SERENA’S POV
The hand over my mouth feels like iron—unyielding, cold, and crushing. I want to scream—Goddess, I need to scream—but all that comes out is a strangled, muffled whimper. My chest heaves, my breath shallow, desperate to break free of the suffocating grip that holds me. The figure behind me is solid, unyielding, his arm locking around my waist like a steel band. He drags me back into the shadows with terrifying speed, each step thudding against the ground as I kick and thrash, trying to twist out of his grasp. But it’s useless. His hold doesn’t waver—not even for a second. His body feels like a wall of stone.
My heart slams against my ribs, every beat a frantic, panicked drum. Fear pulses through me, hot and overwhelming. Luna and Cassidy spin around at the sound of my muffled cries, their eyes widening in shock. The expressions on their faces shift from confusi
SERENA'S POVHis voice tears through the night like a thunderclap."SERENA!"That vicious snarl echoes across the courtyard, booming from the mansion like a wrathful god has awoken. The air around us seems to ripple with the weight of his fury. I freeze, my breath caught in my throat as that all-too-familiar energy crackles in the wind—raw, powerful, dangerous. The ground almost vibrates beneath our feet, and the charged magic of the night seems to shudder in fear.He isn't just calling me.He's summoning me.I turn slowly toward the building, eyes wide. The windows of the top floor glow faintly, like some angry spirit pacing behind them, twisting the darkness into something darker. Even from this distance, I can feel him—his aura whipping through the night like a hurricane made of pure rage. It's as though his very presence has bent
SERENA’S POV"Duplication spell."The words reverberate in my mind like a haunting melody, a constant echo I can’t seem to silence. I stare at Luna, my heart pounding against my ribs, my pulse a wild thing thrumming beneath my skin. My lips part, ready to ask what she means, but before I can utter a single word, the idea hits me like a rush of wind through an open window.My eyes snap wide.Luna sees it—sees the shift, the sudden spark igniting behind my gaze. Her knowing nod tells me everything: You’ve figured it out.“That…” I whisper, my voice barely more than a breath. “That’s actually a damn good plan.”I try to keep the tremor out of my voice, but it slips through. Fear coils in my gut like a restless serpent, tight and unyielding. Every second we waste here is a se
SERENA’S POVThe night air is cool on my skin as Damon holds me close, carrying me as though I’m the most precious thing in the world. His strong, steady arms beneath me feel reassuring, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat vibrating against my cheek as I rest my head against his chest. It’s the only sound I focus on as we finally reach the apartment, my heart pounding—not just from the run, not just from the fear, but from the overwhelming swirl of emotions inside me: relief, joy, love... hunger.Damon pushes the door open, the scent of warm takeout and something faintly herbal filling the air, but there’s something else too—a tension, thick and unspoken. Inside, his friends are sprawled across the living room, a deck of cards scattered across the table between them. Brian, Ryan, and Brooke all look up in unison, their eyes widening slightly as they take in the sight of Damon cra
DAMON'S POVI can't help it. The need claws at me, an overwhelming tide that’s been building for hours, days, maybe longer. It’s a physical ache deep in my gut, a frantic energy buzzing just beneath my skin. And now… now she’s here. Right in front of me, in my apartment, the very place my fantasies have played out a thousand times. There’s nothing between us, no watchful eyes, no imminent interruption – at least, not yet.I know this is borrowed time. A stolen moment before the world, before her father, inevitably discovers she’s gone and rips her away again. That knowledge sharpens the edge of my desire, making every second precious, potent. There’s no room for discussion, no time for hesitant talk. Action is the only language that makes sense right now.With a low growl rising in my chest, I surge forward, pinning her against the cool wood of
DAMON'S POVHer words, raw and demanding – "Give me all of you. Now." – resonate deep within the core of my being, echoing through me like a physical blow. They send a powerful tremor down my spine, a vibration that has absolutely nothing to do with the lingering, pleasant tension of bringing her to a shattering release just moments before. This is something new, something fiercely reciprocal. My gaze locks with hers, instantly captivated, drowning in the brilliant, almost feverish shine that illuminates her eyes from within. I see the deep, becoming flush staining her high cheekbones, spreading down her neck – undeniable, visceral proof of the inferno I deliberately stoked within her soul. An inferno that now rages with an almost desperate need for completion, for absolute possession. She wants me. All of me. Badly. The knowledge is a potent drug, intoxicating and overwhelmingly satisfying.A lo
