After witnessing my parents’ deaths, I lost the ability to shift. Even the smell of another werewolf made me throw up violently. The only person I could bear to be near was my adoptive brother, Alpha Alexander. So he kept me by his side for ten years, forbidding anyone from gossiping about me or insulting me. Everyone said he loved me. Until he brought in that “therapist,” Chloe. She said I was too weak, that I needed exposure therapy. The first time, she dumped me into a chaotic Rogue camp. I almost got killed by those lunatics. The second time, she forced me to watch slaves fight to the death. The smell of blood sent me into shock right there on the spot. The third time, she dangled my parents’ urns outside a 28th-floor window and made me climb a rope ladder to retrieve them. I froze for a single second, the memory of my parents’ deaths flashing through my mind—the urns plummeted from the sky and shattered into pieces right in front of me. I broke down sobbing. Alexander gave me a hard slap across the face. “That was flour! Are you done with your tantrum yet?” I knelt on the ground, staring at that smug woman, and finally understood. He wasn’t doing this for me. He just wanted to be rid of me—the burden who’d brought him shame. That night, I sent a message to the Alpha of Frostmark Pack, far away in the north: “Uncle William, that offer you made before, about coming to live with your Pack? I accept.”
Seraphina’s POV Everyone in the werewolf world knew that Alpha Alexander of Dusklight Pack had a “glass rose” he’d been pampering for ten years. That was me. Because I’d watched my parents die brutally in battle, I’d developed severe PTSD. It made shifting completely impossible. Just seeing another werewolf shift, or witnessing any kind of fighting, would trigger violent physical and psychological reactions—mild cases meant nausea and dizziness, severe ones meant suffocation and fainting. For my sake, Alexander had built a special mansion that blocked out almost all outside sounds, sights, and smells. No werewolf was allowed near the property. Even our maids and housekeepers were human. If anyone in the Pack dared discuss my condition, he punished them harshly. If gossip from another Pack reached his ears, he’d launch a brutal attack and kill the gossipers without mercy. Everyone assumed Alexander would protect me like this for the rest of my life. Until that therapist Chloe showed up. She was human, but bright and bold, like a wild rose blooming under blazing sun. Even an iceberg like Alexander melted for her. Because Chloe said one sentence—”She’s just spoiled and too weak. She needs strong stimulation”—I was forced into so-called “exposure and shock therapy.” The first time, she tricked me into a chaotic Rogue camp, calling it “adapting to the real living environment of werewolves.” I lasted less than half an hour before having a complete breakdown, throwing up until I passed out. The second time, Chloe took me to a dungeon and forced me to watch two werewolf slaves fight to the death up close. The bloody scene dragged up my worst memories. I went into shock right there. The third time… this last time, Chloe hung my parents’ urns outside a 28th-floor window and forced me to climb an unsecured rope ladder to get them. She framed it as: maybe under extreme conditions, I could finally overcome my fear and shift. I finally snapped. I slapped Chloe hard across the face and stormed straight to Alexander, demanding he fire that crazy woman. “Alexander, where the hell did you find this lunatic?” I pointed at him, my voice shaking. “I have a psychological trauma. I’m not just being weak! Why would you bring in some human who barely understands werewolves to torture me? She used my parents’ ashes to threaten me. Is that something a doctor should ever do?” Alexander completely ignored my anger. His eyes went straight past me to Chloe. Five clear finger marks were swelling up on her pale cheek. She bit her red lip and stared at Alexander stubbornly, eyes full of hurt but somehow still strong. “I know this kind of shock therapy is painful,” she said, voice catching slightly. “But I’m experienced. This will help Seraphina overcome her psychological barriers. As long as she cooperates, I’m sure she’ll soon be able to face the real werewolf world. She might even shift.” I watched the ice in Alexander’s eyes melt away, replaced by tenderness and concern. “I’m sorry, Chloe. Seraphina wasn’t always like this. