{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
Sera This is a bad idea. This is a really bad idea. At my side, Kael snorted, "Relax, we're going to be fine." Damn it, I didn't even know I'd said that out loud. I must have said it about a thousand times since we left Joel with my parents and drove into the town. Even though it's late, the streets are still teeming with people, most businesses still very much active. The car eventually pulls over at a quaint bar with neon lights welcoming us. I don't wait for Kael to come around to open my car door, slipping out as soon as the engines go off. Together, we walk into the bar, and I'm immediately blown away by the interior. I expected it to be another raggedy sports bar with too many creeps and cheap beer, but the inside is tastefully decorated and the environment is serene. "Oh wow." "Told you to trust me," he shot me a smug look, leading me a table at the back. "It still doesn't change the fact that us being out here isn't safe. Not with those things on the loose," I whispered.
Sera Throughout the drive to Kael's house, all I could do was tremble with the need for him. The city lights outside the window were one big blur as the car raced down the streets. My head was swirling with alcohol, and I couldn't even be bothered to think about how people I cared about had died on a night just as normal as this one. We barely made it through his bedroom door before our mouths were fused together, a moan vibrating in my throat as I grasped the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. "Are you sure about this?" He pulled away to ask me, pressing open mouthed kisses to my jaw and neck. Desire curled through me, settling in my stomach like a lead ball, and I shivered at the feel of his mouth on me. "yes." I gasped. "Tell me that this isn't just the_" I didn't know exactly what he wanted to say, and neither did I want to hear it. I covered my mouth with his, cutting off the rest of his words. The alcohol flowing through my veins is giving me the perfect chance to be
Chapter 27KaelI blinked in shock as Sera's eyes lolled to the back of her head and she began to fall. I flew forward immediately, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her back into my body. "Sera?" I called. Only then did I notice the dark circles around her eyes and how thin her skin was, blue veins visible on her lids. I brushed her hair away from her face, pushing the loose strands behind her ears. I lifted her into my arms and dropped her down on the bed. I wiped her with wet wipes, wincing when I realized we hadn't used protection. But then again, we had been too heated up to even think of anything like that. Now that the momemt was over, logical reasoning returned with a vengeance. We had bigger fish to fry than this attraction between us, like for example, whatever the whole princess and Voltrak thing was. But we had needed this too, or we'd have cracked down the middle from the pressure of it all. As I turned to walk out of the room, my phone sudden started buzzing. I
Sera"W-what do you mean she's gone?" I managed to stammer out the words, glancing between my parents and waiting for them to tell me this was a prank. "She wasn't in her bed," mum explained, eyes shining with tears, "We searched_" I snorted, "Did you really?" "Hey that's not fair," my father quickly piped up, always ready to defend her, "we did the best we could. We searched the house and set out a search party." "How can one little girl just disappear from the house under your watch!" I growled. It had only been a few days of her being under my care, and I refused to believe that I'd completely fucked things up in a such a short amount of time. My best friend had left her kid in my care and I'd ditched the kid to go and hook up with a man who I wasn't even supposed to be giving the time of the day. The familiar headache that had plagued me the past few days resurfaced again, my head pulsing with the force of it. "She couldn't just have disappeared," I said, throat feeling tight
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