SERAPHINA
The flames blocked my view of the man, but left me with questions that burned deeper than the fire itself. Who was he…and why was he there?
We burst from the tunnel into brittle dawn, smoke clinging to our bodies like a second skin. My lungs ached. Every breath felt like inhaling ash. The air outside was cold and raw against my sweat–damp skin. I looked around.
Most of the she–wolves had already fled, running toward homes that may or may not still want them. Only the Academy Alphas remained now, bruised and breathless beneath the curling smoke behind us.
That’s when I froze.
Why were they still here?
“What’s wrong?” Ronan’s voice came low beside me.
I looked down at myself, breath catching. “I can’t go back like this,” I whispered, “Not in these clothes…plus my perfume’s gone.”
I hadn’t even realized when I’d lost the bottle. Somewhere in that chaos…it was just gone.
“Everyone, return to the Academy immediately,” Alpha Jude commanded, his voice stern as it echoed across the clearing.
Panic bloomed inside me.
If I didn’t return on time, questions would rise. Doubts would surface. Then all of this, all my effort, would come undone.
“Think, Sera…think,” I clenched my jaw.
“Only Lily can get us that perfume,” Phina said.
“I can’t mind–link her or contact her without a phone,” I muttered, “Even if I managed to reach her… she’s hours away. She wouldn’t get here in time.”
Phina stayed silent. My throat tightened. I felt cornered, unraveling at the seams.
Just as I started spiraling, Ronan took my hand.
I flinched at the sudden warmth and blinked up at him.
“Come with me,” he said, not asking, telling.
“What? Where?” I gasped as he pulled me toward a different path into the forest, away from the other Alphas.
“Of course we’re going back to the Academy,” he murmured, eyes scanning left and right.
I tugged my hand back. “I can’t go without my perfume, Ronan. You should go. I’ll figure something out…”
But he caught my hand again and pulled me closer. “I’m not going without you, Seraphina.”
I tried to keep my heart steady. “Then what? You want me to march back in these clothes and expose myself?”
He gave me a slow, shameless once–over and smirked. “Well, I certainly can’t let anyone else see what’s
My cheeks flamed. “What the hell do you mean by that?”


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