Seraphine's POVI heard a shout, startling me awake.“Who are you?!” someone bellowed. My eyes snapped open. I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep. My body felt heavy, my legs numb from trekking endlessly. Squinting against the early dawn light, I saw a figure standing a few feet away, clutching a spear.“I… I mean no harm,” I stammered, raising my hands in surrender.“Answer me!” the man barked, stepping closer. His face was rough, scarred, and his clothes looked like they’d seen better days.“I’m just passing through,” I said quickly. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”He didn’t lower the spear. Instead, his eyes narrowed, scanning me from head to toe. “You look like you’ve been in a fight. Blood everywhere. Explain yourself.”“It’s not my blood,” I replied, my voice steady despite the panic bubbling inside me. “I was attacked. Barely escaped.”“Attacked by who?” His voice carried suspicion.“Damien’s men,” I said, hoping the truth would earn his sympathy. “They… they won’t stop hun
Seraphine’s POV“Hey... you up?” A gentle tap on my shoulder shook me awake.I gasped and jolted upright with force, my heart racing. My hand shot out, grabbing the wrist of whoever had touched me.“Chill out,” Darek said, his voice calm but firm.Realizing it was him, I immediately let go, my face flushing with embarrassment. “Sorry,” I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck. “I thought Ryder or his men were here.”“You’ve been through a lot,” Darek replied, shrugging it off. “It’s fine. Just try not to break my hand next time.”I gave him a weak smile. “Thanks for saving me earlier. I… I owe you.”“It’s nothing. You needed help,” he said simply, leaning against the wall. “Those guys are crazy. Bad news. You’re lucky I was here.”“Have you eaten anything?” he asked, his tone shifting to one of concern.I shook my head. “No, I haven’t. But I don’t want to be a bother. You’ve already done so much.”“You’re not a bother,” he said, waving off my concern. “Stay here. I’ll get you something.
Seraphine's POVI was seated inside when Darek returned, holding a dead rabbit in one hand. His face lit up as he stepped in, closing the door behind him with his foot.“Dinner’s sorted,” he announced, dangling the rabbit for me to see.“Was it a good hunt?” I asked, trying to mask the discomfort in my arm.“Yeah,” he replied with a grin. “Bagged a few rabbits. Figured we could make a stew.”“Wow. That sounds amazing,” I said, my mouth already watering. “I can help.”Darek’s expression immediately shifted. “No way,” he said, shaking his head firmly. “You’ve got an injury. You’re not lifting a finger.”“Oh, come on,” I argued, standing up. “I can handle a little cooking. It’s not like I’ll be chopping down trees.”He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Seraphine, you’re supposed to be resting. Don’t make me beg.”I rolled my eyes and walked toward him, ignoring the ache in my arm. “You’re not going to stop me, Darek. I’m helping, whether you like it or not.”He groaned, rubbing th
Serpahine's POVAfter we’d finished eating, I leaned back in my chair, patting my stomach with satisfaction. “Darek, that was amazing. Thank you.”He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re something else, Seraphine. You act like you’ve never eaten a decent meal before.”“Well, it’s been a while since I had anything that good,” I replied honestly. “You’ve got skills, I’ll give you that.”“Unimaginable,” he muttered, grinning. “That’s what you are.”I laughed, pushing my empty plate toward him. “You’re not too bad yourself.”He started stacking the plates, but then paused, looking at me. “Hey, just so you know, a friend of mine is stopping by later. Hope you’ll be okay with someone else around.”I frowned slightly, caught off guard. “A friend? Here?”“Yeah,” he said casually, standing and taking the dishes to the sink. “He comes by every now and then. Good guy. You’ll be fine with him around, right?”I tilted my head, feeling a bit uneasy but trying not to show it. “Sure, why not? It’s you
Seraphine’s POV“Seraphina!!! Is this really you?” Uncle Lucas said, his voice trembling as he rushed toward me.“Yes, it’s me!” I cried out, running into his open arms. I clung to him tightly, feeling a wave of emotions crash over me. “Uncle, it’s me!”He held me as I broke down, my tears soaking into his cloak. “It’s fine, dear,” he whispered soothingly, stroking my hair. “I’ve got you now.”I couldn’t stop the sobs from coming. “I haven’t seen you in years… so many years!”He pulled back slightly, his hands on my shoulders as he looked me over. “What happened to you?” His voice was laced with concern, but his eyes burned with fury. “You’ve reduced so drastically. What have they done to you, Seraphina?”“It’s a long story,” I murmured, wiping my eyes.“Your mate,” he growled, his voice dark with anger. “That Lucien—he’s going to pay for this. I swear it.”“No, Uncle,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “It wasn’t Lucien. It was his Beta, Ryer. He’s the one who hated me from the start.
