I don't know how to save her

Serafina's POV 

My heart hammered in my chest as the doorway creaked open slowly. For a moment, I could only stare, breath hitching as I took in the figure standing there. Matteo. His tall frame was silhouetted against the dim candlelight, his expression unreadable but intense.

He stepped inside cautiously, eyes flickering with concern and something deeper—perhaps guilt, maybe affection? I couldn’t tell. The air between us thickened with unspoken words.

Matteo’s gaze settled on me, and I saw a flicker of relief cross his face, quickly replaced by a guarded seriousness. He was here for me, but I sensed he was holding something back.

Nonna Lucia gently squeezed my hand, giving me a reassuring look before stepping aside.

“Serafina,” Matteo said softly, his voice rough but tender. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here sooner.”

I swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened to spill again. “Why… why did you come back?” My voice was barely more than a whisper, trembling with a mixture of confusion, hope, and pain.

He took a tentative step closer, eyes never leaving mine. “Because I couldn’t leave you like that. I saw what the curse was doing to Lunaria… and to you. I couldn’t just walk away.”

My lips trembled, and I looked down at the mug in my hands, feeling the warmth seep into my palms again. “But… you’re not my mate. Why do you care so much?”

Matteo paused, then spoke with quiet conviction. “Because I see you, Serafina. I see the pain you hide behind that fierce face. I see the strength in you—more than you realize. You’re not alone.”

A tear slipped down my cheek. I wanted to believe him, truly I did. But the wounds of betrayal and disappointment from my supposed mate and my mother, had carved deep. The two beings that should have wanted only good things for me, that should have loved and protected me, no matter what. 

Nonna Lucia stepped beside me, her voice gentle. “Matteo cares, Serafina. Sometimes, caring isn’t about what’s expected or predetermined. It’s about what’s right in this moment. And right now, you need kindness. You need someone to stand with you, someone that will be by your side."

I looked at Matteo again, searching his face for any sign of falsehood, but all I saw was sincerity. I felt a flicker of warmth—dangerous, unfamiliar, yet desperately needed.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “For saving me… again.”

His lips quirked into a small, sad smile. “I’ll always be here, if you’ll let me.”

The candle flickered, casting wavering shadows across the room. Outside, the wind howled softly, whispering secrets of the night. I wondered how many more truths I’d have to face, and whether I had the strength to face them all.

But in that moment, surrounded by Nonna’s love and Matteo’s quiet presence, I allowed myself to hope—perhaps, just perhaps, I wasn’t entirely lost.

I hesitated, then softly nodded. “Maybe… maybe I can start trusting again. Just a little.”

Matteo’s eyes softened, and he reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. His touch was tender, yet charged with unspoken promises. “You don’t have to face everything alone anymore, Serafina. I’ll stand by you—whatever comes next.”

Nonna Lucia gave a small, knowing smile, but her gaze flickered with concern. “Be cautious, Matteo. Serafina is fragile right now, physically and emotionally. She’s been through so much. She needs rest."

Matteo nodded solemnly. “I understand. I’ll wait until she’s ready.”

I looked between them, feeling both comforted and overwhelmed. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was ready for. Every part of me felt fractured—my heart, my trust, even my own body fighting this curse that drained Lunaria day by day.

Suddenly, a faint, cold gust of wind slipped through a crack in the window, causing the candle’s flame to flicker wildly. I shivered, instinctively clutching my arms around myself.  

“Did you feel that?” I asked, voice trembling. “It’s like… like the curse is stirring again.”

Nonna Lucia’s face grew serious. “The curse isn’t just a simple spell. It’s tied to Lunaria’s fading and the darkness that’s been creeping into your life. If we don’t confront it soon, everything could be lost. This is more serious than your mate realises, Serafina."

"That fool." Matteo murmered under his breath and I noticed how he clenched his fists, the frustration overwhelming him. 

A heavy silence fell over the room. Outside, the wind wailed louder, carrying with it whispers that I couldn’t quite understand. I clutched my chest, feeling Lunaria’s faint presence—the ghost of my wolf, weakened but still fighting. The mention of Luca gave me that all to familair feeling of rejection. Why did he hate me so much? He could not see what his actions were doing to me or my wolf. 

“I don’t know how to save her,” I whispered. “Or myself.”

Matteo stepped closer, voice low but firm. “We’ll find a way. I promise. I won't let anything happen to you, Serafina." he said. 

My gaze lingered on him, torn between hope and despair. I wanted to believe him—that maybe, just maybe, I could find the strength to break free from this awful curse. But darkness lurked just beyond the horizon, and I knew the battle was far from over. Luca hated me, he wanted Bianca. That was obvious to me now. I was nothing to Luca, nothing but a burden. His words were imprinted in my mind, it was something that would not rub away so easily. 

As the shadows lengthened and the night grew colder, I felt a strange sensation—like a distant heartbeat, faint but persistent. It was Lunaria. She was calling to me, still alive, still fighting.

And somehow, I knew that whatever lay ahead, I wouldn’t face it alone.