SERENA’S POVThe warmth still lingers between us—tender, quiet, and deeply comforting.I tug my shirt over my head and smooth my hair down with a soft exhale as Damon finishes buttoning his jeans. There's a softness in his gaze, a kind of afterglow that transcends the physical—it's emotional, magnetic, and hard to look away from. We don’t need to speak. The way he reaches over and intertwines our fingers says more than a thousand whispered words ever could. We’re wrapped in something real, something deeper than desire.As we step out of the room and descend the winding spiral staircase, the low hum of laughter and conversation rises to greet us. Down in the cozy living area, Luna, Ryan, and Brooke sit huddled around a rustic wooden table, a deck of cards splayed between them like a colorful puzzle. Luna’s fingers move with elegant flair, each shuffle deliber
SERENA'S POVThe moment Brian and Cassidy step into the living room from their hiding place, I see it in their eyes. That shimmer of gold, pulsing beneath the surface like molten metal struggling to break free, tells me everything I need to know. It's their werewolf instincts kicking in—heightened senses, sharpened awareness, primal intuition thrumming beneath human skin. We were not the only ones who felt it. That oppressive pressure in the air, like the sky itself dropped a few feet lower, crushing us beneath its invisible weight. That split-second stretch of time, how the shadows dragged just a little too long, as if something unseen pulled at them, toying with reality itself. Something is terribly, dangerously wrong.Cassidy's eyes narrow, sweeping over the large space like a blade ready to strike. Her posture shifts, muscles coiling tight beneath her skin, tense and poised like a predator se
SERENA'S POV The fear around me isn’t just thick—it’s suffocating, pressing into my chest with invisible hands, making it hard to breathe. It’s not panic. It’s worse. It’s the knowing kind—the kind that seeps into your bones when your body realizes you might not survive.Vampires pour into the room like a flood let loose. Their eyes burn with frenzy, fangs gleam wet with blood, and every last one of them is locked on me. I can feel their hunger like heat against my skin. My breath catches in my throat, shallow and useless. My legs refuse to move. Every muscle in my body screams to run, to fight, to do something—but I can’t even figure out where to go. There’s nowhere safe. No space left.“Hold the line!” Damon’s voice slices through the chaos like thunder cracking the sky.And then—just like that—they’re around me.Damon, Cassidy, Luna, Brooke, Ryan, Brian—they close ranks with the kind of coordination that only comes from shared survival. It’s instinctual. Protective. Fierce. They d
SERENA'S POVThe pain is indescribable—beyond any human language's capacity to capture its essence.It's not just in my head—it is my head in its entirety. It feels like someone's driving razor-sharp claws straight into the soft tissue of my brain, methodically twisting and shredding every coherent thought, every cherished memory, every fundamental shred of who I am at my core. I can't breathe through the agony. I can't form a single rational thought.I can barely maintain a sense that I exist at all.Isabella watches me with predatory intensity, her expression twisted into a sick, delighted smile that reveals too many teeth. Her glowing crimson eyes drink in my excruciating pain like it's an exquisite feast prepared solely for her consumption. There's unmistakable hunger there. Desperate, primal need. Something infinitely deeper and more disturbing
SERENA'S POVThe air turns heavier with every breath I take. It doesn't just press on my chest—it crushes it with the weight of impending doom. Like trying to breathe through viscous tar. Thick. Suffocating. Oppressive. Every labored inhale feels like it might be the last, my lungs straining against an invisible force that seeks to silence me forever.I see it in the others too—the unmistakable strain, the slow, painful unraveling of their strength. Damon's broad shoulders sag visibly, his normally perfect stance losing the military precision that usually defines him. His once-fluid movements grow increasingly sluggish, as if he's fighting through waist-deep water, each strike requiring double the effort. Cassidy stumbles mid-swipe, her dancer's grace momentarily abandoning her as she barely dodges a vampire's yellowed claw that slices the air mere inches from her flushed face. A fraction slower and her fles
SERENA'S POV The fear around me isn’t just thick—it’s suffocating, pressing into my chest with invisible hands, making it hard to breathe. It’s not panic. It’s worse. It’s the knowing kind—the kind that seeps into your bones when your body realizes you might not survive.Vampires pour into the room like a flood let loose. Their eyes burn with frenzy, fangs gleam wet with blood, and every last one of them is locked on me. I can feel their hunger like heat against my skin. My breath catches in my throat, shallow and useless. My legs refuse to move. Every muscle in my body screams to run, to fight, to do something—but I can’t even figure out where to go. There’s nowhere safe. No space left.“Hold the line!” Damon’s voice slices through the chaos like thunder cracking the sky.And then—just like that—they’re around me.Damon, Cassidy, Luna, Brooke, Ryan, Brian—they close ranks with the kind of coordination that only comes from shared survival. It’s instinctual. Protective. Fierce. They d
