Chapter Eight!
Seraphine’s POVE
The forest was still, the crescent moon casting its cold light over the sacred ground of the Crescent Moon. Word traveled fast within the pack. Rowan, Alpha of the Black Moon Pack, had reclaimed the Crescent Heirloom–my Heirloom.
He had drained the pack’s resources to secure it after I sold it, a desperate move that puzzled even the Elders. What was his motive? Was it remorse, desperation, or a feeble attempt to salvage what had already been shattered?}
The pack howled in praise of their Alpha’s devotion. Their voices reached even this distant, unfamiliar village where I had taken refuge:
“He chased Seraphine for years, even defying the Moon Goddess for her.“>
“The Moon Heirloom was a symbol of their bond. Of course, he fought to reclaim it!”
“I wish I had an Alpha like Rowan. He’s the perfect mate.“>
Their blind faith felt like claws raking across my heart.”
But amidst the adoration, one voice whispered a darker truth:
“Only his mate knows what lies beneath. An Alpha’s secrets run deep.“>
That voice lingered in my mind, sparking a fire of unease. And then came the revelation–a rumor whispered by an unfamiliar she–wolf in the village:
“Rowan has a pup… with another. She lives nearby, under his protection.”
A pup.
The words hit me like a blow to the gut. My heart raced as I remembered the last time I had seen Mina, her smug smile and triumphant gaze burned into my memory. Had she been hiding his secret all along?!
My claws dug into the wooden table as my wolf growled low in my mind. This betrayal cut deeper than any I had imagined. Rowan, the wolf who had sworn to stand by me no matter what, had built a life with another–a life that I could never give him.
Years ago, during a brutal hunt, I had been injured so gravely that the pack healer had spoken a harsh truth: I would never bear pups. Even if I tried, the risk to my life was too great. Rowan had comforted me, swearing it didn’t matter. “You are my strength, Seraphine. Pups or no pups, you’re enough,” he’d said.
But now, those words felt hollow.
I pressed a hand to my stomach, trying to steady my breathing. Then, out of nowhere, I felt it–a faint flutter.
I froze.}
Could it be?
My wolf stirred, her voice soft yet insistent. “Listen.“}
Tears blurred my vision as I realized the impossible truth. I was carrying Rowan’s pup.
The healer had been wrong. Against all odds, a life had taken root within me–a life born of a bond that was now irreparably broken. -E
The cabin felt colder that evening, despite the fire burning in the hearth. I sat by the window, staring out at the snow–dusted village. The whispers of betrayal and the weight of my secret warred within me, leaving no room for peace.
A knock at the door broke my spiraling thoughts.
“Come in,” I called, already knowing who it would be.
Kael stepped inside, his presence filling the small space. His sharp blue eyes swept over me, lingering on the tension in my posture.} “You look like you’ve been fighting ghosts,” he said lightly, setting down a bundle of firewood. “Mind if I join you for a bit?”
I nodded, grateful for the distraction.
He settled into the chair across from me, his gaze steady. “You’ve been quiet since this morning. Did something happen?”
I hesitated, the weight of my secret pressing against my chest. Kael had been nothing but kind, but I wasn’t ready to share this part of myself–not yet.“]
“Just… memories,” I said finally. “Some wounds take longer to heal than others.”
Kael studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded. “Fair enough. But if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.”
His words were simple, but they carried a weight that eased some of the tension in my chest.
As the night wore on, we fell into an easy rhythm, talking about the apothecary and the odd characters we’d encountered in the village. Kael’s humor was dry and sharp, a balm to my frayed nerves.
But even as I laughed at his stories, the flutter in my stomach reminded me of the storm brewing within.
The next morning, I woke to the scent of fresh bread and something faintly herbal. Kael had left a small bundle on my doorstep–tea leaves and a loaf from the village baker.
I stared at the offering for a long moment, my emotions a tangled mess of gratitude and confusion. Kael’s kindness was steady, unassuming, and utterly unlike Rowan’s fiery intensity.
9:51 AM
e
As I sipped the tea, a quiet resolve settled over me.”
The Crescent Heirloom might have been reclaimed, but I would reclaim something far greater–my future.}]
And as Kael’s calm, steady presence filled my thoughts, I couldn’t help but wonder if my future might not be as lonely as I had feared.
dapter Eight
