Seraphina’s POV
The shock of ice-cold water hitting my face jolted into consciousness like a lightning bolt. I gasped, choking and sputtering as the liquid invaded my nose and mouth, my body jerking against restraints I couldn’t yet comprehend.
"Sister dear."
The voice was sickeningly familiar, dripping with malicious satisfaction that made my blood run cold even before my vision cleared enough to identify the speaker.
*Valerie.*
As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, the reality of my situation crashed over in waves. I was tied to a chair in what looked like an abandoned storage room—concrete walls stained with mold and God knows what else, rusted tal shelving, and the overwhelming stench of decay and human waste. My wrists were bound behind the chair with rough rope that bit into my skin, and my ankles were secured to the chair legs.
I tried to speak, to demand answers, but only a hoarse croak erged from my throat. My mouth felt like sandpaper, my tongue thick and unresponsive.
"Having trouble finding your voice?" Valerie stepped into the weak circle of light cast by a single bare bulb hanging overhead. She looked different.
"Don’t worry," she continued, circling my chair. "That’s just the aftereffects of the drugs. They’ll wear off soon enough. We need you awake."
"Where..." I managed to rasp out, my voice barely audible.
"Where are we?" Valerie laughed, the sound echoing off the concrete walls with genuine delight. "Oh, Sera, you always were slow on the uptake. We’re in my new kingdom, courtesy of so very accommodating new friends."
She gestured grandly at the squalid surroundings as if she were showing off a palace. "I have to say, I’ve found the rogue lifestyle quite liberating. No more pretending to be the perfect little pack mber. No more bowing and scraping to alphas who think they’re better than everyone else."
"The new Luna," I whispered, the pieces finally clicking into place.
She leaned down until her face was inches from mine, her breath hot and rancid against my cheek. "Don’t care about , dear sister. You should be much more concerned about yourself right now."
Before I could respond, she drew back her hand and slapped across the face with enough force to make my ears ring. The sharp crack echoed through the room, and I tasted blood where my teeth cut into my inner cheek.
"That’s for stealing my life," she snarled, all pretense of playful banter vanishing. "For taking what should have been mine. For making look like a fool in front of the entire pack."
Another slap, harder this ti, snapping my head to the other side. "That’s for seducing Damien with your pathetic oga act. Did you really think soone like him could love soone like you?"
I spat blood, eting her wild gaze with as much defiance as I could muster. "He does love . And you know it. That’s what’s eating you alive, isn’t it?"
Her face contorted with rage, and for a mont I thought she might hit again. Instead, she laughed.
She straightened up, smoothing down her filthy clothes with mock dignity. "I have sothing much more... creative in mind to treat people like you."
The sound of heavy footsteps in the corridor outside made my stomach drop. Multiple sets of boots, moving with purpose.
"Ah, perfect timing," Valerie said, clapping her hands together with childlike excitent. "I’ve been telling my new friends all about you, Sera."
The door creaked open, and three massive figures filled the doorway. Even in the dim light, I could sll them—the rank odor of unwashed bodies.
"Boys," Valerie said sweetly, "et my darling stepsister, Seraphina."
"She’s prettier than you said," one of them rumbled, his voice thick with lust and cruelty. "This is gonna be fun."
"Now, now," Valerie chided, though her tone held no real reproof. "Rember what we discussed. I want her broken, not dead. At least not yet."
She gestured toward the rogues, who began moving into the room with the coordinated movents of predators who had done this before.
"Have fun, boys," she said, heading toward the door. "Try to leave her conscious. I want her to rember every second of this."
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