SERAPHINERaiden winced beneath my touch, his muscular frame tensing as I pressed a damp cloth to the wound on his temple. Blood had matted the dark strands of his hair, streaking down his face in angry rivulets. He wouldn’t look at me, his gaze fixed on the far wall of the dimly lit room.“Hold still,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. He scoffed, though the sound came out weak. “Why bother? He’ll just do it again.”I froze, my hand hovering over the cloth. His words cut deeper than any blade ever could. He was right, of course. Maddox’s temper had always been unforgiving, but his rage against Raiden was particularly cruel—unrelenting. I resumed my task, dabbing gently at the cut. “You’ll heal faster if you let me do this.”Raiden didn’t respond, but his silence gave me space to think. And thinking, as always, led me back to the past I’d worked so hard to bury. Staring at him the memories came unbidden, pulling me into a time long gone, to a lake bathed in moonlight. My legs tr
Chapter 19: InvestigationsMADDOXThe heavy oak doors of the war room groaned as they shut behind me, sealing us inside. The air was thick with tension, the kind that clung to the walls and settled in the lungs. My lieutenants and generals sat around the long table, their faces cast in sharp shadows from the single chandelier that hung above us. “Report,” I barked, settling into my chair at the head of the table.General Torrent, ever the first to speak, rose with his chest puffed out. “The attack at the border was swift and efficient, Alpha. Minimal witnesses, precise kills. Whoever orchestrated this was no amateur.”“Don’t you think I know that already? Amateur or not,” I growled, “someone dared strike my borders. And they left bodies behind. That is a message. I want to know why they did it and what they came for.”Torren nodded, his expression grave. “We’ve recovered enough evidence to begin piecing together what happened, Alpha.” He gestured to the two forensic experts standing
REEDI leaned against the doorway to Liana’s room, watching her sitting on the edge of the bed we’d hastily thrown together. The faint scent of lavender filled the air from the fresh sheets Malcolm had brought in earlier. She didn’t notice me standing there, too lost in her own world, her fingers tugging at the edge of the oversized shirt she wore—the same one Callum had tossed to her after she’d arrived, broken and bruised. Callum’s scent clung to it—woodsy, with a faint hint of cedar. It was strangely comforting, though it didn’t drown out the whirlwind in her mind. Her mind was elsewhere, her gaze distant. I knocked lightly on the frame. “Are you doing okay in there?”She startled, her wide, stormy eyes meeting mine. For a second, I thought I saw tears glistening, but she blinked them away quickly. “Yeah,” she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just thinking.”“I know it’s been a lot on you for this past couple of days,” I began, my voice cracking from my own thoughts.
SERAPHINEThe silence in the room was broken only by the occasional crackle of the fire in the hearth. I sat at the edge of Raiden’s bed, dabbing the healing salve onto the bruises scattered across his back. The cuts weren’t deep, but they bore the unmistakable mark of Maddox’s rage. His father’s heavy hand had done more damage to Raiden’s spirit than his body.For a long while, neither of us spoke. I let the quiet stretch, sensing that he needed time to gather his thoughts. The boy I had raised, nurtured, and protected was no longer a child, yet he still carried the weight of expectations far beyond his years.Finally, he broke the silence, his voice low, almost hesitant. “I met my mate.”The words hung in the air, their weight pressing down on us both. My hand froze mid-motion, the cloth in my grip hovering above his shoulder. “Your mate?” I echoed softly, searching his face for answers.He nodded, his expression guarded. “At the border. Before the attack.”The revelation caught me
MADDOXThe scent of damp earth and aged whiskey lingered in the hidden basement, a room concealed beneath layers of stone and secrecy. The dim, flickering light of a single bulb cast jagged shadows across the walls, dancing like restless phantoms. This was my sanctuary, my hell, and my throne. It was here that I could drown in the twisted symphony of my memories without the weight of eyes judging my every move.I poured another glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the crystal tumbler like liquid fire. It burned my throat on the way down, but the pain was a welcome distraction from the storm brewing inside me. The attack on the border, Raiden’s incompetence, and now this gnawing feeling—an itch at the back of my mind that refused to let me rest.Were they alive? Could the Bennett brats have survived that night? I clenched my jaw and tightened my grip on the glass, the image of their burning home flashing before my eyes. I had ensured that every corner of that wretched estate
LIANAThe warmth of laughter filled the massive living room, the kind of sound that wrapped around you like a favorite blanket on a cold night. I sat on the far end of the plush sectional, curled up with a cushion in my lap, watching the scene unfold before me. Malcolm, ever the center of attention, was dramatically recounting some story from their childhood, complete with exaggerated gestures and sound effects.“...and then Callum—oh, this is the best part—Callum tripped over his own feet while trying to look cool in front of Sadie White!” Malcolm’s voice boomed, sending the others into another round of roaring laughter. Callum, seated near the fireplace, rolled his eyes and muttered, “You’re such an idiot, Malcolm. That wasn’t even how it happened.”“Oh really?” Asher shot at him, a devilish grin spreading across his face. “How about we call Sadie and confirm?”Reed chuckled from his spot, sprawled out with one leg propped up on the coffee table. “I remember it exactly the way Malc
