Seraphina’s POV 1
9:00 P.M.
I dragged myself down the cobblestone path. My body ached. My feet hurt. But my heart was singing.
“Just a few more hours,” I whispered. “Until tonight.”
Tonight was everything. No more going back to that house. No more pretending they were family.
I’d already asked for time off work. My boss spat at me. Called mezy. Typical. Omegas always got the worst treatment.
But I didn’t care tonight.
I was going to Gabriel’s. My boyfriend. Soon-to-be fiancé.
Tomorrow was the Lunar Assembly. Sacred ceremony. Wolves finding their mates under the Moon Goddess. Tomorrow was also my
eighteenth birthday. Finally old enough.
Gabriel promised we’d bond tomorrow. I could escape forever.
Gabriel. Rich. Gorgeous. An Alpha’s brother. Sure, I was just an omega. But Gabriel said bloodlines didn’t matter. Love mattered.
I practically skipped toward his house. My heart hammered with excitement. Beautiful stone building in the center of town. So much
better than our pathetic wooden shack. Soon I’d live here. With Gabriel. Forever.
I knocked eagerly.
Nothing.
My smile faltered. That’s… odd. Gabriel said he’d be waiting. He promised.
I tried the handle. Unlocked. Relief flooded through me. He must be inside. Maybe preparing a surprise?
“Gabriel? It’s me!” I called out cheerfully.
Silence.
Wait. What was that? Sounds from upstairs. My heart lifted again. He was home after all.
Then I heard it clearly.
Laughter.
Femaleughter.
Moaning.
My world stopped spinning. No. No, that couldn’t be-
The sounds grew louder. Clearer. Destroying me with every breath.
Gasps. Bed springs creaking. A voice that made my soul shatter.
“Oh God, Gabriel… right there…”
Valerie. My stepsister.
My brain refused to process it. This wasn’t happening. This was a nightmare. I’d wake up any second.
The bedroom door hung slightly open. Like a cruel invitation to witness my destruction. I saw them.
Gabriel’s muscled back. Moving. Valerie’s pale body beneath him. Her golden hair fanned across his pillow like a victory g.
No no no no no.
“You feel so much better than I imagined,” Gabriel panted.
My heart exploded into a thousand pieces. Each word was a dagger.
Valerieughed. That cruel, sharp sound I knew so well. “Better than that pathetic omega sister of mine, I bet. Poor little Sera probably
doesn’t even know what to do with a real man.”
The air left my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Could only feel the agony ripping through my chest.
“Don’t.” Gabriel’s voice was rough. “Don’t mention her when we’re like this.”
“Why not?” Valerie’s fingers traced his spine like she owned him. “After tomorrow, she’ll know exactly where she stands. An omega like
her could never satisfy you.”
Each word was a physical blow. I stumbled backward, gasping for air. My shoulder mmed into the wall. The sound echoed like a
gunshot.
“What was that?” Valerie hissed.
My wolf surged forward. Rage I’d never felt before. My foot connected with the door. It crashed against the wall.
“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?”
They jumped apart. Gabriel nearly fell off the bed scrambling for his pants. Valerie just sat up. Didn’t even cover herself.
“Seraphina!” Gabriel went white. “I can exin-”
“Exin?” My voice cracked. “Exin how you’re screwing my sister?”
“It’s not what you
think-”
“IT’S EXACTLY WHAT I THINK!” Tears streamed down my face. “You lying, cheating bastard!”
Valerie stretched. Finally reached for Gabriel’s shirt. “Oh, sister dear. You really thought he’d choose you?” She tilted her head. Mock
sympathy. “How cute.”
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“Valerie, don’t,” Gabriel warned. But his voice was weak.
“Don’t what? Tell her the truth?” Valerie stood up slowly. “That Mom and Dad have known about us for months? That they practically threw me at Gabriel because they were embarrassed by their precious Alpha family being tied to an omega reject?”
The world spun. “You’re lying.”
“Am I?” Valerie moved to the mirror. Ran her fingers through her hair. “Why don’t you go home and ask them? I’m sure they’re waiting.
Probably with our engagement announcement.”
