Mag-log inSERAPHINA'S POVI gulped as we neared my father's pack. Looking back, it had really been a while since I stepped out of Stonecrest palace. And longer since I'd been here at all.The anxiety in my chest tightened as we neared the pack's gate. A lot had changed since I left here months ago. It was almost a year now.Definitely, the hatred for my father had grown. I was pregnant for someone I swore I would never touch, because of my supposed hatred for him. I chuckled to myself at that one.Then there was the whole wolf hibernation thing, the changes in my hair color, and the big finish—the coma. And now, here I was, in a getaway ride to find answers from the one person I'd been trying not to hate. He was still my father. Even though he always seemed to forget that.I looked to my left and honestly, I was still in shock. I hadn't expected the escape to be so easy.Of course, I knew by now Kaelan was probably on my trail. But getting out of the palace was an achievement I didn't think cou
KAELAN'S POVI watched as the court meeting unfolded before me. Ministers droned on about border disputes and trade agreements. None of it mattered. All I could think about was Seraphina.Her face. Her voice. The way she looked at me when I told her the truth. The fire in her chest that was waking up whether she was ready or not."Alpha? Alpha?"It wasn't until Rio mind-linked me that I realized my attention had been called several times. I blinked, forcing myself back to the present."Is everything going well, Alpha? You seem out of it," one of the court ministers asked, his brow furrowed with concern.I looked around the room. Bored faces. Petty politics. Issues that meant nothing compared to what was coming. Compared to her."Let's postpone this meeting. Fix another date for it."The ministers exchanged stunned looks. Papers rustled. Someone coughed. I didn't care. Staying here was a waste of time. I wouldn't listen, and that would give them more reasons to probe. I couldn't afford
SERAPHINA'S POVI patted my fingers on my thigh slightly as I heard Tara invite the seer in. Soon after, an old man entered. His back was almost bent in half, grey hair sprouting from his head, chin, and brows. He walked in with slow, measured steps and bowed slightly."Greetings, Your Majesty."I was stunned at how smooth and silky his voice sounded. Based on his appearance, I had expected his voice to be all crooked and aged, but it was the exact opposite. It was warm. Youthful, even. The contrast was unsettling."Greetings, old one," I said.He shook his head slightly, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm not so old now, am I? You're making me feel like a real old man." He chuckled softly."Varys," he said. "My name is Varys, Luna."I nodded in acknowledgement and offered him a seat, but he shook his head."You don't want to sit?" I asked, confused."I'd prefer to sit on the floor, if you don't mind, Luna."I was taken slightly aback but didn't show it. A seer who preferred the
SERAPHINA'S POVOnly time knows how long I've been pacing for. But I'm sure I've walked back and forth in this same space of my room more than thirty times.Yes. I wanted to know the truth, but now that the truth was piecing together, I still wasn't making any sense of it.I was born to the man I still couldn't help but call my father, Alpha Landon. He had always treated me in an unfair manner, yet he was still the only father I knew. I schooled at the royal academy, graduated as one of the top Alpha daughters, and the best in my pack. I met Kaelan when I was in the academy, and we fell in love. I could call it love at first sight, because our love burned with so much passion—even at that young age.We were fine. Free. Happy. I prayed so hard to the Moon Goddess to pair us together when I turned eighteen, and I looked forward to it. I promised myself I would reject the bond if I ended up getting paired with someone who wasn't Kaelan Thorne. My father called me childish, but I was so i
KAELAN'S POVI looked straight into her eyes and saw a mix of emotions swirling there. Anger. Yeah, she deserved to be angry. I'd been stalling, avoiding straightforward answers for too long. Confusion. Anyone in her shoes would be confused. That was expected.But pity? Was that pity in her eyes? Self-pity, or pity for me? I couldn't tell."The punishment —" Her lips quavered slightly. "Is that why you don't have a mate yet?""I was the one that rejected the mate bond, and I was punished for that. Even though it wasn't supposed to get this intense. But you... why don't you have a mate? Weren't you given another chance? Or did you reject her?""My wolf is destined to only bond with one person. Since you rejected the bond, I didn't get a second chance.""Was that why you came back? To punish me for leaving you mateless?"My wolf rumbled inside me. Tempest.What Seraphina didn't know was that we were connected. Body, soul, and wolf. When her wolf went into hibernation, mine weakened too.
SERAPHINA'S POV"Why are you giving me that look? Was I the one that sent you to coma?" She snickered, and then her eyes went to my hair."And your hair... back to that dull brown, I see. Did the coma wash away your little secret?""Did you come here to greet me, or you came here to be a commentator, Grand Empress? I don't have to remind you to watch the way you speak to the Grand Luna of this pack," I remarked, and I heard her scoff under her breath."I can see your wolf is back as well," she noted, and I smirked."It was always with me. Now, if you don't mind, kindly take your leave, I need to rest."She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but decided against it.Yup, that's right. My wolf is back. By the way, where's Tara?---I exhaled as I took my first step out of the room. So, literally, I've been cooped up in my room for a month. Wow.The breeze played with the ends of my hair, its cold wind settling on my shoulders.My baby bump was actually quite visible now, and my cl
Anyone looking at Kaelan's face right now wouldn't be able to detect a hint of his true expression, but I could.I could see the subtle curve of his lips and I know he's doing this on purpose.He was fully aware that I hadn't been listening to a word of their discussion, and now, he was trying to p
SERAPHINA'S POVA sensation of weightlessness surrounds me; as if I’m submerged in deep water, floating without direction. There is no light, no sound, only a silent, endless dark.Where am I?My mind strains to remember. I was in the bath, the water warm against my skin… then nothing. Now, only th
KAELAN'S POVMy jaw tightened as I watched the Grand Empress smile, a slow, deliberate curl of her lips that didn’t reach her cold, observant eyes. How did she know to come here? The question coiled in my gut like a serpent. No one outside my most trusted circle was aware of Seraphina’s condition—o
SERAPHINA'S POV My world paused at that instant, as I struggled to process what I’d just heard. Did I hear wrong, perhaps? “What did you just say?” I asked, my voice slightly lower than before. He made a show of turning to leave, but I stood in front of him, blocking his path—a futile gesture,







