“Get the nurse ready! Alpha has been hit!” Ryder’s voice roared through the chaos, the sheer volume cutting through the pounding in my skull. His tone was urgent, desperate, but I couldn’t fully process it. Everything felt hazy—the world spinning, the sharp pain radiating from my shoulder, and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.“Hold him steady,” Ryder barked, his voice nearing as I felt hands gripping my shoulders. I winced, the touch sending a fresh wave of agony through my body. “Lucien, stay with me. Don’t you dare pass out on me now.”“Ryder,” I managed to mutter, my voice hoarse and weak. “Damien… he’s…”“Save your strength,” Ryder cut in sharply. “We’ll deal with him later. Right now, you need to focus on not bleeding out.”The guards holding me shifted, and I felt my feet dragging against the ground as they half-carried, half-hauled me inside the packhouse. My vision blurred, but I could make out flashes of faces—worried eyes, panicked expressions, blood-streaked cheeks.
Lucien’s POV“Lucien, you are a murderer,” the voice came again, cold and sharp, slicing through the thick silence like a blade. My heart pounded in my chest as I twisted my head, trying to locate the source. The voice echoed, disorienting, as if it were bouncing off the walls around me.“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “Show yourself!”The room was impossibly dark, the only light coming from a single candle flickering far ahead. The shadows danced ominously, their shapes twisting and morphing, feeding my growing unease.“Lucien, murderer,” the voice repeated, more insistent this time. My body tensed as a chill ran down my spine. The tone was painfully familiar, and a knot tightened in my stomach as recognition dawned.“Seraphina?” I whispered, my voice breaking.“You remember me?” The voice laughed bitterly, the sound laced with anger and sorrow. “How thoughtful.”I tried to move toward the candlelight, but something held me back. I looked down and
Lucien’s POV“Can I come in, Alpha?” I turned my head toward the door at the sound of Ryder’s words. “Sure, Ryder, come in,” I said, even as he pushed the door open and stepped into the room. The nurse had left a few minutes ago after telling me I was steady, though still weak. I had asked for Ryder as soon as I’d gathered my thoughts. There were things I needed to know, and Ryder was the one I trusted most. “Alpha, how are you feeling?” he asked, his tone holding just the right mix of worry and respect. “I’m getting better,” I said, shifting myself slightly on the bed. My body felt like it weighed a ton, but I wouldn’t let that show. “Weak for now, but I’ll be out of this bed soon.” “That’s good to hear, Alpha,” Ryder said, a faint smile touching his lips. “We need you on your feet.” I nodded, then leaned forward slightly. “How are our troops doing?” I asked. Ryder’s face turned serious. “As you instructed, they’ve all pulled back and are staying in their quarters. The soldier
Lucien's POV"Who dares defy my orders?" I yelled, grasping the crutches harder as I raced out of my quarters, my body screaming in protest but my rage outweighing every ounce of agony. Ryder had attempted to stop me, his hands solid but his words hesitating, knowing better than to push me further when I was this enraged.“Alpha, you need to rest. Please,” the nurse begged, her hands hovering like she wanted to catch me if I fell.“Move,” I snarled, my glare piercing enough to make her flinch back. I staggered but caught myself, pushing my legs to comply. Ryder hovered nearby, ready to grab me if required, but even he knew to keep his lips quiet. The fury flowing off me was overpowering.“Get me to the courtroom. Now,” I snapped, my tone leaving no room for argument. Ryder dropped in step with me, his mouth pinched into a narrow line. He realized this was a struggle he couldn’t win.By the time I reached the huge double doors of the courthouse, my eyesight was already fuzzy from the s
Seraphina’s POV"You are no longer solely by yourself." Opening my eyes I felt an overwhelming difference in the air... How long was I out?The voice struck me like a clap of thunder. I suddenly sat up, gasping for oxygen as if I had been drowning, and my eyes sprung open in a matter of seconds. The hammering of my heart against my chest was so intense that it caused me pain. Was that my wolf I just heard?It took a few minutes for the room to come into focus, revealing everything that was there: the low light that was coming in through the ancient wooden slats, the subtle aroma of lavender that was blended with something earthy and untamed."Who's there?" As my throat became dry, I croaked out the words, which came out sounding like a whisper. My voice sounded strange, weak, like it belonged to someone else. Have you heard me? And lastly. I froze. That wasn’t a voice in the room. It was in my brain as well. And it wasn’t mine. “No… No, no, no,” I whispered, clutching at the she
Seraphina's POVThe feelings within me surged, crashing like an uncontrolled wave. My wolf howled, a sound so primal and fierce it echoed through my mind and threatened to pull me under. But the priestess's words steadied me, a tether in the storm of chaos."I must control it," I whispered, squeezing my hands tighter until my knuckles whitened. My breath hitched, the effort of keeping my feelings in check a fight I wasn’t sure I could win."You must," the priestess repeated, her steady eyes holding me in place. "Your wolf’s power is tied to your feelings, Seraphine. If you allow rage to lead you, you will be no different than those who hurt you."Her words pierced through me, sparking a war in my chest. The raw rage demanded revenge, yet a small, fragile voice inside me—a residue of who I had been before—pleaded for caution."How do I fight it?" I asked, my voice shaking. "How do I control something so powerful when all I feel is this… this hatred?"The priestess stood, her presence l
Seraphina’s POVI was already getting tired and bored of just sleeping every day and waking up. Yeah, the priestess said I need to rest so I can recover fully, but I have been resting for more than two weeks now. My wolf has been really agile and eager to do something. I won’t lie—the feeling is just so different. Like, my wolf hasn’t even allowed me to rest a bit since I woke up. We talk a lot. It’s like she’s my best friend."I have always wanted to be let out," she said to me as I sat on the bed."Really?" I answered, using my mind."I have been locked up for ages," she said. Even as she spoke, she sounded happy she was finally out. "Now I can check myself out to the fullest potential."I won’t lie, I was really lost. Like, yeah, I knew people had wolves and all, but THIS IS SO NEW! I felt like I was running mad."Chill, Sera," she said."Sera?" I answered, confused."Yeah, I’ve given you a nickname. Seraphina is too long for me to call," she said.I just giggled. "Fine. Sera is fi
Seraphina’s POVLook out!!!" the trainer shouted, but I had already seen it. I dodged the attack, turning my body just in time to avoid the wooden stick swinging toward my ribs. My own stick came down hard, falling exactly on my opponent’s side. She let out a grunt and fell onto the ground with a loud thud.I took a deep breath and stretched out my hand. "Here. Get up."She grabbed my hand, her grip strong, and I pulled her up. She was breathing hard, her eyes filled with frustration but also a hint of respect."Damn, you’re getting better," Fiona, my wolf, said in my mind, sounding smug."Yeah, sure," I mumbled back with a small smile.I turned my gaze toward the priestess, who stood at the far right of the courtyard, watching. Her arms were crossed, and she had a pleased look on her face. I had been training for a week now, and already, I had won more than half of my one-on-one duels.My wolf, Fiona, was getting stronger, and I could feel it. Every day, my movements became sharper,
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