19SeraphinaKiera.The name curled in the air like a snake.She smiled at Kaelion, her red hair catching the last rays of the sun, giving her the illusion of fire and blood. The sight of it made something tighten in my chest. Not fear. Not jealousy. Just… something sharp.“It’s been too long,” she said, her voice carrying that easy, practiced familiarity.“Not that long,” Kaelion replied, but there was a faint ghost of a smirk on his lips. The kind he never gave me.I watched as she stepped closer, the fluidity in her movements almost deliberate. Her hand, light as a feather, brushed against his arm—a touch that lingered just long enough to be noticed. Just long enough for her to know I’d see it.“And still, you’ve been keeping secrets,” she mused, her gaze flickering toward me for the first time. She didn’t sneer, didn’t glare outright, but there was something in her eyes—a quiet satisfaction, the kind you get from knowing you’re untouchable.Kaelion’s expression remained unreadable
20Seraphina Kaelion and Kiera continued speaking, their conversation flowing seamlessly. Strategy, formations, orders—I barely had to listen to know they were perfectly in sync. It was infuriating. The way they moved together, the way he actually smirked at something she said, the way she leaned just a little too close when pointing at the map he had rolled out on the table.I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. I had no reason to be angry. No reason to feel this… annoyance twisting inside me like a thorn.I wasn’t jealous.I wasn’t.Still, I didn’t want to be here any longer, watching them fit into each other’s world like I was nothing more than an outsider.So I turned on my heel and left.Kaelion didn’t stop me.*****By the time night fell, I was back in my room, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the flickering candlelight. My wounds ached, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to be alone.The door creaked open.I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
21Kaelion’s POVSeraphina’s body tensed beneath my touch, her muscles coiled tight as if trying to fight off an invisible force. I could hear her heartbeat—erratic, frantic. A fine sheen of sweat formed along her temples, her breath coming in short gasps.Then it hit me.Her scent.Rich, intoxicating, overwhelming.It curled around me like a vice, sinking into my very core, sending heat surging through my veins. My wolf growled, low and possessive, the sound vibrating in my chest.No.My hands clenched into fists.This wasn’t a fever.This wasn’t normal.She’s in heat.The realization struck hard, knocking the air from my lungs.I took a sharp step back, forcing distance between us before I did something reckless.Mark her. Now.My wolf’s snarl echoed in my head, raw and commanding. The urge to obey burned in my blood, my instincts screaming at me to take what was mine.But I wasn’t a beast.Seraphina whimpered.A soft, pained sound.She arched off the bed, her body twisting as if sh
22Seraphina’s POVI woke up to warmth.A steady, solid warmth pressed against my back, a slow, rhythmic breathing brushing against my shoulder.My mind was sluggish, my body weighed down by exhaustion. The air smelled of something familiar—dark, rich, and unmistakable.Kaelion.My heart stuttered in my chest.What—?I forced my eyes open, blinking rapidly as my vision adjusted to the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. The moment I became aware of my surroundings, the realization hit me like a slap.I wasn’t just in bed.I was in his arms.And he was half-naked.A sharp breath escaped me, and I jerked forward, attempting to put as much space between us as possible. Bad idea. My body revolted the second I moved—pain lancing through my muscles as if I had fought a battle in my sleep. My legs wobbled, and before I could even swing them over the edge of the bed, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back effortlessly.“Stay still,” Kaelion’s voice rumbled, low an
23 Kaelion’s POV I couldn’t shake the unease in my chest as the car sped down the familiar roads leading to Seraphina’s old pack. Seraphina, still visibly weakened, insisted on coming with me. She’d refused to stay behind, no matter how much I’d tried to convince her to rest. It was something about the need for answers, the compulsion to face whatever had been buried in her past. Her wolf seemed to be quieter now, though, and that was enough to settle my own beast—if only a little. It was comforting, in a way, knowing that her guard had lowered, even if just for a moment. She wasn’t entirely herself, not yet, but she was beginning to trust me, and that, in itself, was enough to stir something inside of me. Still, I couldn’t help but feel the pressure of her past looming over us. I glanced at her, watching her carefully. Her eyes were distant, her thoughts clearly tangled in confusion and fear. She hadn’t spoken much since we left the house, only fidgeting with the hem of her
24 Seraphina’s POV The moment Kaelion told me to wait outside, I felt like a child being dismissed. I wanted to protest, but the weight of the Luna’s presence and the memories clawing at my chest made my voice stick in my throat. So I did what he asked—I stepped away. Reluctantly. The cool air outside did little to ease the pounding in my heart. My fingers curled around the hem of my sleeve as I paced near the entrance, glancing over my shoulder at the closed door where Kaelion was. A part of me wanted to trust that he would get the answers I needed. But another part, the restless, desperate part, knew I couldn’t just stand here and wait. There had to be something in this place—something that held the truth about my past. Then it hit me. The archive room. I remembered it from when I was younger, hidden away in the rarely visited wing of the packhouse. It was where the old records were kept, where dusty books held the stories of our ancestors—where birth records, pack hi
