Chapter 2

I burst into the penthouse, clutching a trembling Lydia.

Julian's warriors had rescued us and vanished without a trace.

But I knew this was just the beginning.

"Sweetheart, Mommy's taking you on an adventure," I whispered, forcing a smile I didn't feel. "We'll go somewhere far, far away, and see a real meteor shower."

"Is Daddy not coming?"

The word "Daddy" was a knife in my chest.

"Daddy's... busy," I said, unable to meet her innocent eyes. "We're going to leave first. Now, go pack your favorite toys."

I ran into the bedroom, grabbing our passports and all the cash I had. My fingers were shaking, but I moved fast. I had to get out before he came back.

I couldn't let my daughter be his next sacrifice.

Just as I zipped the bags, I heard footsteps outside the door.

My blood ran cold.

Ethan was back.

"Sera! Lydia! Are you okay?" He burst through the door, his face a perfect mask of frantic concern. But I could smell her on him. The cloying, cheap scent of Lilith's perfume.

"We're fine. Someone saved us."

"Thank the Goddess." He moved to hug me. "Sera, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

I took a step back.

The smell was too strong. It made me sick.

"What's wrong?" He frowned. "Are you avoiding me?"

"No, just... still shaken," I managed a weak smile.

"Baby, it's my fault." He reached out to touch my face. "It's our anniversary, I should have been with you. But there was an urgent pack emergency..."

He was still lying.

Just moments ago, that hand was touching another woman.

"I understand," I said through gritted teeth.

"My Luna. Always so understanding," he murmured, leaning in to kiss me. I flinched away. His smile faltered. "I promise, this will never..."

Suddenly, his face tightened. A mind-link. Lilith's voice, laced with pain, echoed in my head. She hadn't even bothered to block me.

"Ethan... it hurts... Your mate bond... it's rejecting me!" Lilith’s voice was filled with panic. "It's like... Luna's power, coming through you, burning my soul! It's her! Seraphina knows! She's using your bond to punish me!"

Ethan’s eyes snapped to mine, a flicker of something new in them.

"Seraphina," his voice dropped, turning hard as steel. "What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything." I fought to keep my voice steady.

"Don't you lie to me!" he snarled, unleashing his Alpha command. The force of it slammed into me, a physical blow. The air thickened, and every breath was agony.

My knees buckled, and I fell to the floor.

"I didn't..."

"Liar!" he snarled. The crushing weight of his Alpha power slammed down on me.

The air grew thick. Every breath was like inhaling shards of glass.

My knees buckled, and I was forced to the ground.

"I didn't..."

He grabbed my arm, his eyes dangerously dark. "How dare you use our bond to hurt someone else? You've already tainted it once, Seraphina! What more do you want to do?"

Just then, our daughter ran out of her room.

"Mommy, when are we leaving?" she asked innocently. "Didn't we say we were going on a trip?"

The air froze.

Ethan's gaze flickered to the suitcase behind me.

"A trip?" he sneered, his eyes flicking to the suitcase behind me. "Running to Julian?"

Ethan didn’t roar. He didn't explode. He just went still. A terrifying, predatory calm.

He even calmly adjusted his cuffs before walking slowly toward us.

"Oh, Sera. You never learn." He crouched, his cold fingers tracing my cheek. His eyes held a sick, obsessive light. "Why are you trying to run away with his stain? Once she's gone, we can finally be together. The way we were always meant to be."

"She's your daughter!" I cried out.

"Shh—" His long finger pressed against my lips. "Don't lie for Julian's whelp. It drives me mad with jealousy. Be a good girl. Watch me get rid of it, and then we'll go home."

He snatched Lydia with one hand, not like a father holding his pup, but like a man tossing out the trash. His eyes held no hatred. Only the chilling, flat relief of a problem being solved.

"This filth doesn't deserve to stand between us."

The mother wolf inside me let out a desperate roar.

"Daddy, don't scare Mommy..." Lydia cried, reaching for him with her small hands.

But Ethan shoved her away.

"Don't touch me!" he roared. "You're not my daughter!"

My daughter hit the floor. Something inside me snapped. I launched myself at him, all claws and teeth.

But he was an Alpha. He was faster. One hand shot out, pinning me to the wall by my neck. The other snatched Lydia up like a rag doll.

"Since you want to take this bastard with you so badly, I'll grant your wish!" His smile was cruel and twisted.

"Let her go!" I struggled. "Do whatever you want to me!"

"To you?" He dragged us toward the door. "Every time I look at her, I'm reminded of how you let another man touch you. I've tolerated this long enough, Sera. Now, you're going to watch me dispose of a traitor's pup. And you... you will stay by my side. Forever."

"Daddy, please..." Lydia’s sobs were heart-wrenching. "I'm scared..."

Ethan didn't even look at her. He dragged us into the car, ignoring our daughter's desperate cries.