Seraphina’s POV
Pain consud every inch of my body. Each shallow breath felt like shattered glass cutting through my lungs. My ribs throbbed with a deep ache that made movent nearly impossible. My legs felt like dead weight, and my skull pounded with a relentless headache that made dizzy.
Those bastards had beaten within an inch of my life.
What kind of monsters attack an innocent woman? I had done absolutely nothing to deserve this brutality. The worst part was not knowing why they hated so much when I was nothing more than a stranger to them.
My wolf was still missing. The drugs should have cleared my system by now, but she remained silent in the depths of my mind. A cold dread settled in my stomach. What if the chemicals had permanently damaged our bond? What if I had lost her forever?
The door exploded open with a violent crash. Dorian burst through, his face streaked with dirt and sweat, his chest heaving like he had been running for miles. Wild panic blazed in his dark eyes, the kind of terror that ca from watching your world burn.
I expected him to return victorious from his attack on the Solstice Fang. His arrogance had been so complete, his confidence so absolute. But the man standing before looked like he was running from his own death.
"Seraphina, we’re leaving. Right now," he barked, his voice sharp with urgency.
Before I could demand answers, his rough hands grabbed my arm and yanked upright. A scream tore from my throat as agony exploded through my broken body. My legs gave out instantly, but Dorian caught and lifted against his chest without any consideration for my injuries.
The pain was excruciating, but when we reached the outside, I understood his desperation.
Complete chaos surrounded us. Wolves howled in the distance while terrified voices shouted orders across the compound. The tallic scent of blood mixed with thick smoke that burned my nostrils. Bodies lay scattered across the ground.
The pack was under siege.
The scene triggered a mory that had haunted for weeks. The woman running through flas as her pack burned around her. Her terror had carved itself into my heart, and now I could feel that sa fear radiating from every person here. These battles never touched the ones who started them. Instead, innocent families paid the price while trying to protect their children.
My heart hamred against my ribs. Julian. His na blazed through my thoughts like a beacon of hope. I knew exactly how far he would go to protect what belonged to him, and despite everything, I was still his mate. Had he co for ? A tiny spark of relief flickered in my chest. Maybe this nightmare was finally ending.
But even if he saved , Dorian would never forgive this attack. More innocent people would suffer because of our twisted bond.
Dorian’s grip tightened around my waist as he pulled deeper into the trees. "Don’t get excited," he snarled against my ear. "Your precious mate isn’t going to save you from your own brother."
Terror clawed up my throat. Where was he taking ? What would he do once we were alone?
My father and his followers had created this monster. They had taken a little boy and twisted him into sothing dark and obsessive. Dorian’s grueso childhood, watching our father die, losing everything he loved – it had all shaped him into this possessive creature who couldn’t understand that love couldn’t be forced.
Part of pitied him. He had no one left in this world except , and in his damaged mind, keeping close was the only way to fill that emptiness. But understanding his pain didn’t make his actions acceptable.
He moved through the forest with practiced stealth, avoiding the sounds of battle. Each step took farther from Julian, farther from any hope of rescue. The distance felt like a physical weight pressing down on my chest.
Then sothing incredible happened.
A warm, familiar presence blood in my mind like sunshine breaking through storm clouds. My wolf. She was back.
Tears of relief stread down my face. "You’re here," I whispered internally.
"I’m here," she confird, her voice strong and clear.
"Please help ," I begged. "I can’t let him take . I don’t know what he’ll do."
"You have power, Seraphina. You can escape. But using it will cause you pain. Are you willing?"
Without hesitation, I answered, "Anything. Just get away from him."
"Close your eyes," she instructed. "Picture yourself far from this place."
I squeezed my eyes shut and focused. For a terrifying mont, nothing happened. Then the world shifted.
Wind rushed past my face as searing pain ripped through my body like lightning. When I opened my eyes, I stood several ters away from Dorian, who spun around in confusion.
"SERAPHINA!" he roared, his voice echoing through the trees.
My body felt like it was on fire, but I couldn’t stop now. I focused again, pushing through the agony. Further. I had to go further.
Another flash of excruciating pain, and suddenly I was deeper in the forest. My legs trembled violently. Warm blood dripped from my nose onto my lips.
"You need to heal quickly," my wolf warned. "Or the next jump will kill you."
I forced myself to breathe deeply, willing my body to repair itself. The wounds began closing, but far too slowly. Dorian’s furious shouts grew closer.
"I WILL FIND YOU!" His voice carried pure rage and desperation.
Fear gave strength. I had one last chance.
Closing my eyes a final ti, I pictured the river miles from here. The world dissolved around .
When I materialized, the pain was unbearable. My knees cracked against the forest floor as blood poured from my mouth. But I was free.
With my last conscious thought, I reached out across the mate bond. Julian, help . Please find .
Then darkness claid completely.
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