POV: Kael
Find her.
I give Finn the order through gritted teeth. I want Natasha Crane found and brought back here. Alive. She has answers we need.
On it. Finn heads for the door, already pulling out his phone to mobilize tracking teams.
Seraphina stands frozen, her face white as snow. The betrayal is hitting her in waves I can feel it through the bond. Shock. Grief. Rage.
She killed Marcus, Seraphina whispers. My best friend killed my husband.
We don't know that for sure, I say, though everything points to it. The bracelet could have been stolen. Used to frame her.
You don't believe that.
No, I admit. I don't.
Her legs give out. I catch her before she hits the floor, pulling her against my chest. The mate bond roars at the contact finally, finally holding her.
I trusted her, Seraphina says into my shirt. Since we were kids. She was supposed to be my sister.
I know. I hold her carefully, like she might break. I'm sorry.
Everyone I loved has hurt me. Her voice cracks. Marcus. Natasha. Even my mother kept secrets from me my whole life.
Not everyone. I tilt her chin up, making her meet my eyes. I won't hurt you, Seraphina. I swear it.
She searches my face for lies. Through the bond, I let her feel the truth of my words. My absolute certainty.
How can you promise that? she asks. You barely know me.
I've known you for four years. Every day. Every moment. My thumb traces her cheekbone. You're not a stranger to me, even if I am to you.
The air between us shifts. Charges. She's in my arms, looking up at me with those violet eyes, and the bond is screaming at me to kiss her.
I step back. Put distance between us before I do something she's not ready for.
You should rest, I say roughly. It's been a long night.
I can't sleep. She wraps her arms around herself. Not when Natasha is out there. Not when someone wants me dead.
Then help me investigate. I make the decision instantly. You knew Marcus better than anyone. You might see something I'd miss.
Really?
Really. But first I head to my office, her following. Coffee. We're going to need it.
An hour later, we're surrounded by files, security footage, and cold coffee. Seraphina sits cross-legged on the floor, going through Marcus's appointment calendar from the week before he died.
He had a lot of meetings with Elder Damien, she says, frowning. Three times that week alone.
Damien's the senior Council member. That's normal.
But they were all off-site. At some cabin by Silver Lake. She shows me the notes. Why meet away from the compound?
Good question. I pull up a map on my computer. Silver Lake is neutral territory. No pack claims it.
So if you wanted to meet someone secretly... Seraphina's eyes widen. You'd go there.
We need to check that cabin. I'm already standing. If Marcus was meeting Damien there
We might find evidence. She jumps up too. Let's go.
It's too dangerous. Natasha's out there somewhere
Which is exactly why I'm not staying here alone. Her chin lifts. I'm coming with you, Kael. Don't try to stop me.
The old Seraphina would have agreed to stay behind. This one has steel in her spine.
I like it.
Fine. But you stay close to me. No wandering off.
We take my truck. The drive to Silver Lake takes thirty minutes through winding forest roads. Seraphina is quiet, staring out the window.
Can I ask you something? she says finally.
Anything.
The mate bond. Does it... does it make you feel what I feel?
Yes. Your emotions. Your pain. Your fear. I keep my eyes on the road. Right now, you're scared but trying to be brave.
She's quiet for a moment. Can I feel yours?
You're getting stronger. Soon you'll feel everything. I glance at her. I won't be able to hide anything from you.
Are you afraid of that?
Terrified, I admit. You'll see every dark thing I've done as War Chief. Every choice I'm not proud of.
And I'll see why you made those choices, she says softly. That's what the bond does, right? Shows the truth?
Yes.
Good. She reaches over and touches my hand on the steering wheel. I want to know the real you.
The bond flares at her touch. My wolf howls with joy. I have to focus on not driving off the road.
We reach the cabin as the sun starts setting. It's small, isolated, surrounded by trees. No other buildings for miles.
Perfect place for a secret meeting, Seraphina murmurs.
The door is unlocked. Inside, the cabin looks abandoned dust everywhere, furniture covered with sheets.
But there's a laptop on the table. Recent. Not dusty.
Someone was here recently, I say, moving toward it.
Seraphina opens the laptop. It's not password protected. That's weird.
Or it's a trap, I warn.
But she's already clicking through files. Her face goes pale.
Kael. Look at this.
I lean over her shoulder. The screen shows a document titled: MOONBORN ACQUISITION PLAN.
My blood runs cold as I read:
Phase 1: Identify the Moonborn (COMPLETE)
Phase 2: Remove protective binding through trauma (COMPLETE - target's mate eliminated)
Phase 3: Isolate target from pack support (IN PROGRESS - mate bond with War Chief unexpected complication)
Phase 4: Capture and extract powers before mating ceremony deadline
They killed Marcus to break my binding spell, Seraphina breathes. This was all planned.
Who wrote this? I scroll down, looking for a signature or name.
At the bottom of the document:
Compiled by Elder Damien Frost, in partnership with
The rest is cut off. But it's enough.
Damien, I growl. He's been behind this the whole time.
And he has a partner, Seraphina says. Who?
A floorboard creaks behind us.
I spin around, pushing Seraphina behind me.
Elder Damien stands in the doorway, flanked by two large wolves I don't recognize. His smile is cold as ice.
I was wondering when you'd find this place, he says. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down.
The wolves move to block the exit. We're trapped.
You killed my brother, I snarl.
Marcus was collateral damage, Damien says dismissively. Necessary to wake the Moonborn's true power. His eyes lock on Seraphina. And now that power belongs to me.
Over my dead body, I growl.
Damien's smile widens. That can be arranged, War Chief. That's exactly what I'm counting on.