Lucien’s POVRyder was waiting for me outside the hall. “How did it go?” he asked.I shook my head. “They’re meddling where they shouldn’t.”He frowned. “What did they say?”“They think Seraphine’s behavior is tied to Damien,” I said bitterly. “As if I didn’t already have enough to deal with.”Ryder’s expression darkened. “Do you think they’re right?”“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice strained. “But I can’t let this spiral out of control. If they keep questioning her loyalty, it’ll only make things worse.”“What do you want to do?” Ryder asked.I paused, considering my options. “Keep watching Damien. If he steps foot on our land, I want to know immediately. And keep an eye on Seraphine, but discreetly. I don’t want her feeling like she’s under surveillance.”“Understood,” Ryder said with a nod.“And Ryder…”“Yes, Alpha?”“Find out what the pack is saying,” I added. “If these rumors are spreading, I want to know who started them.”“Of course,” Ryder said before heading off.I stood
Lucien’s POV“Next case!” I shouted, my voice booming through the courtroom. The sound of my command lingered in the air as I sat back heavily on my throne in the court room.I had been under a lot of pressure these past few days, trying to keep everything together. My mind was constantly occupied with Seraphine, the rumors, and the endless list of issues that kept piling up. I hadn’t had the time to really focus on the cases as they came, so today, I decided I’d be present. It was time to clear up the backlog. The pack depended on me to handle the cases, and the elders couldn’t do much without my presence.The room fell silent for a moment before the next case was brought in.As usual, Seraphine’s seat remained empty. I glanced at the spot where she normally sat, a sharp pang of frustration cutting through me. It had been weeks since she’d been down here in the courtroom with me. She always had an excuse—usually about how she didn’t want to judge a pack that would never accept her. I
Seraphine’s POVIt had been over three weeks since Lucien returned, and I’d made it my personal mission to give him as much attitude as humanly possible. I avoided his gaze, gave him short answers, and walked out of rooms whenever he entered.Surprisingly, he’d given me space, which was odd for Lucien. He wasn’t the type to back off easily, especially when he knew something was up.But there was something else nagging at me—something that had been keeping me on edge. The attic key.It had been weeks since I took it from his drawer, and I hadn’t figured out how to return it without raising suspicion. Every time I thought about sneaking it back, my nerves got the better of me. What if he already knew it was missing? What if he was waiting for me to confess?The thought sent a shiver down my spine as I sat at the dining table, poking at my breakfast. Across the table, Lucien sat in his usual spot, his broad shoulders hunched slightly as he skimmed through a stack of pack papers. He was ea
Seraphine’s POVA bright idea then came to my head. Nice. This will perfectly work. I thought, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.I hurriedly pushed back my chair, leaving my half-eaten breakfast behind. "Clear the dishes," I instructed the maid nearby, my tone brisk as I made my way out of the dining room.I darted upstairs to my room, closing the door firmly behind me. The attic key felt like a heavy secret in my pocket. But today, I was finally going to get rid of it."The best time to sneak into his office and drop this key is when he’s in the throne room with his elders," I muttered to myself, pacing the length of my room. "And they’re scheduled to meet at noon today."I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. It was 9:30 a.m. I had just enough time to figure out the details. If I timed it right, Lucien’s guards would all be with him, leaving his office unguarded. Perfect."What could possibly go wrong?" I asked myself with a grin, flopping onto my bed. My fingers
Lucien’s POVI stood in the silence of my office, staring at the attic key in my hand. My fingers tightened around it as Thorin, my wolf, growled in my mind.You see? I told you, Thorin said, his voice filled with triumph. She’s been hiding something.Like what the fuck?! I thought, my shock barely contained. How did she even—?Calm down, Thorin interrupted, his tone shifting to something more soothing. Maybe she found it on the floor. Or…No! I snapped, cutting him off. Don’t defend her. This key was in my fucking drawer, Thorin. My locked drawer. Only the Pack’s crest can open it. So how the hell did she get it?Thorin fell silent for a moment, but I could feel his unease. He didn’t have an answer, and neither did I. My mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. I took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions building inside me.“She’s lying about something,” I muttered aloud, my voice cold and sharp in the empty room. “And I’m going to find out what.”My thought
Lucien’s POVI was about to leave the courtroom when a voice stopped me in my tracks.“Alpha, a word?”I turned, already irritated. It was Elder Maric, one of the pack’s senior advisors. He stood near the doorway, his posture rigid and his expression unreadable.“What is it?” I barked, my annoyance evident.“We, the Elders, have something important to discuss with you,” Maric said, his tone careful but insistent.I clenched my fists, trying to rein in my temper. “Make it quick. As you can see, I’m not in a good mood.”“It won’t take long,” he promised.With a frustrated sigh, I strode back to my seat, sitting heavily. “Fine. What is it?”Maric hesitated, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. His hesitation only fueled my irritation. “Spit it out, Maric. Speak now, or let it go.”He nodded, his gaze briefly flicking to the other Elders before returning to me. “Alpha, we have reason to believe…” He paused again, searching for the right words. “When you left for your recent hunt, yo