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.” Chloe gave him a small, understanding smile. “It’s fine. As a doctor, getting misunderstood by patients comes with the territory. But I’ll never give up on any patient of mine.” The admiration in Alexander’s eyes only deepened. Then he turned to me, his expression instantly turning cold and disappointed. “Seraphina, what’s happened to you? Chloe is doing all this for your own good. How could you raise your hand against her? Where’s the dignity an Alpha’s daughter should have?” My eyes were red. I screamed back hysterically, “She used Mom and Dad’s ashes to threaten me! Don’t I have the right to slap her? Alexander, can you really stand there and let someone desecrate our parents’ ashes? Should they not get any peace even after death?” “Enough!” Alexander’s voice cut me off sharply. “Seraphina, your parents protected you too much when they were alive. That’s why you turned out so fragile! And whose fault is it they can’t rest in peace? If you’d just gotten over this barrier earlier and learned to face the world, would they still be worrying about you?” His words hit me like a thunderclap. Tears rolled down my cheeks, one after another. “So… you’re blaming me?” My voice trembled. “You won’t blame Chloe for abusing me, but you’ll blame me?” For a split second, something flickered in Alexander’s eyes—maybe guilt. But it vanished, replaced by hard resolve. “Seraphina, just listen. Chloe is helping you. Cooperate with her and overcome this. Then you can become my Luna and rule the Pack with me.” Chloe chimed in from the sidelines, looking like a victor. “Yes, Seraphina. My methods may be a bit intense, but they work. After the first two sessions, your tolerance to a ‘werewolf environment’ has improved slightly. That’s huge progress. If we just keep going, you’ll succeed.” Alexander’s hardness, his absolute refusal to listen, made my chest hurt so badly I couldn’t breathe. Before, Alexander never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do. When had he ever yelled at me like this? I wiped my tears and stopped fighting. No matter what, I couldn’t let anything happen to my parents’ ashes. I obediently climbed the ladder. Chloe stood below, smiling encouragingly. “You can do it, Seraphina.” Her grace only made me look more “irrational” and “unreasonable.” But I was the one being hurt. I’d always been the one being hurt. The wind was strong up there. It chilled me to the bone. Chloe wouldn’t allow me any protective gear or comfort items. Said it would ruin the “extreme stimulation.” So I climbed in nothing but thin clothing. I forced myself past my fear of heights, climbing one rung at a time. The higher I went, the stronger the wind got, and the closer I came to those dangling urns. Then Chloe’s voice came from below: “Hurry, Seraphina. To control the time and reduce your anxiety, I’ve set a countdown. One minute until the mechanical claw releases automatically.” My heart slammed in my chest. How dare Chloe? Forgetting my fear, I scrambled up the ladder as fast as I could. But I couldn’t even shift. I’d spent my entire life inside a safe mansion. How could I have a normal werewolf’s reflexes or strength? One minute wasn’t nearly enough to cover the remaining distance. Just as my fingertips finally brushed the urns with everything I had— The mechanical claw released. I reached out, desperately trying to grab them, and watched helplessly as my parents’ urns slipped through my fingers. They fell from twenty-eight floors up and smashed onto the concrete below, shattering into pieces. “NO—!” I screamed until my throat tore. In total despair, I leapt off the ladder. Thankfully, I still had a safety harness on. When I touched down, ghostly pale and trembling, Alexander didn’t check on me first. He charged up and slapped me across the face. “Seraphina! Have I been too soft on you?” He roared, “You’ve got such a temper now you’d throw your own life away to spite us? How can you face your dead parents like this? Chloe already told you—those were just prop urns. They were filled with flour. You really think she’d be insane enough to actually use your parents’ ashes?” I froze, my cheek burning. Chloe rushed over, throwing herself between us, all virtue and sainthood. “Alexander, don’t blame Seraphina. This is my fault. Maybe this aggressive therapy is too soon for someone in her current state.” Before she could finish, I shoved her hard from behind. “I don’t want your fake kindness!” Chloe fell forward, hitting her forehead on the