25Seraphina The girls stiffened instantly. Their laughter, once loud and full of mockery, died abruptly in their throats as they turned slowly. The air around them grew heavier, as if the temperature had dropped, and all eyes were drawn to the end of the corridor. There, standing tall and unwavering, was Kaelion. His presence alone seemed to crush the space around him, making it feel as though the walls were closing in. His golden eyes gleamed under the dim lights—cold, unreadable, and filled with a fury that didn’t need to be spoken.Cassandra was the first to break the silence, though her voice lacked the usual sharpness. She scoffed, raising an eyebrow as she assessed him with disdain. “And who the hell is this?” she spat, crossing her arms.Mari snickered, trying to mask the discomfort creeping up her spine. “Another wannabe hero?” she mocked, her eyes scanning him as though he was some insignificant threat.Lila, always the confident one, flicked her gaze over him dismissively
26Kaelion’s POVI had been standing in that cursed room for far too long, facing the Luna as she weaved her web of lies with practiced ease. She sat there, poised and calculated, playing the perfect picture of a woman with nothing to hide.“I don’t understand what more you need from me, Alpha Kaelion,” she said with an infuriatingly soft smile. “Seraphina was always a difficult child, but she was taken care of. I assure you, there is no dark secret lurking in her past.”Lies. Every word was a lie.I narrowed my eyes, my patience wearing dangerously thin. “Her mother,” I pressed. “What really happened to her?”The Luna let out a soft sigh, tilting her head as if I were the one being difficult. “I told you already. She was weak. She passed after giving birth. These things happen.”I didn’t believe her. Not for a damn second.The room felt suffocating, the air thick with something unspoken, something hidden. I could feel it in the way she carefully chose her words, in the way her finger
30Seraphina’s POVThe sun was just beginning to rise when the trembling finally stopped. My breaths came in slow, uneven waves, my body aching from the battle between my instincts and the remnants of that unnatural power still humming beneath my skin.And I was barely clothed.The remnants of my shift had left my clothes shredded, torn beyond repair. Cool morning air brushed against my exposed skin, making me shiver. I curled my arms around myself, trying to cover what little I could.Kaelion had never left my side.I felt his presence beside me, steady and unwavering, even when I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. He had every reason to fear me. I’d nearly—No. I didn’t want to think about it.“Come on,” he murmured, his voice quieter now, almost gentle. “There’s somewhere I want to take you.”I hesitated. My legs felt weak, my mind still fogged over from whatever had taken hold of me, but something in his tone made me follow. He didn’t force me, didn’t push—he simply waited, lik
Ron coughed, blood spattering the wooden floor as Dylan Grenville pressed him hard against the tavern wall. His suit was torn, face swollen from the hits, and the cold steel of Dylan’s gaze was more suffocating than the grip around his collar.“You’re making a mistake,” Ron rasped, spitting blood to the side. “You think I’m the end of the line? You’ve just made an enemy you can’t handle. My boss—he’s Goliath. You hear me? Goliath. The man who eats corpses for breakfast.”That name echoed like a thunderclap.Chairs scraped.A drunk at the bar nearly dropped his mug. “Did… did he say Goliath?”A bald man near the hearth froze mid-laugh. “No damn way. You mean that Goliath?”From the shadows, someone muttered, “The one who blew up an entire casino over a poker insult?”The barmaid behind the counter dropped a glass, shards scattering. “I heard he skinned a man just for calling him ‘big guy.’”A grizzled patron in a tattered coat leaned over his shot. “Burned down three blocks just ‘cause
30Seraphina’s POVThe sun was just beginning to rise when the trembling finally stopped. My breaths came in slow, uneven waves, my body aching from the battle between my instincts and the remnants of that unnatural power still humming beneath my skin.And I was barely clothed.The remnants of my shift had left my clothes shredded, torn beyond repair. Cool morning air brushed against my exposed skin, making me shiver. I curled my arms around myself, trying to cover what little I could.Kaelion had never left my side.I felt his presence beside me, steady and unwavering, even when I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. He had every reason to fear me. I’d nearly—No. I didn’t want to think about it.“Come on,” he murmured, his voice quieter now, almost gentle. “There’s somewhere I want to take you.”I hesitated. My legs felt weak, my mind still fogged over from whatever had taken hold of me, but something in his tone made me follow. He didn’t force me, didn’t push—he simply waited, lik
