The thick scent of pine and earth filled the air as Seraphina entered the grand hall, flanked by Theo. She could feel the eyes on her the moment she stepped inside â cold, assessing, and full of anticipation. The hall was dimly lit, candles casting shadows that stretched across the stone walls. The meeting was about to begin, a pivotal moment for the entire pack. This was no ordinary gathering.Today, they would decide who would rule the pack. The tension in the air was palpable, and Seraphina could sense the brewing storm of conflict.Theo, walking beside her, exuded the confidence of someone who thought the crown was his for the taking. His posture was tall, his expression regal. He didnât bother to hide the smirk playing at the corner of his lips. She knew him well enough by now to recognize the flicker of arrogance in his eyes. His supporters, scattered throughout the room, waited for the inevitable: Theo would be crowned the new Alpha.But Seraphina didnât feel that certainty wit
The murmur of voices filled the hall like the sound of a distant storm. The pack was divided, but the decision had been made. Luca was the new Alpha. The room was thick with uncertainty, with shifting allegiances, and with the silent weight of the future.Seraphina stood in the midst of it all, her heart still racing. She could feel the eyes of the pack on her, the weight of their expectations pressing against her chest like a vice. Luca had chosen no one. And that decision sent ripples of confusion through the room, some with relief, some with fear. It was a strange, daring moveâone that seemed to both defy tradition and challenge everything they had known.The words hung in the air like a sword, sharp and unforgiving. I choose no one.Luca had spoken those words with such quiet authority that they had resonated through the stone walls. The hall had gone still, the tension palpable. No one dared to break the silence that followed, save for the murmurs of the wolves trying to process
After the assembly, everyone left, except Luca, Nova and Seraphina. She stood there confused and began to wonder why Luca was staring at her like that.âWhat is wrong with me?â She asked herself It felt like a thunderous strike on her head, she held her head very tight like she wanted to remember someone but then Theo held her.âLet's leaveâ Theo said Seraphina gazed at Theo for a while and then glared back at Luca who was still standing there with Nova.She nodded âOfcourseâ she said and turned her back against Luca. stood at the edge of the room, watching everything unfold. Her eyes flickered from Theo to Seraphina to Luca, silently taking in the turmoil that was quickly boiling over. She tapped Lucaâs shoulder lightly, snapping him out of his trance.âLetâs leave,â she said softly, her voice tinged with concern. âTheyâve all gone.âLucaâs eyes lingered on Seraphina, on her retreating figure, as she and Theo made their way to their quarters. His heart tugged, a dull ache growing i
Seraphina stood motionless by the window, her breath barely audible as she watched Luca in the distance, the soft, melancholic notes of the flute filling the night air. The sight of him, sitting there in the clearing with the instrument pressed to his lips, stirred something within her, a vague sensation of something long buried, something deeply familiar, but lost just beyond her grasp. Her heart ached, a sharp pang of longing that she couldnât explain.The moonlight bathed him in a soft, ethereal glow, casting long shadows over the grass as he played. The sound of the flute drifted in gentle waves, the melody both haunting and beautiful. It seemed to carry with it an essence of sorrow, as if the music itself were mourning somethingâa lost love, a forgotten past, or perhaps an unspoken truth that neither of them had the courage to face.Seraphinaâs fingers tightened on the windowsill as she leaned closer, her breath fogging up the glass. There was something about the way Luca played
Nova nodded, the satisfaction in her smile unmistakable. âOf course. Itâs none of your business, so you better behave in this pack, I don't want you after Luca anymore, I love your new self, this isnt bring you down if you keep to itâ she said, her voice almost too sweet. She turned on her heel and made her way to the door, the click of her heels against the floor echoing softly as she left.âI will remember your threats and act wisely Novaâ I said with a warm smile.Nova nodded with a sly smile âLuca would be mine now and you belong to Theron, he would make me his mate and I will make sure to banish you out of this pack once I become the queenâSeraphina remained still, her eyes trained on the now-empty space where Nova had stood. She waited a beat before walking slowly toward the window once more. She didnât have to look outside to know Luca was still there, his figure framed by the forest, the melody of his flute still haunting the air.She moved to the window and placed her hand g
Luca didnât see her as he played.The soft breeze played with the ends of his dark hair, his features hidden in the shadows cast by the surrounding trees. The flute in his hands wasnât just an instrumentâit was a lifeline. A way for him to cope, to make sense of the disjointed thoughts that had plagued him for as long as he could remember. It wasnât just the melody he played for Seraphina; it was his way of speaking without speaking, of reaching out to someone who had always been just beyond his grasp.His thoughts were a tangle of confusion and longing, but the musicâthe music always made sense.For years, Luca had kept his distance from the heart of Seraphinaâs world. He had always known that there was something more to herâsomething that he couldnât quite understand but couldnât walk away from either. The strange connection they shared, a bond that had never fully been explained, had always kept him on the outside. He had never been part of her world. But tonight, as he played, the
