The entire estate buzzed with tense activity as dawn broke, streaking pale gold over the torn earth and damaged walls. Wolves patrolled the edges, gardeners hurried to clear debris, and warriors whispered updates as they passed each other in the corridors.
But inside Lucien's private chamber, the world felt still.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Sera sat on the edge of the bed, head bowed, fingers trembling slightly as she stared at her palms. The faint shimmer of golden energy flickered beneath her skin like a restless heartbeat.
Lucien watched her from the doorway, shirt still unbuttoned from a long, exhausting night of damage assessment and strategizing. His expression softened the instant he looked at her.
"You didn't sleep," he said gently.
She shook her head. "Every time I close my eyes, I feel it."
Lucien stepped closer. "Feel what?"
"The shard." Her voice trembled. "The piece he stole from me. It's still… connected. It's like a hook inside me pulling in another direction."
Lucien's jaw clenched, something dark and furious flickering in his gaze.
"That's why you couldn't control your power last night." He knelt in front of her and took her hands, thumbs brushing soothing circles over her knuckles. "Kieran didn't just steal your power. He tied it to himself."
Sera's stomach twisted. "So he can—what? Use me? Control me?"
Lucien shook his head hard. "No. Not while I'm here. Not while the bond exists."
The bond throbbed gently between them, a warm pulse under her ribcage, responding to Lucien's touch, his presence, his words.
She exhaled shakily. "I just… I hate feeling powerless."
Lucien lifted her chin with two fingers, eyes locking onto hers.
"You're the opposite of powerless, Sera. Last night? You stood against a warbeast bred from forbidden magic. And you cut it."
A flush crept into her cheeks. "I didn't know I could."
Lucien's lips curved into a faint smile. "That's the thing, sweetheart. You don't know how strong you are yet. But you will."
The warmth in his voice wrapped around her like a shield.
And for a moment, Sera could breathe again.
---
The Council Interrupted
Lucien pulled away reluctantly. "I have to meet with the Council. They want to discuss Kieran's warbeast and the shard." He paused, "Stay here. I don't want you wandering unless I'm with you."
Sera rolled her eyes softly. "Lucien, I'm not fragile."
"No," he corrected, voice low and full of emotion, "You're precious."
Her pulse fluttered.
But before she could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the chamber.
Lucien frowned. "Who is it?"
The door opened a crack. Beta Rowan stepped inside, face pale. "Alpha—pardon the intrusion, but you need to come. Now."
Lucien stiffened. "What happened?"
Rowan hesitated. "One of our scouts returned with a message."
His eyes flicked to Sera with a panic he struggled to hide.
"A message for her."
Lucien's growl rumbled through the room. "From who?"
Rowan swallowed.
"Kieran."
Sera felt the hook in her chest tug sharply—like the shard responding. Her breath hitched.
Lucien jolted forward, instantly at her side. "Sera?"
"I…" She pressed a hand to her sternum. "He's pulling. I can feel it. Right now."
Lucien snarled, fierce rage shimmering in his golden eyes. "He is not touching you."
Rowan cleared his throat, lifting a sealed parchment. "Alpha… he left this tied around the scout's wrist."
Lucien snatched it, tore it open, and read.
His eyes darkened with each line.
His breathing sharpened.
"What does it say?" Sera whispered.
Lucien looked up slowly, expression unreadable. "He wants to meet."
Rowan added quietly, "Tonight. Alone."
Sera froze. "Alone? He wants me?"
Lucien crushed the letter in his fist. "It's a trap. He wants to isolate you and pull at the shard until you break."
Sera swallowed. "Or maybe he's afraid of the power I showed last night."
Lucien turned sharply. "Don't even think about facing him alone."
"I didn't say I would," she murmured. "I'm just… trying to understand."
But Lucien could see something else in her eyes—an awakening.
A strength that scared him as much as it awed him.
---
The Pull of the Shard
Hours passed in tense silence.
Lucien was gone to the council.
Rowan patrolled the hall outside her room.
Sera sat by the window, staring out at the forest where she felt the shard tugging faintly, its pull like a soft whisper crawling beneath her skin.
Her veins tingled.
Her fingertips glowed faintly.
Her senses sharpened unnaturally.
And then—
A whisper.
Seraphina…
She flinched violently.
"Kieran?"
The voice was both inside her head and outside, echoing through the trees.
I can feel you…
She shot to her feet, breathing quickening.
"Get out of my head!"
The whisper deepened into a dark chuckle.
Break the bond with your alpha… and your power will be limitless.
Her heart lurched.
The bond pulsed painfully, as if responding.
Lucien's warmth flickered faintly at the edge of her senses.
And Kieran's cold influence pressed closer.
You were meant for more than him…
"No," she whispered fiercely, gripping her head. "No, I don't want—"
Then why does the shard respond? Why does your power tremble at my call?
Her knees buckled.
She hit the floor with a gasp.
The shard throbbed.
Harder.
Harder.
Her body seized.
"Sera!"
The chamber door burst open—Lucien stormed in, his aura firing through the room like golden lightning.
He dropped to his knees beside her, gathering her shaking form into his arms.
"What happened?" His voice shook with fear. "Sera, talk to me!"
She looked up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes.
"He… he talked to me. In my head. He can reach me through the shard."
Lucien's face transformed—rage, fear, possessiveness, and pain all flashing at once.
"Over my dead body," he growled, voice trembling.
She clutched his shirt, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Lucien… what if he can pull me away from you?"
He gripped her face between his hands, forehead pressing to hers fiercely.
"He will not take you. Not while I breathe. Not while the bond exists. Not while my soul is tied to yours."
The bond swelled—warm, protective, anchoring her.
Her trembling slowly eased.
Lucien brushed her tears away, voice thick with emotion.
"You are mine, Sera. And I will fight the world, the shadows, and destiny itself before I let anyone break what we have."
Her heart clenched.
Her fingers curled around his wrist.
"I trust you," she whispered. "More than anything."
Lucien pulled her into his arms, holding her like she was the one thing keeping him alive.
But even as comfort settled over her, the truth lingered—
The shard wasn't just a threat.
It was becoming a part of her.
Changing her.
Awakening something she wasn't ready to face.
And Kieran knew it.
Tonight's meeting wasn't a request.
It was a summons.
And no matter how tightly Lucien held her…
Sera knew she wouldn't be able to hide forever.