Lucien’s POVHe hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. “No, Alpha. I… I’m not certain. It was dark, and I didn’t get a clear look. But the figure—it was her height, her build…”“So, you have no proof?” I pressed, my voice rising. “No clear identification, no witnesses, no evidence? Only your assumption?”Ewan’s face turned red, and he stammered, “N-no, Alpha. Just… just what I saw.”“Unacceptable,” I growled, my anger flaring. “You’d accuse your Luna based on a shadow in the dark? Do you understand the weight of your words?”The other guards shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting between me and Ewan. Ryder stepped forward cautiously. “Alpha, perhaps we should—”“Quiet, Ryder,” I snapped, not taking my eyes off Ewan. “Did anyone else see this supposed figure?”The guards shook their heads in unison, avoiding my gaze.“No, Alpha,” one of them said timidly. “We… we didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Thorin’s
Seraphine’s POV"Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing," he replied, stepping into the room. His gaze landed on Ewan, who looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor. "You. Out. Now."Ewan bolted without a word, leaving me alone with Lucien. The door clicked shut, the sound ominous in the heavy silence that followed."Lucien, I can explain—""Explain?" he cut me off, his tone sharp and biting. "You were caught with the attic key, Seraphine. The attic key. And now, instead of laying low like I told you, you’re out here making things worse?"I opened my mouth but closed it again, unsure how to respond. His anger was like a storm, and I was right in the eye of it."Do you have any idea what you’ve done?" he demanded, stepping closer. "The Elders already suspect you, and now you’re practically handing them a reason to go after you!""I wasn’t… I mean, it’s not what it looks like," I stammered, taking a step back."Oh, really?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Becaus
Chapter 136 Seraphine’s POV The wolf hesitated. “Minutes. Maybe less.” “Shit.” Damien ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. He turned to his men, barking out orders. “Double the perimeter. Get everyone ready. We hold our ground.” I watched him for a moment before speaking. “You have no idea who they are?” Damien exhaled sharply. “If I did, I wouldn’t be standing here wasting time.” Lucien chuckled. “Well, this is a nice change. Damien, the all-knowing, actually clueless for once. Feels good, doesn’t it?” Damien snapped his gaze to him, his teeth clenched. “Do you ever shut up?” Lucien grinned. “Not when I’m enjoying myself.” I ignored them, my mind racing. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I came here to kill Damien, to end this war once and for all. But now? Now it felt like something much bigger was coming. Something we weren’t prepared for. I took a deep breath, trying to push down the unease creeping up my spine. “If we don’t
Lucien’s POV The silence that followed Seraphina’s retreat was deafening. I could still feel her claws against my skin, the ghost of her grip lingering like a brand. My throat burned where she had nearly ended me, but it wasn’t the pain that rattled me—it was the look in her eyes before she let go. Damn her. I sat up slowly, wincing as my ribs protested the movement. The battlefield stretched out around me, chaos still raging in the distance, but for the first time, I wasn’t focused on the war. I was focused on her. She had every reason to kill me. Hell, she wanted to. But she didn’t. Why? I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a bitter chuckle. I already knew the answer. She might have convinced herself she hated me, that she wanted me dead, but the bond between us told another story. Seraphina still felt it. Even after everything. A sudden snarl snapped me out of my thoughts, and I barely had time to roll out of the way before claws slashed through the space where I’d bee
Seraphine's POVI stood there, my breath ragged, my heart hammering against my ribs. The blood, the smoke, the chaos around us—it all faded into the background. It was just him and me now.Lucien.His name tore from my throat before I could stop myself."Lucien!" I shouted, my voice shaking with rage.His head snapped up. His golden eyes locked onto mine, burning through the darkness. A slow smirk pulled at his lips, even with the blood dripping from his temple. "Seraphina," he called back, voice deep, mocking. "You finally came. Took you long enough."I clenched my fists. "I would’ve come sooner if I knew you'd still be breathing."He chuckled low, shaking his head. "You always were impatient."I took a step forward, my grip tightening on my dagger. "I’m not here for Damien. I don’t give a damn about this war. You think I’m fighting for him? You think I care who wins?" I let out a bitter laugh. "I came here for you, Lucien."His smirk didn’t waver. "Is that so?""You killed my parent
