The Next Morning
I walked down the stairs, trying to ignore the nausea twisting in my stomach. The faint aroma of coffee reached my nose, leading me to the dining room where the source of all my hidden longing sat.
Gabriel.
He looked flawless as always, seated at the long table in a gray suit that probably cost more than a semester of my tuition. His hair was neatly combed, not a single strand out of place. A tablet rested in his hands, and a cup of black coffee sat beside him.
When I entered, his eyes lifted briefly from the screen. His gaze was cold before returning to his reading. No "good morning." No questions about how I felt.
"I have a Pack meeting today. Don't plan on going anywhere," he said flatly.
I stayed quiet and sat across from him. I knew many in the Bloodfang Pack saw me as nothing more than the lucky orphan, the girl the Alpha took in out of pity. They didn't know the truth.
I was no one. Just the niece of a human foolish enough to defy the werewolf world. My uncle, if you could even call him that, was the man who killed Gabriel's mate, the Luna he was destined to spend eternity with.
I still remembered that night, even though I had been just a child. I had hidden behind a narrow door, peeking through the crack. I saw my uncle collapse in a pool of blood, eyes wide, body torn open by claws and fangs.
I didn't know who attacked him. All I knew was that Gabriel Draven had been there, a towering figure with sharp blue eyes, his body drenched in blood, his expression murderous.
When his gaze fell on me, my knees gave out. My breath hitched. I was certain it was the end of my life. I closed my eyes, waiting for death, but then something unthinkable happened.
He reached out his hand.
That large, bloodstained hand pulled me out of hiding. I cried, screamed, and kicked, but instead of killing me, he carried me away.
My life changed that night. I never understood why. Why he didn't end me right there. Why he took me into his home, gave me a new name, and forced me to live in his world.
I had been terrified of him then. But now, ironically, I wanted him.
My thoughts shattered when Selly emerged from the kitchen. Wearing a spotless apron tied neatly around her slim waist, she carried a plate of steaming pancakes. Her smile was sweet and fake, meant only for Gabriel.
"Good morning, darling," she whispered softly, setting the plate in front of him before leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Don't forget to eat. Your meeting will be long."
Gabriel didn't return the kiss, but he didn't push her away either. He just gave a small nod, still focused on his tablet.
Then Selly turned to me. "Oh, Sera, you're up. You must have a headache, right? How could you let yourself get drunk like that?"
I wanted to throw up, not from the hangover but from her presence.
Selly. Daddy's girlfriend. The future Luna of Bloodfang Pack. The woman I despised most in this world. She was beautiful, of course, perfect blonde hair, big eyes, always acting like the rightful lady of this house. She had been chasing the Luna position for years, and this relationship with Gabriel was her perfect strategy. I could see it. Everyone could. Everyone except Gabriel, or maybe he just didn't care.
I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, pretending not to hear her.
"I'm fine," I muttered.
"Beta Erick will pick you up at one," Gabriel said suddenly, still without looking at me. "He'll drive you to campus, wait until your classes end, and take you straight home."
He was serious. He had assigned a Beta as my personal escort. I felt like a prisoner being transferred to another cell.
"That's not necessary," I protested.
"Oh, that's a wonderful idea, darling," Selly chimed in, placing her delicate hand on his arm. "After what happened last night, better safe than sorry. Sera's still young and impulsive. She needs protection. You understand, don't you, Sera? We only want you to be safe."
We. The word stung worse than anything. She had inserted herself into our lives, acting like she belonged here, like she had any right to speak for him, for me.
I looked at Gabriel, hoping he would object, clarify, or say something. But he only shrugged those expensive shoulders and took another sip of coffee, unfazed.
I clenched my jaw, my fingers tightening around the apple. "Fine. I'll be at the library after class. I have research to do."
Gabriel finally looked up, his eyes narrowing. "Erick will wait outside. You have two hours. No more."
"Fine," I replied curtly.
I turned to leave, unable to stand Selly's sickly-sweet perfume or the sight of their fake domestic bliss.
"Sera," Gabriel called, stopping me at the doorway. I turned. He was standing now, adjusting his suit jacket. "Don't embarrass yourself. Or me."
That was the final blow. He didn't care about my feelings, only his reputation, or rather, his Pack's reputation.
I couldn't stay in that room another second. Watching Selly play the perfect wife while Gabriel tolerated her was torture. I dropped the crushed apple on the table and walked out without looking back.
I could feel Selly's triumphant gaze burning into me. She thought she had won. She thought sitting beside the Alpha gave her everything, even authority over me.
I turned once more and saw Gabriel heading out of the house. Without thinking, I followed.
He was walking toward the elevator, his pace brisk. My steps echoed against the polished marble floor as I rushed to catch up before the doors closed.
"Daddy! Wait!"
His hand froze just before pressing the button. He turned, brows furrowed. "Seraphina, not now. Daddy's running late."
Without warning, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his tall frame down to me. And with all the foolish courage I had left, I pressed my lips against his.
His lips were stiff, unresponsive. I could feel every muscle in his body tighten, ready to push me away. His scent, sandalwood and Gabriel, filled my senses, dizzying me. It was insane, it was wrong, but for one fleeting second, it felt like victory. I had done it.
My fingers clutched the shoulders of his expensive suit, desperate to hold him there, to make him kiss me back, to make him feel what I felt. But then his large hands gripped my arms, pried me off, and pushed me gently but firmly away.
"You don't know what you're doing." His voice was soft, like a parent scolding a child mid-tantrum.
The elevator chimed, doors sliding open. He looked at me, expression unreadable, before stepping inside.
"Go back to your room," he ordered, his tone cold, an Alpha commanding his ward.
