Lucien’s POVThis week has been the most stressful ever. I am fucking losing it. Alpha Damien was right when he said he would make sure he turned me to dust. Because the strikes he has been releasing on my pack have been so terrible, and it’s truly crumbling me to the highest. Another thing—Ryder took some of my men. He said he wanted to get some of Damien’s spies that ran into the woods, and up till now, he isn’t back. As it stands, I don’t even know what to do. Why all this torture to me? I slammed my hand into the wooden table, causing a loud crack to echo through the room. My gamma, Felix, flinched but kept his eyes on me.“Lucien,” he started, his voice steady but firm. “Losing your head won’t bring back our dead.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Then tell me, Felix. What the fuck will?” He leaned forward, placing both hands on the table. “Strategy. We need a plan, not rage.” I scoffed. “Oh? And what plan do you have that will magically stop my men from dying like flies?” Felix
Seraphine's POVAs I got to the borders of Crimson Pack, what I saw had me shocked. Most of the border fortifications were down. Their war with Damien had really messed the pack up. I freed Ryder as I near the border. If I went in with him, it would have been a problem. If I was caught, they’d call me a spy. I knew my way around the pack. Of course, I was Luna here once, so why wouldn’t I? My goal was clear: find Lucien and make sure I killed him. I moved quickly, staying low as I passed through the broken defenses. The night air was crisp, the smell of blood still hanging. The war had left its mark. The once-proud walls were scarred with claw marks and ash. Some of the watchtowers had fallen, leaving huge holes in their security. It was almost too easy to slip through. A few guards were still on watch, but they were tired. Their movements were slow, their eyes dull with tiredness. I pressed myself against the darkness, using the trees for cover. I knew their trends. Years ago, I
Seraphine’s POVShe's not here. "Let's all go back."Even though everyone turned around, I could still hear one of the guards say. I was able to get off the horse and hide close to the wall so no one would see me. I was not going to give up. Today, I have to make sure I have Lucien's head. I peered around the corner and saw the guards walk away, their boots making dust fly. The fight wasn't ending; in fact, it was getting worse. The men of Damien were moving forward, and their yells and growls could be heard everywhere. I could tell Lucien's guys were desperate by the looks on their faces. They were losing ground, and they knew it. “Move faster, damn it!” One of the soldiers barked, dragging an injured fighter to his feet. “We can’t hold this place if you all act like weaklings.” “We’ve already lost the eastern side!” Another shouted back. “Lucien’s orders were to hold, but we’re getting slaughtered out here!” I grinned. Lucien was losing. And I was about to make it worse. I took
Lucien’s POVAdvance! We must make sure they all are reduced to ash!!!I yelled, my voice echoing through the chaos of war. My sword struck against an enemy’s blade, sparks flying as I forced him back. My body moved on instinct, cutting down every fool who dared stand before me. Blood sprayed my armor, sweat dripped down my face, but I didn’t stop. We had to win. Then, suddenly, my wolf stirred. It wasn’t the normal fight rage. No. This was different. It was something I hadn’t felt in a long time. A strange feeling spread through me. What is this? I gritted my teeth, shaking my head, but it only got stronger. A pull deep in my gut. My heartbeat pounded faster. My wolf growled, restless. And then I looked up. And I fucking saw her. Seraphine. She stood there, eyes locked on me, her blade dripping with blood. The chaos of war raged around us, but in that moment, it felt like it was just the two of us. She was living. “You…” My voice came out rough, filled with disbelief and s
Seraphina’s POVFucking get up...The voice was faraway, almost unreal. It repeated in my head, pulling me from the darkness. My body felt heavy, my limbs like dead weight. I tried to open my eyes, but they refused to follow. My head pounded, a dull ache spreading through my brain.Then—cold. Ice-cold water crashed against my skin, pulling me back into awareness. A sharp gasp ripped from my throat as my body jerked awake. My eyes flew open, and I saw them. Four guards stood around me, their faces emotionless, their eyes void of compassion. What the hell! I struggled, but something was wrong. My body refused to move the way it should. I reached for my wolf, calling to her, demanding her strength— But there was nothing. Silence. Panic crawled up my spine. My dog had never abandoned me. Not once. But now, she was gone—silent, inaccessible. I tried to move again. My arms didn’t budge. My legs felt stiff. What the fuck? I forced myself to look down and saw them. Chains. Thick, huge
Seraphina’s POVGuess the loneliness has started kicking in.Night was falling, and I could still hear the clash of Damien and Lucien's men outside. The distant sound of swords clashing and men grunting filled the cold air, a cruel reminder that the war was far from over. I shifted slightly, my chains clanking against the stone floor, the silver still burning my skin. My body was screaming in pain, but my mind? It was sharper than ever.At this point, I didn’t even know if I had made the wrong choice coming here all alone, against the Priestess’s will. But what choice did I have? I needed my revenge, and I needed it fast."You didn’t," a voice in my head said.Ava.I scowled. "Don’t start.""You should have waited," she said, her voice calm but firm."Waited for what?" I snapped, biting down the anger rising in my chest. "For Lucien to get stronger? For Damien to finish what he started? You saw what he did to us, Ava! And where were you? Where were you when I was almost killed?" My vo
Seraphina’s POV"Ryder," I spat, the name hanging in the air like a poison. "Your so-called right-hand man is the one who wanted me dead.""What?!" Lucien's eyes flared with surprise, his hands shaking as he stepped toward me. "You're lying!"The slap came too quickly for me to brace myself. My head snapped to the side, and the sting burst through my skin. Blood rushed into my mouth, and I tasted iron on my tongue.I wiped my mouth slowly, a slow smile twisting up the corner of my lips. "I don't lie, Lucien. Not about things that matter.""You think you can turn me against my Beta?" His voice was low, angry, each word holding the weight of a threat. His jaw clenched as if holding back a monster, his whole body shaking with repressed anger.I laughed bitterly, tasting the metallic taste of blood again. "What makes you think I give a damn about your Beta?"He advanced, looming over me, his shadow swallowing the dim light in the cell. "You’d better stop lying, Seraphina. If you think you
Lucien’s POVI walked back into my study room, angrily, even as I was lost in thought on everything that Seraphina told me earlier. Was she actually right? That Ryder was behind her attempted death? Nah... It can't be true. She can't be serious, I said to myself, even as I was so angry, trying to suppress my anger.The door creaked open, and Ryder stepped in, his usual smug look in place. "Alpha," he said, nodding at me. "Our men are winning in the war at the southern part of the pack. We have the rogues cornered. Just a little more force and—"I didn't let him finish.Grabbing him by the collar, I slammed him against the wall, my fingers tightening around his shirt. His eyes widened in shock. "What the hell, Lucien?!"I growled lowly. "You tell me, Ryder. Tell me why Seraphina is saying you were behind her attempted death! Tell me why she would look me in the eye and swear that my own Beta—my so-called right-hand man—is a traitor!"He scoffed, his lips curling into an amused smirk ev
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