And After that night things changed, Seraphina changed because she knew she had a goal to complete and she wouldn't let anyone, not even Nova ruin it.It was around Eight A.M in the morning, everyone had woken up because they all live in the same mansion as they all should. The maids had cooked for those who could eat meal and for those who could not would go out to hunt, Seraphina couldn't eat human foods anymore, she kept wanting raw animals and their bloods because Theron had poisoned her mind.The mansion was still shrouded in the remnants of the night, the pale light of morning slipping through the heavy curtains. A quiet stillness hung in the air as the servants bustled through the halls, preparing breakfast for the pack. The aroma of sizzling meat filled the space, but there was no joy in the air, no chatter, only the unspoken tension that had settled over everyone after the events of the previous night.Seraphina sat at the grand dining table, her posture rigid, her eyes scanni
The silence in the mansion had settled like a dense fog, thick and unyielding. It was the kind of quiet that carried weightâa silence that was heavy with unspoken words and fractured emotions. Seraphina could feel it pressing on her chest, suffocating her with every breath. The transformation inside her was not just physical; it was deeply psychological, gnawing at her mind with every passing moment. She was no longer the woman she had once been, and she knew that the others could feel it too.Seraphinaâs eyes remained locked on the jug in front of her, her fingers curling around its cold glass. The scent of fresh blood, rich and intoxicating, filled her senses, drowning out everything else. Her pulse quickened, the primal hunger roaring inside her, clawing at the walls of her control. She had to feed. The craving for blood, raw and untamed, consumed her thoughts.She took a long, deliberate sip, the metallic taste of blood coating her tongue, filling her veins with a rush of heat. It
The wind howled through the dense forest, rustling the trees as dawn broke over the horizon. The sky bled shades of orange and pink, casting a golden glow over the dewdrops clinging to the grass.Seraphina sat by the riverbank, her knees drawn to her chest, watching the water ripple against the stones. Her fingers absently traced the curve of her stomach, a slow, steady smile forming on her lips.She had felt itâfaint but unmistakable.Life.Her pup.Their pup.Kaelâs scent drifted toward her before she heard his footsteps. He was cautious, quiet, still not used to approaching her without expecting a fight. But this was different.She turned before he could speak, her golden eyes locking onto his.Kael froze. âYouâre smiling.â His voice was wary, laced with disbelief.Seraphina exhaled a soft laugh, shaking her head. âThatâs a normal thing, you know.âKael arched a brow. âNot for you.âHer smile widened. âMaybe thatâs changing.âSomething in his expression shiftedâuncertainty melting
The forest was alive with whispers.The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant rain. My breath came fast, my pulse still erratic from our escape. Every step sent a sharp ache through my ribs, but I didnât stop. Couldnât stop.Kael moved beside me, his presence steady, his gaze sharp. He didnât speak, but I could feel the weight of his thoughts pressing between us.We had escaped Varian. For now. But that didnât mean we were safe.I glanced at Kael, his face half-lit by the rising sun. His jaw was tight, his movements tense. He wasnât used to runningâat least, not like this.âWe need to find shelter,â he said finally, breaking the silence.I frowned. âShelter? You realize we donât have the luxury of stopping, right?ââYouâre injured.ââIâm fine.âHe shot me a look. âYou were half-conscious five minutes ago.âI rolled my eyes. âI was dramatic five minutes ago.âKael exhaled sharply, muttering something under his breath. âStubborn.âI smirked. âYou j
The first thing I noticed was the cold.It seeped into my bones, numbing the pain in my side where Kaelâs blade had struck. My wrists ached from the silver shackles, burning against my skin. My head throbbed from whatever magic had knocked me out.But I was alive.Unfortunate for them.I cracked my eyes open, blinking against the dim torchlight. The stone walls around me were damp, lined with old runes that pulsed faintly. A prison.Footsteps echoed.I turned my head, forcing myself to stay still as the cell door creaked open.Kael stepped inside first. Behind him, Varian followed, moving like a king surveying his kingdom. His sharp, golden eyes locked onto me, filled with something dangerous.âYou donât look as dead as I expected,â Varian mused.I bared my teeth. âDisappointed?âKael exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose like he had a headache. âCan we skip the part where you antagonize the person who holds your life in his hands?âI grinned. âWhereâs the fun in that?âVarian chuckl
