Seraphina
I stood in front of the mirror, combing my hair. To be honest, I was nervous when I took the initiative to suggest being with Kael.
This was the first time in my life I had done something so bold.
It was completely unlike the timid, cowardly person I used to be.
But perhaps when pushed to the edge, people break free from their usual constraints.
My actions were no longer those of the bookish girl I once was.
I enjoyed Kael’s body, but I didn’t want to be treated like a toy by him.
The only solution was to take the initiative and propose a relationship, then work hard to protect myself.
This way, even if Kael and Vivienne wanted to torment me, they would have no leverage.
I believed my decision was the right one.
I didn’t want to remain passive anymore, so I decided to take the offensive.
Soon, I heard Kael speak: “Of course, but Seraphina, I hope we can be more than just bed partners.”
Kael walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me.
The scent of his cologne mixed with the faint smell of cigarettes wafted over, and his chest felt so hot, as if it could burn me alive.
He buried his face in the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply.
“Seraphina, you smell amazing.”
Hearing his words, I felt goosebumps rise on my skin.
The places where Kael touched me felt strange.
I thought about what Magnus had told me.
When a werewolf fixates on someone, it’s usually because they’re drawn to that person’s scent-not perfume, but the natural scent of their body.
Was Kael smelling something emanating from me right now?
Even though I couldn’t detect it myself!
In that moment, my body trembled involuntarily.
“You’re so sensitive,” Kael chuckled behind me.
He thought my trembling was a physical reaction.
As he laughed, the vibrations from his chest traveled through me, sending a tingling sensation through my body.
I forced a smile but didn’t bring up the subject.
For some reason, my suspicions about Kael vanished the moment they arose.
Whenever I thought about it, my mind went blank, as if it was preventing me from doubting him.
By then, Kael had moved in front of me, cupping my face and kissing me.
He was as clingy as a piece of taffy. I wondered if he acted this way with every woman.
My expression turned cold. “I need to go back.”
Good. I must have made him think I’m an easy girl. How would he and Vivienne toy with me then?
I looked forward to that day.
“Alright, see you this afternoon,” Kael said, still smiling.
I glanced at him, feeling my heart race again.
Last night had been wild, and now, thinking about it, everything felt surreal.
I needed to calm down and reassess my relationship with Kael.
Grabbing my canvas bag, I rushed out of Kael’s apartment.
When I got back to my place, Evelyn was already up. Seeing me, she said, “Morning, Seraph. I thought you weren’t coming back. Need some coffee?”
“Desperately. The sooner, the better,” I panted.
I had sprinted all the way back, needing to return to the safety and familiarity of my apartment to clear my head.
Evelyn poured me a cup of coffee, and I took a few sips.
The strong, bitter taste of the black coffee seemed to pull me back from the absurdity of last night.
Evelyn handed me a cheese croissant, urging me to enjoy it.
She really knew how to take care of people.
Right now, all I wanted was to forget the passion of last night.
“Seraph, where were you last night?” Evelyn suddenly asked. “Don’t tell me you went to the bar again. Did you sleep with that guy?”
Her eyes were filled with curiosity as she studied me. “You always come back in different clothes after a night out.”
Damn it. I remembered the jacket Evelyn had lent me, which had been ruined last night.
“Evelyn, I’m sorry. I ruined your clothes. I’ll buy you a new one.”
“It’s fine,” Evelyn shrugged, indifferent. “I’m just curious… I know it’s your privacy, but I really want to know who you’re with.”
“I can’t tell you right now,” I said, gripping the handle of my coffee cup as guilt gnawed at me.
She was my best friend, yet I was keeping everything from her.
When I was with Lucian, I chose to hide it.
Now, with Kael, I had to hide it even more.
Kael and I were just bed partners. If Evelyn found out, she’d think I was insane.
Seeing my reluctance, Evelyn’s eyes flickered with disappointment, but she quickly smiled. “It’s okay. You can tell me whenever you’re ready. Just remember to protect yourself. I feel like there’s something complicated about the scent on you. Are you sure this person is a good guy?”
My heart skipped a beat. Could Evelyn sense it too?
Her intuition was always sharp.
“It’s fine. I’m just having some fun after the breakup. Don’t worry about me. I might dump him in a few days,” I said.
Even Evelyn thought Kael’s aura was complicated?
This only confirmed my suspicions that Kael was no good. He was a playboy who had slept with every girl on campus.
And he was entangled with that bitch Vivienne.
With so many women, he must have picked up all sorts of scents.
What kind of decent man could he possibly be?
I would end this battle soon.
“Alright then,” Evelyn said, her frown easing. “Is he a student at our school?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn seemed to relax further.
“Maybe I was wrong. If he’s a student, it’s probably fine.”
“I’ll tell you everything soon,” I said, thinking that once I exposed Kael and Vivienne’s schemes, I’d come clean to Evelyn.
At that thought, I took a deep breath.
I knew I needed to grow stronger because I wasn’t just dealing with Kael and Vivienne-there was also that red-eyed monster.
Though it hadn’t shown up lately.
“Lucian was looking for you all night,” Evelyn said as she packed her textbooks. “He kept pestering me, asking where you were. Good thing you left. You didn’t see him-he was acting like a madman.”
“He was looking for me all night?”
“He wouldn’t leave me alone, demanding to know where you were. He even approached every girl who looked like you! God, he’s insane.”
I thought about running into Lucian last night. So, he really had been searching for me.
He had been beaten so badly by Kael, yet instead of recovering, he came to the party to find me?
But I felt no gratitude-only disgust.
Why pretend to be so devoted after losing me, when he hadn’t cherished me when he had me?