“Sera, listen-” Gabriel finally got his pants on. “This doesn’t have to change anything between us. We can still be friends-”
“FRIENDS?” I lunged toward him. He caught my wrists.
“You need to calm down,” he said. His grip was tight. Bruising. “Think about your position. Your family. You don’t want to make this
worse.”
I stared into his eyes. Eyes that had whispered promises just days ago. Now they were cold. Calcting.
“Let go of me,” I whispered.
“Sera-”
“LET GO OF ME!”
I wrenched free and ran. I burst through our front door. Victor and Elizabeth sat calmly in the living room. An elegant invitationy on
the coffee table between them.
They showed no surprise at my tear-stained face.
“You already knew?” My voice was barely a whisper.
“Seraphina, sit down.” Victor’s voice was ice. “Yes, we know about Gabriel and Valerie. We fully support it.”
Elizabeth picked up the invitation. Held it out. “This is their engagement announcement. Tomorrow at the Lunar Assembly, Gabriel will
propose to Valerie. They hope you’ll attend as Valerie’s sister.”
I stared at the beautiful invitation. Gabriel and Valerie’s names in gold. The silver Nightshadow crest. It was all real.
“Why?” My voice cracked. “Why would you do this to me?”
“Enough!” Victor shot to his feet. Backhanded me across the face. Hard. I crashed to the floor. My cheek burned.
“You’re nothing but an abandoned child we took in out of pity. What right do you have to insult our daughter?”
“You should be grateful we raised you.” Elizabeth’s voice was cold. “Now you know your ce. Tomorrow you’ll bless your sister’s
engagement. Then find yourself a suitable omega mate.”
“I won’t!” I struggled to my feet. Tasted blood. “I’ll never bless this betrayal!”
Victor raised his hand again. This time I was ready. I dodged and ran for the door.
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“Get out of our house!” Elizabeth shrieked behind me. “Ungrateful little brat!”
I fled into the night. Running blindly. Tears falling like broken pearls.
I didn’t know where I was going; I only knew I couldn’t stop moving or the crushing pain would swallow me whole. I didn’t know how
long I ran, but eventually I found myself on Main Street when a familiar voice made me stop.
“Sera!”
I spun around to see Ophelia running toward me, her dark hair flying behind her.
“I saw you run in-what happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Worse.” I copsed into her arms. “I’ve seen the truth.”
“Tell me.”
So I did. Every horrible detail, every cruel word. Ophelia held me while I shook.
“Those bastards,” she hissed when I finished. “All of them. Gabriel, Valerie, your so-called parents.”
“What am I going to do?” I cried against her shoulder. “Tomorrow is the Lunar Assembly. Everyone will see Gabriel and Valerie’s
engagement. I’ll be theughingstock of the entire pack.”
“Listen to me, Sera.” Ophelia stroked my hair gently. “We’re not waiting for that damned ceremony. Tonight, we’re going to Silver Moon
Harbor!”
“What?” I pulled back to look at her, still having tears on my face.
“I heard there’s a huge party in Silver Moon Harbor tonight. Lots of wolves from other packs who are here for tomorrow’s ceremony will be there.” Ophelia’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “We’re going to have some fun and forget all about these bastards and your heartless
family!”
“But… but I…” I hesitated. As an omega, Silver Moon Harbor waspletely foreign territory to me.
“But what?” Ophelia gripped my hands. “Sera, you’ve lost everything here. Instead of staying to be humiliated tomorrow, let’s go to Silver
Moon Harbor and try our luck. Maybe you’ll meet your real destined mate-someone who won’t give a damn about your bloodline.”
I looked into Ophelia’s determined eyes, thinking about the cruel words I’d heard in Gabriel’s bedroom, remembering my parents’ cold
faces, imagining the humiliation I’d face tomorrow…
“Okay.” I wiped away my tears, feeling a fierce courage I’d never experienced before. “Let’s go to Silver Moon Harbor tonight. Let all those
people go to hell!”
Ophelia grinned with delight. “Now that’s my Seraphina! Come on, let’s go back to my ce and get ready. Tonight, we’re going to show the most beautiful girl!”
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