MasukSERA'S POVThree weeks later, we went home.The small house on the edge of Sandpoint was still standing. The grass in the front yard had grown a little taller, dry leaves scattered across the porch.Gabriel helped me out of the old car. My body was still weak, the C-section scar still stung if I moved too much, but I didn't want to wait any longer.Lucas, Ethan, and Noah were asleep in three car seats that barely fit in the back. Gabriel had to order them specially online—three car seats that could line up in that small car. It took two weeks for them to arrive, but finally we could pick the babies up from the hospital.I looked at the house. The windows were dark. The front door was shut tight, but something felt wrong."Gabriel," I whispered."Yeah?""Do you feel something strange?"He didn't answer. I turned to look at his tense face. His eyes narrowed toward the house, his nose twitching slightly."We're not alone," he said quietly."Marcus?""Or his men. I smell at least four dif
SERA'S POVI fell silent.Gabriel's words were still echoing in my ears, like thunder in broad daylight."What?" I whispered.He sighed, his hand still stroking little Lucas's cheek."After this, I'm going to turn myself in to Marcus. I'll ask him not to come after you, not to bother you, not to bother our children.""No.""Sera...""NO!" I nearly shouted. Lucas squirmed, startled by my voice. I lowered my volume, but my anger didn't subside. "You're not doing that. I won't let you."He looked at me with soft eyes, but that softness only made me angrier. "It's the only way.""Liar! There's always another way!""There's no other way.""I don't care! I won't let you go!"Gabriel carefully placed Lucas back into the incubator, then did the same with Ethan and Noah. One by one, with gentle and loving movements, he separated them from my embrace. I wanted to scream, wanted to reach for them again, but my hands were still weak."Listen. As long as I'm free, Marcus won't stop. They'll keep s
SERA'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
The door slammed open. Gabriel’s breath was heavy as he entered, his strides long and decisive like a storm that left no room for words.“I told you not to touch anything.”I stood in the corner of the room, my fingers still gripping my phone. “I did not touch it. I only read the card that was tuck
Night fell quickly. The streetlights outside seeped through the gaps in the curtains. I was sitting on the living room floor when the sound of a turning key was heard. The door opened, and Gabriel entered alone, without his guards.He carried a large paper bag."Dinner," he said shortly, placing it
From behind the glass door, I heard Elena’s voice.“I will return home tomorrow, but before that, I will make sure that human girl is sent away from here.”I pulled the blanket around my body tighter, trying not to make a sound.“I already told you, she will move house, but tomorrow because it is a
The main course had just been served when the air in the room shifted subtly. Not because of words, but because of pack instinct. The guests from Silvermoon began to straighten their backs, their eyes narrowing slightly, their noses flaring ever so faintly.They smelled something. Human scent.The







