Chapter 5

Seraphina’s heart raced as she made her way through the forest, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and anger. The cool night air was sharp against her skin, but the chill had nothing on the turmoil brewing inside her. She couldn’t stop thinking about the rogue wolf that had attacked her, the coldness in Rhea’s voice, and the strange tension that hung between her and Kael. It all felt like a web, and she was tangled right in the middle of it.

“Why are they after me?” she muttered aloud, her voice breaking the silence of the night. Her eyes scanned the shadows, half-expecting another rogue to appear, though she was certain the forest was empty. The wind rustled through the trees, whispering secrets she couldn’t understand. “What have I done wrong?”

She thought back to the events of the past few days—the attack on the rogue pack, Kael’s sharp words, and Rhea’s cutting comments. It all pointed to something bigger than she could comprehend. The rogues weren’t just random, they were after her. But why? She wasn’t important enough for anyone to come after her. Was she?

Her thoughts drifted to Rhea. The woman had appeared out of nowhere, a flash of red that had dispatched the rogue with frightening speed and precision. There had been no hesitation, no mercy. Rhea had been fierce—powerful, and yet, there had been a coldness in her eyes, an icy edge to her presence that had sent a shiver down Seraphina’s spine.

Who was she really?

Seraphina’s mind kept circling back to Rhea. The woman had a commanding aura, one that even Kael seemed to respect. There was no denying the bond between them—the way Rhea’s very presence had softened Kael, even for just a moment. It didn’t take much to notice the unspoken connection between them. But Rhea’s words had been laced with something darker, a promise that Seraphina wasn’t welcome. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Rhea saw her as an obstacle—something to be crushed underfoot, something insignificant.

And yet, the way Rhea had killed that rogue in seconds… It was like watching a predator in its element. A true alpha, Seraphina thought bitterly. Too bad I’m not even close.

“Why did she help me?” Seraphina whispered to the night, her voice echoing through the trees. “What does she want from me?”

She continued walking, her steps slow and deliberate as she tried to make sense of it all. The forest seemed alive around her, the shadows thick and oppressive. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t stop the flood of questions coursing through her mind. The pain in her shoulder had faded to a dull throb, but the emotional turmoil was far worse. She felt like a stranger in her own skin.

Her mind kept drifting back to Kael. He’d carried her when she’d collapsed, despite his harsh words. His scorn had been sharp, but it hadn’t been entirely unfounded. She had been reckless, and Maya had nearly paid the price for it. But Kael’s anger had felt personal, like something deeper than just disappointment. It unsettled her, made her question everything she thought she knew about him.

As she walked, her gaze shifted to the distant horizon, where the lights of the outpost flickered faintly in the distance. She was almost home. But the thought of returning there brought no comfort.

“What am I supposed to do now?” Seraphina muttered, her voice soft as she spoke to no one but herself.

She hadn’t even realized she’d been talking aloud until a voice broke through the silence.

“You’re asking the wrong questions.”

Seraphina froze. Her heart skipped a beat. The voice was too familiar. It was Kael’s.

She turned, half-expecting to see him standing there, his gray eyes narrowed in irritation. But when she did turn, the forest was empty. No Kael. No sign of anyone. The voice, though—had it really been him?

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, her body stiffened, as though she was being watched. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was out there, lurking in the shadows.

“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice trembling more than she liked to admit.

The wind rustled in the trees. Nothing.

She cursed under her breath and continued walking, faster now, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. Every shadow seemed to stretch toward her, every sound magnified in the stillness of the night.

Stop being paranoid, she told herself. You’re just tired.

But deep down, she knew it wasn’t just exhaustion. It was fear. The fear that whatever had come for her was still out there. Waiting.

As she neared the cabin, a figure appeared in the distance. At first, she thought it was just her mind playing tricks on her, but as the figure grew closer, she recognized the tall, commanding shape. Rhea.

“Are you following me?” Seraphina demanded, her voice steady despite the churn of unease in her stomach.

Rhea’s lips twitched into a knowing smile. “I’m not following you,” she replied coolly, crossing her arms over her chest. “But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in your little walk.”

Seraphina’s fists clenched at her sides, but she fought to keep her voice calm. “What do you want from me?”

Rhea stepped closer, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “It’s not what I want from you, it’s what you’re going to do next. What kind of future are you hoping for, little Luna?”

The words struck deep, as though Rhea had just thrown a knife straight into her heart. Luna. The title stung in ways Seraphina couldn’t explain. She wasn’t anyone’s Luna—not anymore. Kael had made that clear.

“I’m not a Luna,” Seraphina said through gritted teeth. “And I don’t owe you anything.”

Rhea’s smile faltered, just for a second, before it returned—sharp, predatory. “We’ll see about that.”

With a sudden movement, Rhea stepped back into the shadows, blending seamlessly into the darkness. “Just remember,” she called back over her shoulder, “the wolves aren’t your only threat. You’d do well to remember that.”

And then she was gone.

Seraphina stood there, her heart racing, trying to process the encounter. The wolves aren’t your only threat. The words echoed in her mind, leaving a heavy weight in her chest.

She was no closer to understanding what was really happening, but one thing was clear: Rhea wasn’t just a threat to her—she was a warning. And Seraphina had no idea how to navigate the storm that was brewing.

When she finally made it back to the cabin, Maya was waiting for her by the door, her face drawn with concern.

“Sera, where were you? Been searching all over for you” Maya asked, her voice tight with worry.

“I… needed some air,” Seraphina replied, trying to mask the unease in her tone. “I’m fine.”

But Maya’s sharp gaze didn’t miss a thing. “You don’t look fine.”

Seraphina exhaled slowly, her eyes drifting to the cabin’s door. “Maya, I don’t know what’s going on. The rogues—they were after me. And there was a lady, I can't remember her name, she helped me or I would have been eaten alive already... I don’t understand why she helped me, or what any of this means.”

Maya was silent for a long moment before she stepped closer. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’ll get through this together, okay?”

Seraphina nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She wanted to believe that, wanted to trust in her friend’s words. But something deep inside her told her that this fight was far from over—and that the danger lurking in the shadows was much bigger than she could ever imagine.

And as the night stretched on, Seraphina’s thoughts kept returning to the same question. What did Rhea mean by that?

She was no closer to the answer, but the weight of it pressed heavily on her chest.

For now, all Seraphina could do was try to stay one step ahead of the dangers closing in around her. And hope, against all odds, that she could survive whatever was coming next just like she has been surviving others.