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
27Seraphina’s POVI didn’t want to do this.Every part of me screamed to turn and run, to put as much distance between myself and this place as possible. Yet, here I was, standing in the dimly lit hallway of my old packhouse, my heart hammering in my chest as Luna smiled at me like I was some long-lost daughter she had dearly missed.“Dinner,” she had said. “A chance to put the past behind us.”I wanted to say no. I had said no.I didn’t trust her. I couldn’t trust her.But Kaelion’s voice had been calm, steady, the anchor I needed when I felt like I was drowning. “If we go, we might learn something,” he had murmured, his fingers brushing against mine, grounding me. “If she’s playing a game, I want to know the rules.”And so, against every instinct, I had agreed.Now, seated at the long dining table, I regretted it.The air was thick with tension, no matter how much Luna tried to mask it with her overly warm smile. The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows across the grand dining
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
29Kaelion’s PovThe command was brief, but it was enough. Dax didn’t hesitate, and I felt the connection to him snap tight as he acknowledged the order. I didn’t have time to wait.With a low growl, I surged forward, my wolf’s muscles coiling and releasing like springs beneath my fur. The wind howled past me as I raced after her, my paws barely touching the earth.I didn’t know what was happening to her. But I knew one thing—I wasn’t letting her face it alone.Then I saw her.I skidded to a stop so abruptly that frost crackled beneath my paws.Seraphina wasn’t just standing there—she was glowing.Moonlight-silver fur rippled over her frame, shimmering as if laced with stardust. But it wasn’t just her fur that stopped me cold—it was the aura around her. With every step she took, ice bloomed in delicate, crystalline patterns across the ground, spreading outward in a frozen web. The air around her crackled with cold, unnatural and ancient, sinking into my bones.My wolf stirred inside
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
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