REED The dawn was barely breaking when I stepped out of the house. The chill in the air clawed at my skin, but I didn’t care. I needed this—needed the pounding rhythm of my feet hitting the dirt, the burning in my muscles, the steady beat of my breath to drown out the chaos in my head. Running had always been my escape, my way of finding clarity.But today, there was no clarity.I couldn’t stop replaying last night in my mind. The moment I’d walked into her room. The way her bare skin gleamed in the dim light, soft and golden like she’d been sculpted by the gods themselves. I had only been in there for seconds, but it felt like time had stretched to infinity, trapping me in a memory I couldn’t shake off. I clenched my jaw and picked up my pace, hoping to outrun the thoughts clawing at me.“It wasn’t the first time you’ve seen a naked woman,” I muttered under my breath.But it was the first time one had made me react like that.My wolf growled low in my head, a deep, primal sound tha
REED“We might have a new problem,” I said, stepping into the living room where Malcolm and Asher now lounged like they hadn’t a care in the world.Malcolm barely glanced up from the knife he was sharpening, the metallic scrape of the blade against the whetstone filling the room. Asher, on the other hand, perked up immediately, a sly grin tugging at his lips.“Oh, we definitely do,” Asher said, leaning back against the couch and folding his arms behind his head. “And it’s sitting right in front of us.”I frowned. “What are you talking about?”Malcolm let out a low chuckle, finally looking up. “You and Liana,” he said with a smirk. “That little scene on the stairs? Smooth, Reed. Real smooth.”Heat surged to my face, and I clenched my fists at my sides. “This isn’t about Liana.”“Sure it’s not,” Asher teased, his grin widening. “You almost kissed her, didn’t you? And then—what was it again? Oh, yeah, you dropped her. Honestly, I think she took it better than I would’ve.”“Drop it,” I gr
REED’S POVThe clock on the bedside table blinked 2:03 AM in bold red digits, a mocking reminder of how long I had been awake. I stood by the window of my room, staring out into the dark expanse of the Bennett estate. The cool night air filtered through the slightly ajar window, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside me. Her words echoed in my mind like a cruel refrain: If Raiden begs me properly, I’ll go back to him.My fists tightened at my sides as I leaned against the windowsill, the cold marble digging into my palms. The girl who had burrowed her way into my guarded heart had twisted the knife without even realizing it. I had opened up to her—let her see parts of me I kept hidden from everyone else. And in return, she had reminded me why I had vowed to keep my distance from people in the first place.By 2: 30 AM, I was pacing the length of my room, the soft padding of my bare feet against the wooden floor the only sound. My wolf growled faintly, a restless beast yearn
LIANA’S POVI woke up to the golden streaks of sunlight pouring through the tall windows of the Benetts’ mansion. The light illuminated the room, soft and warm, but I felt anything but comforted. The bed beneath me was soft, the duvet cocooned around my frame like a protective shield, but my chest felt heavy. My heart ached. I rubbed my temples, hoping to massage away the sting of regret and self-loathing that had lodged itself there overnight.The memory of the previous day played on repeat in my mind. Reed’s expression—cold, distant, and devoid of the warmth I had begun to cherish—was burned into my memory. His silence had spoken louder than any words. If Raiden begs me properly, I’ll go back to him. A foolish statement, born of my own fear and anger, and now, the sting of its aftermath was unbearable. I had tried all through yesterday to get him to talk to me or at least to see me but all he did was shut me out like I was nothing to him. I sighed as I swung my legs off the bed, t
CALLUM POVI stormed into the study, slamming the door shut behind me, the echo reverberating through the house like my boiling anger. My fists clenched at my sides as I paced the room, every word Liana had said replaying in my head like a broken record. If Raiden begged me properly, I’d take him back. What kind of nonsense was that? After everything, after we saved her, protected her, gave her a damn home! I felt like a fool for even tolerating her presence here.The door creaked open, and Asher stepped in, his usual calm demeanor masking whatever storm brewed inside him. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his sharp green eyes narrowing at me.“You’re mad,” he observed dryly. “Don’t break anything this time.”I stopped pacing, running a hand through my hair as I glared at him. “Mad? Oh, I’m beyond mad, Ash. Did you hear her? If Raiden begged me properly!” I spat the words like poison. “After all he did to her? After he tossed her aside like trash, she has the audacity to
