LOGINI stayed in the room for what seemed like hours, without stepping out. Tara came at intervals to ask me if I needed anything. But I shook my head at every of her proposal.
The only thing I need currently is to hear Kaelan's side of the story, apologize and get my freedom back. I can't afford to stay in the same space as him when guilt is eating me up this much. I stopped my mind from wandering back to the lady I saw hours ago. The thought that she might be his mate, made my heart ache. "Food perhaps?" Tara asked again, poking her head through my door. I looked at her, before shaking my head once again. I felt apologetic for my refusals though. She's the only one that gave off a warm energy since I entered the house, even the house itself felt cold. She pursed her lips tightly. "You aren't going to eat anything, ma'am? The Alpha might not be so happy if he finds out that you're refusing to eat," she said, and i raised my brows. "And why would he care?" I asked sharply. Kaelan made it clear that he brought me here to ruin me, so why would he care about whether I ate or not. I bet he won't even flinch if I slumped dead in front of him. He hated me that much. I could see it in his eyes. "Maybe because you're his Luna?" Tara said quietly, and I sat up, my brows knotting. "His Luna?" I repeated. I'm Kaelan's Luna? The document I signed had only stared a contract marriage, not that I would be getting married to him as his Luna. Wait a minute..I passed. If I'm getting bound to him as his Luna, does that mean he doesn't have a mate yet? He can't possibly have two Lunas. "But..he has a mate already? Doesn't he?" I asked the question at the tip of my tongue, and Tara's expression faltered. "My Lady, I don't know on what terms the Alpha brought you here. But it's quite surprising that you know nothing about him," She said, and when I looked away, biting my lips at her statement, she quickly apologized. "I didn't mean it that way, My Lady. What i meant to say is that the Alpha is quite popular, and even if no one knows the full story, we are all aware of the surface," She said, and my curious picked. "What full story?" I asked carefully. I feel at a disadvantage that I don't know anything about Kaelan. Tara lowered her gaze, as if chastising herself for saying too much. "The Alpha dosen't have a mate yet, and I guess that's why he brought you in as his Luna." I noticed as she quickly brushed off my last question, but i didn't push it any further. I would wait till she's ready to tell me about him, and if she doesn't; I'll just try to find out myself. A part of me was happy that that woman i had seen earlier wasn't his mate, but then why doesn't he have a mate yet. Did the moon goddess punish him too? And even if he wanted to get a Luna, why did he choose me—a girl that constantly reminded him of pain and hurt. "I should leave, My Lady," Tara said, gave me a bow, before walking through the door. I drummed my fingers on the bed rhythmically, a habit I do once I'm in a deep thought. I need to know exactly what happened to Kaelan within those years. How did he become the Alpha of this pack? This isn't his home pack. Where had he been all these years? Why doesn't he have a mate yet? I sighed as all those questions filled my head. I can't figure out the answers to my questions by remaining here. I've got to source for answers. I finally stood up from the bed, undressed and went into the bathroom to have a shower. After soaking in soap bubbles and water, I came out of the bathroom, only to realize I don't have any dress to change into. I left my pack without picking a pin. What was I thinking? I guess I didn't even think at all immediately I saw Kaelan. I sat on the bed, frustrated. I was only clad in a towel I saw in the bathroom. My eyes went to the wardrobe in the corner of my room, and I approached it. I opened it without any hope, but immediately I did, my mouth went agape. Different rows of dresses, and shoes filled the rack and I gasped. Kaelan definitely had all these prepared before I came in. Just how long as he been planning this. My eyes shifted to a row of delicate lace and I blinked. Are those... lingeries? Did Kaelan pick those himself? I hit myself on the head slightly, reminding myself that Kaelan wasn't the one i knew ten years ago. He wasn't that doting boyfriend who'd conquer the world for me. He was now someone who saw me as nothing but his enemy. I took out one of the dresses; a casual one, and I wasn't surprised when it fit perfectly. It's him after all. I exhaled, and walked out of the room, only for the double door across me to open up at that exact moment. His tall frame walked out, his gaze piercing my skin. Without bothering to look at me for more than a second, he turned and