steps. A trickle of blood appeared. “Seraphina, that’s enough!” Alexander scooped Chloe up in his arms, shooting me an icy glare. Then, without sparing me another glance, he turned and walked away. I knelt on the ground, tears falling onto cold concrete, one after another. In that moment, a thought floated through my mind: Alexander doesn’t belong to me anymore. I cried as I tried to gather the shattered pieces, scooping up the gray-white powder. Did anyone really think a daughter wouldn’t recognize her own parents’ urns? I had even carved special marks on them to tell which was which. Flour, my ass. It was all lies. Before I could finish, a gust of wind swept the ashes into the air, and they were gone forever. The image of my parents’ deaths replayed in my head—the blood, the screaming, all of it pressing in around me. I dry-heaved twice. Then everything went black, and I passed out. When I woke up, I was lying in the Pack’s hospital. Special aromatherapy filled the room with mild herbal scents, calming my nerves. There were no other werewolf scents in the room, which made things much easier. I struggled to sit up to get some water and faintly heard Alexander on the balcony outside, talking on the phone. “I know Chloe’s methods are extreme, but if we don’t do this, Seraphina will never live like a real werewolf.” His voice sounded exhausted. “Always being so careful with her, protecting her. Ten years of this. I’m exhausted.” “I know what my adoptive parents wanted, but Seraphina can’t even shift.” “I can’t be tied down for life by a defective mate who can never shift, who has to stay locked behind glass. As an Alpha, I need a strong mate who can stand beside me. The Pack needs a strong Luna. Is that wrong?” A huge hole tore open in my chest, and a freezing wind blew straight through it. Alexander was the adopted son of my parents—the late Alpha and Luna of Dusklight Pack. He was technically my brother, but everyone in our circles knew exactly what my parents had in mind when they took him in. He’d been chosen to be my mate and protector. They figured a werewolf raised from childhood would be more loyal than a fated mate. I’d always known this. I’d given my heart to that strong, gentle man a long time ago. I’d thought we’d naturally end up spending our lives together. Now I knew Alexander didn’t see it that way at all. To him, I was just a burden he couldn’t shake off—a stain on his perfect record. I laughed bitterly, tears sliding silently down my face. If he’d never planned to spend his life with me, he didn’t have to come up with such noble excuses. He didn’t have to bring in a maniac to torture me. I didn’t blame him for wanting a strong, normal life. I just hated the way he was crushing my dignity, denying that I had any worth at all. I pulled out my phone and opened the encrypted email that had been sitting in my drafts for so long. I thought for a moment, then hit reply: “Alpha William, your offer for me to join Frostmark Pack? I accept.”
Seraphina’s POV An international call came through almost immediately. William’s steady, concerned voice was on the other end. “Seraphina, my dear girl, you’ve finally come to your senses!” “Your situation isn’t suited to staying in Dusklight Pack at all. That environment will only keep traumatizing you. Things are peaceful here, and being far away from everything might help you heal.” “I suggested you come years ago, but you couldn’t bear to leave. I’m so glad you’ve changed your mind.” I forced out a pale smile. “Then… could I trouble you with the international flight arrangements and passport?” William’s voice was grounding and reassuring. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ve handed it all to Julian. He says he’ll use every resource available to handle the documents as fast as possible.” “In the meantime, just wrap things up over there. Julian will come pick you up himself.” “Okay,” I answered softly. I’d just hung up when Alexander pushed open the door. “Seraphina, you’re awake? Who were you calling?” I shook my head, said nothing, and quietly flipped my phone face-down on the bed. Alexander assumed I was still angry. Out of habit, he reached out to ruffle my hair, but I dodged. His hand stopped awkwardly in midair. He paused, then withdrew his hand. His voice softened. “Seraphina, are you still mad at me?” “I’m doing this for you. Once you overcome this, you can live like a normal werewolf instead of being mocked behind your back.” For me? I laughed bitterly inside. Before, I