SERENA'S POVThe moment Brian and Cassidy step into the living room from their hiding place, I see it in their eyes. That shimmer of gold, pulsing beneath the surface like molten metal struggling to break free, tells me everything I need to know. It's their werewolf instincts kicking in—heightened senses, sharpened awareness, primal intuition thrumming beneath human skin. We were not the only ones who felt it. That oppressive pressure in the air, like the sky itself dropped a few feet lower, crushing us beneath its invisible weight. That split-second stretch of time, how the shadows dragged just a little too long, as if something unseen pulled at them, toying with reality itself. Something is terribly, dangerously wrong.Cassidy's eyes narrow, sweeping over the large space like a blade ready to strike. Her posture shifts, muscles coiling tight beneath her skin, tense and poised like a predator se
SERENA’S POVThe warmth still lingers between us—tender, quiet, and deeply comforting.I tug my shirt over my head and smooth my hair down with a soft exhale as Damon finishes buttoning his jeans. There's a softness in his gaze, a kind of afterglow that transcends the physical—it's emotional, magnetic, and hard to look away from. We don’t need to speak. The way he reaches over and intertwines our fingers says more than a thousand whispered words ever could. We’re wrapped in something real, something deeper than desire.As we step out of the room and descend the winding spiral staircase, the low hum of laughter and conversation rises to greet us. Down in the cozy living area, Luna, Ryan, and Brooke sit huddled around a rustic wooden table, a deck of cards splayed between them like a colorful puzzle. Luna’s fingers move with elegant flair, each shuffle deliber
DAMON'S POVHer words, raw and demanding – "Give me all of you. Now." – resonate deep within the core of my being, echoing through me like a physical blow. They send a powerful tremor down my spine, a vibration that has absolutely nothing to do with the lingering, pleasant tension of bringing her to a shattering release just moments before. This is something new, something fiercely reciprocal. My gaze locks with hers, instantly captivated, drowning in the brilliant, almost feverish shine that illuminates her eyes from within. I see the deep, becoming flush staining her high cheekbones, spreading down her neck – undeniable, visceral proof of the inferno I deliberately stoked within her soul. An inferno that now rages with an almost desperate need for completion, for absolute possession. She wants me. All of me. Badly. The knowledge is a potent drug, intoxicating and overwhelmingly satisfying.A lo
DAMON'S POVI can't help it. The need claws at me, an overwhelming tide that’s been building for hours, days, maybe longer. It’s a physical ache deep in my gut, a frantic energy buzzing just beneath my skin. And now… now she’s here. Right in front of me, in my apartment, the very place my fantasies have played out a thousand times. There’s nothing between us, no watchful eyes, no imminent interruption – at least, not yet.I know this is borrowed time. A stolen moment before the world, before her father, inevitably discovers she’s gone and rips her away again. That knowledge sharpens the edge of my desire, making every second precious, potent. There’s no room for discussion, no time for hesitant talk. Action is the only language that makes sense right now.With a low growl rising in my chest, I surge forward, pinning her against the cool wood of
SERENA’S POVThe night air is cool on my skin as Damon holds me close, carrying me as though I’m the most precious thing in the world. His strong, steady arms beneath me feel reassuring, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat vibrating against my cheek as I rest my head against his chest. It’s the only sound I focus on as we finally reach the apartment, my heart pounding—not just from the run, not just from the fear, but from the overwhelming swirl of emotions inside me: relief, joy, love... hunger.Damon pushes the door open, the scent of warm takeout and something faintly herbal filling the air, but there’s something else too—a tension, thick and unspoken. Inside, his friends are sprawled across the living room, a deck of cards scattered across the table between them. Brian, Ryan, and Brooke all look up in unison, their eyes widening slightly as they take in the sight of Damon cra
SERENA’S POV"Duplication spell."The words reverberate in my mind like a haunting melody, a constant echo I can’t seem to silence. I stare at Luna, my heart pounding against my ribs, my pulse a wild thing thrumming beneath my skin. My lips part, ready to ask what she means, but before I can utter a single word, the idea hits me like a rush of wind through an open window.My eyes snap wide.Luna sees it—sees the shift, the sudden spark igniting behind my gaze. Her knowing nod tells me everything: You’ve figured it out.“That…” I whisper, my voice barely more than a breath. “That’s actually a damn good plan.”I try to keep the tremor out of my voice, but it slips through. Fear coils in my gut like a restless serpent, tight and unyielding. Every second we waste here is a se