Seraphina’s POV
The ridian Hotel lood in front of like a monunt to betrayal.
Fifteen stories of glass and steel. Pristine. Expensive. The kind of place where rooms cost more per night than most people made in a week.
My legs felt like lead as I walked through the revolving doors.
The lobby was exactly what I expected. Marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Soft music playing from hidden speakers. Everything designed to whisper wealth and discretion.
I approached the front desk. My heart hamred so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.
The woman behind the counter looked up. Professional smile already in place.
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?"
I reached into my bag. Pulled out my work credentials. The ones that identified as affiliated with Nightshadow Pack Industries.
"I need to see security footage from two nights ago." I kept my voice steady. Professional. "Hallway caras. Fifth floor."
The smile faltered slightly. "I’m sorry, ma’am, but our security footage is—"
"I’m investigating on behalf of Alpha Nightshadow." The lie ca easily. Too easily. "There was an incident involving pack mbers. I need to verify so details."
I slid my credentials across the marble counter.
She picked them up. Examined them carefully. Her eyes flicked between the ID and my face several tis.
"Pack business," I added. "Ti-sensitive. The Alpha expects a full report by end of day."
Her expression shifted. Still professional but now accommodating.
"Of course." She handed back my credentials. "Let get our security manager. One mont please."
She disappeared through a door behind the desk.
I stood there. Breathing. Just breathing. In and out. In and out.
*You can still leave. You can walk away right now. You don’t have to know.*
But my feet stayed planted.
A man erged from the back. Mid-forties. Balding. Security uniform crisp and clean.
"Mrs. Nightshadow?" He extended his hand. "I’m Roger, head of security. I understand you need to review so footage?"
"Yes." I shook his hand. My palm was sweating. "Two nights ago. Fifth floor hallway. Around 10 PM to noon the next day."
He nodded slowly. "May I ask what this concerns?"
"Pack investigation. I’m not at liberty to discuss details."
It worked.
"Right. Of course." Roger gestured toward a door marked ’Staff Only.’ "If you’ll follow ?"
The security office was small. Cramped. Banks of monitors lined one wall. Recording equipnt humd quietly.
Roger sat down at the main console. Started typing. "Fifth floor, you said?"
"Yes. Specifically, I need to see room 2847."
More typing. The monitors flickered. Changed. Showed different hallways. Different angles.
"Here we are." He pulled up the footage. "What ti fra?"
"Start at 9:45 PM."
He fast-forwarded to the tistamp. The hallway appeared on screen. Empty. Quiet. Just beige walls and numbered doors.
"I’ll play it at normal speed from here," Roger said. "Let know if you need to pause or rewind."
I nodded. Couldn’t speak. My throat had closed up completely.
The tistamp rolled forward. 9:46. 9:47. 9:48.
Nothing happened. Just an empty hallway.
Then the elevator dinged.
Two figures stepped out.
My entire world stopped.
Even from behind, I knew that walk. That posture. That particular way of moving that was burned into my mory from ten years together.
Damien.
And beside him. Leaning against him. Her arm wrapped around his waist for support.
Emma.
"Can you zoom in?" My voice ca out strange. Hollow.
Roger adjusted the cara angle. Brought them closer.
Damien’s arm was around Emma’s shoulders. Supporting her weight. She leaned into him heavily. Like she couldn’t stand on her own.
They moved slowly down the hallway. Damien half-carrying her. Her head against his shoulder.
"Do you need to pause?" Roger asked.
"No. Keep playing."
They reached room 2847. Stopped. Emma fumbled in her purse. Pulled out a keycard.
She dropped it. Twice.
Damien picked it up. Swiped it. The door opened.
Green light.
They went inside.
The door closed behind them.
The hallway stood empty again.
"Would you like to see the exit footage?" Roger asked quietly.
I couldn’t answer. Just stared at that closed door. That innocent-looking door that had swallowed my husband and another woman.
"Ma’am?"
"Yes." The word barely made it out. "Show when they left."
He fast-forwarded. The tistamp blurred. Hours passing in seconds.
11:47 AM the next day.
The door opened.
Damien erged first. His clothes were the sa as the night before. Wrinkled now. His hair ssy. He looked... tired. Destroyed. Like soone who hadn’t slept.
Emma ca out behind him. Her dress was different. Smooth. Fresh. Like she’d changed.
They didn’t touch this ti. Damien stood a foot away. Emma said sothing. He nodded. Said sothing back.
Then he walked toward the elevator. Alone.
Emma went the opposite direction. Toward the stairs.
They left separately. Like people trying not to be seen together.
The elevator closed behind Damien.
And he was gone.
"Is that what you needed to see?" Roger’s voice ca from sowhere far away.
I stood up. Too fast. The room tilted.
"Ma’am? Are you alright?"
"I’m fine." The lie was automatic. "Thank you. That’s... that’s everything."
"Do you need a copy of the footage?"
"No." I couldn’t watch this again. Once was already too much. "No, thank you."
I walked toward the door. Each step took enormous effort.
"Mrs. Nightshadow?" Roger stood up. "Are you sure you’re okay? You look—"
"I’m fine." The words ca out sharp. Too sharp. "Just... thank you for your help."
I left before he could respond. Before my control could crack completely.
The hallway stretched on forever. Each step echoing. Each breath burning.
I made it to the lobby. Past the front desk. Past the concerned looks from staff who could probably tell sothing was wrong.
Through the revolving doors. Into sunlight that felt too bright. Too cheerful. Too wrong for this mont.
I stumbled toward the side of the building. Away from the main entrance. Away from people.
My stomach lurched violently.
I barely made it to the curb before I doubled over. Hands bracing against my knees. Throat burning.
Nothing ca up. I hadn’t eaten. But my body kept trying. Kept heaving. Kept trying to expel sothing that couldn’t be expelled.
The images played on repeat behind my closed eyes.
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