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
PrologueThe night air cut through my skin as I stumbled through the forest, blood and sweat soaking my torn clothes. Each breath felt like a blade, each step a reminder of my broken body. Behind me, laughter echoed, cruel and mocking, mixing with the distant howls of wolves.I had always been unwanted. From the moment I was born, I was a burden—a reminder of my mother’s failure to give my father a son. My existence had been a mistake. He had abandoned her, leaving her to wither while he took another mate who could give him what he truly desired—a child he could love.But I killed that child.Thirteen years old, and my wolf had manifested, burning through me with a feverish rage. I had gone to the lake, seeking relief from the fire inside, and she followed. I didn’t mean to shift. I didn’t mean to crack the ice. But I did, and the water swallowed her whole.I tried to save her. I had tried. But no one cared about that. I became a killer, the cursed child. My father couldn’t even look a
Chapter 2Seraphina I pushed the door open, my hand trembling against the heavy wood. The scent of cigar smoke and aged whiskey clung to the air, mingling with the faint metallic tang of my own blood. My father sat behind his grand mahogany desk, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. But it wasn’t him that froze me in place.A stranger stood near the window, his back partially turned, but his presence was impossible to ignore. He was massive—built like a wall of muscle wrapped in dark, expensive fabric. The room seemed to shrink around him, the air growing heavier with each breath I took.As the door creaked open, he turned.His eyes—icy blue, sharp, and piercing—locked onto me. They raked over my broken form, lingering on the torn fabric barely covering my bruised skin. His gaze wasn’t filled with curiosity or pity. No, it was disdain, raw and unfiltered, like I was something foul stuck to the bottom of his boot.“This is what you’re offering me?” His voice was low, gravell
3KaelionI stood by the black SUV, arms crossed, as the packhouse door creaked open. She appeared—Seraphina. She was barely holding herself together, each step looking like it might be her last. Her skin was pale, sickly, and bruises bloomed across every visible inch of her body like she’d been dragged through hell.Pathetic.I watched her limp toward me, her gaze unfocused, her lips trembling as if she was mumbling something to herself. She didn’t even make it halfway before her knees buckled. She stumbled forward, collapsing right into me.For a second, I froze.Her body was like dead weight against mine, her head falling against my chest. I could feel the heat radiating off her skin—unnatural, burning hot. My wolf growled in the back of my mind, restless, agitated.“She’s burning up,” he muttered, his usual gruff tone laced with concern. “You’re neglecting your mate.”She’s faking it, I shot back, shoving the annoying voice aside.I grabbed her by the arm and yanked her away from
4Seraphina’s POVI wasn’t sure how long I’d been unconscious, but when I finally woke, my body felt like it had been trampled by a stampede. Every muscle screamed, and the dull, persistent ache in my ribs told me they were either cracked or bruised—probably both. My head throbbed, and my mouth was dry, the taste of copper lingering on my tongue.The first thing I noticed was the sterile smell. Not of a hospital—but of something colder, harsher. The faint scent of leather, pine, and something distinctly him.Kaelion.I opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings—a spacious room with minimal furniture: a bed, a dresser, and a small chair tucked against the far wall. The walls were a muted gray, matching the coldness in the air.I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my side, forcing me to bite down on a gasp. That’s when I noticed the door.Locked.Every day, I checked it, hoping maybe—just maybe—someone had forgotten to lock it. But no. Kaelion wasn’t careless.However, the wi
Chapter 5KaelionThe scent of fear clung to the walls of the council room like smoke after a fire. It was thick, heavy, and satisfying. I sat at the head of the long wooden table, fingers steepled under my chin, as my pack members fidgeted in their seats, their eyes darting nervously.None of them dared meet my gaze. Good. They were learning.“Explain,” I growled, my voice low but deadly enough to make even the most seasoned warriors flinch.My Gamma, Dax swallowed hard. “Alpha, during the… incident with Seraphina, there was an escape attempt from the prisoners we captured in the last raid.”I arched a brow. “And?”Jareth hesitated before clearing his throat. “They were desperate. The guards—”“Failed,” I finished for him, my voice dripping with disdain. I let the word settle, enjoying the way tension tightened the air. “Kill them all.”A ripple of unease passed through the room, but no one dared to question me. I leaned back in my chair, watching them, their fear a quiet symphony. “A
Chapter 6 – Seraphina’s POVThe cold winter air cut through the fabric of my clothes as I ran, pushing my legs harder, harder. The pounding of my heart matched the rhythm of my footsteps. I had made it out—finally, finally free. The guards had relaxed, believing I was nothing more than a caged animal too broken to fight back. They’d let their guard down while I feigned weakness. The moment I sensed their carelessness, I slipped away.I hadn’t expected it to be this easy. The hospital had been my prison for days, but when they relaxed their vigilance, I was ready.Now, my destination was clear—across the river, into the rogue territory, where no one could touch me. Or so I thought.As I reached the edge of Kaelion’s land, the river before me seemed to grow wider, more menacing. The cold waters reminded me of my past, of my father’s pack, of the Luna’s cruelty. Memories flooded back—the mistreatment, the humiliation—and my calm shattered. My breath hitched, the image of the past flashing
Chapter 7 Seraphina’s POVI gasped for breath, my chest heaved—not from what I just did or the effort of running, but from the aftershocks of the panic attack that gripped me. My body trembled violently, each shake a fight for control. I gasped for air, desperate, but my lungs betrayed me.His grip tightened, and I struggled against him, weak and helpless. “Let. Me. Go.”Around us, the guards remained motionless, not out of mere surprise, but fear. Fear of what Kaelion would do. Fear of the defiance I had dared to show. He was a leader who commanded absolute obedience, a man few had ever seen challenged—yet I had done so.Kaelion’s jaw tightened, a bruise already forming from my strike, but his smirk never faltered. If anything, it deepened. His golden eyes glowed with dark amusement, like a predator entertained by its prey’s feeble attempts to fight back.The stillness shattered as a figure stepped forward from the shadows—a woman in warrior’s garb, identical in style to Dax’s. Her
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