MADDOX’s POVThe air in my study was still, thick with the scent of aged whiskey and the remnants of cigar smoke. The desk before me was cluttered with maps and papers outlining our borders, but my mind had shifted from the elusive “border girl” to the unfinished business I had left behind. Seraphine.I had been interrupted at the worst possible moment. My wife’s body, warm beneath me, her breath shallow and quick, had been the only thing anchoring my restless thoughts until that damn servant barged in with news that couldn’t wait. And now, as I pushed away from my chair, I was ready to pick up where we left off.The corridors of my castle were eerily quiet as I strode toward my chambers. The faint shuffle of servants echoed in the distance, but the moment they spotted me, they froze in place, their eyes lowered in fear. I smirked at their trembling forms; power was a drug, and I was thoroughly addicted.When I reached my room, I swung the door open, already prepared to demand Seraphi
LIANA I stared at the wall Reed had just punched, the crack spreading like a spider web across the surface. For a second, I thought the entire house might collapse from the force of his fury. Then, just like that, he stormed off, his boots pounding against the floor, echoing louder than the thoughts swirling in my head. I blinked a few times, trying to piece together what just happened.“What’s his problem?” I asked, turning to the three men still standing awkwardly in the living room. Asher’s arms were crossed tightly over his chest. Callum was rubbing the back of his neck, and Malcolm—well, Malcolm was staring at me like I’d just grown a second head.No one answered me. They just exchanged glances like I was some kind of puzzle they couldn’t figure out.“What?” I pressed, throwing up my hands. “Did I say something wrong?”Callum’s jaw tightened, and he muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “Unbelievable.” Asher shook his head and started walking toward
RAIDEN POVI should have gone to school. Hell, I even drove halfway there, my tires kicking up the dusty road as I gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary. But halfway through the winding path, something gnawed at me. The image of Seraphine sitting alone in that house—the cold, suffocating air of Maddox’s shadow looming over her—wouldn’t leave my mind.My hands clenched on the wheel as I imagined Maddox’s towering frame, his sharp, calculating eyes that could strip away your soul. If he suspected Seraphine was hiding anything, he wouldn’t hesitate. He’d crush her. And the way things had been unraveling lately, I had no doubt he was already suspicious.“Damn you, Maddox Gray,” the curse slipped through my teeth as I slowed the car to a stop on the side of the road. My heartbeat was erratic, a mix of fear and dread pounding through me like a relentless drumbeat. I sat there for a moment, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. “Damn it,” I muttered, slamming my p
REED The morning was quiet, but Malcolm’s words thundered in my ears. I sat on the exotic leather couch in the living room, leaning forward, my elbows resting on my knees, fingers steepled under my chin. Across from me, Malcolm paced the floor, his boots scuffing against the hardwood, his face dark with worry.“You’re sure they were Maddox’s men?” I asked, my voice low but firm.Malcolm stopped, turning to face me. “I know what I saw, Reed. They were at Elmswood Forest this morning—right before we left. Same uniforms, same insignias. Maddox knows about her and maybe he might know too much at this rate. Which means he is making a move.”A curse escaped my lips as I rubbed the back of my neck. Elmswood had been our safe house for weeks, and now it wasn’t safe at all. “Don’t you think Raiden might have sent them instead?” I asked, though the words tasted bitter even as I spoke them.Malcom’s brows furrowed as he considered it. “I don’t know. But whoever sent them is up to no good. The g
SERAPHINEThe lingering scent of Maddox clung to my skin like a shackle, a reminder of the power he held over me. I tightened the robe around my body, smoothing the silk against my trembling hands. He had left abruptly, leaving me alone in the room we shared for his twisted games of control. Yet, this time, something was different. That name. The Border Girl. It echoed in my head like a haunting melody, pulling at strings deep within me I didn’t even know still existed. My heart thudded against my ribs as I stood motionless by the door. Maddox’s deep, commanding voice resonated faintly through the walls, just enough for me to catch fragments of his conversation with the servant boy.“Lieutenants… spotted her,” the boy had said, his voice quivering with fear. Maddox’s response had been colder than winter’s bite. “Follow me to my office. This is a conversation that cannot be had here.”The second of their footsteps grew faint as they moved down the hall. My breath hitched, and my fin
ASHERI stood at the doorway of the room, my hand lightly resting on the polished oak frame, watching her. Liana sat by the dresser, her back to us, her reflection caught in the mirror’s glass. She was still as a statue, her hands resting on her lap, eyes unfocused and lost in a world far away.Her chestnut brown hair shimmered under the soft light of the chandelier, but it wasn’t her beauty that caught my attention—it was the look on her face. Something between sadness and disbelief.I nudged Callum in the ribs, my voice low. “She hasn’t even noticed we’re here.”He grinned, but it felt hollow. “Must be really taken by her own reflection. Can’t blame her—it’s not every day someone gets a room like this.”I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Together, we stepped in, the creak of the floorboards breaking the silence.“Enjoying the view?” I asked, my tone deliberately light.Liana blinked, startled, and turned to face us, her cheeks reddening slightly. “Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.”“Cl