LOGINSerafina's POV. I woke up to the fading touch of a soft evening breeze that filtered in through the parted curtains. For a moment, I didn’t move, just lay still, soaking in the gentle quiet. The nap had been short but effective. My body felt light, and something in my chest had settled. Peace. That was what it was. Since the incident at the mall, I had taken extra care to avoid Wanda. Not out of fear, but to preserve the calm I had found. She hadn’t crossed my path since yesterday, and I intended to keep it that way. Apart from the dining table, where avoiding her was impossible, I made sure our paths never intersected. That woman was probably waiting for a slip, a moment, a chance. I could feel it. "My lady?" Kira’s voice broke my thoughts. "Dinner will be in two hours." I nodded as I stretched gently and rose to my feet. "I will go for a walk first." "Yes, my lady," she replied, and stepped aside. Deidra followed behind me in silence as we stepped out the rear exit
Alpha King Daxton's POV. I stood in front of my floor-to-ceiling window with my arms behind my back, gazing at the greenery. For some reason, the weather smelled sharper today. The fake team had just finished their second meeting. Lord Cassian had fed them a report this morning, thick with redacted leads and harmless speculation. Every piece was polished and pointed in a safe direction, deliberately five steps behind. Dennis’s real team, however, was already in motion. "Brother," came Dennis’s voice from behind me. I slowly turned. I hadn’t heard him enter. He stood at the door, his hands on his waist. He looked annoyed. Not frustrated, annoyed. The kind of quiet displeasure he reserved for people he found beneath his patience. "You are back early," I said, walking over to sit behind my desk. "Because your wife couldn’t enjoy the shopping in peace and wanted to come home," he explained, already pulling out one of the seats before my desk. My eyes narrowed slightly. I
AUTHOR'S POV The tension from the encounter with the little boy lingered, but Serafina forced herself to focus as she stepped into another boutique. The lighting was warm, and the space quieter. The shopkeeper gave her a brief nod before returning to folding scarves behind the counter. The boutique was lined with flowing dresses, elegant cuts in soft hues and modern patterns. Serafina brushed her fingers over the delicate fabrics, drawn to a pale violet dress with soft embroidery at the hem. It reminded her of the early spring rains in Ironveil. And the colour of her eyes. Mira stepped closer. "That one would look good on you, my lady." Serafina smiled under her veil. "I think so too." She pulled the dress gently from the rack and held it up to herself. Arya and Cora stepped forward, nodding in approval. Then Serafina turned, scanning the rows again. Her eyes softened as she began picking out more items, one dress each for Arya, Cora, Mira, Kira, and even Deidra, who
AUTHOR'S POV The convoy pulled into the sprawling parking lot of the mall, the tires crunching softly over the tiled pavement. Serafina stepped out first, the wind tugging lightly at her veil. Her gaze lifted to the massive glass structure rising before them; its sleek lines and towering height gleamed under the sun. It was beautiful in a way that felt distant, foreign. "It’s... magnificent," Serafina whispered, eyes wide with wonder. Even Mira, Arya, and Cora, who prided themselves on composed expressions, struggled to hide their own astonishment. Deidra stepped beside Serafina with a smile. "What do you think, my lady?" "I haven’t seen anything like this. It’s iconic," Serafina replied, her voice tinged with honest delight. "I can’t wait to see what’s inside." Before anyone could respond, Wanda’s crisp voice sliced through the moment. "Everyone, have your ID cards ready. We will be going through a security check before entering the mall." "Oh..." she mouthed, her eyes
Serafina's POV. The soft fragrance of vanilla and coconut lingered in the air as I sat at the dresser, watching Mira through the mirror. She dabbed the healing balm across the scar that stretched down the side of my cheek, one that had faded slightly but still caught the light like a thin thread of silver. She had been so consistent with applying the balm morning and night that the scar was starting to close up again. But how could I allow that? I’m going to break her heart tonight. Mira’s brows creased in concern. "Would you like the hat veil today, my lady?" she asked softly. I met her gaze in the mirror and gave a small nod. "Yes." Today wasn’t like strolling through the estate’s gardens. This was Duskmoor. A city filled with common rogues and their judging eyes. No Elite bloodline of Alphas. I was only doing this for myself. Mira gave a polite bow and slipped out of the room. A minute later, she returned with the hat veil from my wedding day. My breath hitched at
Alpha King Daxton's POV. "I want a signed treaty," I said, watching the mist coil beyond the riverbank. "Authorizing Ironveil to form its own investigative group." There was a pause on the other end of the call. Then, Mayor Brackham’s voice came, measured and clipped. "I’m afraid I can’t authorize that, Alpha. We already have an official team working the investigation. Adding another would... complicate things." "I don’t care about complications," I replied coldly. "Your people have given me no reason to trust their efficiency. Or their honesty. “My men and women died on your soil, Mr. Brackham. Ironveil deserves the right to investigate their deaths." Another silence followed, heavier this time. "I must answer to King Alderic," I continued. "And King Alderic will not accept excuses when the lives of our people are being taken without justice. If you can’t deliver results, I will." "Alpha King Daxton…" "You made an agreement with me, days ago," I cut him off. "You’ve fail
Seraphine Pov.“I don’t get you?”. I pulled back.He smiled again.“Don’t act dumb. You are too smart to be playing dumb”. He teased me. “I like you because of how intelligent you are”. He moved closer, his shoulder touching my body. “You’ve been groomed inside Ironveil for so long to understand h
Serafina Pov.Lord Cassain.I stood in that corridor.He was…He was there all along and we didn't even notice.I felt anxious, knowing he held everything. Every word I said at that door. Every word Daxton said back.“ I didn't know she was with you, I searched through the courtyard for you, Your
Serafina Pov.I sat back, my mind restless.I watched the tiny opening disguised as a window above my cot go from thick black to the atmosphere changing slowly, soon it was dawn.My worst fear is coming to reality.I was going to walk into that study and I was going to see him and I didn't know I w
Serafina Pov.Mira’s eyes darted to the door behind her, the whole place silent.She counted to three.One…Two…Three…I was beginning to get nervous.Then she leaned in so close I could feel her breath hot against my ears.“The debt”. She whispered.“What about it?”. I asked anxiously.“It wasn’t