walked down the stairs. "Come down for dinner," His voice rang, as he descended without turning back to look at me. There was no one else, so I knew it was me he was referring to. He's inviting me to dinner? I took slow steps and walked down the stairs. He was already settled at the dining table. Different rows of food was arranged on the table, and at a point, i wondered if any other person was joining us for dinner. Ah! There's that woman...Isolde or what had he called her. That's true, I didn't see her around. "Sit!" His voice jolted me out of my thoughts, and I sat down quietly. As Tara served the food, I couldn't help but wonder why i didn't see any other maid around. He's an Alpha, and I was expecting to see rows of servants at his beck and call, but I've only seen Tara around. After she was done, she took a bow, and left, and I almost begged her to stay. I didn't want to remain at the table with Kaelan alone. I stared at the food placed in front of me, and I couldn't help but wonder if it had been laced. I could feel his eyes on me and when I looked in his direction, I met his fixated gaze on me, and I shifted uneasily in my seat. "Do I bother you, little wife?" His thick voice sounded, his eyes not leaving mine. Those deep ocean eyes were fixed on me, and I wanted to disappear from my seat. "Erm..no," I stuttered, slightly pinching myself under the table. "Then perhaps, do you think your food is poisoned?" He asked, and I looked at me in shock. How did he guess what I was thinking. He chuckled, dropping his fork on the plate. "I won't stoop so low to do something as cheap as that. That's cowardice." "I don't play cowardly game. I had rather ruin your total existence with you watching," he snarled and the spoon in my grasp fell from my shaky hands, making a loud clank.ISOLDE'S POVMy leg tapped against the floor in rhythm. I was trying to control how nervous and scared I felt, but it was not working.I gulped down the little alcohol left in the jar beside me and closed my eyes as it burned my throat.Alpha Kael would come for me. I was sure of that. Someone had reported that my family's crest was found at the scene where Asher attacked. So he must have known that I was at the palace and that I had a hand in the abduction of that wretched Luna and her son.How could I have been so careless?This was the height of carelessness. If care was not taken, it might cost me my life.My own foolishness.I picked up the jar again. When I realized I had emptied the bottle, a wave of rage surged through me. I threw the jar away angrily, shattering it into pieces. The maids beside me jolted and hurried to clean up the mess.I stretched out my hand, and another jar full of alcohol was placed in my palm. I might as well drink myself to death before I was actually
SERAPHINA'S POVThe soldiers had arranged for movement back to the palace. SUVs lined the edge of the forest, their headlights cutting through the darkness. Guards stood at attention, waiting for orders. Nathan was already settled in one of the vehicles, asleep in a makeshift bassinet one of the soldiers had fashioned from a crate and blankets.But before Kaelan and I got into the vehicle that would take us back, I pulled his hand.He stopped. Turned. Looked at me with a bit of curiosity and something else. Uncertainty."Hey... can I talk to you for a while?" I asked, pulling him aside.He followed me without saying a word. We walked a few paces away from the vehicles, away from the soldiers, away from the lights. The forest was dark here, the moonlight filtering through the trees in pale silver streaks.I stopped. Turned to face him."Kaelan...""I'm sorry." He stared deeply into my eyes. His voice was raw. Broken in a way I had never heard before. "I failed you, Seraphina. I did. I
KAELAN'S POVThe word hung in the air like a death sentence.Found you.Asher's smile was cold, triumphant. His sword pressed deeper against Seraphina's back. Just a fraction. Just enough to draw a thin line of blood.I saw it drip down her spine.My vision went red, and my fists folded. Tempest surged inside me, clawing at my chest, begging to be released. I wanted to shift. I wanted to tear Asher's throat out with my bare hands. I wanted to make him suffer for every second he had touched her, every moment he had made her afraid.But the sword was still at her back, so I couldn't make any move yet.One wrong move and it would go through her. Through Nathan.I forced myself to breathe. Forced myself to think."Let her go." My voice was low. Deadly. "This is between you and me."Asher tilted his head, amused. "Is it? Because from where I'm standing, she seems very much involved. And too bad there's nothing you can do about it. You're not so stupid.""She has nothing to do with Alyssa.
