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
Lucien’s POVI stood in the woods with Ryder by my side, the chilly night air pressing against my skin. The forest was eerily silent, the moonlight barely filtering through the thick canopy above. My fists were clenched tightly at my sides as I stared into the darkness ahead. This meeting with Alpha Damien wasn’t about surrendering, no matter what he might think. I just needed him to look me in the eye and admit what he’d done. To tell me he’d killed Seraphine. Only then could I unleash hell on him and his pack.“Alpha, this isn’t safe,” Ryder muttered, his voice low but filled with urgency. He glanced around the shadowy forest, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “Damien could have set a trap. We need to leave. Now.”“Calm down, Ryder,” I said, not taking my eyes off the trees ahead. “Damien wouldn’t dare try something here. Not when he agreed to this meeting himself.”“You’re putting too much faith in his so-called honor,” Ryder shot back. “That bastard’s as slippery as they
Lucien’s POVDamien then called me back, and I turned to face him once more. His expression was darker, more sinister than before.“Lucien,” he said, his voice like a blade slicing through the still night. “You think you’ve won this little game? Think again. I’m coming for you, your family, and everything you own. Mark my words. I will attack your pack with everything I’ve got.”My fists clenched, but I didn’t respond. Damien’s words dripped with venom as he continued.“You think you’re so untouchable,” he sneered, taking a step closer. “But you’re just a man hiding behind a title. Your pack, your Beta, even your home… They’re all vulnerabilities, Lucien. And I’ll exploit every single one of them.”Ryder stepped forward, his voice filled with anger. “You’re all talk, Damien. We’re not afraid of you.”Damien’s laugh was cold, sharp. “Oh, Ryder. Always so loyal. But loyalty won’t save you when my warriors tear through your defenses like they’re paper.”I held up a hand to silence Ryder
Lucien’s POV “Alpha Lucien, with all due respect, what you did was foolish,” an elder said, his voice laced with frustration. “How could you go out there alone with your Beta? What if you were attacked by Damien and his barbaric army?” “I did what I had to do,” I said, my tone calm as I leaned back in my chair, gesturing to a guard. “Get me a fruit juice,” I ordered, ignoring the disapproving murmurs around me. The elder’s voice grew louder, tinged with disbelief. “Lucien, you’re acting as though this doesn’t bother you. Your nonchalance is… unsettling.” I smiled faintly and replied, “Getting angry isn’t the main deal. I know what I must do.” My calm demeanor only seemed to fuel their exasperation. “What are you planning to do?” another elder asked, his brows furrowed. The curiosity and frustration in his voice were palpable. I sipped the fruit juice that was brought to me, then ordered more drinks for everyone. “Be calm,” I said, leaning back. My eyes scanned the room as I notic
Lucien’s POV“Bring him to me!” I shouted, my voice echoing off the stone walls of the hall. My eyes narrowed as two of my warriors dragged a man toward the throne where I sat. His face was bloodied, his body slumped in defeat, but his eyes held defiance. It made my blood boil.As they threw him to the floor before me, I stood, my every step deliberate as I descended the dais. My voice was cold and sharp as I spoke. “Who are you?”The man spat blood on the floor but said nothing. My jaw clenched as I grabbed his hair, forcing him to look up at me. “Where is Damien?” I demanded, my voice a growl.He laughed bitterly. “You think I’ll tell you?”I released his hair with a shove, and he crumpled back to the ground. “You will tell me,” I said, motioning to one of the guards. A sharp blade was placed in my hand. I crouched down, the edge of the knife hovering near his throat. “Or you’ll wish you had.”“Kill me if you want,” he sneered. “Damien doesn’t fear you. None of us do.”I gripped the
Lucas POVDaelen and Kaelen were at it again. The feast was in full swing, and as usual, they were making a spectacle of themselves. Plates and cups scattered everywhere, their boisterous laughter echoing through the packhouse. It was like a circus, and they were the main attractions. The sight made my stomach churn."These kids will ruin the pack," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I made my way toward them. They didn’t even have an inkling of what their sister was going through. The thought made my chest tighten with frustration."Hey! Lucas! What’s up?" Kaelen called out, waving a half-eaten drumstick in the air. His grin was wide, carefree, and utterly infuriating. "Your face has been kinda scarce these past two days. Come join us! Feast!""No, have fun," I said flatly, not bothering to hide the irritation in my voice.As I walked past them, Daelen reached out, blocking my path. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What’s with the attitude, cousin?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with m
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