"I'm an adult, and I want you. Selly isn't good for you, she's using you for your wealth," I said firmly.
His jaw tightened. For a moment, I thought he might yell. One of his hands gripped my arm, not harshly but with a strength that reminded me how easily he could overpower me. The other pressed the close button, holding the doors shut.
"You don't understand what you're saying," he murmured, his face only inches from mine. "You're my child."
"I'm not your blood, and you're not my real father," I shot back, voice rising.
His gaze sharpened, and in one swift motion, he dragged me into a nearby room and pushed me gently onto the bed. He stood by the door, closing it behind him.
I smiled faintly, then parted my thighs, heart pounding.
"Please, Daddy. I'm ready. I'm ready to be your Luna," I whispered.
I entered my room. The night's cold seemed to seep through the window, but what was more piercing was the feeling of rejection from Gabriel. I took off the party dress that still carried David's cologne, a scent that clearly made Gabriel angry. I changed into thin pajamas that didn't cover much, as if the minimal clothing could ease the tightness in my chest.Sleep would not come. Thoughts of Gabriel, of his cold stares, of the sharp words he had thrown at me, all swirled in my head. I closed my eyes, trying to force myself to sleep, but what appeared was the image of David dancing with me, his confident movements, his charming smile, and how his hand gently touched my waist. I shook my head, trying to erase that image. It was not David I wanted.My phone buzzed with a soft notification. I reached for it, looking at the screen glowing in the dark. It was from the secret group containing only selected campus members, a place for sharing adult content that no one would ever admit to ope
I arrived at the apartment just before midnight. From a distance, I could already see the silhouette of Gabriel’s black car parked in front of the building. Its headlights were still dimly glowing, and my heart immediately began to race.I knew he was inside. I knew he was waiting for me.And I knew that this time, there would be no warm embrace like before.I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before stepping into the lobby. The sound of my heels echoed across the marble floor, every step like a reflection of the guilt reverberating in my head. I pressed the elevator button, and while waiting, David’s face flashed in my mind, his words, his gaze, his confident promise.But that image quickly faded, replaced by Gabriel’s face—his cold eyes, the sharp look he always gave me whenever I crossed the invisible boundaries he had set.The elevator opened with a soft chime, and I stepped inside, staring at my reflection on the metal wall. My ivory dress was now wrinkled, my hair a litt
I stood under the campus garden lights for several minutes after Gabriel left. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. Tears almost fell, but I refused to look weak. Not tonight.After making sure no one was around, I walked back toward the rooftop where the party was still going on. The music was faint in the distance, a cheerful rhythm that felt painfully out of place compared to the chaos in my head. I climbed the stairs slowly, hoping everyone had already forgotten what happened earlier.When I reached the top, a few people turned their heads, some whispering softly. I could feel curious eyes following me, but I pretended not to notice. David was still standing near the railing, looking awkward.As soon as he saw me, he jogged over quickly.“Sera! I didn’t know that was your father.”“It’s okay. He’s just a little overprotective.”David scratched the back of his head, relief mixed with uncertainty on his face. “I thought he was mad because I asked you to dance. I really
I bit my lower lip softly, holding back the tears that suddenly burned at the corners of my eyes. My breathing hitched not only from anger, but from fear. Fear of losing control in front of someone who could so easily take command of everything about me.“I’m sorry, I just wanted tonight to feel normal. I wanted to know, even for a moment, what it’s like to be an ordinary student. Not always hiding, not always feeling guilty every time I smile at someone else.”Gabriel’s eyes locked on mine, sharp and unyielding, but I knew that look wasn’t made of anger alone. There was something else behind it something deeper, something he refused to show.“Normal?” he said, his voice low. “Nothing has been normal since you came into my life. You’ve turned everything upside down.”I lowered my head. “I’m sorry.”I took a cautious step closer, and before he could step back, I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him tightly. His whole body stiffened, his breath catching in his chest.“I’m sorry
The next day on campus, I walked with a light step. I couldn’t hide my smile; it felt as if the whole world was on my side. My friends looked at me curiously, whispering among themselves, probably wondering why my face was glowing like that. I tried to act normal, even though inside, memories from last night kept replaying Gabriel’s gaze, that kiss, and the last words he said to me.“Seraphina!”A cheerful voice called out from the campus garden. I turned and saw David, my classmate who I’d known for a while had feelings for me. He was holding something wrapped neatly in pale blue paper.“Hey, you look so happy today,” he said with a wide smile.I let out a small laugh, trying to hide the sudden nervousness in my chest.“Oh, really? Maybe because I finally got enough sleep.”“This is for you.” He handed me the gift.I hesitated for a second, but his sincere eyes made it hard for me to refuse.“Thank you, David. But what’s this for?”“It’s nothing. I just wanted you to have something f
The next day, I took a shower with a joyful heart. My happy voice echoed in the spacious bathroom as I soaped my body in slow motion, imagining whose hands I wanted doing this.I danced a little under the stream of warm water, imagining Gabriel's face as he drove Selly from this house. My hands fumbled for the shower head, trying to adjust the water flow, but in my overzealousness, I pulled it too hard and broke it."AAH!"The broken shower head gushed water like a small waterfall, drenching my entire body and flooding the bathroom floor. I slipped, grabbing onto the shower curtain to steady myself.In less than ten seconds, the bathroom door swung open."Seraphina!"Gabriel stood there with a panicked expression. His eyes immediately took in the scene: the water flooding the floor, the broken shower head, and me standing there soaked and completely unclothed.In a few quick strides, he approached the main tap and turned it off. The gushing water finally stopped.I snapped back to rea