Seraphina's POV
9:00 P.M.I dragged my exhausted body along the cobblestone path of Whispering Valley, clutching the few tips I'd earned from another grueling shift at the diner. Despite my physical fatigue, my heart was practically singing with excitement.
"Just a few more hours," I whispered to myself, quickening my pace. "Just until tonight."
Tonight, I wouldn't have to return to that unwelcoming house I was supposed to call home. I'd already requested time off from my part-time job—something that had earned me a disgusted spit from my boss, as usual. Being the lowest-ranked omega in our pack meant I was always stuck with the dirtiest, most backbreaking work. But I didn't care about his contempt tonight.
I was going to Gabriel's place. My boyfriend. Well, after tonight, hopefully my fiancé.
Tomorrow was the Lunar Assembly. The most sacred ceremony in the entire werewolf world, where wolves from all packs would gather together to find their destined mates under the Moon Goddess's blessing. And tomorrow was also my eighteenth birthday—finally old enough to participate in the sacred ritual. More importantly, Gabriel and I would officially establish our mate bond and I could finally escape that hellish house forever.
Tomorrow was going to change everything. Gabriel had promised. I can’t wait any minutes to see him, and kiss him.
Just thinking about Gabriel made my heart race. He was wealthy, devastatingly handsome, and the brother of our most powerful Alpha though I haven’t met his brother. Sure, I was just an omega, but Gabriel had promised me that bloodlines didn't determine everything—that love was what truly mattered.
I quickened my pace toward Gabriel's residence, a beautiful stone house in the center of Whispering Valley that was far more impressive than the tiny wooden shack my family called home. I paused at the front door, smoothing down my worn dress and taking a deep breath before knocking.
Nothing.
That was strange. Gabriel had specifically said he'd be home waiting for me tonight. I tried the door handle and found it unlocked. Maybe he was inside and hadn't heard me? I called out softly, "Gabriel? It's me, Seraphina.”
Still nothing, but sounds drifted from upstairs. Laughter. Then something else that made my blood freeze.
Moaning.
My feet moved without permission, carrying me up the stairs like I was sleepwalking through a nightmare. The sounds grew clearer with each step—breathless gasps, the rhythmic creaking of bedsprings, and a voice I knew all too well.
"Oh God, Gabriel... right there..."
Valerie. My stepsister.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, I saw them—Gabriel's muscled back moving over Valerie's pale form, her golden hair fanned across his pillow like a victory banner.
"You feel so much better than I imagined," Gabriel panted.
Valerie's laugh was like broken glass. "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."
"Don't." Gabriel's voice was rough. "Don't mention her when we're like this."
"Why not?" Valerie's fingers traced down his spine. "After tomorrow's ceremony, she'll know exactly where she stands. An omega like her could never satisfy you."
The words hit me like physical blows. I stumbled backward, my shoulder slamming into the wall.
"What was that?" Valerie hissed.
Before I could move, before I could think, my wolf surged forward with a rage I'd never felt before. My foot connected with the door, sending it crashing against the wall.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?"
They sprang apart like scalded cats. Gabriel nearly fell off the bed scrambling for his pants while Valerie simply sat up, making no effort to cover herself.
"Seraphina!" Gabriel's face went white. "I can explain—"
"Explain?" My voice cracked like a whip. "Explain how you're screwing my sister the night before you were supposed to propose to me?"
"It's not what you think—"
"IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I THINK!" Tears streamed down my face, but my voice only grew stronger. "You lying, cheating bastard!"
Valerie stretched languidly, finally reaching for Gabriel's shirt. "Oh, sister dear. You really thought he'd choose you?" She tilted her head with mock sympathy. "How adorable."
"Valerie, don't," Gabriel warned, but his voice lacked conviction.
"Don't what? Tell her the truth?" Valerie stood, pulling the shirt on with deliberate slowness. "That Mom and Dad have known about us for months? That they practically threw me at Gabriel because they were so embarrassed by the idea of their precious Alpha family being tied to an omega reject?"
The world tilted. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Valerie moved to Gabriel's dresser, running her fingers through her hair in the mirror. "Why don't you go home and ask them yourself? I'm sure they're waiting up for you—probably with our engagement announcement ready to show you."
"Sera, listen—" Gabriel finally managed to get his pants on. "This doesn't have to change anything between us. We can still be friends—"
"FRIENDS?" I lunged toward him, but he caught my wrists.
"You need to calm down," he said, his grip tight enough to bruise. "Think about your position here. Your family. You don't want to make this worse for yourself."
I stared into his eyes—eyes that had whispered sweet promises just days ago—and saw nothing but cold calculation.
"Let go of me," I whispered.
"Sera—"
"LET GO OF ME!"
I wrenched free and ran.
