ANMELDENAlpha Bran’s POVThe door to my office opened without a knock. What followed next was Ember's voice, “I brought you lunch since you've refused to come down.” I leaned back in my chair, watching as she walked in with a tray balanced in her hands.She set it down in front of me, adjusting the plates with practiced ease.For a second it felt like I wasn’t Alpha. It felt like I was a boy again. A boy who had nothing and no one. But her. To me, Ember was the mother I didn't get to have. “Thank you,” I muttered, reaching for the food.She didn’t respond. That was the first sign something was off. I started eating anyway, hunger catching up with me after skipping dinner last night and breakfast in the morning. The food was good as always. But Ember’s silence was troubling. Her gaze lingered on me, making me uncomfortable. It wasn't typical of Ember to fix her gaze on me without blinking once.I could tell that she had something on her mind. I sighed, not even bothering to look up. “What
Alpha Bran’s POV‘What if it has something to do with the evidence that was destroyed three months ago?’My hand paused in the middle of buttoning my shirt. Water still clung to my skin, sliding down my chest in slow trails. My focus sharpened, every instinct snapping to attention.Aric chuckled through the mindlink. ‘I knew that would get your attention.’I sighed, dragging my fingers through my damp hair before reaching for the rest of my clothes. “Stop playing games, Aric. Say what you have to say.”There was a brief pause on his end, like he was enjoying this just a little too much.‘You didn’t even try to pretend you’re not interested.’My jaw tightened. “Aric.”‘Okay, fine. I found the one who tampered with the evidence.’Every calm in me vanished. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, reacting to the shift in my emotions.I straightened, fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Who?” I demanded, impatience slicing through my voice. “Who was it?”‘You couldn’t even wait, could you?’
Serafine’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 POVSerafine frowned the moment her eyes met mine. She glanced around the room. Then tried to sit up.“Lie back,” I commanded.She obeyed, sinking back into the pillows with rigid movements. I had used my Alpha aura on her. Otherwise, she would have left. Her eyes burned into mine, gl
Saskia’s POVShock rippled through me when Bran asked,“What do you want?”I had anticipated this moment but never thought it would happen with Bran asking the question first. Bran was a hard dog. Always had been. And telling him the real reason I had come to his house was a risk I wasn’t sure I 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







