Seraphina’s POV
Tears blurred my vision as I sat on the cold floor, gripping the phone tightly in my hand.
“Seraphina, are you listening to me?” Damon’s voice echoed from the receiver, arrogant and patronizing.
I clenched my teeth, struggling to suppress the sobs that threatened to escape.
“You must have realized how powerless you are by now,” he continued, his tone dripping with condescension. “Without me, without Crimson Hollow Pack, you’re nothing. But I’m feeling generous. If you apologize—no, if you beg—maybe I’ll take you back.”
I tightened my grip on the phone, anger bubbling in my chest.
“Beg?” I spat, my voice trembling with fury and grief.
“Of course,” Damon said smoothly, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world. “You were a good Luna, Seraphina, when you weren’t being difficult. With Althea by my side and you in the background where you belong, everything can go back to normal.”
His words were like daggers, each one cutting deeper into my already shattered heart.
“You want me to crawl back to Crimson Hollow Pack?” I hissed, my voice rising. “After you and Althea destroyed my life, took everything from me, and left me to rot?!”
Damon’s laugh was cold and cruel. “Destroyed your life? Don’t be so dramatic. Althea and I are happy together, and I’m offering you a way out of your mess. You should be thanking me.”
I could feel Elin stirring inside me, growling with rage. Don’t listen to him, Seraphina. Don’t let him win.
I took a shaky breath, my hands trembling.
“You’re pathetic, Damon,” I said, my voice low and steady despite the storm inside me. “You think you’re so generous, offering me scraps of a life you tore apart. But I’d rather starve than take anything from you ever again.”
There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line.
“What did you just say?” Damon asked, his voice cold now, his arrogance replaced by indignation.
“You heard me,” I snapped. “Go back to Althea. Stay in your perfect little delusion. I’m done with you, Crimson Hollow Pack, and anyone who thinks they can control me.”
I hung up, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
Elin let out a triumphant howl inside my head. That’s my girl! Finally standing up to that scumbag!
But the momentary satisfaction was quickly replaced by a crushing sense of despair.
Eason had betrayed me, forcing me to sign away my last lifeline. Damon was nothing but a vulture circling the remains of my ruined life. And Holly had succeeded in taking everything I held dear.
I buried my face in my hands, my tears flowing freely.
What now? I thought miserably. Where do I go from here?
Suddenly, my phone buzzed again. For a split second, I thought it was Damon calling back, but the name on the screen sent a chill through me.
Caden.
My heart pounded as I stared at the screen, torn between answering and letting it ring out.
But I knew better. Ignoring Caden wasn’t an option—not after everything I’d done.
With trembling fingers, I picked up the call.
“Seraphina,” his deep voice rumbled, cold and commanding.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Caden…”
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” he demanded, his tone sending shivers down my spine.
“I…” My voice broke.
“Don’t bother with excuses,” he growled. “You’ve made a mess of everything. And now, I’m cleaning it up.”
I clenched my fists, anger sparking through the despair. “I didn’t ask you to clean up after me, Caden!”
“Didn’t you?” he snapped. “Every reckless decision you’ve made has dragged me deeper into your chaos. And yet, here I am, the only person still trying to save you.”
His words stung, but there was a painful truth to them.
“What do you want from me?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
There was a pause, and then his voice softened—just slightly.
“I want you to stop running,” he said. “You can’t fix this alone, Seraphina. But if you trust me, I can.”
His words hit me like a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of despair.
But could I trust him? After everything that had happened, could I afford to let my guard down again?
My silence must have been answer enough, because his voice hardened again.
“You don’t have a choice, Seraphina. Not anymore.”
And then the line went dead.
I stared at the phone in my hand, my heart pounding with a mix of fear, anger, and something I couldn’t quite name.
Caden was coming for me. And this time, there was no escape.
