Seraphina"Are you doing okay?" His voice was surprisingly gentle—no impatience, no harshness. It was genuine and full of concern. I was taken aback; his tone was a stark contrast to our last encounter on the dock of his estate. Alexander was incredibly intelligent, but he often focused on the negatives, starting with the letdown. I got the sense he’d had a rough past and hadn’t fully bounced back, despite the years. His approach was a world apart from Margo’s."Hey, Seraphina!" His voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.I took a deep breath, bracing myself. "Hey, why don’t you take me instead of Margo? She doesn’t deserve to be punished." My voice wavered with fear. I owed everything to Margo—without her, I’d probably still be trapped on that island with Xandriel. The thought of facing Alexander’s punishment was chilling. He was far stronger than Xandriel, all muscle and battle-hardened. His pack members were always well-behaved, and I knew why—Alexander was
Seraphina "Hey, Seraphina, no worries. No need to apologize." His voice was softer, almost gentle. "I have to admit, it was mostly my fault. Like Margo says, I can be a bit of a jerk sometimes." His admission surprised me. I'd never seen an alpha own up to his mistakes before. "We definitely had our disagreements, and I can’t help but feel this burning desire to protect you. It’s tough knowing what you’ve been through and feeling like I let you down.""Nah, I didn’t come here for your apology, Alpha." I wasn’t interested in him spilling his secrets—I just wanted a casual conversation. "Why are you going out of your way for me? There’s a chance you might face trouble from Xandriel and the Winona because of me. Why?""Hey, love, it’s not really—"I interrupted him. "I need to know, Alpha. This is pretty unusual." I looked straight into his eyes, searching for answers. "I’m concerned because there are women and children in this group who could be in danger because of me. I always had th
Seraphina "Yeah, I know," he sighed, brushing off my need for answers. "Got any other questions for me?" I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. I sank into the small chair in front of his desk, resting my hands on my lap, one hand gripping the other tightly."About Margo, what did you tell her when you guys were at the motel?" I asked, recalling how shaken Margo had been. She rarely showed fear, but she couldn’t hide it from her brother. It had been quite an adventure, battling on an island in the middle of a lake with dogs chasing us. What Alexander had reminded her of—revisiting past events—really freaked her out. "It felt like history repeating itself between the two of you.""Eh, it was no big deal." Alexander glanced at me, getting up from his desk chair and weaving through the scattered piles of paperwork on the floor. He plopped down on the front of his desk, casually leaning against it with his arms crossed. His proximity made my heart race, craving his touch."You
Seraphina "I really don't care about what other guys have done to you," Alexander said, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper. "Actually, it really bothers me. I understand you didn't have much of a say in the matter. You’re incredibly strong for having survived everything you’ve been through. Anyone who gets involved in this betrayal will face serious consequences." He gently cupped my face in his hands, his gaze searching mine with a mixture of hope and earnestness.I searched his face, looking for any sign of insincerity, but all I found was a warmth that made my heart ache. "I can’t believe you actually said that," I murmured, trying to process the depth of his words. His kindness was almost overwhelming, and I could see he wanted me to simply accept his reassurance without questioning."I'm not inexperienced just for you," he said defensively. "Hey, Seraphina," Alexander said softly, his eyes meeting mine with unwavering sincerity. "I just wanted to c
SeraphinaI wondered, “Where did they go?”“They did something for the alpha,” the woman said, her voice tinged with frustration. “Yeah, they couldn’t really tell me anything else. They’re such soldiers.” She sighed, her gaze distant. Faces blended together for me, and I struggled to distinguish Jamie from Codi. I only knew a few names.“Sure, I can talk with the alpha on your behalf,” I offered, wincing as guilt gnawed at me. Since my return, Alexander had been sending his men on long trips for security checks. I felt responsible for their absence. “No need to stress,” I reassured her, my tone calm.A clamor outside drew my attention. I peeked through the open front door and saw a group of chickens squawking and huddling together. The raucous sounds of men cursing and banging tin buckets against the cobblestone echoed through the air.Suddenly, two burly men barged through the door, their heavy boots thudding on the floor. Their faces twisted into expressions of disgust as they surve
Seraphina"Hey, you better stick to your word, or it won’t end well for you," Ricci warned, his voice edged with menace. His words hung in the air as Leila and Kade snuffed out the match, a small victory that brought a flicker of relief to my tense shoulders.“Watch out for the consequences of breaking the law,” Joa murmured, his breath hot against my ear as he nudged me toward the water. His touch was firm, insistent.I knew the plan had been set. If they had driven, they would have passed Alexander’s house on the main road. Instead, they had stealthily approached the back of the property in their boat, unnoticed.Across the walkway, a ghostly figure loomed by the neighboring property. The boat bobbed gently beside us, its presence a silent witness to our actions. The figure’s expression was twisted with agitation; his eyes darted, intense and unblinking. The veins beneath his skin were pronounced, pulsing with anger.“Xandriel??” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath.I co