When I burst through our front door, my foster parents Victor and Elizabeth were sitting calmly in the living room with an elegant invitation lying on the coffee table between them. Seeing my tear-stained face and disheveled appearance, they showed absolutely no surprise.
"You... you already knew?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Seraphina, sit down." Victor's voice was ice-cold. "Yes, we know about Gabriel and Valerie's relationship. And we fully support it.”
Elizabeth picked up the invitation and held it out to me. "This is their engagement announcement. Tomorrow at the Lunar Assembly, Gabriel will officially propose to Valerie. They hope you'll attend as Valerie's sister.”
I stared at the beautiful invitation in my trembling hands. Gabriel and Valerie's names were embossed in gold, along with the silver crest of the Nightshadow family. It was all real. They had all betrayed me.
Victor and Elizabeth had been so kind when they first adopted me—back when they'd struggled with infertility for years. I still remembered Elizabeth's gentle smile as she tucked me into bed, telling me I was their precious daughter. But everything changed after I'd been with them for a year. The moment Elizabeth discovered she was pregnant with her own child, I became nothing more than an unwanted burden.
"Why?" My voice was hoarse. "Why would you do this to me? Sister? I would never be a sister to that evil bitch!”
"Enough!" Victor shot to his feet and backhanded me across the face with brutal force. The impact sent me crashing to the floor, my cheek burning with pain. "You're nothing but an abandoned child we took in out of pity. What right do you have to make a scene and insult our daughter?”
"Seraphina, you should be grateful that we raised you." Elizabeth's voice was devoid of any warmth. "Now that you know your place, you'll accept reality. Tomorrow at the ceremony, you'll bless your sister's engagement and then find yourself a suitable omega mate to live quietly with.”
"I won't!" I struggled to my feet, tasting blood on my lip. "I'll never bless this goddamn betrayal!”
Victor raised his hand again, but this time I was ready. I dodged and ran for the door as Elizabeth's voice shrieked behind me: "You ungrateful little brat! Get out of our house!”
I fled into the night, running blindly through the darkness as tears fell 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 don'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 collapsed into her arms. "I've seen the truth."
"Tell me."
So I did. Every horrible detail, every cruel word, every moment of my world crumbling. Ophelia held me while I shook, her own anger building with each revelation.
"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 the laughingstock 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 was completely 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 place and get ready. Tonight, we're going to show the most beautiful girl!"
...
Seraphina's POV
Ophelia dragged me back to her small apartment above the bakery, her eyes blazing with determination. "We're not letting those bastards win," she declared, pulling out makeup and rifling through her closet. She spun around, holding up an emerald green dress that perfectly matched my eyes. "Tonight, we show them what they lost."
The dress was beautiful—silky and elegant, with a flowing skirt that hugged my curves in all the right places. As Ophelia worked on my makeup, carefully applying smoky eyeshadow that made my green eyes pop, I felt something shifting inside me.
"There," Ophelia stepped back, admiring her handiwork. "Now you look like the goddess you are."
I barely recognized myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked confident, mysterious, beautiful. Nothing like the broken omega who'd fled Gabriel's house just hours ago.
"Come on," Ophelia grabbed my hand. "Silver Moon Harbor awaits."
The ride to the harbor district felt like stepping into another world. Where Whispering Valley was all cobblestones and quaint cottages, Silver Moon Harbor was glass and steel reaching toward the stars. The Moonlight Hotel rose before us like a glittering palace, its windows blazing with warm light.
"I can't believe we're actually doing this," I whispered as we approached the grand entrance.
"Believe it, honey," Ophelia grinned, straightening her own midnight blue dress and passed me a mask. "Tonight, we're not omega and beta from nowhere. Tonight, we're mysterious beauties who belong wherever we damn well please."
The ballroom took my breath away. Crystal chandeliers cast rainbow patterns across marble floors, and hundreds of werewolves in elegant attire mingled beneath soaring ceilings. Everyone wore elaborate masks, adding an air of mystery to the already intoxicating atmosphere. The scents of different packs mingled in the air—pine forests, ocean spray, mountain herbs—creating a symphony that made my newly awakened wolf stir with interest.
"Holy shit," I breathed, then immediately covered my mouth. "Sorry, I just—"
"Don't apologize for anything tonight," Ophelia laughed, leading me toward the bar.
She pressed two tequila shots into my hands, raising her own. "To new beginnings and leaving the past in the dust!"
The alcohol burned down my throat, but it was a good burn—cleansing, like it was washing away the bitter taste of betrayal. Ophelia immediately ordered two more.
"I don't usually drink this much," I protested weakly.
"You don't usually find your boyfriend screwing your sister either," she pointed out. "Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures."
By the third round, I was feeling deliciously dizzy and incredibly free. The pain was still there, but muffled now, wrapped in cotton and shoved into a corner of my mind.
"Dance with me," Ophelia pulled me toward the crowded dance floor, and for the first time in hours, I smiled genuinely.
