LOGINSERA'S POVThe first sound I heard was the sound of machines.The second sound was the sound of breathing. Heavy breathing, sometimes broken, like someone trying to hold back tears.I tried to open my eyes. My eyelids felt heavy, as if weighed down by a thousand tons. White light pierced my retina, making me blink several times before finally getting used to it.White ceiling, fluorescent lights, the smell of antiseptic.I was in a hospital.I tried to remember what happened. The black cars that surrounded us, then the pain in my stomach. Seizures, panic, then Gabriel carrying me to the car.I turned my head slowly. My neck hurt. There was a stinging sensation on its left side, like a fresh wound, but I didn't care.Next to the bed sat Gabriel.He was crying.Gabriel Bloodfang, the man who never showed weakness, who always stood strong in front of anyone, who used to destroy enemies without blinking, he was crying. Tears streamed down his face, wetting his cheeks that had started to s
GABRIEL'S POVTwo weeks later.Her condition didn't improve. It got worse.At first, it was just small declines. Her heartbeat weakened a little. Her blood pressure dropped. The doctor said that was normal for a coma patient. But then her fever spiked and wouldn't go down. An infection spread through her body. The antibiotics weren't working as effectively as hoped.Dr. Chen called me into her office that afternoon. Her face was serious, more serious than usual."We need to talk."I sat in the chair across from her, my heart pounding erratically."Sera's condition is weakening. The infection is spreading, and her body isn't responding to treatment the way we hoped.""What do you mean?""It means that if there's no significant change in the next few days, we could lose her."I gripped the armrest of the chair tightly. "No. Is there anything I can do? Anything."Dr. Chen looked at me for a long moment, then sighed."There is one way, but it's outside conventional medical practice. I can
GABRIEL'S POVI stood in that hallway for two hours, leaning against the cold wall, staring at the operating room door that never opened. Sometimes I sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair, then stood up again, then paced back and forth, then sat down again.I couldn't lose her.I wouldn't be able to live without her.I'd already lost so much in my life.If she left, what was the point of me holding on?I clasped my own hands, trying to stop the shaking. It didn't work.The door opened.I stood up tense.Dr. Chen walked out.I stepped closer. "How is she?"She took a long breath. "All three babies survived."I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The babies were alive. My children were alive. But why was the doctor's expression still flat? Why wasn't she smiling?"All boys, all healthy. One of them is a bit smaller than his two brothers, but no serious issues. They're in the NICU for observation.""And Sarah?" My voice was hoarse.Dr. Chen was quiet."Doctor? HOW IS SARAH?"She looked
That night, we didn't end up leaving.The bags were still scattered in the car. Two small suitcases, a bag of food, blankets, and the remaining cash. The small house felt empty after we'd nearly cleared it out. But we were too exhausted to move everything back inside. I left the things in the car.Sera sat on the edge of the bed, her face deathly pale. I prepared a glass of warm water for her, but she refused. Her eyes were blank, staring unfocused at the wall. I knew she was still thinking about what happened that afternoon."You need to rest," I said, sitting beside her.She nodded weakly, then lay down. I covered her with a blanket, kissed her forehead, and walked to the kitchen to put away the glass.But ten minutes later, I heard a sound from the bedroom.I ran back.Sera was lying in bed, her body shaking violently. Her face was flushed bright red, sweat soaking her forehead and neck. I touched her forehead. Burning hot."Can you hear me?"She groaned, her eyes squeezed shut. He
GABRIEL'S POVI sped away from that grocery store. In the rearview mirror, the old building grew smaller, then disappeared around the bend. My chest felt tight, not because I was out of breath, but because I knew our time in this town was up.When I got home, Sera was sitting on the front porch. Her big belly made it hard for her to move freely. Her face was pale, her eyes tired, and I could see how exhausted she was."Gabriel?" She stood up with difficulty, reading my expression. "What's wrong? Why are you home early?"I turned off the engine, got out, and walked toward her without saying a word. I hugged her, feeling her big belly press against mine, feeling small kicks from inside."We have to leave," I whispered.She was quiet. Not surprised, as if she'd already expected it."Hendricks knows who I am. He won't report me, but sooner or later someone else will find out. We can't stay here anymore.""Where to?""Abroad. Canada or Europe. Somewhere the pack has no influence.""I can't
GABRIEL'S POVThe next day.Sera was still sleeping soundly next to me, her face peaceful, her arms wrapped around her big belly bulging under the thin blanket. I looked at her for a moment, listened to her steady breathing, then kissed her forehead softly before getting up.She didn't wake up.I showered, put on the same worn-out shirt and ragged jeans as yesterday. In the bathroom mirror, I stared at my own face. Short hair, a clean-shaven strong jaw, a thin mustache starting to grow back. I'm still handsome, Sera said, but all I saw in the mirror was an ordinary man. Not an alpha. Not a CEO. No one.I smiled bitterly at my own reflection.I used to be accustomed to expensive suits and coffee from a fancy espresso machine. Now I eat peanut butter toast standing in the kitchen, not having time to sit down because I'm afraid of being late. Old Man Hendricks doesn't like his employees showing up late.The drive to the grocery store takes fifteen minutes in that old car that sometimes m
I put the necklace down on the bed and walked towards him.One step.He stepped back.Two steps.He stepped back again.Three steps, his back was against the door frame, and there was nowhere left to retreat.I stopped right in front of him, only inches separating us. I could hear his breath quicke
I don't remember exactly when everything started to blur.What I remember are the empty bottles on the floor. The white pills I took, I don't know how many. The phone that kept vibrating with the name MARCUS on the screen. And an incredible pain in my chest, not from the pills, but from my shattere
Arriving at campus.“Will you be all right?” Gabriel asked as he walked me all the way to the front of the faculty building.He had to immediately attend a meeting with the dean regarding something he had deliberately arranged so he could “coincidentally” be on campus today.“I will be fine. Do not
It was already late at night. Gabriel’s luxurious apartment felt overwhelmingly silent and vast, echoing every step of my bare feet against the marble floor. The clock on the living room wall showed a little past eleven. Gabriel still had not come home. His last message said the meeting was running