Seraphina "Yeah, right. What a fucking liar you are, darling."Xandriel's face twisted with anger, his eyes blazing as he spat in my direction. Suddenly, he grabbed my throat, his grip unyielding. He shook me violently, making me feel like a ragdoll in a storm. Everything spun around me—the floor and ceiling switched places. A sharp, relentless pain pounded in my head, making it feel like my skull was splitting open."Nobody would leave you alone; you're just too amazing, darling," he sneered.The venom in his voice stung worse than his hands. I wanted him to lose interest and leave me alone, to give me a chance to escape this torment. My breaths came out in ragged gasps, each one a desperate plea for relief."He never laid a hand on me unless I was okay with it," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. I thought of the few times he had been kind—when he comforted me by the lake or saved me from falling out of the pack house window. Those moments felt like distant dreams compared to
Alexander"Hey, man, what's going on in your head? Seriously, dude." My man's voice cut through the fog of my thoughts. I couldn't shake the memory of those four guardsmen hanging from our fruit trees by the lake. It was insane. Margo had no chance against my orders, and I was determined to do whatever it took to bring Seraphina back to our side."Xandriel is going to wreck your land before he’s taken down," he warned, frustration bubbling in his chest. "Alexander, you're going to get your butt kicked in this war!""Alpha, sorry to bug you but…" Jamie said, pulling me out of my thoughts as he glanced at his phone. "Yeah, as Jeremiah mentioned, the place is really secure."I rubbed my temples, trying to focus on Jamie's words. He continued, "There are probably over 200 people on the property, including men, women, and children. Dogs patrol the borders every hour to keep an eye on things. There's a boathouse on the lake that separates our lands, making it easy for someone to slip in wit
As Frederick closed in on Zion, his eyes burned with a fierce desire for revenge. The effects of the sickness still lingered, fueling his rage. “I’ll get you, you traitor!” Frederick roared, his voice echoing with anger.Zion, though fully aware of the gravity of the situation, fought not just for his own survival but for the peace they all desperately sought. “Anastasia only needs you, Frederick!” he pleaded. “Don’t let your anger destroy everything we’ve worked for!”Just as Frederick was about to strike, a voice cut through the chaos. “Hey, hold up!”Anastasia stepped between them, her eyes a mixture of sadness and resolve. “Frederick, come on!” she called out, her voice trembling with a blend of fear and determination. “We need to find another way.”But Frederick, driven by rage, didn’t even glance her way. His focus remained fixed on Zion, and he ignored her plea.Desperate to reach Frederick, Anastasia called out again. “Frederick, it’s me! It’s Anastasia!” Her voice was laced w
“She’s with Zion,” I said casually, watching his face change as fear and anger flashed across his features.“Who is Zion?” His confusion was clear, and I could see that talking about my sister was only making things worse. My hesitation to be completely honest had led us here, but I had to face the consequences.“Xandriel’s kid,” I explained. The fear in Frederick’s eyes was unmistakable. The gravity of the situation was sinking in.Frederick’s frustration flared again. “Are you serious?” he demanded, his voice rising. “Where are they?”“Hey, Frederick, let’s just hang tight,” I said, trying to calm him. “We’ve got a plan, and I’m confident it’s going to work. You’ve got to trust me on this one.” To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I believed myself, but Victor was our last hope. If this plan failed, it would be the end of the line.“I’m here to lend a hand and sort this out,” Frederick pleaded as I removed the final sensors from him, triggering the beeping monitors once more. Despite his
“You’re not feeling well,” I said nonchalantly, not even bothering to look at him. It was like fate had led us to this moment. It was wild to think we’d end up here, but it felt like it was meant to be.Frederick let out an exasperated sigh, clearly uncomfortable. “I’ve never been sick,” he said, sounding both frustrated and bewildered. The bed creaked as he shifted, and the sheets rustled around him.“Hey, there’s a first time for everything. Just chill,” I advised, watching as he struggled to sit up. To my surprise, he actually listened, though it was clear the pain was taking its toll. “You’re not the strongest, but that’s totally fine.”“I can’t be weak,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, as he noticed the IV tubes snaking into his arms. The sight of him, once a formidable Warrior, now so vulnerable, was unsettling.I was still angry as he said, “You would either be this way or dead.” The room fell into a heavy silence as he stared at me, his expression one of confusi