KAELAN'S POVThe forest had been lying to me for hours.Every trail I followed, every scent I caught, every broken branch I found. It all led nowhere. Circles within circles. A maze of false hope designed to keep me running while Seraphina waited somewhere in the dark, alone, scared, probably wondering if I was even coming for her.At this point, I was damn frustrated.I stopped in the middle of a small clearing. The moon hung overhead, pale and indifferent. My chest heaved. My hands were bloody from punching trees, from tearing through branches, from gripping my sword so tight my knuckles had gone white.Think.I closed my eyes. Forced myself to breathe. Forced myself to focus past the rage clouding my mind.The scent was wrong. Too strong in some places. Too faint in others. Deliberately laid. Like someone had walked one direction, then doubled back, then sent another wolf in a completely different direction just to confuse me.The person who did this had to be someone who was reall
SERAPHINA'S POVThe rope had been cutting into my wrists for what felt like hours. It was thick, knotted tight. It would take me quite a while to wriggle and break free. But I had to try. I had to escape. I had to save Nathan and be with my Alpha again.I didn't know what Asher was capable of. I doubted he wouldn't kill me when he got mad or felt like it. And since Isolde said Kaelan had been misled, he most likely wasn't going to find us. Even if he did, it might be too late. I couldn't just sit here and wait for him.I continued wriggling, trying to find my way around the knotted rope. But it was tied too tight. Still, I didn't stop. Couldn't stop. Every twist, every pull, every scream of pain from my raw skin was worth it if it meant getting free.Nathan was crying now. Not the soft whimper from before. A real cry. Hungry. Scared.Asher's words echoed in my head."Listen to your son cry for milk you can't give him."Rage burned through me. Hotter than the cold of this stone tomb. I
SERAPHINA'S POVThe first thing I felt was cold.Not the gentle chill of a winter night. This was deep. Bone-deep. The kind of cold that seeped into your veins and made you forget what warmth felt like.The second thing I heard was silence.No guards. No healers. No Kaelan's voice booming through the corridor.Just... nothing.I tried to open my eyes. My eyelids felt heavy, like someone had pressed weights against them. I tried again. Slowly, the darkness blurred into shapes.Stone ceiling. Flickering torchlight. Shadows dancing on the walls.Where am I? I was in the private hospital just now. What happened? Is Kaelan safe?I tried to move. My wrists were tied. Rough rope bit into my skin. My ankles too.Panic clawed at my chest.Nathan.I turned my head, ignoring the pain that shot through my neck.He was there. In a small bassinet a few feet away. Sleeping. Unharmed.Relief flooded through me. Then rage.Who took us?The answer came as footsteps echoed from the shadows.---A figure
The silence in the room became deafening. I almost lost my composure, but I caught myself just in time"The person who started those rumours should have his neck cut off," I said, my voice cold. She recoiled, startled."Do you believe in the rumours yourself, Luna Marcella?" I asked, and if she no
SERAPHINA'S POVI stood in front of the mirror, checking my baby bump which was now a tiny bit protuded. Shouldn't it have grown bigger than this? I'm four weeks gone.I smiled as I touched it, and a tiny bit of Ivanna's conversation with me seeped into my head. I really don't like thinking about m
SERAPHINA'S POVDid I hear wrong? I'm pregnant?"How? It's only been a week since we ...." I paused, and of course, the nonchalant Kaelan speaks."Since we had sex," he completed, and the old man grinned. “The Moon Goddess has moved quickly. You are with child, Your Majesty.”I looked at Kaelan. H
KAELAN'S POVI left Seraphina’s room, the image of her tear-streaked, empty face seared behind my eyes. Rio materialized from the shadows of the corridor, his expression carefully neutral.“How is she?”“She’s lost her wolf,” I said, the words tasting like ash.I stopped in my tracks, and faced him







