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 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 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 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
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
Lucien’s POVI was getting stronger, feeling better these past few days. Guess I’m starting to get over Seraphine. I can do this, I told myself as I walked toward the courtroom. The crisp morning air carried a subtle chill, but I barely noticed. My focus was sharp. Today, the Council had decided to gather, and as Alpha, my presence was mandatory.The grand doors of the courtroom loomed ahead, their carved wood imposing yet familiar. Pushing them open, I stepped inside. The room was already buzzing with conversation, but the moment they saw me, silence fell like a shroud. One by one, they stood.“Alpha Lucien,” they greeted in unison.I raised my hand, a simple gesture that signaled them to sit. They obeyed instantly, their chairs scraping against the polished floor as they settled back down. My eyes scanned the room, taking in the faces of my Council. Each of them carried their own weight of responsibility, but none compared to mine.“So,” I began, my voice steady, “what matters do we
Lucien’s POVI stood near the borders of the pack, the towering trees swaying gently in the breeze. The woods stretched endlessly before me, their silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. My gaze lingered on the movements, hypnotized. Yet my thoughts were far from peaceful.Seraphine isn’t dead, I told myself for what felt like the hundredth time today.Why are you lying to yourself? came the sharp, guttural voice of Thorin, my wolf. You know she’s gone. Move on, Lucien. You’re no good to anyone like this.“No!” I growled under my breath, fists clenching at my sides. “I can’t move on. I won’t.”You’re being ridiculous, Thorin shot back, his tone edged with frustration. You’re not just some lovesick pup. You’re an Alpha! The pack depends on you, and here you are, mooning over a ghost.“She’s not a ghost,” I snapped, my voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t understand, Thorin. I love her. I can’t let go. It’s like she’s still here, like she’s calling out to me.”Callin
Lucien’s POVI sat on the edge of my bed, my head buried in my hands. The room was suffocatingly quiet, every object within it a cruel reminder of Seraphine. The scent of her lavender perfume still lingered on the sheets, mocking me. The framed photo on my bedside table seemed to glare at me—a frozen moment in time where she was smiling, happy, alive."Why?" I muttered, my voice trembling with the weight of my emotions.Because you couldn’t save her, Thorin growled in my mind, his voice a mirror of my own frustration.“Shut up,” I snapped out loud.The bed creaked as I stood abruptly, pacing the length of the room like a caged animal. My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white, the veins on the back of my hands straining against my skin. The walls felt like they were closing in, each step I took bringing me closer to an implosion.You’re wasting time, Lucien, Thorin growled again. All this sulking—it’s pathetic."Pathetic?" I hissed, slamming my fist into the wall besi
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