their noses.I had done it. After years of planning, lying, and earning their trust, I had the Silver Blade. The very weapon I had been sent here for.Reed trusted me the most. That thought twisted something sharp in my chest. I had seen the admiration in his eyes when he spoke of my loyalty and dedication. “You’re more than just an assistant, Lila. You’re family,” he’d said once. Family. The word made my stomach churn.I wasn’t part of their family. I never had been.I still re
RAIDEN’S POVThe soft creak of the chair beneath me was the only sound in the room, save for the faint whistle of the wind outside. I stared at the fireplace, it’s flickering flames casting shadows that danced along the walls. My thoughts weren’t on the fire, though. They were on her.Liana.I didn’t know how long I’d been sitting here, but her face was burned into my mind, her name rolling over my tongue like a forbidden taste. I leaned back, shutting my eyes as her image took center stage once again—had striking beauty, her fiery glare, and that air of vulnerability she carried, even while trying to look strong.I shouldn’t be thinking this way. She was off-limits, and yet I couldn’t help myself. Every curve of her body, the feel of her ass on my hands when I carried her out of that gym class, every movement she made—it all tugged at a primal part of me, the part I couldn’t control. I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair. “Damn you, Raiden,” I muttered under my breath.
LIANA’S POVI kept my gaze locked on the blanket covering my lap as the heat in my ankle contained a pulse—a dull reminder of my eerie fall. The room was filled with tension I couldn’t name. “Let me see,” Reed’s deep, velvety voice broke the silence. My head jerked up to find him approaching me, his tall, commanding frame moving with effortless grace. He crouched beside the bed, every inch of him exuding power and control. His dark, stormy eyes caught mine for a brief second, and I swore my heart tripped over itself.“Your ankle, Liana,” he repeated, softer this time, the corners of his lips curling into a teasing smirk.“Oh,” I mumbled, dragging my leg out from under the blanket. He reached out, his long fingers brushing against my skin as he cradled my ankle in his hand. The warmth of his touch sent an electric jolt straight up my leg and into places I didn’t even know could tingle. I stared at his face, transfixed. His sharp jawline, the slight scruff on his chin, the curve of h
REED’S POV“Yes,” she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost lost to the sound of the rain tapping against the window. “It’s going to be my first time.”I froze, her words striking me harder than anything ever had before. My chest tightened as I stared at her—this delicate, beautiful woman standing so close, her wide, innocent eyes looking up at me like I was her whole world.“You’re serious?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, a mixture of disbelief and awe slipping through. She nodded, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red.My hand ran through my hair in frustration, pulling at the roots as I tried to think clearly. A part of me—one I was desperately trying to silence—was thrilled by the revelation. She was untouched. Mine. But another part, the part that still clung to some shred of reason, knew better.“Do you even know what sex means, Liana?” I asked, my voice dropping lower, my gaze locking onto hers.Her lips parted, and for a moment, she hesitated. Then, she nodd
REED’S POVThe wind howled through the trees, a relentless, eerie whisper that did nothing to ease the frustration burning inside me. I held Liana close, her small, trembling body pressed against mine as her ragged breaths hit my chest. She was shaking, whether from fear or exhaustion, I didn’t know. All I knew was that I almost lost her tonight.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to take a deep breath as I pulled back just enough to look at her face. Her skin was cold, her lips slightly parted, her dark eyes hollow with shock. But she refused to look at me.That only made my frustration grow. “Why?” My voice came out sharp, cutting through the silence. “Why the hell did you run off like that?” She flinched slightly but said nothing. I was trying to be patient—I really was. I knew she had been through too much already. Finding out that the mother she thought had abandoned her was still alive, learning that everything she believed about her past wasn’t the full truth—it was a lot to
LIANA’S POVThe cold air burned my lungs as I ran. Barefoot. Blind. Desperate. I didn’t know where I was going, and I didn’t care. My legs moved on their own, driven by the storm raging inside me. The forest swallowed me whole, its towering trees stretching into the night sky, their gnarled branches clawing at the moonlight. Shadows flickered between the trunks, but I kept running, crashing through the underbrush, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps.I needed to get away.Away from the house. Away from Seraphine. Away from everything. My mother. My mother was alive. The words echoed in my head, looping over and over until they lost meaning, became just sounds rattling inside my skull. My mother, the woman I had never known, had just appeared—like a ghost stepping out of the past. A ghost who had left me. A ghost who had abandoned me.Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t stop. I ran faster, deeper into the night, until the distant glow of the house disappeared behind the trees.
