Kael
I held Seraphina in my arms, watching as she teetered on the edge of breaking down. Her fear was palpable, written all over her delicate face.
Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Seraphina. No matter what happens, I’ll stay by your side and protect you.”
But deep down, I was more desperate than anyone to uncover the secrets surrounding her. Why were so many monsters after her? What was it about the aura she exuded that seemed irresistibly alluring? And now, even a witch was looking for her?
Who was this witch?
To command a werewolf to do her bidding wasn’t a trivial feat. It spoke of power, of complexity.
Unable to suppress my curiosity, I asked, “Why do you know this werewolf?”
“You mean Leo?” Seraphina stepped out of my embrace, her gaze darting away from mine as though she couldn’t bear to meet it.
For a while, she hesitated before cautiously answering, “After hearing you talk about me, I was shocked. I couldn’t help but search online for information, and I came across his post.”
“He gave you information, and you believed him? So much so that you decided to meet him?”
Her startled expression confirmed my suspicions. Anger flared in my chest, spreading like wildfire. My breathing grew heavier as my frustration mounted.
“What were you thinking?” I demanded, my fists clenching tightly as I tried to restrain myself. “Meeting a strange man for answers? Why didn’t you come to me if you wanted to know more about yourself?”
It took everything I had not to let my anger frighten her, but I failed. Seraphina took a cautious step back, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m sorry, Kael. I just… I just wanted to hear about werewolves from a human perspective.”
“You don’t trust me.” My voice softened, tinged with a weariness I couldn’t hide.
Since Seraphina learned I was a werewolf, she’d been wary of me. No matter how much I protected her, no matter how I reassured her, she still refused to believe in me.
What more could I do to earn her trust?
Would it have been better if I’d lied from the start, kept everything from her?
But that wasn’t who I was. I loved her, and I wanted her to know the truth about me. Lies didn’t belong between people who cared for each other.
Yet, a sliver of regret crept into my heart. Maybe deception would have been kinder-to her and to me.
“I just couldn’t wrap my head around it,” Seraphina confessed, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry, Kael. It’s my fault you’ve had to deal with all of this.”
“It’s okay.” I lifted her face so our eyes met, hoping she could see the sincerity in mine. “You don’t have to rush. I told you before-take your time to figure it all out, and when you’re ready, give me an answer.”
Her lashes fluttered, and for a moment, her gaze was unsteady. But then, determination flickered in her eyes as she stared back at me.
“I don’t need to think about it anymore, Kael,” she said. “I trust you. After everything that’s happened, if I still couldn’t see the truth, I’d be a fool.”
Her words sent a surge of warmth through my chest, lifting my heart as if it had taken flight. I couldn’t hold back the smile spreading across my face.
“You trust me now, Seraphina?”
“Yes,” she nodded, her voice soft. “I’m sorry I doubted you before.”
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her, savoring the sweetness of her breath, the way her presence seemed to fill every part of me.
Desire stirred within me, growing stronger with each passing second. My body tensed as I held her tighter, craving her in ways I could no longer suppress.
The thought of claiming her, of losing myself in her completely, consumed me. I imagined pinning her against the ground, the trees, even the branches above, until there was nothing left of my yearning but fulfillment.
But Seraphina’s gentle protest snapped me out of my haze.
“Not here, Kael,” she breathed, her words a soft plea.
I could tell she wasn’t comfortable in this setting.
“Then let’s go to my apartment,” I murmured, nipping at her earlobe. I held her close, ready to take her somewhere we could be alone, somewhere we could finally give in to everything we’d been holding back.
But before I could move, Frederick’s voice cut through the air.
“Kael, are you in the woods right now? What’s going on? Someone just activated a powerful teleportation array.”
Damn it.
I had no choice but to stop, my plans derailed.
“Yes, I’m here,” I replied.
“I’m coming to you.”
I exhaled heavily, turning back to Seraphina. “Seraphina, I need to handle this. I’ll have Marek take you back.”
Her flushed face still held traces of desire, mirroring my own. But I couldn’t ignore the danger. Whoever had activated the teleportation array, along with the mention of the witch, needed to be dealt with-for Seraphina’s safety.
Reluctantly, I set her down and kissed her softly. “Be good. Wait for me. I’ll come to you tonight.”
“No,” she objected immediately.
“Why not?” I asked, feeling a pang of disappointment.
“Evelyn invited Judy over for dinner. She’ll see you.”
Ah, that explained it.
“Then stay at my apartment tonight,” I suggested.
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded.
Her agreement lifted my spirits. I called for Marek, who appeared instantly.
“Take Seraphina to my apartment,” I instructed him.
Marek, still shaken from his earlier encounter with Leo, obeyed without question. He’d never been properly trained, relying solely on instinct in combat. I knew I’d have to train him harder if he was to protect Seraphina in the future.
Once they were gone, Frederick arrived.
“Kael, did you fight that werewolf just now?” he asked, eyeing my disheveled appearance.
I nodded and gestured toward the teleportation array. “Check it out.”
Frederick examined it, frowning. “This array requires advanced-level werewolves to use it.”
“I doubt it,” I countered. “That werewolf wasn’t as strong as me, yet he managed to activate it. Something doesn’t add up.”
“Could the witch have enhanced his abilities?” I suggested, sharing what I knew about her.
Frederick’s expression darkened. “This is unprecedented. Too many players are getting involved.”
After taking pictures of the array, he muttered, “I’ll need to show this to the others. This town has become increasingly unstable. Are all the werewolves vying for control of this area?”
“Perhaps.” I avoided mentioning Seraphina, not wanting to bring her into this.
Frederick nodded. “We may need to collaborate with Tempest Fang.”
I scowled. “We don’t need their help.”
“Still bitter about Lila?” Frederick teased.
I stiffened, my jaw tightening. Lila, the daughter of Tempest Fang’s Alpha, was my supposed match. But I felt nothing for her.
“What about the human girl?” Frederick asked suddenly.
Anger flared within me. “You will not harm her!”
“Relax,” Frederick said with a smirk. “I’m not your father.”
“Still, this won’t last, will it? Your father doesn’t mind you playing around for now, but eventually, you’ll have to let her go.”
I said nothing, masking my emotions. Letting them know how I felt about Seraphina would only put her in more danger.
“Kael,” Frederick said, his tone serious, “your father wants to see you. Richard is here.”
Richard-Tempest Fang’s Alpha. I sighed, following Frederick reluctantly. There was no avoiding it now.