KAMILA’S POV I wake up on a bed. My entire body hurts as if I've been seared by flames hotter than the sun, coupled with the deafening silence echoing from within me. The place where the bond used to occupy, a space I never noticed before, feels like an empty gash expanding with every second I breathe, consuming me entirely. I feel weak, sickly, tired, with no strength in my body. I'm like a husk of what being a werewolf should feel like, barely able to feel a connection with my wolf and panicking with every sensation coursing through my body, every reminder of what has happened and what I have lost. My bond is broken; I was rejected by my own mate, a fate almost as terrible as death, and yet I had to face it. I had to stare at the man who meant the world to me at some point and watch him rip out a piece of me in front of everyone, in front of her. She's finally won me; she finally has everything I always wanted. She's happy while I suffer the aftermath of losing a mate, of bein

SERAPHINA’S POVI feel my consciousness jolt back into my body with a sudden start, and I sit up too fast, breathing hard and feeling sweat dripping down my back.I just had a nightmare, the details vague but the symptoms clear: the lingering fear clouding my thoughts, the pounding in my chest, and the rushed breathing that always accompanies nightmares.My panicking eyes search desperately around me, fearing I might still be reliving the moment.Then, I see Artemis crouching over me, holding my arms while searching my face with equal desperation."Are you okay?" he asks, gripping my arm until my eyes focus fully on his face.Worry etches into his features, creasing his brows, and he's breathing just as hard. I can hear his heart pulsing as fast as mine, a shared reaction from our bond.I can sense his frantic thoughts, trying to figure out what's wrong with me.In a way, his touch helps my mind relax, reminding me where I am and who I'm with. Once I'm settled, I can breathe again, pa

SERAPHINA’S POVI stand close by, waiting as the council members file out of the conference room, anticipating Artemis. Earlier, he had whispered in my ear to wait, assuring me it would be quick.Five minutes later, I'm observing him in a heated discussion with Alpha Rivan and others, who are now desperately trying to persuade him to rescind his earlier decision.Initially, they hadn't even acknowledged his presence, but now they're practically groveling at his feet for reconsideration.I can't help but chuckle at the unfolding scene.Artemis stands tall, responding to each member with a demeanor that radiates respect and distinction, the very embodiment of power and authority.Watching him, so confidently in his element, I feel a surge of pride.He's so much more than the irresponsible, bad-boy prince he was once portrayed as. This moment is a testament to his true capabilities, the person I've always trusted him to be.As I stare, perhaps a little too long, lost in my thoughts and s

SERAPHINA’S POVI stare down at Artemis's sleeping face, resting on my thighs, running my fingers through his soft and silky black hair. It feels impossibly light and soft as I trace my fingers gently across the lines of his face.I can’t help but feel bad for him, having to hear about his mother’s condition from someone else, and from none other than Kamila’s father, no less, while his own father kept such important news from him.In the end, we made a call to find out she’s stable now, but he still seemed to be in a state of shock. The look of pain on his face tortured me.I wish I could take away a portion of it or perhaps understand even a fraction of it.Having a mother and watching her remain in a vegetative state all your life – in a way, it sounds more torturous than not having one or knowing yours didn’t want you.I guess there's a sense of certainty in knowing, rather than wondering if your mother loved you.He, however, is forced to watch on, forever hoping, wondering what

SERAPHINA’S POVMy heart pounds with emotions, staring at what's in front of me: this little box that holds the potential secrets to who I am and where I come from.Answers I’ve always been desperate to run away from, that I’m now forced to face. I'm filled with anxiety, yet there's a bit of trepidation about the varying possibilities of what I could find here.Taking a deep breath, I begin to dig into it.First, there's my mint-green blanket with fraying ends, the fabric showing its age. Clearly, it was knitted by someone with menial handiwork, yet I imagine a family member, perhaps.I drop it aside, revealing everything else.The dress I wore the day I was left behind, accompanied by bright red, sewn-up shoes. A little brown teddy bear, covered with a layer of filth that makes it seem a deeper shade of gray.A storybook with the last five pages ripped out, and stacks and stacks of old newspapers added to give it bulk.My heart sinks instantly. There’s not even a single keepsake or