REED’S POVThe air in the room turned to ice. My breath hitched. My muscles locked. Did I hear her right? Callum did. His chair scraped against the wooden floor as he shot to his feet, eyes blown wide. “What?” His voice was a razor’s edge, sharp enough to cut through bone. “You’re Maddox’s wife?” Seraphine’s jaw tensed, but she didn’t look away. Callum let out a sharp, humorless laugh, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “You’re Maddox Gray’s wife. The same Maddox who murdered our father. The same bastard who burned our home down and left us for dead. And we let you in.” His hands curled into fists. His voice cracked. “We opened our doors to Maddox Gray’s wife!” His words rang through the room like a gunshot.Malcolm went pale. Asher shoulders stiffened. I could hear his breathing, slow and controlled—too controlled. I knew he was trying to keep himself from snapping. My own stomach twisted with something between fury and betrayal. I kept my hands clenched at my side
SERAPHINE’S POVShe was standing right there.So close.My daughter. My child.For nineteen years, I had carried nothing but the memory of her—the weight of her absence pressed into my chest like an iron brand. I had pictured this moment a thousand times, dreamed of it on the rare nights when I allowed myself to believe she was still out there, still breathing, still alive. But now that she was standing right in front of me, I couldn’t move. My throat locked, a choked sound rising and dying before it could leave my lips. She was so much more than I had imagined. Her eyes—my Goddess, her eyes—were mine. That same deep shade of stormy gray, filled with unspoken questions and quiet strength. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders in dark waves, the way mine used to before time and grief had dulled its luster. She looked so much like me, yet there was something about her stance, something about the way she held herself, that belonged entirely to him. Eliana. I wanted to say her name,
REED’S POVIt has been two hours and Liana was still clinging to me.Her warmth, the lightness of her touch, the way she practically bounced on her feet—it was a stark contrast to the crushing weight in my chest. She had no idea what was coming, no idea that the very foundation of her life was about to shift beneath her feet.But she deserved to know.I inhaled deeply, keeping my grip firm on her as I leaned down slightly. “Come on, we need to go downstairs.”She pulled back, her bright eyes narrowing slightly. “Why?”I hesitated, searching for the right words. “There’s something important we need to talk about.”Confusion flickered across her face, but it was quickly replaced with curiosity. “Like what?”I sighed. “It’s a family discussion. Everyone needs to be there.”That seemed to intrigue her more than concern her. Instead of questioning me further, she grinned and grabbed my hand, lacing her fingers through mine as she tugged me toward the door.“Fine, but you’re making it sound
LIANA’S POVReed was exhausted.I could see it in the way his shoulders sagged, in the tight set of his jaw, in the way his fingers curled around his briefcase like he was holding onto something more than just leather and paperwork.The moment he stepped into the house, I didn’t give him a chance to argue. “Come with me,” I said, taking his hand firmly. He didn’t resist. He let me lead him up the stairs, our steps quiet against the polished wood. I could feel the tension radiating from him, thick and suffocating, but he didn’t say a word. When we reached his room, I gently took the briefcase from his hand, setting it aside. Then I turned to him, my fingers already reaching for his jacket.He exhaled heavily, but he didn’t stop me.Carefully, I slid the heavy material off his shoulders, letting it fall onto the nearby chair. Then my fingers moved to his tie, loosening the knot with slow, deliberate movements. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, but he still didn’t say anything.
RAIDEN’S POVThe halls were too quiet.I knew something was wrong the moment the final bell rang and Seraphine was nowhere to be found. She hadn’t been in any of her classes. She hadn’t been in the dining hall during lunch. She hadn’t even been in the staff lounge where she usually went to grade papers. It wasn’t like her.Something was off.I had tried to ignore the gnawing worry in my chest, telling myself she had probably stepped out for something important. Maybe she wasn’t feeling well. Maybe she had a meeting. Maybe she had done something silly and Maddox had come for her. Maybe she had been caught by Kade. I couldn’t bring myself to stop thinking of all of the crazy possibilities of what might have happened her. The longer I went without seeing her, the harder it became to stay still.By the time the last class ended, I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed past students in the hallway, heading straight for her office. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as my pace quicken
LILA’S POVThe moment my phone buzzed in my hand, I knew it was him. Kade. I exhaled slowly, pressing the phone to my ear. “What do you want?” I kept my voice even, indifferent, but my fingers clenched around the device.A low chuckle rumbled through the receiver. “Now, now, Lila. That’s not how you greet an old friend and family.”I ground my teeth. “You’re not my friend neither are you my family.”Kade only laughed, unfazed. “Fair enough, I’m still not your enemy. But we are business partners and we have an unfinished business and a new business to discuss. I have another job for you.”Of course, he did. That was all I had ever been to him—a tool, a weapon sharpened and wielded at his command. “I’ve done every damn job you’ve thrown at me,” I said, my voice sharp with quiet fury. “I kept my end of the bargain. It’s time for you to keep yours.”Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. Then, another chuckle—deeper, mocking. “Ah, Lila. You really think we’re done?” Kade’s
REED’S POVThe room was thick with tension, silence broken only by the occasional sound of Callum tapping his pen against the table. I stood at the head of the room, arms crossed, watching the faces of my brothers—Callum, Asher and Malcolm. They waited for me to speak, their expressions ranging from curiosity to impatience.Malcolm, ever the calm and analytical one, was the first to break the silence. “Are you sure about the name?” he asked, his tone cautious, his eyes narrowing as he searched my face. I didn’t hesitate. “I’m sure. She said her real name is Aurora Blackwood. She claimed to be Liana’s biological mother.”A low whistle escaped Callum’s lips. “Aurora Blackwood,”‘he repeated, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “Now there’s a name I didn’t think I’d ever hear again.”Malcolm frowned, his jaw tightening. “Reed, this doesn’t make sense. If Aurora Blackwood is alive, why has she stayed hidden all these years? And why now? Why would she reach out now?”“She said she want