Chapter Two

"You're so beautiful," Caelum's voice whispered softly in my mind.

"Thank you, my Alpha."

In my head, I saw myself touching our baby's head, watching Caelum smirk as he murmured, "He really looks like you..."

"SERA. Sera. S...e...r...a."

I blinked, pressing both hands flat against my stomach.

Nell stood over me, waving a hand in front of my face before setting a steaming cup of coffee on the small table beside the bed. She took one look at me and sighed.

She crossed to my side and pressed the back of her hand to my forehead. Her brown eyes softened, shifting from worry to quiet, certain realization.

"Your temperature is elevated," she whispered. "And you haven't been able to eat since Tuesday."

I looked away, pulling my knees to my chest. "It's just the bond sickness."

"I have two boys, Sera," Nell said gently, sitting back. "Bond sickness makes a wolf feverish and distant."

Silence stretched over the small room, thick and heavy.

"You can't tell them," I said, my voice cracking like dry leaves. "Not my father. Not Aiden. Nobody."

Nell reached out, her fingers wrapping over mine. "Sera... it's Caelum's heir. If Ironveil finds out……”

"If Ironveil finds out, Caelum will take this baby from me," I cut in, the sudden force in my voice surprising even me. I stood up, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "He rejected me as a lowborn. He chose a highborn Alpha's daughter to secure his borders. If he knows I'm carrying his pup, he won't come back out of love. He'll come back out of duty or even worse, he'll strip me of my child and raise him with Lyra."

The thought sent a wave of cold shock through my veins.

"I won't let my child grow up as a pity child," I said, pressing my hands flat against my stomach. "I'm leaving."

"Where?" Nell's eyes widened.

"Far enough that the pack smells can't reach. New York."

Nell stared at me for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Your secret is safe with me. Pack your bag before nightfall. The border patrols rotate at dusk."

I packed light. One bag, warm clothes, my midwifery journals, basic supplies.

I stopped in front of the dresser. Resting on the dark wood was the silver chain Caelum had given me.

Then I was back there again. To the night he gave it to me.

The night was cool and quiet. His thumb brushed my chin softly, his silver eyes fixed on mine.

"I want you to have something of mine," he said in a low voice.

"Why?" I asked, giggling like a child.

"I can't mark you yet, Seraphina." He said my full name slowly, deliberately. He normally called me Sera. Or My beautiful Luna. Hearing my full name from him felt different, weighted, like a vow. "But I want you to have something of mine. You'll always be by my side."

He clasped the silver necklace around my neck, his fingers lingering on my skin, sending a wave of electric heat straight to my wolf.

"You bring out the best in me," he whispered. "And you'll be my beautiful Luna."

A wave of silence settled between us. He held my chin up and looked deep into my eyes like he was trying to see my soul. Then he kissed me.

I snapped back.

I snatched the necklace from the dresser, walked over to the window, and threw it into the grass below.

"He's a piece of shit," I muttered, my jaw clenching as I zipped the bag shut. "And my baby will never hear his name."

I pulled the bag over my shoulder and turned around.

Aiden was standing in the doorway.

My heart slammed against my ribs. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed over his broad chest, his face tired, dark circles shadowing his eyes.

He looked at the bag. Then at my boots. "You're going," he said. Not a question.

"Aiden, I…"

"I know," he said softly, stepping into the room. He didn't yell. He just looked at me with the quiet, protective weight of a brother who had been watching and saying nothing for weeks. "I see the way people whisper when you walk down the street. I see the way the pack elders look at Dad. Staying here will destroy you, Sera."

Tears pricked my eyes, hot and sudden. "I'm sorry I'm running."

"You're not running," Aiden said, pulling me into a hard hug. "You're surviving. But you're telling Dad before you step past the tree line."

Downstairs, my father sat at the wooden kitchen table, an untouched cup of tea steaming between his hands.

He looked up the moment he heard our footsteps. His eyes landed on the bag over my shoulder.

He didn't ask why. He simply stood, leaning on his cane, and walked over.

"New York?" he asked quietly.

I swallowed hard and nodded.

He reached out, his palm brushing my cheek. "An Ashwood wolf is built to endure, Seraphina. You take care of yourself. And you take care of whatever future you build out there."

He knew. Wolves always knew. He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb.

"I love you, Dad," I choked out.

"I know," he whispered, pressing his lips to my forehead. "Go now. Before the sun sets."

---

Ten minutes later, Aiden's truck rumbled to a stop at the edge of the Ashwood border. Beyond the tree line was the road out of everything I had ever known.

Aiden kept his hands gripped tight on the steering wheel, staring straight through the windshield.

"You call every week," he said, his voice thick. "I don't care what time."

"I will."

"And if you ever need anything….." He stopped. Looked away. Looked back. "Anything at all…… You call me first."

"I promise, Aiden." I reached over and placed my hand over his. "Take care of Dad."

He turned, pulled me into one last brief, crushing hug, then let go before either of us could break completely.

I grabbed my bag, stepped out of the truck, and walked to the border markers.

Before I crossed the tree line, I reached into my pocket.

My fingers found the silver necklace.

I pulled it out. Stared at it for a long moment. Then shoved it deep into the bottom of my bag.

I turned and walked toward the road.

I didn't look back.