로그인Alpha Bran’s POVI stood at the edge of the forest, the wind brushing past me, carrying scents from miles away. Behind me, Aric approached, silently. Bane and Lupin lingered further back, shadows among shadows, along with four others I trusted enough to bring into this.“Everything’s in place,” Aric said quietly.“And Kael?” I asked.“He went in ten minutes ago.” Aric answered.“Michael?” I added.Aric exhaled. “He is still at his grand father's estate.”I rolled my shoulders, feeling my wolf stir beneath my skin, eagerly. Tonight wasn’t about shedding blood. But if it came to it,I wouldn’t hesitate.“We move now,” I said.As we moved further, Kael’s residence came into view through the trees. A small, isolated building surrounded by trees. Exactly the kind of place a man like Kael would choose to live if he thought secrecy would protect him.We spread out without needing to speak. Aric to my right. Bane circling wide. Lupin taking the rear with the others.I approached the front,
Alpha 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 "Wait," I said. His gray eyes shot at me. “Let's make a deal.” He narrowed his eyes. My heart raced. Maybe it was too early to say it. "What deal?" he growled."If by the time Saskia returns and you still don't like me, you have to consider my debt paid and free me. After all, by
Alpha Bran's POVThe human girl gave me a beautiful smile while arguing with me. No one had ever had the guts to argue with me. They all were afraid of me and I liked it that way. Yet she was the one who I found challenging. Intimacy with humans was such a ridiculous experience. She was nothing a
Alpha Bran’s POVFury burned through my veins as I carried Serafine through the pack house doors. She fought me the entire way.Her fists pounded uselessly against my back, her heels kicked the air, and her curses spilled from her lips in slurred, venomous waves.“Ruthless bastard!” she shouted, th
Serafine's POVI had my bath and wore my dress. Bran's words still rang in my mind. The way he said that he was going to laugh about the sexcapade with Saskia annoyed me.I walked over to my side of the bed and crashed down. I was exhausted both emotionally and physically that the moment I sank in