really had believed he was doing it for my sake. I’d just been too naïve. Now I knew—he wasn’t doing it for me. He was doing it to get rid of me. Ten years of accommodating his “defective” sister had been more than enough for him. He was desperate to shake off the burden who lived in a glass bubble and embarrassed the Pack. When I still didn’t speak, his patience ran out. “Seraphina, Chloe worked hard putting together a treatment plan for you. You don’t appreciate it, fine—but you pushed her and hurt her. Once you’re feeling a little better, I want you to apologize to her.” I forced down the bitter ache in my chest. My voice came out cold. “Apologize? Not happening. She destroyed my parents’ urns, and I’m supposed to apologize to her? Alexander, you must be dreaming.” His face darkened instantly. His voice came out cold as ice. “You’ll apologize, or I no longer have a sister.” I turned and stared at him in disbelief. “Alexander, are you actually threatening to disown me?” I steeled myself. Each word was sharp and clear. “I will never apologize to that woman. Not as long as I live.” He laughed, furious, and nodded. “Fine. Great. If you refuse to see reason, then from this day on, you don’t set foot inside the Alpha’s mansion. Not until you apologize.” My eyes burned red as I stared him down. “Why? That’s my home! That’s what my parents left me! If anyone’s leaving, it should be you—the outsider! I don’t need a brother like you!” The word “outsider” clearly cut him deep. Alexander’s face went terrifyingly dark. The one thing he hated most was being reminded of his adoptive status. He shot me a venomous glare without saying a word, then slammed the door on his way out. I stared at the closed door, all color drained from my face. I’d never expected things to end between us over some human woman we’d just met. For the next several days, Alexander didn’t come to the hospital once. No calls. No messages. I told myself I didn’t care. I went home alone to that empty mansion. I didn’t have much time left. Maybe a clean break was better. I could leave without looking back. No more lingering attachments. Back home, sitting in the dark living room, I happened to scroll past a new SnapChat post from Chloe. In the photo, sunlight bathed a green lawn. Chloe wore a pure white wedding gown, her arm hooked through Alexander’s, who was in a sharp tailored suit. Both of them were beaming under the sun, looking like the perfect couple. The caption read: “Some people have nowhere else to go, so they end up being my free model.” “Shoot in progress. Just the test photos, but weddings are exhausting!” The comments were full of congratulations and likes from mutual acquaintances. Chloe didn’t bother explaining whether it was for work or anything else. She just replied with a tongue-out emoji. My phone slipped from my hand and dropped onto the carpet with a soft thud.
Seraphina’s POV I hesitated for a long time, but in the end, I couldn’t shake the feeling gnawing at me. I bundled myself up tight, put on my special mask, and tracked down the location Chloe had tagged. It was a wedding photography studio in the small town nearby. The weather was clear and warm. I searched for a while before finally spotting them by a European-style flower garden. It was a break in shooting. I hid in the shade of a tree and watched as Alexander gently pulled out a tissue to wipe sweat from Chloe’s brow. He even unscrewed a water bottle and held it to her lips. The deep affection in his eyes was impossible to hide. Chloe had changed into a long, flame-red dress, looking like a fresh bloom. She leaned against him bashfully. Both of them were stunning. Just standing there, they were a sight, and everyone around—staff, other couples shooting their wedding photos—kept stealing glances. I looked down at myself. In my drab clothes, I was like a ghost who couldn’t bear sunlight, like a rat hiding in a gutter, only able to peek at someone else’s happiness from the shadows. My heart felt like someone was crushing it. The pain made it hard to breathe. In that moment, I felt it for real—Alexander had only ever seen me as a sister. No, less than that. As a burden he had to shake off. The tenderness from these past ten years had been about duty. About my parents’ last wishes. It was never love. Never had been. I’d just been deluding myself. I wanted to leave, but my feet felt like lead. Like a masochist, I kept watching them shift through pose after pose. My goggles fogged up with