Chapter 2

Seraphina

My whole body trembles, my brows are furrowed. He suddenly looks different from the man I fell in love with three years ago. The man I grew up knowing to be the only person I can trust apart from my father.

He takes a deep breath. “You don't have to make this difficult for me...”

“I… I don't understand. What is going on?”

At this moment, a few other soldiers rush back to us but their gazes are on him. He nods at them and they rush out immediately. This is when it dawns on me, he had picked men loyal to him for this mission. All I did was add an extra twenty men to his selection.

“Look… now is not the time for this.” He places his hand on mine but I quickly extract my hand from his. “If you survive today, I promise… I will tell you all about it.”

“What's….that supposed to mean?” I ask but he ignores me, not saying anything. “What is going on? Raze….. who is in that vehicle? Who exactly are we here to rescue?” I ask, still looking at his sudden dilated pupils.

I just need him to say something that will make me feel better. There has to be an explanation for this, he was never like this. He was always honest and loyal to my family.

The sound of bullets flying in the air startles me and we glance at the vehicles. The men of the Cindersteel Creed have gotten out and begin shooting my men.

They shoot arrogantly with their moon entwined with a snake biting its edge insignia, stitched over the chest of their black uniform.

I look at Raze. His jaw ticks fast and before I can say anything further, he rushes down as well.

“Raze!!” I yell, running to follow him.

The soldiers block my path. I ignore them and rush back to the pavement, a lot of things going through my head at this moment.

Right here, I watch my men fall to the floor as my husband sneaks and pulls out a young woman from the back door.

I blinked a few times, not believing my eyes. But that doesn't change what I am seeing. I widen my eyes, seeing him touch her cheeks and then sneak her to safety.

I feel a lump form in my chest. Tears well up in my eyes but I quickly blink it away. There has to be a mistake somewhere. Raze must have been manipulated or something.

I hurry to rush down the stairs but a few soldiers block my path again.

“It's not safe down there,” one says.

“Get out of my way!!” I snarl. “Now!!!”

I feel my claws popping out and I believe they see it. They step out of the way, letting me run down the stairs.

I rush out of the building and out of the compound, my eyes searching for my husband, despite the bullets scattering in the air. Three of my soldiers see me and rush to me.

“Where is Raze? Where is my husband?” I yell, still glancing around.

A sharp pain pierces my heart, the moment I see him at a corner, across the road, hugging this young lady. I try to rush to their direction but one of the soldiers I selected myself, drags me back.

“We would take cover,” another says.

I nod and hurry to Raze while they take cover. I hear a bullet hitting one of them but that cannot be my concern at the moment.

I get to the corner where Raze is and he doesn't even flinch. The girl with him has no resemblance to Cassie.

I know I'm already aware that she can't be Cassie. But a part of me still wishes there was a mistake somewhere and we were actually here to rescue his sister.

My heart begins beating faster. “You said we were here to rescue your sister,” I say, tears welling up in my eyes again. “Well, she doesn't look like your sister!”

“I don't have time for this!”

I wipe my tears, trying to get a hold of myself.

“What do you mean… you don't have time for this?... I am your wife!!”

The girl looks at me and winks at me. “Hy, I'm Kenna Starclaw, Raze’s girlfriend and fated mate…. I'm pleased to finally meet you.”

My heart drops. I feel something sink inside me, a slow pull I can't fight. Her words echo in my mind.

I shake my head a little and I stagger backwards. I take a deep breath, looking at Raze and expecting him to say something. Anything that will dispute what I had just heard.

But instead, he holds her hands tightly and smiles.

My heart aches. Raze is the only man I have ever known. He was my father's most loyal steward and was chosen by my father to be my husband.

I look around and I see bodies of both my men and the Cindersteel Creed’s men littering the floor, all for my husband's mistress.

“Raze, please say something. Tell me that she is lying, please.”

“Oh come on, Darling. You know I can't tell you that.” He says, with no atom of remorse.

My breath catches.

So this is it. This is why he refused to touch me on our wedding night. He has never had real feelings for me, whereas I loved him to the core, Gosh! I still do. I would have done anything for him.

Tears blur my vision and this time, I let it stream down my cheeks.

To my surprise, the girl stands and rips out my necklace from my neck. “There is no need to wail over this… Just walk away…. Leave and never return…. People barely even know what you look like…”

“The Alpha transfer wouldn't work if she remains alive….” Raze cuts in.

My heart skips a beat, my eyes wide in shock. This can't be happening. Not after I had signed the Moonline Matrimonial on his persuasion, an accord that permits the high priestess to transfer my alpha powers to him, should I die without an heir.

He plans to kill me after all. This must have been why he insisted I come along. My husband brought me far away from my home to die along with my soldiers, so he can be with his fated mate.

I won't let it happen.

I wipe my tears immediately. I am not going to let him take my powers, he has done enough.

“You've betrayed me Raze, after everything my father did for you! Now you want to take me out and rule my pack!!!.... It will never happen!!”

I turn to call on my soldiers but my heart drops, seeing that the Cindersteel Creed's men are all dead and my men, now fighting each other.