Seraphine's POVIn no time, I was at the borders of Lucien's pack. Just as I predicted, some of Damien's forces were still here, waging war. The air was thick with smoke, the scent of burning wood and blood mixing into something sickening. My eyes watered as I tried to see through the haze, but it was near impossible. The war had turned everything into a living nightmare. The pack walls—what was left of them—stood in jagged, crumbling ruins. Stones lay scattered like broken bones, pieces of wood charred black, barely holding onto their original form. The once-proud gates that had stood tall and strong were now reduced to splinters, torn apart by the endless battle.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Was this the same pack I had once called home? The same pack where I had walked as a Luna? It was a skeleton of its former self, a ghost town caught in the middle of destruction. Bodies lay sprawled across the ground, warriors from both sides fallen where they fought. The walls, once meant t
Seraphine's POV131I moved quickly through the camp, my head low, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The voices, the clatter of weapons, the scent of burning wood—all of it blurred together in my mind. My heart pounded, my mind racing."None of this is my business," I muttered under my breath. "I need to leave. I need to get back to my mission.""Lucien is the only thing that matters." Fiona's voice was sharp in my head, her growl vibrating through my bones. "These people? They’re just collateral damage."I swallowed hard, my steps slowing. Fiona was right. My hatred for Lucien burned hotter than anything else. The people here—his pack, his warriors, even the children—they weren’t my concern."I understand," I whispered. "I do. But…"I stopped, my fingers digging into my palms. My chest felt tight. My body was telling me to turn around, to leave, to find Lucien and finish what I started. But my heart—the part of me I had buried deep inside—hesitated."Don’t tell me you’re feel
Seraphine's POVThe night was colder than I remembered, the wind sharp against my skin as I moved through the thick bushes. Every step I took was slow and careful, my ears sharp for any movement. I had been walking for hours, maybe even days—I couldn't tell anymore. My body was exhausted, but I had no choice. I had to get to Lucien’s pack.I finally caught sight of the tracks, the ones I knew too well. My breath hitched as I stopped and stared at them."I know this place," I muttered, my fingers brushing against the rough bark of a tree beside me."You should. This is where Ryder tried to kill us," Fiona growled in my head, her voice full of anger. "The bastard thought we wouldn’t survive."I swallowed hard, memories rushing back like a flood. The cold grip of fear, the feeling of betrayal, the pain—everything came back at once. I clenched my fists, shaking my head."That was the past," I whispered. "Right now, I have something more important to do."The ground was uneven, covered in
Seraphine's POVA sharp pain shot through my skull as something hard slammed into my face. My body hit the ground with a thud, my already injured side screaming in agony. My vision blurred for a second before I forced my eyes open, blinking rapidly to clear them."Hey... Who the hell is this?" A rough voice growled above me.I barely had time to register what was happening before another kick landed on my ribs, forcing a strangled gasp from my throat. The pain was sharp, burning, and I curled in on myself, trying to breathe.Shit. Rogues.I forced my body to stay still, heart pounding as I looked up. There were three of them, all looking down at me like I was nothing more than a piece of meat. Their clothes were torn, covered in dirt, their faces rough with scars. Their eyes glowed dimly under the moonlight, their wolves just beneath the surface, ready to rip me apart."What do you have on you?" The tallest one demanded, crouching down and grabbing my arm roughly."N-nothing," I cough
Seraphine's POVI waited for the perfect time to make my escape. I knew it had to be just right. If I made one wrong move, Kieran would wake up, and I wouldn’t get another chance.I waited for 3 a.m.Even as I peeked outside the tent, I saw him. He was sitting by the fire, his back straight, his arms crossed over his chest like he was forcing himself to stay awake. His eyes fluttered shut for a second, then snapped open again. He shifted, rubbing his face, trying to shake off the exhaustion.But he was losing the battle.I stayed at the mouth of the tent, watching him. The fire cast flickering shadows over his face, making the bags under his eyes look even darker. He was really trying. Trying so damn hard.For me.My chest tightened.This was the guy who saved me. When Lucien and Ryder tried to kill me weeks ago, he was the one who pulled me out of that mess, the one who stood in front of me when I couldn’t even stand for myself. And now I was sneaking away like a coward.I tried to j
Seraphine's POVI couldn’t wait anymore. I needed to fight. I wanted Lucien dead, and that was exactly what I was going to do. Kieran wouldn’t allow it, I knew that. He always tried to hold me back, always said it was too dangerous. But I didn’t care. I was going to sneak out tonight, no matter what. I had already made up my mind.These thoughts ran through my head even as we made our way back from hunting. The sun was still high, though the afternoon had started to fade into evening. The forest around us was quiet except for the distant calls of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind. I should have been paying attention, but my mind was elsewhere. My grip tightened around the bow slung over my shoulder.“Seraphina?” Kieran’s voice cut through my thoughts.I blinked, realizing I had been staring blankly ahead, lost in my own head. I turned my gaze to him, but I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. If I opened my mouth, he’d know. He always knew when something was off with me.He fro