Seraphina’s POV
“She’s my pack member—you can’t stop me from seeing her!” Sid growled, frustration lacing his voice.
“You lost that right the moment you hurt her,” Caden snapped back, his tone icy.
Without another word, Caden strode out of the Council Hall with me in his arms, his movements deliberate and forceful. His determination to shield me from Sid was as evident as the fury simmering beneath his calm exterior.
When we reached the top-floor suite, his blood-splattered bodyguards were waiting. They stood tall, unharmed despite the battle.
“As you ordered, none of the Silverclaw Pack soldiers left that cave alive,” one of them reported.
“Good,” Caden replied coldly. “Stand by the door. No one enters without my permission—not even this pack’s Alpha.”
“Understood!” they barked in unison.
Caden carried me inside, slamming the door shut behind him. He moved swiftly through the rooms, heading straight for the bedroom. The tension in his every step mirrored the storm brewing in his eyes.
“It wasn’t Sid’s fault,” I began, trying to explain. “He was under the influence of that drug. Even Holly said it—any Alpha would lose control under its effects.”
Caden placed me gently on the bed, his expression dark and unyielding. “I wouldn’t.”
His confidence warmed something in my chest, but I pressed on. “I’m serious. Sid didn’t mean to hurt me. We grew up together—he’s like a brother to me. You don’t understand how awful Eason was when we were kids. If it weren’t for Sid, my childhood—”
Before I could finish, Caden leaned in and kissed me, rough and demanding, cutting off my words. I gasped, caught off guard, as his lips left mine and his intense green eyes bore into me.
“I don’t want to hear another word about him,” he growled.
“Wait… What’s going on? Are you jealous of Sid?” I asked, half-laughing at the absurdity. “That’s crazy! I told you, he’s like a brother. There’s nothing Luciantic between us—that would be disgusting!”
“You might not feel that way, but he does,” Caden said, his tone dangerously low. “I know how a man looks at a woman he wants. That’s how he looks at you.”
His fingers brushed over the bite wound on my neck, and my body betrayed me. A shiver ran through me as I sank back against the bed, weak and breathless.
“Say it,” he commanded, leaning closer. “Say you won’t see him again.”
“Don’t—” I tried to protest, but his teeth sank into my neck, sending a shockwave of possessive energy through me.
“I hate it when men look at you like that,” he growled by my ear. “One Damon was bad enough. I won’t have another.”
Straightening, he pulled out his phone and called his personal doctor. “Get on the fastest flight to Emerald Howl Pack. Be here within two hours.”
“You know we have pack doctors, right? And these injuries aren’t even serious,” I muttered. “Elin can handle it.”
“You’ll see my doctor. I don’t trust anyone else,” he said flatly. “What if that Alpha gave you some kind of virus when he bit you? Better to be safe.”
I sighed, knowing there was no point arguing. He wasn’t going to let this go.
________________________________________
Two hours later, Caden’s doctor arrived, accompanied by a team of assistants and nurses. They’d flown in on Caden’s private jet—a trip that must have cost a fortune. The examination confirmed I was fine, aside from minor injuries. I just needed rest.
But Caden wasn’t satisfied. For the next week, he confined me to bed, ensuring I had no choice but to recover under his watchful eye.
During that time, many came to see me.
Nora and Liam, freshly released from prison, were safe. Though Liam’s missing finger couldn’t be reattached, he brushed it off with a grin. Both agreed that Holly deserved her fate, calling hell too kind for her.
Trent and Eason, however, were more practical. Like me, they were deeply concerned about the consequences of Holly’s death.
“Alpha Johnson is a scary man,” Trent said darkly. “Do you know how many people have gone missing after crossing him? Even powerful ones with money and influence. Everyone knows—it’s better to provoke Alpha Caden than Alpha Johnson. At least with Caden, you get to die with your body intact.”
“So you think he’ll come after me because of Holly,” I said, frowning. “But she started this—she came after me first!”
“You think he cares about that?” Eason scoffed, leaning against my bed. “These powerful bastards only care about control. Fight back, and you’re on their hit list. Mark my words—you and the rest of us are probably already targets.”
Seeing the worry in my eyes, Trent patted my shoulder reassuringly. “But we all know Holly had to die. You did the right thing. As long as we stay prepared and united, not even Johnson can touch us. And with Caden backing us, we’ll be fine.”
