Seraphina’s POV
I froze as the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of my head.
“Don’t move, Seraphina,” a voice warned.
My heart pounded. The voice was deep and familiar, but I couldn’t place it immediately. Slowly, I raised my hands in surrender.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
“Turn around. Slowly,” the voice instructed.
I obeyed, careful not to make any sudden moves. As I turned, the dim beam of my phone’s flashlight illuminated a man standing in the shadows.
“Eason?” I gasped.
It was him. My brother. But he looked nothing like I remembered. His face was leaner, his eyes darker, and his beard unkempt. He looked exhausted, wary, and most of all, broken.
“Seraphina,” he said flatly, lowering the gun but not the tension in his stance.
“Why are you pointing a gun at me?” I asked, my voice thick with emotion. “I came to find you.”
“You shouldn’t have come,” he replied, his voice cold and distant.
“I had to!” I snapped. “Liam and Nora are going to be executed tomorrow because of some sick lie! And you’re hiding out here, doing nothing? What’s going on, Eason? Why did you tell me not to come home? Why aren’t you doing anything to stop this chaos?”
He sighed, his shoulders sagging as he stepped back and gestured for me to enter the cabin.
Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of smoke and damp wood. He sat on a makeshift bench by the cold hearth, rubbing his temples.
“I told you not to come because it’s dangerous,” he muttered.
“No shit, it’s dangerous!” I shouted, unable to hold back my frustration. “But I’m here anyway because I trust you! I need answers, Eason! Who hurt Sid? Who’s behind all this?”
He looked up at me, his eyes hollow. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But it’s bigger than you think. Sid didn’t just get hurt—he’s been poisoned. The pack’s falling apart, and Holly’s taken over everything. Anyone who questions her ends up… gone.”
“Poisoned?” I whispered, horrified.
Eason nodded grimly. “It wasn’t an assassination attempt. It was an inside job. Someone wanted Sid out of the way, and now they’re using you as a scapegoat to cover it up.”
My stomach churned. “Why me? Why frame me?”
“Because you’re an easy target,” he said bitterly. “You’re the outsider now, the runaway Luna. And Holly… she’s dangerous. She knows how to manipulate people, how to make them believe whatever she wants. She’s turned the pack against you, Seraphina. Even some of the elders are backing her.”
I sank onto the bench beside him, my hands trembling. “Eason, we have to stop her. We can’t let her kill Liam and Nora. They’re innocent!”
“I know,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “But I don’t have the power to stop her. I’m not Gamma anymore. Holly stripped me of my title when I refused to side with her.”
I stared at him, stunned. “What? How could you let that happen?”
He gave a hollow laugh. “What choice did I have? She threatened to execute my men. If I didn’t step down, she would’ve killed them all. She’s got the pack wrapped around her finger, Seraphina. And without Sid, I’m just a powerless soldier.”
“No,” I said firmly, grabbing his hand. “You’re not powerless. You’re my brother. And we’re not giving up. We’ll find a way to save Sid, expose Holly, and clear my name. But first, we need to save Liam and Nora. Are you with me?”
Eason hesitated, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, I thought he might refuse. But then he sighed and nodded.
“All right,” he said. “I’m with you.”
Relief flooded through me.
“Good,” I said, standing up. “Then let’s start by finding Trent. He’s the only one left who might know the truth.”
Eason grabbed his coat and loaded his gun. “If we’re going after Trent, we’ll need to move fast. Holly’s people will be watching the borders.”
I nodded, determination hardening my resolve. “Let’s go.”
Together, we stepped out into the cold night, ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