We lost ourselves in the music, spinning and laughing like we didn't have a care in the world. Other wolves watched us with interest, but I was too caught up in the moment to care. This was what freedom felt like—wild and intoxicating and absolutely terrifying.
When a slow song began to play, I was about to suggest we get some air when I felt a warm hand capture mine.
I turned, and my breath caught in my throat.
The man standing before me wore an elegant silver mask that covered the upper half of his face, but what I could see was devastating. Strong jaw, sensual lips curved in a slight smile, and eyes... God, those eyes. They were the deepest blue I'd ever seen, so dark they were almost black, but when the light hit them just right, they seemed to shimmer with silver.
"The most beautiful woman in the room wouldn't refuse a dance, would she?" His voice was like aged whiskey—smooth, rich, with just enough roughness to make my pulse skip.
I should have said no. Should have remembered that I was hurting, that I'd just had my heart shattered. Instead, I found myself placing my hand in his and letting him lead me onto the dance floor.
"Why not?" I heard myself say. "Let's dance."
He was tall—at least six and a half feet—with broad shoulders that filled out his expensive suit perfectly. When he pulled me close, I could feel the solid warmth of his chest, the careful strength in his hands as one settled on my waist and the other cradled my palm. He moved with the fluid grace of a predator.
"I've been watching you since you walked in," he murmured near my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine. "You're absolutely captivating."
The compliment should have felt empty—we were strangers, after all—but something in his voice made it feel genuine. Like he really saw me, not just another pretty face in a crowd.
"You're not from around here, are you?" I found myself asking, tilting my head back to look into those mesmerizing eyes.
"What gave me away?" There was amusement in his voice, and I could see his lips curve into a more genuine smile.
"You don't feel... local." It was hard to explain, but his scent was different from the wolves I'd grown up with. Richer, more complex. Like expensive cologne mixed with something wild and untamed that made my newly awakened wolf pace restlessly.
"Very perceptive." His hand on my waist tightened slightly, drawing me closer until there was barely an inch of space between us. "I'm here for the Assembly tomorrow, like most of the out-of-town wolves. Though I have to say, if I'd known the local hospitality was so... enticing, I would have arrived sooner."
The way he said 'enticing' made heat pool low in my belly. This was dangerous—I could feel it in every instinct I possessed. But after tonight, after Gabriel and Valerie and my so-called parents, I didn't want to be safe anymore.
"And what about you?" he continued, spinning me slowly before pulling me back against his chest. "Let me guess—dragged here by a well-meaning friend who thought you needed to get out more?"
I laughed despite myself. "Something like that. Though her methods are a bit more... aggressive than most."
"Good friends are like that." His thumb traced a small circle on my palm, such a simple touch but it sent electricity shooting up my arm. "They know what we need even when we don't."
We moved together like we'd been dancing for years instead of minutes, our bodies finding a rhythm that felt as natural as breathing. The alcohol had loosened my inhibitions, but it was more than that. There was something about this man that called to the deepest part of me, something that made my wolf want to arch into his touch like a cat seeking warmth.
"You have beautiful eyes," he said suddenly, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "Like emeralds in moonlight."
"I could say the same," I replied, mesmerized by the way his eyes seemed to catch and hold the light. "I've never seen eyes quite like yours."
Something flickered across his expression—too quick for me to catch. "Haven't you?"
Before I could ask what he meant, he was spinning me again, and when I came back to face him, his expression had returned to that charming, mysterious smile.
The song was ending, but neither of us made any move to separate. If anything, he held me closer, his hand sliding from my waist to the small of my back.
"I think I need some fresh air."
"Come with me." He led me toward a dim corridor that led to the emergency exit.
"I really want to kiss you. May I?" I nodded.
He looked into my eyes, his hand caressing the back of my neck, and our lips met. It started gentle but quickly deepened; he pressed me against the wall, the kiss becoming more intense, almost suffocating us. When he broke the kiss to let us breathe, we gazed into each other's eyes—like pouring gasoline on fire.
In that instant, I saw his eyes exposed under the mask—deep blue eyes flickering with silver light in the moonlight. I had never seen such eyes before. My heart was shocked, but my body craved him even more.
...
Chapter 3
Seraphina's POV
His hand slid from my waist to my thigh, lifting my leg to his waist. By then I was completely lost, feeling his body pressed against mine. I was desperately craving, pulling him closer, wrapping my leg around his waist.
"Your kissing skills are great." I smiled at him, feeling tremors throughout my body.
He kissed me all the way to the top floor, finally even carrying me in his arms. We entered a luxurious suite, and as soon as we entered, his hand slipped under my skirt, caressing my most sensitive places. When his fingers explored inside, I moaned softly. "You're so incredible. " he said, kissing me even more forcefully.