tears. Chloe seemed to glance my way casually. The corner of her mouth quirked up. Then she suddenly cried out in fake panic. “Oh no! My bracelet! My diamond bracelet—it’s gone!” “That was… that was the last thing my mother left me! What am I going to do?” Her eyes welled up, like she was about to cry. The staff around them immediately dropped what they were doing and started searching. Alexander gripped her shoulders, comforting her over and over. “Don’t panic, Chloe. It has to be nearby. Security here is good. We’ll find it.” Chloe suddenly raised her hand and pointed at my hiding spot. Her voice turned shrill. “That person! That person has been acting really suspicious. I just saw them lurking around. Did they steal my bracelet?” I was bundled up head to toe, hiding in an inconspicuous corner. I really did look suspicious. A few security guards and staff immediately closed in on me. Panic surged through me. I instinctively wanted to explain, but the menacing crowd terrified me. I turned and ran. But the more I ran, the more guilty I looked. “Stop! Catch the thief!” The shouts came from every direction. Disoriented, I slammed into a trash can and went down. Then security caught up and pinned me to the ground. I struggled wildly. “Let go of me! It wasn’t me! I’m not a thief! I was just walking by!” But nobody believed me. “Not a thief? Then why were you sneaking around?” “You won’t even show your face! Guilty conscience for sure!” I begged through tears. “Please… I was just passing by…” They didn’t listen. Someone suggested, “Pull off her mask! Let’s see what this thief looks like!” A wave of despair crashed over me. Being treated like this—the hostility, the pressure—my deep, instinctive fear started spreading. Several rough hands grabbed my head. Despite my screams and struggles, they yanked off my mask and hat. Exposed to so many strangers’ eyes and scents, my face went white in seconds. My body started shaking uncontrollably. Cold sweat broke out everywhere. To them, it must have looked bizarre. Someone muttered, “What the hell? Why’s she freaking out like this?” “Weird. Probably mentally ill. Stay back!” People backed away like I was contagious. I struggled to push myself up, raising my arm to shield my face from those piercing stares. “No… please… I just…” I tried to explain my PTSD, but the words stuck in my throat. A passerby with an iced coffee in hand walked over, his face twisted in disgust. “Oh, please. She’s just one of those psychos who fakes a fit when they get caught stealing. Stop scaring the kids around here!” With that, he dumped the entire iced coffee, ice and all, over my head. Cold brown liquid and ice cubes hit me. The cold and humiliation made me shake harder. Around me, scattered laughter and cheers broke out. “Yeah, teach this freak a lesson!” Some people even started picking up small stones from the ground and throwing them at me. I curled up on the ground, covering my head. My mind went blank. The horror of past memories blurred with the present, and I could barely breathe. Through the gaps in the crowd, I looked desperately into the distance. Alexander and Chloe were standing right there, watching this circus play out with cold detachment. A final, weak hope flickered in my chest. I called out in a tiny voice, “Alexander… Alexander, help me…” If he didn’t help me, I didn’t know what would happen to me. Alexander’s expression seemed to falter. He took a half-step forward. But Chloe immediately grabbed his arm. “Alexander, did I just hear Seraphina’s voice?” Chloe said, pretending to be confused. He stopped, frowning. “How is that possible? Seraphina should be at home reflecting on what she did. And in her condition, why would she be in a crowded place like this?” “True.” Chloe linked her arm tighter through his and smiled. “Must have been my imagination. Looks like some psycho is causing a scene over there. Let’s not get involved, it’s bad luck. We’ve still got a few more shots to take. After we wrap, I’ll buy you a fancy dinner to thank you for stepping in today.” Alexander’s face relaxed. He nodded. “Sure. Whatever you want. We don’t need to get involved.” The two of them turned and walked away. Neither of them looked back. In that instant, the last bit of light inside me went out. I stopped struggling. I let the cold and shame swallow me. I let those stones strike my body. Consciousness faded. Right before the darkness took me, I thought: Maybe it’s better this way. I’m finally not anyone’s burden anymore.
