༺ KaelThe next day, I woke up with a clearer head and thankfully, Rebecca had left the house very early to goddess alone knows where. As there was nothing more to do - and specifically because I had no interest to stay at home till she gets back and start one of her rants, I quickly showered, prepared and headed to Sera's house.Her parents were in the sitting room, engaged in a heated conversation when I got there and let myself in. They stopped talking as they noticed me and her mother's face stretchrd into a grin as she got up to greet me.“Kael! How are you doing?”I returned her smile, cringing slightly when she gave me an embrace, “I'm fine, thank you. I'm here to see Sera…if she's around.”Her smile dropped slightly, and she exchanged a glance with her husband before turning to me with an odd expression.“I noticed you have been visiting Seraphina a lot these days and…well we are just concerned. Your wife recently died and we know…we know the relationship you had with Sera an
“Seraphina…”The beautiful and delicious way my name rolled off Kael's tongue - the shivers it gave me made me to applaud myself for a while for being able to say no at the first place. That had taken all my self will, all the strength I had. It had taken everything to break free from the hold of his eyes, the fire burning through me, wanting to be quenched. The fire that still burned from my heart to the sensitive spot between my legs.“Seraphina….”“No!” I snapped - which was how I intended the word to come out but it just came out as a whimper. I cleared my throat, “No, Kael. We can't…I can't have you do this to me. No! This is not going to happen.”“You can't keep running from this forever Sera,” he said carefully and took a step closer to me, “you can't.”“Well you refused to reject me so running from it forever is what I fully intend to do.” “Mmmhmmm.” He took another step, his eyes boring into mine, “how long do you think you can be able to hide from your own desires, Seraphin
I was shaking in anger as I stormed into my room. My parewnts had been in the sitting room talking about something but i didnt care to pause or stop to greet them - i was too angry to pay heed to anyone.Once i got to my room, i flung myself to the bed, and shut my eyes tightly as if thet would, in any way take away the anger or the whole reality of the mess surrounding me. It didnt.The anger only built because closing my eyes made me remember the princess slash monster and her words. /You cannot stop them./So what then is the point of all these? What exactl;y were we doing here? If we cannot stop them, if really nothing can be done that means i was just wastoing my precious time. Might as well just sit, live my alive and allow the monsters to kill and kill until they get to me. At least i knew what waws coming and whatever time i had left i could make use of it to live to the fullest.But it didnt make any sense. If truly nothing could be done about this - if there was truly n
{Kael’s POV}I was so fucked. I thought to myself for like the millionth time in the last ten minutes as I caught my gaze flickering to my cell phone - AGAIN.What the fuck was I expecting?I scoffed and shook my head, almost disgusted by how pathetic I have become.Because why else would I be sitting here, past midnight expecting and hoping for a call from Sera. Sera who hardly calls me ever.But here we were - expecting. I needed to hear her voice - but I couldn't call her myself because I had promised to keep some respectable distance until she said otherwise.However, with each passing minute it was getting more unbearably difficult resisting the urge to pick up my phone and dial her phone - for anything at all. Perhaps use our mission to hear her voice even for just a second so I could breath and go to bed.Another sigh left my lips and I looked up at the ceiling.Damn mating heat.What have I done to deserve this amount of punishment from the universe?I groaned and turned, la
{Sera's POV}The more I discovered, the more mysterious this whole thing became. To be honest,I was starting to wish that I was running into dead ends, at least that way, I’d have known I wasn’t making any progress. Prophecies? damn reborn witches? It was like something from a paranormal movie and I was begin to get a goddamn headache. In the movies or books, there would always be a little clue leading to the next step, but the reality was far different. How was I supposed to stop what had killed Thalia, my best friend and was steadily butchering the towns people if I couldn’t even figure out what it was and what it wanted now? I turned my parents’ book upside down, flipped through the pages again, and again, and then once more for extra measure, but there was still nothing. “Damn it,” I exclaimed with an exhausted sigh. More than ever, it felt like I was failing everybody by not getting to the bottom of this. I knew it wasn’t my duty, but it felt like this was my destiny. Where w
{Sera } My eyes flew open and my gaze landed right on my partially open window. Blinking to clear the sleep out of my eyes, I sat up, a little bit disoriented. My confusion only increased as I stared around the room, dimly lit by the moonlight pouring into it. Where am I? I wondered. There was nothing familiar about the room, and for a second, I thought that I'd accidentally walked into one of those weird portals. Suddenly, a shattering sound tore through the serenity of the night. I jerked in bed, jumping out immediately as a cold tingle raced up my spine. Without hesitation, I walked out the room. "Run!" A man's voice screamed from below the stairs followed by a woman's shrill scream. My fight instincts kicked in immediately and I began to race down the hallway in the direction of the noise. A growl echoed around the house, making me pause momentarily. "Please! Please!" The woman screamed again. I broke into the landing of the stairs and from my position, I could see d
Kael "I need you." I checked the caller ID to confirm that it was Sera speaking, "What's wrong?" "Can you j-just come over? Like, right now?" Her voice was shaky in a way I'd never heard her sound before. One thing I both hated and liked about Sera was how independent and capable she was, but it also meant that asking for help even when she truly needed it was almost impossible for her. The fact that she was calling me at the dead of the night to come over meant that something really serious had happened. So, I didn't hesitate, "I'll be there in twenty. Or less." I'd break all the speed limits to get there if I had to. I hung up and reached for my car key, but at that moment, the sound of a hiccup reached me. Damn it, I'd forgotten that I couldn't exactly leave my son here and drive across town. I hadn't told Sera about the baby and the entire drama yet, but it seemed I'd have no choice tonight. I couldn't exactly show up with a baby and no explanation. I picked up Joel