---Seraphinaâs POVThe corridor was cold, damp, and far too quiet. My breath came in short bursts, my body screaming in protest with every step. But I moved, ignoring the sharp throb in my side. Mara was right behind me, her footsteps light but hurried.Kael led the way, moving like a shadowâquick, precise, eerily calm. He knew exactly where we were going. That should have reassured me. It didnât.Mara leaned in, her voice barely a whisper. âTell me again why weâre not stabbing him and running?âKael didnât even bother looking back. âBecause I have the keys, and you donât.âMara made a face. âSmug bastard.ââYeah,â I muttered. âThatâs his whole thing.âKael suddenly halted, pressing a hand to my stomach to stop me. Pain flared through my ribs, sharp enough to make me suck in a breath. He glanced at meâtoo quickly, too full of something dangerously close to concernâbefore shifting his attention forward.âGuards,â he murmured.Mara tensed. âHow many?ââTwo. Armed.âI exhaled through my
SeraphinaPain.That was the first thing I registered when I surfaced from the darkness. A deep, burning agony in my side, pulsing with every shallow breath I took. It was a constant, throbbing ache, reminding me that I was still alive. Unfortunately.The second thing was voices. Low, distant murmurs threading through my hazy thoughts.ââĶshould have been more careful.ââI got the shot in, didnât I?ââYou nearly killed her.ââSheâll live.âTheir words floated around me, barely registering through the fog of pain and exhaustion. My head lolled to the side, and I forced my eyes open, blinking against the dim torchlight. The room was blurry at firstâjust dark stone walls, shadows flickering across the damp floor.I shifted, or tried to. Something heavy and cold bit into my wrists and ankles. Chains.Well, that wasnât good.I exhaled sharply, my throat dry and raw. âIf youâre done talking about me like Iâm not here, maybe one of you could be polite enough to tell me where the hell I am?âT
---âYouâre bleeding.âI blinked, my vision still swimming from the exhaustion. Lucaâs face hovered in front of mine, his brows furrowed.âItâs not my blood,â I muttered, wiping at my forehead and smearing more of the crimson mess across my skin.Mara snorted. âYeah, thatâs comforting.âLuca didnât look amused. âYou need to rest.ââI need to get out of here,â I shot back. âThen Iâll rest.âHis jaw clenched. âSeraphinaâââDonât start.â I pushed past him, ignoring the way my limbs screamed in protest. The Raven Clan was still behind us, and standing around debating my health wasnât going to keep us alive.We moved in silence, our steps quick but cautious as we wove through the thick forest. The sounds of pursuit had faded, but that meant nothing. The Raven Clan didnât make mistakes. If they werenât right on our heels, it was because they wanted us to think we were safe.And I wasnât about to fall for it.âDo you think theyâve given up?â Mara asked quietly.I scoffed. âHave they ever giv
She walked with them as they stepped outside. Seraphinaâs vision blurred as the adrenaline that had fueled her through the fight began to drain from her body. The cool night air was a shock to her system, and the faint scent of damp earth and smoke filled her lungs. The battle had ended, but her own war was far from over.Luca didnât slow down. His grip on her was firm, and though she was barely conscious, she could feel his resolve. He wasnât going to let her fall behind, not now, not when they were so close to freedom. He kept moving, his warriors at his side, sweeping the area as they made their way toward the hidden exit from the compound.âIâm sorry, Luna,â Maraâs voice came from beside them, soft but filled with concern. âWe didnâtâââDonât apologize,â Seraphina cut her off, her voice hoarse. âYou did your part. All of you did.âLucaâs pace quickened. The sound of pursuit wasnât far behind, but he was determined to get them out of the Raven Clan's grasp. The distant echoes of th
âWe need to move,â she said, her tone urgent. She looked at the wounded scouts. âCan you fight?âOne of the scouts, a woman named Mara, nodded, her face grim but resolute. âWeâll follow your lead, Luna.âSeraphina nodded once, then turned to the rest of her team. âWeâre heading for the exit. Keep your eyes open. The Raven Clan wonât just let us walk out of here.âThey moved quickly through the hallways, but the further they went, the more the tension in the air thickened. The sound of distant shouting reached their earsâsomeone had discovered the break-in."Stay close!" Seraphina commanded, her voice firm. âWeâre not out of this yet.âSuddenly, a loud crash echoed through the corridors, followed by the rapid pounding of feet. More guards were coming.Seraphinaâs warriors formed a defensive line in front of her, weapons drawn, ready for the fight. She could feel the pressure mounting, but she refused to let it show. Not now. Not when they were so close.âLuna, we canât keep them at bay
Lucaâs eyes narrowed as he weighed the situation. "We can't just rush in blindly, Seraphina. The mountains are treacherous, and if the Raven Clan has set up defensesâ""We donât have time for caution," Seraphina interrupted, her voice low and sharp. "Those scouts are counting on us. Every minute we waste, theyâre one step closer to death."Luca clenched his jaw but didnât argue. He understood the urgency just as well as she did. âFine,â he said. âWeâll go in prepared. But we need reinforcements. And a strategy.ââIâll lead a smaller group,â Seraphina suggested, her eyes flashing with determination. âWeâll move quickly, hit them hard. You stay back with the main force. If anything goes wrong, weâll need you to coordinate the backup.âLuca hesitated for a moment, clearly torn. But in the end, he nodded. âI donât like it, but I know you wonât back down.â He placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm, his gaze unwavering. âJust come back to me.âSeraphina looked up at him, her expressio