Seraphine’s POVLucas gripped my arm firmly but gently as we stepped into the shadowed forest, the towering trees providing cover from the prying eyes of the pack's sentinels. The air was thick with tension, and every crunch of leaves underfoot made me jump slightly, though I tried not to let it show.“You know your brothers are still the Alphas of this pack,” Lucas began, his voice low but stern, cutting through the silence like a blade. “So the rule about you not coming back still stands.”I bit my lip, trying to steady the nerves swirling in my stomach. “I figured as much. So what do we do now?”Lucas glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “We have to hide you if we’re going to enter.” He looked over his shoulder at Darek, who had been trailing behind us with quiet, calculated steps. “Do you agree?”Darek nodded, his face serious. “It’s the only way. But the question is, where do we hide her?”Lucas’s sharp eyes scanned the dense foliage around us, his gaze darting from tree to
Seraphina's POVLucas guided me carefully through the dense woods surrounding the pack territory. The tension in the air was thick, each sound making my heart race. Derek trailed behind us, his eyes darting around, scanning for any signs of danger.“Are you sure about this?” I whispered to Lucas, clutching his arm. “What if they catch us?”“They won’t,” Lucas said firmly, his voice low but confident. “I’ve lived here my entire life. I know every corner, every hidden path. Trust me.”Derek gave a small grunt from behind. “Let’s hope your plan works, because I’m not exactly looking forward to a fight with your brothers.”Lucas smirked but didn’t reply. Instead, he pointed toward a narrow trail ahead. “This way. Stay close.”The path was overgrown, branches scratching at my arms as we moved deeper into the forest. The moonlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, casting eerie shadows around us.“What if someone’s patrolling?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly.“They won’t come thi
Seraphina’s POV“Samuel, Torrin, step outside and give us a moment,” he ordered.Without a word, the two men filed out, their footsteps fading into the silence. The wooden panel clicked shut, sealing us in. Now, it was just Lucas, Derek, and me.Lucas turned to me, his voice low but firm. “Say it again, Seraphina.”I squared my shoulders, my heart racing. “I said I went through Lucien’s library in his pack, and I found something. His ancestors were the ones who killed my parents.”For a moment, there was only silence. Then Lucas’s brows furrowed deeply. “Are you sure about what you’re saying?”I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling up. “Do I look like I’m joking, Lucas? I’m not a child. I wouldn’t come here and make something like this up!”Derek shifted uneasily, his gaze flicking between us. “Wait, Lucien’s family? The Moonbane Pack? They’re responsible?”“Yes,” I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. “I found records, detailed accounts, in journals passed down through gener
Lucien’s POV“Alpha. Alpha!”The voice echoed, dragging me out of the chaos in my mind. I blinked, disoriented, my gaze snapping toward the source. It was Mira, the Royal Nurse, standing at the foot of my bed. Her expression was calm, but her eyes held a mix of concern and frustration.“You need to eat, Alpha,” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “And take your medication.”I let out a harsh breath, turning my head away to stare at the wall. “I’m not hungry.”Mira didn’t move. “You haven’t eaten all day. If you continue like this, your body will collapse. Again.”Her words sent a pang of irritation through me. I didn’t need the reminder of how I’d slumped over during the courtroom meeting three days ago. In front of my pack leaders, no less. The embarrassment still burned, but it was nothing compared to the weight crushing me from all sides.“I’ll eat later,” I muttered, my voice clipped.“No, Alpha.” Mira stepped closer, her tone soft but unyielding. “You’ve been saying that for day
Seraphina’s POVblinked, trying to steady my breathing as I took in my surroundings. Everything felt surreal, like I had stepped into another world. The trees, the sky, the ground – all of it looked familiar yet utterly alien. The colors were too vivid, the air too still, and an unnatural glow seemed to emanate from everything. A strange energy thrummed around me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.“What is going on?” I whispered to myself, panic rising in my chest. My voice echoed back, unnaturally loud in the eerie silence.“Lucas?” I called, spinning around. “Derek?”Nothing. No sign of them. No sound except the faint hum in the air. My heart pounded in my chest as dread crept over me. “Where are you?” I shouted, my voice trembling.Then came the pain. A sharp, searing ache coursed through my body, forcing me to my knees. My hands clawed at the ground, which felt soft and warm, almost alive. The pain wasn’t physical but something deeper, like it was ripping throu
Seraphina’s POVLucas went quiet for a moment, his jaw tight, his eyes flickering with emotions I couldn’t quite read. Finally, he sighed. “I didn’t mean to piss you off, Seraphina. Okay? I’m sorry.”I crossed my arms, still fuming but softened slightly by his apology. “You’re always stirring up something, Lucas.”“I know, but don’t worry,” he said with an almost maddening confidence. “All of this will be solved. You’ll see.”“How?” I asked, skepticism thick in my tone.“Just follow me,” he said simply, gesturing for me to walk with him.With a deep sigh, I nodded. “Fine.”Derek and Lucas led the way deeper into the woods. I followed them, my boots crunching against the forest floor as the towering trees closed in around us. The air grew cooler, the sunlight dimming as the dense canopy blocked it out. My heart thudded louder with every step, a mixture of curiosity and unease swirling in my chest.“Where are we even going?” I asked.“You’ll see,” Lucas replied without turning, his voic