Kael A chill ran through me at her words, "What do you mean by death?" I asked slowly even though some part of me knew exactly what she meant. She swallowed and looked nervous all of a sudden. The look didn't suit her at all, and I wanted to go to her and wrap my arms around her, but I wasn't sure the move would be appreciated, so I kept my damn hands to myself. "I don't know what it was, or why i was there, but I was there," she began, "I watched that monster tear my parents apart, butcher them like they were nothing. It was horrifying to watch." Her eyes met mine, wet with tears, "They must have been so afraid. But at least they had each other. Brenda wasn't alone either." I knew exactly where this was going and I didn't want to hear it, because it was my fault Thalia had been alone when it came for her. Or maybe it'd never have gotten to her if she had been in the house, if I hadn't driven her off with my words. Guilt soared my belly and I walked over to her bed to put Joel do
The first thing I noticed was the cold. It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge. Panic crawled up my throat. I forced my eyes open. Darkness. A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air. I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists. Tied. My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing. I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore. The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the door had swung open -figures moving fast - hands grabbing me - something cove
The first thing I noticed was the cold. It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge. Panic crawled up my throat. I forced my eyes open. Darkness. A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air. I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists. Tied. My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing. I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore. The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the door had swung open -figures moving fast - hands grabbing me - something covering my mo
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was electric, a stark contrast to the tense exchange I had just had with Roy and Shayla. As Jax led me through the opulent space, I couldn’t help but marvel at the elegant décor—crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the gathered guests. The scent of gourmet food wafted through the air, mingling with the soft hum of laughter and conversation. It was like stepping into a different world. “Do you see that table?” Jax pointed to a long table adorned with an impressive spread of delicacies and surrounded by the elite members of the pack. “That’s where the Alphas and their betas are seated. I want you to meet them.” My heart raced. Would they see me as an outsider? Just moments ago, I had been nothing more than a target for ridicule. Now, I was stepping into a world filled with power and prestige, all thanks to Jax. I swallowed hard, my stomach fluttering with nerves. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” I confessed,
Sera "So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with m
Sera"So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with more que
"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head. I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon. I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on? My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_ Oh goddess. I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done. "The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints." I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People were coming this way and apparently, they were in search of a beast. There was no nee
Sera"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head. I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon. I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on? My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_Oh goddess. I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done. "The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints." I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People were coming this way and apparently, they were in search of a beast. There was no need t
Sera"Wake up," a voice whispered urgently in my head.I came to with a gasp, jerking upright and gasping for air. I stared around, trying to determine where I was. It was barely dawn, the skies still a little bit dark, and the moon starting to sink below the horizon.I tried to climb to my feet, but ended up stumbling to the ground, feeling too weak and drained. What the hell was going on?My memories were foggy at best, but I could remember going to the zoo, and then_Oh goddess.I jumped to my feet, sudden energized. I needed to figure out where I was and how I'd gotten here. I had a feeling I knew how I had gotten here though, the main question was how much damage had I done."The beast went this way!" I heard someone cry, "I can see it's footprints."I held my breath as I heard the sound of boots crunching against dried leaves and twigs. And then I saw flash lights waving around. People
Sera"So you heard about the eclipse," Madison said as I approached her. I nodded, hugging the backpack containing my parents book to my chest. Since I'd picked it up at the alley, I'd been wary of losing it again. The mystery of how it had burned iny house but still somehow been delivered back to me still haunted me. Too many mysteries haunted me at this point. I couldn't think about them now though. Even though every part of me rebelled at the thought of wasting another day in a damned cafe while Rose was getting farther and farther away from me, I knew that I'd be no use to her tonight. "The answers you seek are on this ground," I muttered under my breath, staring around the zoo. I didn't even know the questions I was supposed to be asking anymore, not to talk of the answers. I shook my head, shutting down that line of reasoning. Madison and I made our way to the cage in relative silence. The two times I'd come to this zoo in search of answers, it had only ended with more ques