---Seraphina’s POVThe corridor was cold, damp, and far too quiet. My breath came in short bursts, my body screaming in protest with every step. But I moved, ignoring the sharp throb in my side. Mara was right behind me, her footsteps light but hurried.Kael led the way, moving like a shadow—quick, precise, eerily calm. He knew exactly where we were going. That should have reassured me. It didn’t.Mara leaned in, her voice barely a whisper. “Tell me again why we’re not stabbing him and running?”Kael didn’t even bother looking back. “Because I have the keys, and you don’t.”Mara made a face. “Smug bastard.”“Yeah,” I muttered. “That’s his whole thing.”Kael suddenly halted, pressing a hand to my stomach to stop me. Pain flared through my ribs, sharp enough to make me suck in a breath. He glanced at me—too quickly, too full of something dangerously close to concern—before shifting his attention forward.“Guards,” he murmured.Mara tensed. “How many?”“Two. Armed.”I exhaled through my
The first thing I noticed was the cold.It seeped into my bones, numbing the pain in my side where Kael’s blade had struck. My wrists ached from the silver shackles, burning against my skin. My head throbbed from whatever magic had knocked me out.But I was alive.Unfortunate for them.I cracked my eyes open, blinking against the dim torchlight. The stone walls around me were damp, lined with old runes that pulsed faintly. A prison.Footsteps echoed.I turned my head, forcing myself to stay still as the cell door creaked open.Kael stepped inside first. Behind him, Varian followed, moving like a king surveying his kingdom. His sharp, golden eyes locked onto me, filled with something dangerous.“You don’t look as dead as I expected,” Varian mused.I bared my teeth. “Disappointed?”Kael exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose like he had a headache. “Can we skip the part where you antagonize the person who holds your life in his hands?”I grinned. “Where’s the fun in that?”Varian chuckl
The forest was alive with whispers.The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant rain. My breath came fast, my pulse still erratic from our escape. Every step sent a sharp ache through my ribs, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.Kael moved beside me, his presence steady, his gaze sharp. He didn’t speak, but I could feel the weight of his thoughts pressing between us.We had escaped Varian. For now. But that didn’t mean we were safe.I glanced at Kael, his face half-lit by the rising sun. His jaw was tight, his movements tense. He wasn’t used to running—at least, not like this.“We need to find shelter,” he said finally, breaking the silence.I frowned. “Shelter? You realize we don’t have the luxury of stopping, right?”“You’re injured.”“I’m fine.”He shot me a look. “You were half-conscious five minutes ago.”I rolled my eyes. “I was dramatic five minutes ago.”Kael exhaled sharply, muttering something under his breath. “Stubborn.”I smirked. “You j
The wind howled through the dense forest, rustling the trees as dawn broke over the horizon. The sky bled shades of orange and pink, casting a golden glow over the dewdrops clinging to the grass.Seraphina sat by the riverbank, her knees drawn to her chest, watching the water ripple against the stones. Her fingers absently traced the curve of her stomach, a slow, steady smile forming on her lips.She had felt it—faint but unmistakable.Life.Her pup.Their pup.Kael’s scent drifted toward her before she heard his footsteps. He was cautious, quiet, still not used to approaching her without expecting a fight. But this was different.She turned before he could speak, her golden eyes locking onto his.Kael froze. “You’re smiling.” His voice was wary, laced with disbelief.Seraphina exhaled a soft laugh, shaking her head. “That’s a normal thing, you know.”Kael arched a brow. “Not for you.”Her smile widened. “Maybe that’s changing.”Something in his expression shifted—uncertainty melting
The full moon hung high in the ink-black sky, casting an eerie glow over the gathering crowd. The air in Crescent Falls was electric, buzzing with anticipation. Tonight was the Alpha’s annual gathering a celebration of pack unity, power, and tradition. But for Seraphina Gray, tonight was more than that. It was the night everything was supposed to change.Her heart pounded as she stood in the centre of the Silver Moon Pack’s grand courtyard, her breath visible in the crisp air. She adjusted her dress a flowing silver gown that hugged her curves and tried to steady her nerves. The murmurs of the pack surrounded her like a tide, threatening to pull her under. They all knew why she was here, why she was glowing with nervous energy.She was turning eighteen. Tonight, the mate bond would activate, and fate would reveal her other half.She scanned the crowd, searching for him. Alpha Kael Ashford.He stood near the grand bonfire, his commanding presence drawing every eye in the crowd. The fir
The clearing felt charged with an electric tension, the air thick enough to choke on. Seraphina froze, her glowing hands trembling at her sides as Kael stepped closer. His eyes were locked on hers, sharp and unrelenting, the Alpha in him radiating authority.“What have you done?” Kael repeated, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.“I didn’t—” she stammered, backing away from the pedestal. The glow on her hands flickered and faded as panic set in. “I didn’t do anything.”“Don’t lie to me.” His growl was low and menacing, sending a shiver down her spine. “That light, those runes—what did you touch?”Seraphina’s back hit a tree, and she stopped, her chest heaving. Her mind raced, searching for an explanation she didn’t have. The voice, the pedestal, the surge of power—it was as much a mystery to her as it was to him.“Nothing,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.Kael didn’t believe her. She could see it in his eyes, the way they burned with suspicion. “You’re lyin