When Darius mentioned dinner plans, Zion grabbed my arm and pulled me away, his urgency almost making me forget we were pretending. As we walked down the hallway, Darius called out, “This party is going to be one for the books!” I clung to Zion, gripping his wrists for support. My mind raced, trying to take in my surroundings in case things went wrong. Zion guided me into a bedroom and closed the door behind us, marking the end of what felt like an interminable journey.“Hugo,” I breathed, my anxiety spiking as I turned to face Zion. Hugo seemed like a real threat to our plans. “Nah, Zion, I just can’t—I really can’t.”Darius’s voice was reassuring as he said, “I won’t let him lay a finger on you, Anastasia. You just have to trust me.” He mentioned a dinner with friends to celebrate Victor, just as Zion had said. “Just gotta get through dinner, and our armies will be here.”I shook my head slightly, grabbing Zion by the shirt. “Can’t stop him. He’s a force to be reckoned with.” Hugo
“Oh, it’s for Frederick,” I said casually. His name stumbled awkwardly off my tongue. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I wished we could just be together as we should be—he was the only one I truly loved. We started this journey together. When Frederick wakes up, I’ll be gone, and I have no clue how he’ll handle that.Zion’s curiosity piqued, “How do you do this? Despite everything that’s happened, you still think it’ll get better?” He seemed to have his own scars, a hint of betrayal in his voice.“One day, there’s gotta be a light in the dark,” I replied, trying to stay hopeful. “I didn’t come all this way just to stop now.”Zion placed his hand over mine on the middle console, a casual gesture but one that held a lot of weight. “You good to go? Can you trust me?”“Yeah, I don’t,” I admitted. Looking back, trusting him seemed like my only option. Tomorrow could be a game-changer for Frederick. It’s funny—never thought I’d be the one to take down Winona. Many had tried before me an
“I’ve got a couple of things to mention,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “My aunt Margo gets away with it. Frederick keeps his distance. I don’t want him anywhere near them.” I gave a nod to indicate that was settled.“Yeah, I agree,” Zion said, casually crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. “He won’t be waking up for a few days. Diego has enough power to keep him out for a while. Can we wrap this up?” His casual demeanor masked the gravity of the situation as I paced back and forth in front of Nereus, discussing our sneaky plan.“I can work as quickly as you need me to, sweetheart,” Zion assured, though the term of endearment stung. I felt a pang of guilt for going behind Frederick’s back while he lay unconscious, the weight of my actions heavy on my conscience. “This is our only chance. If we mess this up, we’re all going to end up six feet under on that Winona farm. This is our one shot, so we’d better not blow it.”“So, what’s the game plan?” I asked, trying to f
Curiosity nudged me as I trailed behind Diego and the others. “Do you think he’ll remember anything he did while the wolf was in control?” I asked casually, my voice barely above a whisper.“No way,” Jamie replied. That was the answer I’d hoped for. The thought that he wouldn’t remember my lies or the sting of the needle brought a small, bitter relief. Still, the guilt gnawed at me for causing him pain. Cassius stayed close, a quiet presence as we watched Frederick being carried down the hallway.“You did the right thing,” Cassius said softly, as if sensing my turmoil. But something felt off. The pain of betrayal cut deep, a raw ache I had never experienced before. The treachery felt like a knife twisting inside me.“I wish it didn’t hurt so much,” I whispered, trying to shove the painful memory aside. Suddenly, Nereus burst back up the stairs, blocking our path.“Hey, Anastasia, you might want to come downstairs,” Nereus said, his voice tinged with unease. I shot a look at Cassius, w
Eventually, footsteps roused me from my restless sleep, guiding me to the other side of the bedroom door. When Frederick walked in, I let out a sigh of relief. The deep concern I felt for him was overwhelming, and I could barely stand it."I swung by Diego's office first, but you weren’t there," Frederick said casually, loosening his tie. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the nagging thought of that ring sitting untouched in the desk drawer."I'm feeling much better," I said, forcing a smile. If he’d been paying attention, he’d have seen through the lie."I noticed that," he remarked, unbuttoning his shirt with a relaxed air. I shifted restlessly on the bed, trying to play it cool and hoping he wouldn’t catch on."Where have you been?" Frederick chuckled as if it was the most ridiculous question. "I got a bit concerned when you weren’t around when I woke up.""I left Rollo to take care of you," I said, watching as he turned away. He placed his rings on the desk and reached for two ne
I tread carefully, trying to avoid rushing and risk encountering more trouble at the cellar stairs. The silence around me was eerie, and I kept my eyes sharp, scanning for any sign of danger. My mind flitted to the idea of calling my dad, but I hesitated. I didn’t want him dragged into this mess, fearing he might try to drag me back home. Maybe it was pride, or maybe it was the fear of his interference.Then there was Estelle. I thought about her growing up, reaching her prime, and hoped she’d never have to rely on her body like I had. It was comforting, though, to see her following in her father’s footsteps in her own way, even if it wasn’t ideal."Anastasia?" I heard Nereus’s faint voice. I picked up the pace, jogging towards the sound. As I rounded the corner, I saw the boys restrained in separate corners, but Nereus was the only one awake."Nereus?" I knelt beside him and quickly worked on untying the ropes burning his wrists. They smelled strongly of wolfsbane. "What did those pe