Seraphina
The turn of events exceeded all my expectations, leaving me feeling as though I had plunged myself into hell.
When I followed Leo into the woods, a sense of unease had already started creeping into my heart. Something about this felt wrong.
My intuition screamed at me to stop, to turn back. So I halted and told Leo, “My friend just called me back. I have to go.”
But instead of letting me leave, Leo laughed-a sound that sent chills down my spine. “Are you scared?” he asked mockingly.
I didn’t answer, but the easy warmth Leo had initially shown was gone. The man before me now seemed like a stranger, dangerous and unpredictable.
“Fear is natural,” he said, his voice chilling. “Because I didn’t bring you here to talk about werewolves. My target was always you.”
Before I could react, he lunged at me.
For a moment, I froze, staring at the sudden, grotesque transformation of his face.
What did he mean by that? Was this man here to capture me?
Why?
Was I going to die here today?
My mind spun wildly, trying to make sense of it all. But just as Leo’s hand reached for me, Kael appeared.
Kael blocked his attack, standing between us like a shield. And then, before my eyes, he transformed into a massive wolf, his black fur gleaming in the scattered light.
I had seen him like this before. I remembered.
But what shocked me even more was that Leo transformed too.
He was a wolf.
He wasn’t a hunter, someone who killed werewolves-he was one.
How could someone like Leo, a werewolf, disguise himself so perfectly as a human? He had tricked me, lured me here with sweet words, only to kill me.
In that moment, regret overwhelmed me. I should never have trusted a stranger so easily. I had let myself be deceived by his charm and lies.
Kael and Leo fought fiercely. Their battle was so intense that trees around them snapped and fell.
I stood there trembling, my heart pounding as I realized I had to leave. I had to escape.
But before I could move, Leo grabbed me again. His grip was unrelenting, and his words-muttering something about witches-left me utterly confused.
What was he talking about?
This was a world I was never meant to encounter.
Kael saved me again.
“Run, Seraphina!” he shouted amidst the chaos.
I turned and ran with all my strength, the adrenaline surging through me making me faster than I thought possible.
But it wasn’t enough.
Leo caught me again.
His face twisted into a triumphant grin as he stared at me. “Where do you think you’re going, Seraphina? Hmm? You should come with me.”
He dragged me toward a glowing place-a strange formation on the ground emitting dazzling light.
I didn’t know why, but deep down, I had an answer. It was a teleportation circle.
Leo was trying to take me somewhere.
Panic gripped me. I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t go wherever he planned to take me.
But I was powerless. I was just a human, and even though I wasn’t entirely ordinary, I couldn’t fight against a werewolf of his strength.
As Leo began pulling me into the circle, Kael appeared again.
He grabbed my hand, yanking me out of Leo’s grip with a strength that took my breath away.
In the split second that followed, Leo fell into the teleportation circle, disappearing completely.
Kael held me tightly as we both collapsed to the ground. His arms encircled me, his scent of cologne and the warmth of his presence grounding me.
For the first time since this nightmare began, I felt safe.
The teleportation circle dimmed, its light extinguished. Leo was gone.
The woods were silent except for the sound of my own ragged breathing.
It was just Kael and me now.
I hadn’t yet recovered from the terror when I heard Kael suck in a sharp breath.
I jumped up like a startled rabbit, turning to look at him. “Are you okay?”
But he wasn’t.
Blood covered his face and body, and deep wounds marred his skin. He looked horrifyingly hurt.
“I’m fine,” Kael said weakly, his voice steady despite his condition.
But he wasn’t fine. He couldn’t even stand.
My heart clenched painfully. It was because of me that Kael was in this state.
All of this-his injuries, his suffering-was my fault.
I had sought out Leo for answers, thinking it would help, but instead, I had led Kael into danger.
And yet, despite everything, Kael had fought to save me.
He had risked his life for me.
Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t stop them.
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed. “Kael, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”
I apologized over and over, my guilt crushing me.
Kael, seeing my tears, tried to lift his hand to wipe them away, but the movement only worsened his pain.
Seeing him like this, so broken and hurt, made me cry even harder.
“Seraphina, stop crying,” he said softly. “I’m fine, really. I just need to rest. You know werewolves heal quickly.”
His words didn’t ease my guilt, but I wiped my tears away, trying to compose myself.
I couldn’t cry. Kael was already hurt, and seeing me cry only made him more upset.
I held his hand tightly. “What can I do?” I asked. “What can I do to help you feel better?”
Kael looked at me, his gaze warm despite his injuries. “Just stay with me, Seraphina. Hold my hand. That’s enough.”
Even now, in his weakened state, Kael’s voice was gentle, his eyes filled with kindness.
I stayed by his side, holding his hand as my mind raced.
Leo’s words echoed in my head. Witches. Power. The teleportation circle.
Where had Leo planned to take me?
My instincts told me it was somewhere dark, somewhere terrifying.
If Kael hadn’t protected me, I wouldn’t be alive.