Seraphina’s POV When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in my own familiar bed. My whole body felt cold. My head was splitting. I turned my head and saw Alexander sitting on the couch by the bed, eyes closed. A bowl of steaming cream of mushroom soup sat next to him. He sensed me moving and turned. A familiar tenderness softened his eyes. “You’re awake. Hungry? I had the kitchen make your favorite soup.” His tone was casual, intimate—like we hadn’t fallen out at all just days ago. Like I hadn’t almost broken down in public. I turned my head away, not wanting to look at him. But my chest ached. Every time we fought, the next day he’d act exactly like this—warm and easy, like nothing had happened. “Why are you here?” My voice was hoarse. “Didn’t you say I wasn’t allowed back here?” His face stiffened. His tone turned colder. “Are you really still trying to fight me about that? You knew that was just me being angry.” “If someone hadn’t called me, I never would have known you’d gone outside alone, that you’d been treated like a thief and bullied!” “Seraphina, if something had happened to you, how could I face Mom and Dad?” At the mention of my parents, my eyes welled up again. “Dying would have been better. At least I could be with them. Then I wouldn’t be a burden anymore. Without me dragging you down, you can finally have the strong Alpha life you’ve always wanted.” I’d torn open my deepest, ugliest thought, and his face went iron-gray. “Seraphina! What did you say? After ten years, that’s how you see me?” he growled. I trembled, but threw it back at him. “How else am I supposed to see you? You brought in Chloe to torment me, didn’t you? Just to get rid of me?” He shot up and started pacing the room, agitated. “Seraphina, I really have spoiled you these past few years. I should have cured you sooner. Otherwise, how could your thinking get so dark and twisted?” The air in the room froze. Alexander rarely talked to me like this. But ever since Chloe showed up, his exceptions had become the rule. Just then, the door opened. Chloe walked in with a tray, her voice gentle and pleading. “Seraphina, you really have Alexander all wrong. He cares about you with his whole heart. He literally dreams about you overcoming your barriers, about you being a normal werewolf again. Saying things like this hurts him so deeply.”Alexander looked at her, his eyes softening, and shot her a grateful glance. Their eyes met in the air, sharing some kind of intimate understanding that left no room for outsiders. Watching them, my heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. I let out a cold laugh. “Who do you think you are? This is my home. Since when do you get a say?” The smile froze on Chloe’s lips. Her face went pale in an instant, like she’d been wronged in the worst possible way. Alexander immediately stepped forward, putting her behind him, glaring at me. “Seraphina! When did you become so cruel and unreasonable? Chloe poured her heart into making this plan for you, and this is how you treat her? Looks like Chloe was right—you don’t know how to be grateful!” “Treatment needs to speed up. Starting today, Chloe will move into the estate until you’re fully recovered!” With that, ignoring my shock and protests, he grabbed Chloe’s hand and led her out. Just as the door was about to close, Chloe turned her head. Those eyes, hidden from Alexander, held no trace of victimhood. They were full of triumph and provocation. She mouthed the words silently to me: “Seraphina, I won’t ‘disappoint’ you.”
