LOGINSerafine’s POV “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Grayson said.Clara crossed her arms. “And I don’t think staying here alone is a good idea either.”I didn’t take my eyes off the window. “She’s right.”Grayson looked at me like he was trying to figure out if I was just being stubborn.“I’m not letting you go alone,” I added quietly.Something in my voice must’ve convinced him, because his shoulders dropped after that. “Fine,” he muttered. “We go together.”Clara clapped once. “Road trip in the rain. Love that for us.”“You won’t love it if you slow us down,” he shot back.Within minutes, we were out the door. The sky had shifted by the time we got into the car.What had been a calm evening earlier was now swallowed by thick clouds, the air heavy and tense. The first crack of thunder came just as Grayson started the engine.Clara flinched. “Okay… maybe I don’t love this that much.”The rain started as a drizzle. By the time we hit the main road, it turned into a downpour.Grayson
Serafine’s POVI watched Grayson disappear into the woods, his figure swallowed by shadows and towering trees within seconds.I sat there, my feet still dipped into the lake, Clara’s head resting heavily against my shoulder. She had fallen asleep, completely unbothered by whatever had just happened.I wished I could say the same. My gaze lingered on the treeline. Something had been there. I was sure of it.My fingers curled against the wooden edge of the dock. If Grayson hadn’t heard it too, I would’ve brushed it off. Told myself I was overthinking. But he had heard it too.I sighed, forcing my shoulders to relax. Grayson emerged from the trees, walking back toward us. “Well?” I asked, shifting slightly to keep Clara from sliding off my shoulder.He stopped a few steps away, glancing briefly at the lake before looking back at me.“There’s no one,” he said.I frowned. “No one?”He shook his head. “Nothing.”I studied him for a moment, searching his face, but he looked certain.“If yo
Alpha Bran’s POV “Shit!” I muttered under my breath at the sound of the dry leaves under my foot. My gaze snapped toward the lake instinctively toward Serafine. Even from where I stood, concealed by the treeline, I saw that she was looking at the forest. She must have heard the noise.Damn the fucking leaves. They were going to expose me after I had watched her for three months now.Every single day for the past three months, I had been careful, watching her from afar. Keeping my distance. Never getting close enough for her to sense me.But today I had stayed longer than I should have. Because she was laughing. The sound of her laughter did something to me, making it impossible to walk away when I needed to.Three months ago, she barely smiled.Now she laughed freely, splashing water, teasing Clara, racing her like nothing in the world had hurt her. Like I had never hurt her.A bitter taste filled my mouth.Maybe this version of her was better off without me.That had been the point
Serafine’s POV The water shimmered under the afternoon sun, soft ripples catching the light like scattered diamonds. I dipped beneath the surface, letting the coolness wrap around me.A splash hit me square in the face. I came up gasping, sputtering, pushing wet hair out of my eyes just in time to see Clara laughing, her hands raised in surrender though mischief danced in her gaze.“You started it!” she called out, even though she clearly had.I narrowed my eyes, wiping water from my lips. “Oh, you’re going to regret that.”She shrieked before turning to swim away, but I was faster. The water churned as I lunged after her, laughter bubbling out of me.“Serafine, no!” Clara squealed as I caught her ankle, tugging her back.She went under with a dramatic gasp, dragging me halfway with her, and when she surfaced again, she shoved at my shoulders, both of us dissolving into uncontrollable laughter.“You’re evil,” she accused, breathless.“You splashed me first,” I shot back.“That was a
Alpha Bran’s POVI exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face before forcing my eyes back to the report in front of me.Just yesterday we had the hearing. And today I was buried in a lot of work that had me seated in my chair all through the day.A soft beep cut through the silence. My gaze flicked to my phone lying beside the papers. The screen lit up with a message notification from Saskia.I considered ignoring it. But on a second thought I was eager to know what she had to say. So I picked up the device, unlocked anyway the screen and opened the message:I’m sorry for ruining what we had because of my desperation. Maybe when I return, we can go back to how we were. And try to work things out again.A scoff almost left my lips, but I held it back, continuing to read:Please be careful. My grand uncle and the person in the dark are not people you should underestimate. I’m worried about you. Goodbye for now, Bran. I still love you.My fingers tightened around the phone as I leane
Serafine’s POVMy eyes followed him Bran even as he went further. It was as if something inside me refused to let him out of my sight. He walked toward the line of cars, about entering one of them when someone went to him. I straightened up, narrowing my eyes as I tried to get a better look. He was too far for me to make out clearly. But from his stature, I could that he was a really young man. They man drew closer to Bran as they talked.I couldn’t hear a single word from where I stood. The longer they stood there, the more obvious it became that whatever was being said wasn’t good. Because Bran was getting angrier.“Who is that…” I murmured under my breath, my eyes glued to them.“Serafine.” Clara’s voice barely registered.My focus stayed locked on them as Bran’s Beta grabbed his arm, holding him back. The stranger didn’t leave. It was obvious that whoever he was, he wasn’t afraid of Bran.“Serafine!” Clara snapped.I blinked, dragging my attention away from the scene. “What?”C
Alpha Bran’s POVMy eyes snapped open to the feeling of being watched. Saskia laid next to me, staring at me.My head pounded viciously the moment I tried to sit up. A groan tore from my throat as pain split through my skull.“What happened?” I muttered, pressing my palm to my temple.The room spun
Alpha Bran’s POVSaskia broke away from my arms so abruptly it caught me off guard. Her body went rigid, her expression going blank. I followed her line of sight and found Serafine standing a few feet away. Her eyes were red with rage. And cold. They locked onto Saskia. And if eyes could kill, Sas
Bran’s POVThe question echoed in my skull long after Elder Larkin’s voice faded.My wolf, Ryker, lunged forward savagely. ‘Yes, she is ours. Say it.’The truth rose to my tongue like fire. My chest tightened with the need to claim her openly. To let them know that Serafine was not a slave. Not a d
Saskia’s POV I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my phone resting on my chest. Every minute, I lifted it to see if I got a call or message. And with a frustrated sigh, I would drop it back down because there was none. Grand-uncle Larkin should have called by now. I rolled onto my side







