We’ll be heading back to Boulder tonight. As I think about it, a sense of resolve hardens in my chest. This time, things will be different. This time, I’ll reach out to the Kotov brothers. If they want Seraphina, they can come to me for a change. I’m done playing by their rules.
Kai is in Portland with Nesrin and Lukas, securing a car to get us out of here and stocking up on supplies. It’s going to be a long drive from Portland to Boulder. Kai promised to buy a phone so I could get in touch with Penn once we hit the road. I know Demitri will be furious with me for being late and not getting in touch, but it’s not entirely my fault.
I sigh and close my eyes, letting my senses drift on the wind.
Though it’s peaceful out here and the air is cool, there’s tension in it, like the calm before a storm. I can feel it in my bones.
“You’re more powerful now.”
“You have nothing to worry about now that you have let us in,”the voices whisper in my head.
I crouch down by the water’s edge, dipping my fingers into the cool, clear stream. The sensation is refreshing, invigorating. It washes away the remnants of my fatigue, a gentle reminder of the healing power of nature.
“I’m sorry I locked you away for so long,”I finally reply.
“You were scared.”
“And alone. With no guidance from your tribe.”
Myheart still aches every time I think about them—my tribe, my chief, and my family. It’s a deep, gnawing pain that never truly goes away, no matter how much time has passed.
I used to believe in them so completely. My tribe was my home, my sanctuary, the place where I thought I belonged. The chief was a figure I respected, someone I looked up to. And my family . . . they were my world, the people who were supposed to stand by me no matter what.
But they all turned their backs on me—the way they looked at me, not with love or understanding, but with fear, with judgment.
The truth of what I am was too much for them, and instead of standing by me, they abandoned me to face it alone.
“It’s okay, child. You’re allowed to feel that bitter pang of loneliness that comes from being cast out by those who were supposed to love you unconditionally.”
“But you have a new pack now. Kai is your mate, and you belong with him.”
“He is your home.”
I respond with a soft hum and rise to my feet, my gaze fixed on the fish gracefully swimming in the river. The wind gently tousles my hair, causing it to cascade over my face. Immersed in the enchanting beauty of nature, I raise my hand and skillfully weave my long ebony locks into a seamless braid, relishing the smooth texture as my fingers glide through the silky strands.
As I quiet my mind, I let the world around me melt into the background. The forest comes alive in my heightened senses—rustling leaves, the soft padding of creatures moving through the underbrush, the distant call of an owl. Each sound, each movement, sharpens my instincts, guiding my attention to every flicker of life in the shadows. But there’s something else—a subtle hum at the edge of my consciousness, growing louder with each passing second. My mind latches onto it, dissecting the layersof noise until it becomes clear. A car. The engine roars through the silence, its speed too fast, too reckless. This isn’t Nesrin and Lukas; I would recognize their careful approach. And besides, there’s no trace of Kai’s energy.
Chapter forty-five
Ashwiyaa
“Rewrite your narrative.”
Alarmed, I spin on my heels, and in an instant, my form dissolves into mist, my essence scattering like smoke caught in the wind. I surge forward, propelled by urgency, racing up the hill toward the house.
I frown as a car comes speeding down the gravel drive, a cloud of dust trailing in its wake. The air crackles with tension and my instincts flare to life. Without hesitation, I tap into my magic, letting it sift through the vehicle like tendrils of smoke, searching for the identities of those inside. The moment of recognition hits me like a jolt of electricity—Penn, Demitri, and Alexander.
The SUV screeches to a halt a hundred yards away, and the doors open in unison. The three brothers step out, all dressed in immaculately tailored black suits, their presence imposing, their expressions severe. The sharp cut of their suits only enhances the intimidating aura that radiates from them, but it’s the intensity in their eyes that sets my teeth on edge.
A low growl rumbles in my chest, vibrating through my body as I stalk toward them, my fists clenched at my sides. They shouldn’t be here. These are sacred pack lands, and their arrival is nothing short of an intrusion. As I close the distance, their eyes flash with a dangerous warning. The exposed skin on their hands and necks ripples, the unmistakable shimmer of scales appearing beneath the surface. In the distance, a chorus of howls fills the air as several wolves shift, responding to the threat with primal instinct. If this escalates, Lukas and Nesrin will be furious, and rightly so. I can’t let a fight break out on their doorstep.
“What are you doing here?” I demand, my voice laced with barely contained fury.
Demitri is the first to speak, his tone cool and unbothered as he slips his hands into the pockets of his pants. “You’re late.”
His nonchalance only fuels my anger. “So? I have consistently done what was required of me without exception.”
“We expected you over a week ago,” Demitri snaps, his patience fraying.
