Seraphina’s POV
We stood there for a long mont, holding each other and Lily, being a family. The weight of Emma’s words still stung, but Damien’s reassurance helped ease so of the ache in my chest.
"You know what?" Damien said suddenly, pulling back to look at . "Tomorrow’s our anniversary."
I blinked. "Our anniversary?" God, I’d completely forgotten.
"A year since you agreed to mate with ." His thumb brushed across my cheek. "I thought we could go out. Celebrate a little. Maybe help you rember who you really are."
The flutter in my chest was imdiate and stupid. Like my heart still believed in fairy tales.
"That sounds nice," I managed.
"Co to the office tomorrow evening. Around six. We’ll go from there."
The office. Where I used to work. Where Emma Rodriguez now sat at what used to be my desk, being everything I couldn’t be anymore.
"Are you sure that’s a good idea?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Damien’s expression softened. "Why wouldn’t it be?"
Because I didn’t belong there anymore. Because seeing Emma in my old role would hurt. Because the thought of walking through those halls where everyone knew what I used to be made my stomach clench with anxiety.
"No reason," I lied. "Six is perfect."
But as the day wore on, anxiety gnawed at like a physical thing. I changed clothes three tis, trying to find sothing that didn’t make look like exactly what Emma had called . A nanny.
By the ti I kissed Lily goodbye and handed her to Ophelia, my hands were shaking.
"You look beautiful," Ophelia said gently. "Try to have fun tonight."
Beautiful. Right. I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror on my way out. Tired eyes. Pale skin. Hair that refused to cooperate no matter what I did to it.
The drive to Nightshadow Enterprises felt longer than it used to. Every red light gave more ti to think, more ti to rember walking through those doors with purpose. With confidence. With a wolf’s enhanced senses that made aware of everything around .
The parking garage was the sa. The elevator played the sa soft jazz. But when the doors opened on the executive floor, everything felt different.
"Sera!"
I turned to see Michelle from accounting hurrying toward , her face bright with surprise.
"Oh my God, we haven’t seen you in forever!" She pulled into a hug that I wasn’t ready for. "How are you feeling? Everyone’s been so worried."
"I’m... I’m doing better." The lie ca automatically. "Much better."
"That’s so good to hear. When are you coming back to work? Emma’s nice and all, but she’s not you, you know?"
My chest tightened. "I don’t... I’m still recovering."
"Of course, of course. Take all the ti you need." But her eyes were curious, searching. "Are you sick? You look different sohow. Thinner maybe?"
*Because I’m human now. Because I’m weak.*
"Just tired," I managed.
"Sera?" Another voice. David from legal, approaching with that sa mix of concern and curiosity. "Good to see you out and about. Feeling better?"
"Yes, much better."
"Excellent. So when should we expect you back? Things have been crazy without you. Emma’s doing her best, but she doesn’t know the systems like you do."
Each question felt like a small cut. A reminder of what I’d lost. What I’d never get back.
"I’m not sure yet," I said. "Still taking it one day at a ti."
More faces appeared. Janet from HR. Tom from operations. All asking the sa questions. All expecting answers I didn’t have.
*When are you coming back?*
*Are you feeling better?*
*We miss you so much.*
By the ti I escaped to the elevator that led to Damien’s office, my chest felt tight and my hands were trembling. I pressed the button for the top floor and leaned against the wall, trying to breathe.
You can do this. It’s just an office. Just people who used to know you.
But when the elevator doors opened, the first thing I saw was Emma Rodriguez.
She was sitting at the reception desk outside Damien’s office. My old desk. The one where I used to organize Damien’s schedule and handle pack business and feel like I belonged sowhere.
Emma looked up as I approached, her expression shifting from professional politeness to recognition.
"Oh!" she said, standing quickly. "You’re... ah, you’re Damien’s human nanny, right? I rember you from last night."
The words hit like a physical blow. Even after our encounter yesterday, even after I’d answered his door in his house, that’s still all she saw when she looked at .
Not Luna. Not forr assistant. Not his mate.
Human nanny.
"I’m Seraphina," I said quietly, my voice barely steady. "I’m here to see Damien."
"Right, Seraphina." She nodded, but there was no real recognition in her eyes. No understanding of who I used to be. "He’s finishing up a conference call. Shouldn’t be much longer."
She gestured vaguely toward the seating area, but then seed to reconsider.
"Actually, you know what? Why don’t I set you up in the supply room? It’ll be quieter there. More private."
"I could just wait here," I suggested weakly.
"Oh no, that wouldn’t work. I have calls to make and reports to finish. The supply room will be much better."
She was already moving, leading down the hall like I was so random visitor who needed to be shuffled out of the way. Not the woman who used to run this entire floor.
The supply room was exactly what it sounded like. Shelves lined with office supplies. Boxes of copy paper stacked to the ceiling. A small, uncomfortable chair shoved in the corner next to a broken printer that no one had bothered to remove.
"Just make yourself comfortable," Emma said brightly. "I’ll let Mr. Nightshadow know you’re here as soon as he’s free."
And then she was gone, leaving alone in a room that slled like toner and disappointnt.
I sat in the chair and stared at the shelves around . Staplers. Pens. Post-it notes. All the mundane things that kept an office running. Things I used to order and organize and never think twice about.
Now I was sitting among them like discarded inventory.
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