Seraphina’s POVLucas had insisted I come with him, claiming he had a plan to help me reconnect with my wolf. I had agreed, though doubt clung to me like a second skin. As we ventured deeper into the woods, the air grew cooler, the scent of pine and damp earth more pronounced.“You’re awfully quiet back there,” Lucas said, glancing over his shoulder.“Just thinking,” I replied, pulling my jacket tighter around me. “This place feels… different.”“It’s meant to,” Lucas said cryptically, his lips curving into a slight smile. “You’ll see soon enough.”Derek scoffed from behind me. “You sure you know what you’re doing, Lucas?”Lucas shot him a look. “Trust me for once, will you? Just keep your eyes peeled.”I sighed, my gaze shifting to the trees around us. “Where exactly are we going?”Lucas slowed his pace until he was walking beside me. “To a place I think might help you. But first, let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind.”I raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”He hesitated,
Seraphina’s POVI couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, the same haunting images returned. Lucien, with his cold, calculating gaze. Ryder, his twisted smirk as if he knew something I didn’t. They loomed over me in my nightmares, their shadows stretching endlessly. They weren’t just haunting my dreams—they were stalking me, taunting me, reminding me of what could come if I faltered.I sat up with a start, my breath shallow and quick. The room was dark, save for the faint sliver of moonlight creeping in through the curtains. I felt trapped, suffocated by the four walls of the cabin.With a heavy sigh, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood. The cool wooden floor beneath my feet grounded me, but it wasn’t enough. I needed air. I needed to feel something other than this overwhelming dread.Wrapping a blanket around my shoulders, I stepped outside. The night greeted me with a gentle breeze, cool against my skin. The trees swayed softly in the wind, their rustling leaves
Seraphina’s POVI’ve been indoors for so long, I thought I’d go mad. The walls of Derek’s cabin felt like they were closing in on me. My guards hovered like shadows, always watching, always waiting. I couldn’t even step outside to breathe without them following close behind.I needed peace. I needed to feel the sun on my skin, the wind in my hair. But most of all, I needed to clear my mind. Derek and Lucas had made it clear they wanted revenge. They wanted blood for what Lucien’s pack had done to my family. But that path felt so wrong to me. How could I strike at the man I… the man I loved? Even if he’d kept the truth about my parents’ death from me. Even if my heart was breaking every time I thought about it.I sat by the window, staring out into the forest, trying to muster the courage to step outside.The sound of the door creaking open broke my thoughts. Lucas walked in, carrying a rabbit in one hand and a proud smile on his face.“Hey, look who finally left her nest,” Lucas said
Lucien’s POVThe throne room was cold, and not just because of the temperature. It was empty, barren of the life it once held. Lucien sat on the high-backed chair in the center, his eyes fixed on the crackling fire in the hearth. Its warmth couldn’t reach him—nothing could.He clenched his jaw, his fingers digging into the armrests of his seat. The memories of Seraphine haunted him, invading his mind at every quiet moment. Her laugh, her fiery spirit, the way she challenged him when no one else dared. Gone. All gone."Alpha," a voice called softly from the doorway. It was Ryder, his Beta. Lucien didn’t move, didn’t even acknowledge the man’s presence until Ryder cleared his throat awkwardly."What is it?" Lucien’s voice was sharp, cold enough to cut.Ryder hesitated. "The scouts have returned. There’s no sign of… her." His words trailed off as if he feared finishing the sentence.Lucien’s hands tightened into fists. "Dismissed," he growled.Ryder lingered for a moment as if he wanted
Seraphina’s POVHear me out now," Derek said, his tone low but firm. He looked straight at me, and for the first time, I noticed the tension in his eyes. "And hear me carefully.""Okay? Sure," I said hesitantly, unsure of what was coming.He glanced around the room, as if making sure we were truly alone. "When I went to the woods," he began, his voice quieter now, "I found out they were looking for you. Badly. They’re relentless, Seraphine. And the only way I could think of handling it was to make it look like you’re dead.""What?!" My voice shot up instinctively, but Derek was quick to hush me, placing a finger to his lips."Shhh," he hissed. "Don’t raise your voice."I glared at him, my heart racing. "You told them I was dead?""No," he clarified quickly. "I didn’t say anything to them. I took some of the clothes you bled in the day you came to my hut. I wrapped those clothes with more blood and left them where Lucien and his men would find them. Made it look like you were… ripped a
Seraphina’s POVAs I was still lost in my thoughts, Derek came inside with his usual goofy grin plastered across his face."Oh ye princess of the land!" he said jokingly, bowing dramatically. I couldn't help but laugh at his antics."Oh yeah? Princess guard of the land!" I shot back, grinning.He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "Careful now, Princess. I might just make sure you get kidnapped since I'm your guard."I burst into laughter, shaking my head. "You're so silly, Derek.""Silly? Silly is what keeps you entertained," he said, winking. "Now, tell me, how have you been?""Not good," I admitted, the weight of everything catching up to me. "Where have you been anyway?"He shrugged casually. "Taking care of something.""What was that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes suspiciously."Nothing important," he said evasively, the mischief dancing in his eyes.I groaned in frustration. "Derek! Stop being so cryptic! Just tell me."But he refused to answer, shaking his head with a teasi