Prologue. Shadows of Nightshade. The full moon cast an otherworldly glow over the Nightshade estate. Its silvery light illuminating the vast expanse of the mansion grounds. Within, all was silent, save for the faint sound of footsteps echoing through the grand halls. Alpha Darius Nightshade stood alone on the balcony of his office, his piercing brown eyes scanning the distant trees. His reputation preceded him. Ruthless, untouchable, the kind of man who ruled with an iron fist. But even a king, it seemed, could not escape the consequences of his own choices. Darius was more than just a powerful pack leader. He was a father. A father to two beautiful twin daughters, Lyra and Sable, who deserved far more than what his busy schedule allowed. The twins\\\' laughter had grown more distant, their smiles dimmer, and for the first time in his life, Darius felt the weight of something he couldn\\\'t control. It was time to make a change. But nothing could prepare him for what was about to enter his life. Welcome to a tale of love, betrayal, werewolves, and redemption set in a world where love and hatred collide. Written and narrated by Cauliflower Campbell. Prepare yourself for a breathtaking adventure filled with werewolves, forbidden magic, and a love that defies destiny. Let the story continue. Chapter 1, the job interview. The morning sun poured its golden light over the towering glass skyscraper in downtown Lyken Ridge, home to Nightshade Enterprises. The air buzzed with the rhythm of a city always in motion. But at the top of the highest floor, behind walls of glass and steel, Alpha Darius Nightshade sat in silence. Darius, 28, and already a billionaire many times over, was the embodiment of controlled power. His muscular frame filled the sleek designer suit he wore like a second skin. Tousled black hair framed a face carved from marble, sharp jawline, full lips, and piercing brown eyes that missed nothing. But despite the empire he ruled, Darius was a man haunted by loneliness. 12 years ago, his mate had vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving him with twin daughters, Lyra and Sable, who were now blossoming into young women, each a mirror of her father\\\'s smoldering intensity. They had his dark curls, expressive brown eyes, and an uncanny gift of sensing dishonesty, which had become more apparent with each passing year. This morning was different. Instead of leaving his daughters at home under the watchful gaze of the house staff, Darius brought them to his office. Today, they were part of the decision. He had finally accepted the truth. His daughters needed more than what hired help and bodyguards could offer. They needed warmth, guidance, and affection, something only a live-in nanny could provide. Lyra and Sable, both wearing matching navy dresses and their signature mischievous smirks, sat side by side in their father\\\'s private office lounge, watching each applicant come and go. And one by one, the candidates faltered. She smells like perfume and fake smiles, Lyra whispered after the first interview. And the second one kept checking her phone, Sable added, rolling her eyes. Darius pinched the bridge of his nose. The girls were picky, but he couldn\\\'t blame them. They had been through enough. Then she walked in. Seraphina Emberwylde, or at least that was the name on the resume. She was 23, with long waves of fiery red hair cascading down her back and pale skin that glowed in the filtered office light. Her eyes were a shade too intense, a little too knowing, like someone who\\\'d lived more than her years would suggest. She carried herself with quiet grace. Yet every step hinted at restrained power. But she wasn\\\'t here just to care for children. She was the daughter of Alpha Kaelthor of the Iron Fang Pack, Nightshade\\\'s oldest enemy. A battle-scarred wolf who once ruled vast lands before his downfall. He blamed Darius Nightshade for the crumbling of his empire. And Seraphina had been raised on stories of betrayal and ruin. Now she was here undercover, living the lie her father demanded. Seraphina Emberwylde was a construct. In truth, she was Seraphina Ironfang. Her mission: infiltrate the Nightshades, gain access to their home, earn their trust, and collect intel that could end the Nightshade line. But Seraphina had her own doubts. Her heart warred with loyalty to her father and a growing ache she couldn\\\'t explain. Even before she met Darius, she had questioned her mission. What if the stories were wrong? What if the man they painted as a villain wasn\\\'t what he seemed? Darius looked up as she entered. His gaze met hers and something electric sparked in the space between them. He straightened in his chair. Seraphina Emberwylde. Yes, Alpha Nightshade. Thank you for the opportunity. He nodded, gesturing toward the couch where Lyra and Sable sat. Before we begin, I\\\'d like you to meet the real interviewers. Seraphina smiled gently and knelt before the girls. Hi there. You must be Lyra and Sable. I\\\'ve heard a lot about you. Your dad tells me you love puzzles and astronomy. I brought something. From her satchel, she pulled out two small star charts and a puzzle box crafted from old wood. The twins leaned in immediately, eyes wide with surprise and interest. Sable took the chart. You know constellations? I do. And if you let me stay, I can teach you how to spot them all, even from the rooftop. Lyra grinned. And the puzzle? A riddle box? Seraphina said, \\\'Only the cleverest can open it. Think you\\\'re up for the challenge?\\\' The girls exchanged a look of pure delight. Darius, watching quietly from behind his desk, felt something stir in his chest. It had been so long since he\\\'d seen them smile like that. The interview continued, but it wasn\\\'t the standard Q&A. Seraphina\\\'s warmth melted the room. She answered Darius\\\'s logistical questions with precision, but always redirected her focus back to the girls. She asked about their routines, their favorite books, their friends. Darius leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his broad chest. He listened, watched. There was something strange about her, familiar almost, but he couldn\\\'t place it. Still, her presence calmed the storm that usually raged inside him. \\\'That was rare, dangerous even.