Serena opened her eyes, hazy and mindfuddled with the agonizing pain that pulsed through; She cried out, as the marking on her flesh surged like a second heart, anever-present reminder of what had blossomed inside of her. Serena lay on the plush surface, looking up at the stone ceiling, still trying to understandthe sensations swirling in her head. "You're awake!" A voice spokefrom the side. It was Mira, coming intothe cave carrying a tray filled with food and medicine. Serena tried to prop herself up, but the nausea and dizziness that crashed overher senses sent her back down, a low moan escaping her mouth.

“Easy,” Mira whispered,soothing.

“You need to rest,”Mira said gently. "You've had quite a day."

Serena looked away, turningher head to meet Mira’s eyes. She was so laced with concern;her black eyes so worried, her brow furrowed.

"What... What happened?" Serena stuttered,her voice faint.

“You collapsed,” Mira said gently, her voice tinged witha note of sympathy. “The marks on your skin aregetting stronger but don’t worry—the Alpha, Lucian, will sort of something out.”

Serena felt her breath catch, her stomachknot. “But maybe I’m adestroyer? she asked,her voice cracking beneath the burden of the terror that had been eating at her. In response, Mira could offer nothing more than a reassuring squeezeto Serena’s palm.

“I brought you some food,” Mira said, attempting to pullSerena’s focus from the weighty topic. "You haven't eaten all day."

“I’m not hungry,”Serena muttered as she turned away from Mira, the heaviness of her thoughts dragging her downward.

She'd also thought of the pieces of her dream, the voice that calledto her from the darkness. She triedto make sense of the fragmented images and feelings that brutalised her.

Just then, the faint echo of raised voices reached the cave, sendingSerena’s heart thudding in her chest. And then cameone voice: Elias. Even during the deepest part of the night, she wouldalways remember the tone of his voice.

Serena shucked the furs draped over her without thinking, and ran forthe door. But Mirawas quicker; she stepped in her way, the exit.

“Lucian isn’tgoing to like this,” Mira warned quietly, tensely.

"I don’t care. “Let me through,” Serenagrowled, her eyes glowing with defiance. Mira paused, frowning in protest for a longsecond before she finally stepped aside. Serena didnot wait for another word. In an instant,she was over the threshold and tearing into the fraught space of Lucian’s office.

The tension was palpable the moment shewalked in. Lucian squared his shoulders, arms tight across his broad chest, an unyieldinglook on his handsome features. Elias, for his part, was staring at him witha tight jaw and eyes fixed in barring confrontation. Neitherappeared willing to give ground.

“I’m not leaving without her,” Elias growled, the words laden with frustration andraw emotion. Lucian’s lips curled with a sneer and he held Elias’sgaze.

“You’ll listen tome, Elias” Lucian snapped, his tone not faltering. “She is within theNight Fang territory now. That means she’sunder my protection.

Elias’s eyes darted to Serena, locking ontohers. Her breath hitched inher throat. For a long moment they just looked at each other, the world around seemingto dissolve.

Elias stepped forward but Lucian stepped in first, positioninghimself in front of Serena like some sort of shield.

“You weren’t fighting the connection, Lucian,” Elias said, voice gravelly, eyes still blazing with that certain intensity that couldn’tbe denied. "She’s still mine."

Thosewords ran through Serena’s mind and her body fell cold. It was there, too,that bond between them, deep in her. The word mine echoed in herhead, awakening all sorts of feelings, some she didn’t fully comprehend, along with a primal sense of wanting to be claimed. But Lucian stood strongwith his commanding, protective presence.

“When you refused her, you surrendered your claim,” Lucian said. His tonewas steady but firm. "She is now one of us."

Elias’sface contorted with rage, his eyes shining with fury. For a second, Serena was scared he would retaliate, but he stood still, his fists balled at hissides.

A thought flashed in Serena’s mind, a notionthat could resolve the tension, for now at least.

“Just letme talk to him,” she said, tapping Lucian quietly on the arm but firm, soft yet with force.

“I willnot let that happen,” Lucian said immediately, his tone not allowing for discussion.

"Please," Serena whispered. "Let me resolve this."

Lucian gazed into her eyes, his gaze softening just a smidge, but cursed, hewas resolute. “You’re not getting anywhere near him,Serena. Don’t forget, you chose this,” he said, his voice avow. Serena was looking intoLucian’s eyes and something new sparked up inside her, a flicker of loyalty, purpose. It was inarguable, and it had sunkinto her bones the way an anchor does.

“If you’re going to talk to him, then don’texpect privacy,” Lucian muttered before stepping out the way and giving Serena a path toward Elias.

“Thank you,” shesaid her voice low as she turned to the other man.

“Elias,” she whispered, the name slipping from her tongue likea puff of air.

The second was significant, too, though, because he turned to her even as he kept repeating those words and, for the first time, there was concern written all overhis face. "Yes, Serena?" It was avoice full of pain and conviction. “Just say the word,and I’ll take you out of here.”

She heart twistedfrom the sincerity in his voice. After all of that — after the betrayal— she still trusted him. “Elias, I…”She fumbled for words.

“You’re not a curse,” heinterrupted her softly. "Come back with me, Serena. Your father won’t harm you. I’ll protect you." Her stomach droppedat the mention of her father. Her bloodline had betrayed her in a way nothing Eliasdid could have. She could never goback to that life.

“Youwere not able to keep that promise the first time,” she said, her voice quaking with repressed emotion. “The time youneeded me the most.”

Elias’s expression faltered. “I was dewy-eyed over thelies they showed us, Serena. But now I know the truth." Serena’s heart hurt. She wanted to trust him, but she wasn’t prepared to behunted again.

“I’m sorry, Elias,” shesaid, choking on the words. "But I’m a Night Fang now."

“We were like, ‘What the hell? Is thisreally happening?’” “I, Serena,the last of the bloodline of the Onyx Wolf, reject you, Elias Storm, Alpha of Silver Ridge.

She spun away from him without another word, unableto bear the look of heartbreak on his face. Elias didnot speak, did not plead. He just staredat her, a last flicker of hurt in his gaze before he turned and left her there, walking out of the cave.