I could feel the chemical reaction between our breaths, this attraction was so strong, as if it was arranged by fate. He quickly unzipped his pants, his movements as skilled as if he had done it countless times, tore off my underwear, and caressed my entrance as if asking for permission. He looked into my eyes again and asked:
"What do you want me to do?"
"I want you inside me right now." I responded shamelessly, already burning with desire. I had never been like this before—usually I would have retreated the moment he grabbed my hand, but tonight I promised to enjoy myself fully, to live in the moment if I met interesting people. And that's exactly what I was doing, living in the moment.
Hearing my words, he slowly entered me, watching me throw my head back, savoring every inch of him—he was really big. He took the opportunity to leave a string of kiss marks on my neck. When he was completely inside, he paused and whispered in my ear: "Now I'm going to move."
He withdrew only to thrust back with full force this time, the feeling was so incredible. I was completely lost, driven mad by his crazy movements as he went in and out of me frantically.
We lost control, completely lost ourselves, as if nothing else existed around us. I felt my vision blur as the climax began to build, and I moaned softly in his ear. At that moment, he seemed to go crazy, lifting my other leg to his waist as well, and I wrapped both legs tightly around him. He kissed me intensely, thrusting into me even more forcefully—that was heaven on earth.
I moaned in his mouth and reached an incredible climax, but he didn't stop, and soon another climax began to build. I climaxed again, more intensely than before, leaving me almost unable to breathe. When I climaxed, he whispered that feeling me pulsing around him brought him close to his limit, and soon I felt his burning release inside me.
"You're really amazing." He kissed my neck, whispering in my ear.
Perhaps it was the alcohol driving me, or perhaps his rich scent made me dizzy. I don't know how many times we did it, my last memory stopped at him kissing me, softly asking what my name was, and I no longer had the strength to answer.
The next morning, I woke up with my head pounding like a jackhammer, feeling like someone had taken a sledgehammer to my skull. The bed beside me was cold and empty—nothing but rumpled sheets where he had been. If it weren't for the purple kiss marks scattered across my neck and collarbone, I might have convinced myself that the entire night was just some vivid, alcohol-fueled dream.
I stumbled out of bed on unsteady legs, my body still aching in places that reminded me exactly how real last night had been. The mysterious man had vanished without a trace—no note, no phone number, not even a stray piece of clothing. Even after everything we'd shared, we'd never removed our masks. I had given my virginity to a complete stranger on the eve of my eighteenth birthday.
"Sera."
The voice exploded in my mind like a thunderclap, making me jump so violently I nearly fell over. My heart hammered against my ribs as I spun around the empty hotel room, searching for the source.
"Who's there?" I whispered, panic creeping into my voice.
"Relax, it's me—I'm your wolf. You can call me Ayla."
The realization hit me like a bucket of ice water. My wolf. Of course! At eighteen, I'd finally awakened my wolf consciousness. I'd heard stories of exceptionally gifted wolves who could communicate with their inner beasts from childhood—Valerie had been bragging about talking to her wolf since she was twelve. But naturally, someone like me would be a late bloomer even in this.
"Oh God, Ayla..." I sank onto the edge of the bed, running my hands through my tangled hair. "I'm so sorry. With everything that happened yesterday, I completely forgot. It's... it's wonderful to finally meet you."
"We have much to talk," Ayla's voice was warm but urgent in my mind, "but first—"
My phone's shrill ringtone cut through our mental conversation like a knife. I lunged for it, seeing Ophelia's name flashing on the screen along with a notification showing twelve missed calls. My stomach dropped.
"Sera!" Ophelia's voice erupted through the speaker before I could even say hello, pure fury radiating through every syllable. "Where the hell did you disappear to? I've been worried sick! If you don't have the explanation of the century, I swear on the Moon Goddess I will hunt you down and tear you apart with my bare hands!"
"Ophelia, I'm so sorry—" I began, but she cut me off.
"Sorry? SORRY? Do you have any idea how terrified I was? A whole night! I thought someone had kidnapped you or worse!"
Guilt crashed over me in waves. I took a shaky breath and launched into the whole tale—the mysterious man, the dancing, the passion, waking up alone with nothing but marks on my skin and a splitting headache to show for it.
The line went dead silent. For a moment, I wondered if the call had dropped.
Then Ophelia's voice came back, but now it was filled with barely contained excitement rather than rage. "Oh my God, Sera! You actually did it! You had a one-night stand with a gorgeous mystery man!" She paused, and I could practically hear her grinning. "Okay, I'm officially no longer mad at you. In fact, I'm proud of you! After what that bastard Gabriel did, you deserved a night of mind-blowing passion."
Relief flooded through me, but then her tone shifted slightly. "Though please tell me you two were smart about protection..."
The question hung in the air like a sword about to drop. My stomach plummeted.
"Oh shit," I breathed, my face draining of all color.