The scent of blood lingered in the air,mingling with the ramp earth as Seraphina stumbled back toward her pack's territory. Every step was a struggle, her body still trembling from the encounter with the shadow creature. Her mind raced, replaying the night's events over and over, the rejection, the pedestal, the fight and Kael's final words.“I won't hesitate to end you myself”.Her wolf whispered in her mind, weak and confused. She had no answers, no explanations for what had just happened. All she had was the suffocating weight of Kael's blame and the terrifying verification that something inside her had awakened- a power she couldn't control,let alone understand.The woods grew darker as she neared the pack's border. The faint glow of crescent falls’ lights flickered through the trees, a reminder of the life she thought she had known. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees,her breath hitching as exhaustion overtook her.“Seraphina”The voice was familiar, soft and conce
Seraphina awoke to the sharp sting of her shoulder wound, the metallic scent of blood heavy in the air. Blinking against the harsh light, she tried to sit up, but her body protested every movement. A low groan escaped her lips.“You’re awake.”Kael’s voice was low, flat, and far from comforting. He stood by the window of what appeared to be a small, dimly lit cabin. The stormy gray of his eyes didn’t soften as he turned to face her.“What… where am I?” Seraphina rasped, her throat dry.Kael crossed the room in two swift strides, towering over her as he scrutinized her condition. “You passed out after your brilliant idea to take on a rogue with no plan. I had to carry you back to the outpost.”“Carry me? You mean you carried me in here? Why? How?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief and embarrassment.“Just thank me and stop questioning me, you fainted in the middle of everything, you are too weak” he said sarcastically, crossing his arms.She pushed herself up on the cot, her
The wind howled through the dense forest, rustling the trees as dawn broke over the horizon. The sky bled shades of orange and pink, casting a golden glow over the dewdrops clinging to the grass.Seraphina sat by the riverbank, her knees drawn to her chest, watching the water ripple against the stones. Her fingers absently traced the curve of her stomach, a slow, steady smile forming on her lips.She had felt it—faint but unmistakable.Life.Her pup.Their pup.Kael’s scent drifted toward her before she heard his footsteps. He was cautious, quiet, still not used to approaching her without expecting a fight. But this was different.She turned before he could speak, her golden eyes locking onto his.Kael froze. “You’re smiling.” His voice was wary, laced with disbelief.Seraphina exhaled a soft laugh, shaking her head. “That’s a normal thing, you know.”Kael arched a brow. “Not for you.”Her smile widened. “Maybe that’s changing.”Something in his expression shifted—uncertainty melting
The forest was alive with whispers.The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant rain. My breath came fast, my pulse still erratic from our escape. Every step sent a sharp ache through my ribs, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.Kael moved beside me, his presence steady, his gaze sharp. He didn’t speak, but I could feel the weight of his thoughts pressing between us.We had escaped Varian. For now. But that didn’t mean we were safe.I glanced at Kael, his face half-lit by the rising sun. His jaw was tight, his movements tense. He wasn’t used to running—at least, not like this.“We need to find shelter,” he said finally, breaking the silence.I frowned. “Shelter? You realize we don’t have the luxury of stopping, right?”“You’re injured.”“I’m fine.”He shot me a look. “You were half-conscious five minutes ago.”I rolled my eyes. “I was dramatic five minutes ago.”Kael exhaled sharply, muttering something under his breath. “Stubborn.”I smirked. “You j
The first thing I noticed was the cold.It seeped into my bones, numbing the pain in my side where Kael’s blade had struck. My wrists ached from the silver shackles, burning against my skin. My head throbbed from whatever magic had knocked me out.But I was alive.Unfortunate for them.I cracked my eyes open, blinking against the dim torchlight. The stone walls around me were damp, lined with old runes that pulsed faintly. A prison.Footsteps echoed.I turned my head, forcing myself to stay still as the cell door creaked open.Kael stepped inside first. Behind him, Varian followed, moving like a king surveying his kingdom. His sharp, golden eyes locked onto me, filled with something dangerous.“You don’t look as dead as I expected,” Varian mused.I bared my teeth. “Disappointed?”Kael exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose like he had a headache. “Can we skip the part where you antagonize the person who holds your life in his hands?”I grinned. “Where’s the fun in that?”Varian chuckl