28Kaelion’s POVI didn’t trust this woman.Luna was too smooth, too sweet, her words like honey laced with poison. And the way she kept smiling at Seraphina, like she actually cared, made my skin crawl.I watched her closely as she raised her glass to her lips, sipping her wine slowly, her eyes flicking between me and Seraphina. She was playing a game, and I hated not knowing the rules.When the food arrived, I didn’t hesitate.I reached for Seraphina’s plate, pulling it toward me. She didn’t protest, just watched as I picked up her fork and cut into the meat.Slowly, I brought the piece to my mouth and chewed.Luna let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head. “My, how protective,” she mused, swirling the wine in her glass.I didn’t answer. I was too focused on the taste.Nothing seemed off. No bitterness. No strange aftertaste. But that didn’t mean anything. If Luna wanted to harm Seraphina, she wouldn’t be so obvious.After a moment, I placed the plate back in front of her.Seraphina
28Kaelion’s POVI didn’t trust this woman.Luna was too smooth, too sweet, her words like honey laced with poison. And the way she kept smiling at Seraphina, like she actually cared, made my skin crawl.I watched her closely as she raised her glass to her lips, sipping her wine slowly, her eyes flicking between me and Seraphina. She was playing a game, and I hated not knowing the rules.When the food arrived, I didn’t hesitate.I reached for Seraphina’s plate, pulling it toward me. She didn’t protest, just watched as I picked up her fork and cut into the meat.Slowly, I brought the piece to my mouth and chewed.Luna let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head. “My, how protective,” she mused, swirling the wine in her glass.I didn’t answer. I was too focused on the taste.Nothing seemed off. No bitterness. No strange aftertaste. But that didn’t mean anything. If Luna wanted to harm Seraphina, she wouldn’t be so obvious.After a moment, I placed the plate back in front of her.Seraphina
28Kaelion’s POVI didn’t trust this woman.Luna was too smooth, too sweet, her words like honey laced with poison. And the way she kept smiling at Seraphina, like she actually cared, made my skin crawl.I watched her closely as she raised her glass to her lips, sipping her wine slowly, her eyes flicking between me and Seraphina. She was playing a game, and I hated not knowing the rules.When the food arrived, I didn’t hesitate.I reached for Seraphina’s plate, pulling it toward me. She didn’t protest, just watched as I picked up her fork and cut into the meat.Slowly, I brought the piece to my mouth and chewed.Luna let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head. “My, how protective,” she mused, swirling the wine in her glass.I didn’t answer. I was too focused on the taste.Nothing seemed off. No bitterness. No strange aftertaste. But that didn’t mean anything. If Luna wanted to harm Seraphina, she wouldn’t be so obvious.After a moment, I placed the plate back in front of her.Seraphina
28 Kaelion’s POV I didn’t trust this woman. Luna was too smooth, too sweet, her words like honey laced with poison. And the way she kept smiling at Seraphina, like she actually cared, made my skin crawl. I watched her closely as she raised her glass to her lips, sipping her wine slowly, her eyes flicking between me and Seraphina. She was playing a game, and I hated not knowing the rules. When the food arrived, I didn’t hesitate. I reached for Seraphina’s plate, pulling it toward me. She didn’t protest, just watched as I picked up her fork and cut into the meat. Slowly, I brought the piece to my mouth and chewed. Luna let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head. “My, how protective,” she mused, swirling the wine in her glass. I didn’t answer. I was too focused on the taste. Nothing seemed off. No bitterness. No strange aftertaste. But that didn’t mean anything. If Luna wanted to harm Seraphina, she wouldn’t be so obvious. After a moment, I placed the plate back in front of her.
Chapter 31 Seraphina’s POV “You’re joining me in training.” I stared at Kaelion like he’d just grown another head. “Training?” My voice came out higher than I expected. “But… I—I’m not ready.” He didn’t flinch. His tone was matter-of-fact, as if this was just another morning. “You need control. You want answers. Training is where we start.” “But I don’t even know how to throw a punch,” I mumbled. “You’ll learn.” His eyes softened slightly. “I’ll teach you myself.” The words shouldn’t have meant so much, but they did. My heart gave a traitorous little thump. Kaelion—Alpha heir, warrior—was offering to help me. Not because he had to. But because he wanted to. “Okay,” I said, barely above a whisper. “I’ll come.” He gave a short nod, the corner of his lips twitching just slightly. “Good. Sunrise. Don’t be late.” I showed up the next morning barely awake, still stiff from yesterday’s chaos, but determined. My new clothes were simple and functional: dark leggings, a fitt
Chapter 31 Seraphina’s POV “You’re joining me in training.” I stared at Kaelion like he’d just grown another head. “Training?” My voice came out higher than I expected. “But… I—I’m not ready.” He didn’t flinch. His tone was matter-of-fact, as if this was just another morning. “You need control. You want answers. Training is where we start.” “But I don’t even know how to throw a punch,” I mumbled. “You’ll learn.” His eyes softened slightly. “I’ll teach you myself.” The words shouldn’t have meant so much, but they did. My heart gave a traitorous little thump. Kaelion—Alpha heir, warrior—was offering to help me. Not because he had to. But because he wanted to. “Okay,” I said, barely above a whisper. “I’ll come.” He gave a short nod, the corner of his lips twitching just slightly. “Good. Sunrise. Don’t be late.” I showed up the next morning barely awake, still stiff from yesterday’s chaos, but determined. My new clothes were simple and functional: dark leggings, a fitted top, an