Seraphina’s POV The day after Chloe moved in, my life turned into hell. She took complete control over my food, clothing, and living arrangements. Because of my psychological condition, I was extremely sensitive to anything that carried a strong werewolf scent. But to Chloe, all of that was just “spoiled behavior” and “psychosomatic.” With one wave of her hand, she dismissed every human maid in the mansion and replaced them with werewolves. And items started appearing in my room with intense, unfamiliar adult werewolf scents—bloodstained blades, silver daggers. Even during meals, she’d play loud, frantic music. I took a deep breath and forced down the urge to smash everything. Just a few more days. I didn’t want to fight with this lunatic anymore. I’d consider it my final exercise in patience. Seeing that I had barely touched dinner, Chloe curled her lips and asked with fake concern, “Seraphina, is the food not to your taste? I noticed you’ve barely eaten.” I kept my expression cold. “Not hungry.” Chloe’s eyes welled up immediately. She turned to Alexander. “Alexander, is there a problem with the meal I arranged? I know Seraphina has issues with me, but she shouldn’t take it out on her health. If my presence is bothering her, I can eat elsewhere from now on.” She made a show of standing up. Alexander grabbed her hand. “What are you doing? You’re an honored guest. You’re our therapist. You’re not eating anywhere else. Sit down!” Chloe gave me a troubled look. “But…” Alexander’s eyes turned cold as they landed on me. “Seraphina, there’s a limit to your tantrums. Chloe has stayed up nights perfecting your treatment plan. All of this was designed with care. If you can’t appreciate it, fine—but who are you putting on this attitude for?” I didn’t answer. I set down my napkin and dabbed at my mouth. “I’m full. Enjoy your meal.” I stood and started to leave. As I passed Alexander, he grabbed my wrist with shocking force. “Seraphina! I’m talking to you! Where are your manners?” Sharp pain shot through my wrist. I winced and yanked my hand free, staring at the red mark blooming on my skin. “You call this dinner?” I gestured at the unsettling background and music. “Look around. Listen. Is this something I can handle? Did you forget what these things do to me?” Alexander froze. His eyes softened, and a flicker of guilt passed through them. But Chloe immediately spoke up softly. “Alexander, this is part of exposure therapy. Tolerance training is important too. A lot of Seraphina’s discomfort is actually psychosomatic. We need to break those false associations.” The guilt vanished from Alexander’s eyes. He hardened again. “Seraphina, Chloe is right. This is psychological. As long as you slowly accept it, your body and mind will adapt.” “If you don’t want to accept it, you can go hungry.” He turned coldly to his Beta, Joseph. “No special meals for her without my permission. All her arrangements need to go through Chloe. Let her starve a few days. Once she’s calm, she’ll learn to listen.” Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn’t say anything. I just turned and walked away, not wanting them to see me cry.
Seraphina’s POV This time, Alexander was dead set on forcing me to be “normal.” For days, my surroundings were full of deliberate, unbearable stimulation. Before, even when we fought, he’d leave me some breathing room. Now even that last bit of peace was gone. I didn’t know when my relationship with Alexander had become this. But it wouldn’t be much longer. I looked at the encrypted message I’d just received on my phone. From Julian: “Everything is arranged. In five days, the plane will be waiting at the agreed location. Seraphina, I look forward to meeting you.” I rubbed my burning eyes. Five days. After days of constant emotional stress, I’d visibly deteriorated. My face was paper-white, dark circles under my eyes. When Alexander came to check on me, something complicated flickered across his face at the sight of me—but it was quickly replaced with cold detachment. Chloe came too. She stood at my doorway and whispered in his ear: “Alexander, hold steady. This is the darkness before dawn. Once we get through this, she’ll be reborn, and you’ll finally be free.” Alexander’s jaw tightened. He nodded. By the morning of the fourth day, while going down the stairs, I collapsed from exhaustion and malnutrition. Everything went black. When I woke up, Alexander was sitting by my bed holding a bowl of plain oatmeal porridge. His tone was unusually conciliatory. “Seraphina, you win.” He sighed, his voice hoarse. “I just want you to live like a real werewolf. Is that wrong? Why can’t you understand my intentions?” Looking at this Alpha—famous in the werewolf world for his ferocity and brutality—now looking helpless and frustrated with me… There was nothing left in my heart but a cold exhaustion. I turned my head, avoiding his gaze. “I’ll try to cooperate with Chloe,” I rasped. But all I was thinking about was getting out of here as fast as possible. His eyes seemed to brighten. He reached out, wanting to pat my head like he used to. But his hand stopped mid-air. In the end, he just said stiffly, “Get some rest. No more foolish stunts.” I forced out a weak smile. Right. No more foolish stunts. Because in five days, I’d disappear from his world for good. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe standing in the doorway. Her eyes were dark and cold. Her fists were clenched. She turned and left. Something about that look sent a chill down my spine.
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