---Seraphina’s POVThe corridor was cold, damp, and far too quiet. My breath came in short bursts, my body screaming in protest with every step. But I moved, ignoring the sharp throb in my side. Mara was right behind me, her footsteps light but hurried.Kael led the way, moving like a shadow—quick, precise, eerily calm. He knew exactly where we were going. That should have reassured me. It didn’t.Mara leaned in, her voice barely a whisper. “Tell me again why we’re not stabbing him and running?”Kael didn’t even bother looking back. “Because I have the keys, and you don’t.”Mara made a face. “Smug bastard.”“Yeah,” I muttered. “That’s his whole thing.”Kael suddenly halted, pressing a hand to my stomach to stop me. Pain flared through my ribs, sharp enough to make me suck in a breath. He glanced at me—too quickly, too full of something dangerously close to concern—before shifting his attention forward.“Guards,” he murmured.Mara tensed. “How many?”“Two. Armed.”I exhaled through my
SeraphinaPain.That was the first thing I registered when I surfaced from the darkness. A deep, burning agony in my side, pulsing with every shallow breath I took. It was a constant, throbbing ache, reminding me that I was still alive. Unfortunately.The second thing was voices. Low, distant murmurs threading through my hazy thoughts.“…should have been more careful.”“I got the shot in, didn’t I?”“You nearly killed her.”“She’ll live.”Their words floated around me, barely registering through the fog of pain and exhaustion. My head lolled to the side, and I forced my eyes open, blinking against the dim torchlight. The room was blurry at first—just dark stone walls, shadows flickering across the damp floor.I shifted, or tried to. Something heavy and cold bit into my wrists and ankles. Chains.Well, that wasn’t good.I exhaled sharply, my throat dry and raw. “If you’re done talking about me like I’m not here, maybe one of you could be polite enough to tell me where the hell I am?”T
---“You’re bleeding.”I blinked, my vision still swimming from the exhaustion. Luca’s face hovered in front of mine, his brows furrowed.“It’s not my blood,” I muttered, wiping at my forehead and smearing more of the crimson mess across my skin.Mara snorted. “Yeah, that’s comforting.”Luca didn’t look amused. “You need to rest.”“I need to get out of here,” I shot back. “Then I’ll rest.”His jaw clenched. “Seraphina—”“Don’t start.” I pushed past him, ignoring the way my limbs screamed in protest. The Raven Clan was still behind us, and standing around debating my health wasn’t going to keep us alive.We moved in silence, our steps quick but cautious as we wove through the thick forest. The sounds of pursuit had faded, but that meant nothing. The Raven Clan didn’t make mistakes. If they weren’t right on our heels, it was because they wanted us to think we were safe.And I wasn’t about to fall for it.“Do you think they’ve given up?” Mara asked quietly.I scoffed. “Have they ever giv
She walked with them as they stepped outside. Seraphina’s vision blurred as the adrenaline that had fueled her through the fight began to drain from her body. The cool night air was a shock to her system, and the faint scent of damp earth and smoke filled her lungs. The battle had ended, but her own war was far from over.Luca didn’t slow down. His grip on her was firm, and though she was barely conscious, she could feel his resolve. He wasn’t going to let her fall behind, not now, not when they were so close to freedom. He kept moving, his warriors at his side, sweeping the area as they made their way toward the hidden exit from the compound.“I’m sorry, Luna,” Mara’s voice came from beside them, soft but filled with concern. “We didn’t—”“Don’t apologize,” Seraphina cut her off, her voice hoarse. “You did your part. All of you did.”Luca’s pace quickened. The sound of pursuit wasn’t far behind, but he was determined to get them out of the Raven Clan's grasp. The distant echoes of th
“We need to move,” she said, her tone urgent. She looked at the wounded scouts. “Can you fight?”One of the scouts, a woman named Mara, nodded, her face grim but resolute. “We’ll follow your lead, Luna.”Seraphina nodded once, then turned to the rest of her team. “We’re heading for the exit. Keep your eyes open. The Raven Clan won’t just let us walk out of here.”They moved quickly through the hallways, but the further they went, the more the tension in the air thickened. The sound of distant shouting reached their ears—someone had discovered the break-in."Stay close!" Seraphina commanded, her voice firm. “We’re not out of this yet.”Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the corridors, followed by the rapid pounding of feet. More guards were coming.Seraphina’s warriors formed a defensive line in front of her, weapons drawn, ready for the fight. She could feel the pressure mounting, but she refused to let it show. Not now. Not when they were so close.“Luna, we can’t keep them at bay
Luca’s eyes narrowed as he weighed the situation. "We can't just rush in blindly, Seraphina. The mountains are treacherous, and if the Raven Clan has set up defenses—""We don’t have time for caution," Seraphina interrupted, her voice low and sharp. "Those scouts are counting on us. Every minute we waste, they’re one step closer to death."Luca clenched his jaw but didn’t argue. He understood the urgency just as well as she did. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll go in prepared. But we need reinforcements. And a strategy.”“I’ll lead a smaller group,” Seraphina suggested, her eyes flashing with determination. “We’ll move quickly, hit them hard. You stay back with the main force. If anything goes wrong, we’ll need you to coordinate the backup.”Luca hesitated for a moment, clearly torn. But in the end, he nodded. “I don’t like it, but I know you won’t back down.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm, his gaze unwavering. “Just come back to me.”Seraphina looked up at him, her expressio