\\\' When the interview ended, he looked at his daughters. \\\'What do you think? She\\\'s the one,\\\' they said in unison. Seraphina blinked, surprised. For a moment, she forgot the mission. Forgot the weight of her father\\\'s expectations. Then it settled,\\\' Darius said, extending a hand. \\\'Welcome to the Nightshade household, Miss Emberwylde.\\\' As their hands met, skin brushing skin, a strange current passed between them. Seraphina swallowed hard, masking her unease. She was in phase one complete. But as the Nightshade twins giggled beside her and Darius\\\'s lingering gaze followed her every movement, Seraphina couldn\\\'t shake the feeling that destiny had just shifted in a way no one had predicted. And she wasn\\\'t sure if she\\\'d come out of this mission unscathed. Chapter 2. First days at Nightshade Mansion. Seraphina stood in awe as the wrought iron gates of the Nightshade Estate opened, revealing a sprawling mansion nestled among the misty woods of Lyken Ridge. The estate was magnificent, a blend of old-world grandeur and modern opulence. Ivy crept up marble columns and tall windows gleamed like polished gems under the soft sunlight. It was a kingdom, and she, a carefully planted spy, had just crossed its borders. The butler, a tall and prim gentleman named Garrick, greeted her at the entrance. Miss Emberwylde, welcome. The alpha has instructed us to make you comfortable. She was led through the vast halls of the mansion. Her footsteps echoing against the gleaming floors. Every corner spoke of wealth and heritage. Oil paintings of ancestors hung on the walls. Chandeliers sparkled above, and the scent of cedar and roses lingered faintly in the air. Seraphina\\\'s room was nothing short of regal. The ceilings soared high above, and thick velvet drapes framed windows that overlooked the back gardens. Her bed was carved from mahogany, draped with silver and cream linens. A walk-in closet already stocked with elegant clothing in her size, soft cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, tailored slacks, and designer flats waited for her. She stared at the wardrobe. This wasn\\\'t just accommodation, it was assimilation. Keys to the estate were handed to her along with a detailed itinerary of her responsibilities. Garrick escorted her on a thorough tour, pointing out everything from the rose garden maze to the private cinema and indoor pool. Then they stopped outside a grand set of double doors. This, Garrick said with a note of gravity, is the alpha\\\'s quarters. Seraphina couldn\\\'t help but glance inside. The door was slightly ajar. Dark velvet curtains swayed gently. Silver sheets caught the fading sunlight like silk. There was something magnetic about the space, commanding, mysterious, like its owner. She took a step closer. \\\'Never enter without permission,\\\' Garrick said firmly, snapping her from her trance. She nodded, feigning nonchalance, but her heart had skipped a beat. They continued to the twins\\\' rooms. Two conjoined suites filled with books, plush toys, and colorful decor. Seraphina was briefed on their schedule, school drop-offs, ballet classes, evening meals, and their sacred Saturday ice cream ritual. It was a rhythm of normalcy in a world cloaked in power and secrets. That night, her father called. Remember why you\\\'re there, Alpha Kaelthor growled over the encrypted line. Watch him. Learn his routines. Get into his study. We strike when we know his weakness. Yes, father,\\\' Seraphina whispered, her voice laced with doubt. But as the days passed, something began to shift. Seraphina cared for Lyra and Sable like they were her own. The twins had a way of peeling back her guarded heart with laughter and questions, stories, and hugs. They showed her the treehouse their father had built, insisted she join them for tea parties, and made her pinky swear to keep their secrets. Darius observed from afar. He noticed how the mansion seemed to breathe easier when Seraphina was around. How Lyra and Sable glowed in her presence, and he found himself returning home earlier, lingering longer in doorways to hear her voice. She read to them each night tales of brave alphas and their Luna queens. The girls would giggle, whispering about the alphas they found dreamy. One night, as Darius stood unseen in the hallway, Sable asked, \\\'Seraphina, who\\\'s your alpha?\\\' Seraphina hesitated, her voice soft, \\\'I haven\\\'t found my mate yet.\\\' Darius exhaled quietly, a small breath of unexpected relief curling in his chest. Weeks passed, and with every passing day, Seraphina\\\'s conviction began to erode. The monster her father described was not the man she saw. Darius was firm, yes, and disciplined, but he was also deeply thoughtful. Fresh roses appeared in her room, always with handwritten notes. Thank you for caring for them. You\\\'re doing beautifully. Seraphina tried to maintain her mission. She truly did. One morning, she snuck into the estate gym, hidden behind a row of training mats, watching Darius lift heavy weights with fluid, lethal precision. His shirt was discarded, sweat glistening on defined muscle. Her breath caught when she saw his wolf, silver-gray and regal, shift seamlessly and lope off into the woods. He was power incarnate, but he was also gentle. Every morning she rose to the scent of freshly brewed coffee in the kitchen, one cup waiting for her with a note for the nanny who runs this house better than I do. And at night when he came home, the security tightened, the gates locked down, and she saw the lines of worry on his face relax only when the twins ran into his arms. Seraphina was wounded by something she couldn\\\'t name. Loyalty, guilt, the pull of fate. She told herself she couldn\\\'t afford to feel this way. But as she watched Darius tuck his daughters into bed, whispering softly to them before quietly walking away, she felt the tremble of a truth too dangerous to speak. She was falling for the enemy, and she didn\\\'t know how to stop. Chapter 3. The man behind the alpha. Seraphina had never been more torn. Each passing day in the Nightshade mansion eroded the purpose that brought her there. What began as a mission wrapped in vengeance had evolved into something far more complex. Seraphina found herself watching Darius through new eyes. Not as the enemy her father painted him to be, but as a man, a father, a leader. It began with the charity foundations. She stumbled upon files in Darius\\\'s study one evening. Not locked away, but neatly organized. Dozens of nonprofits, all supported by Nightshade Enterprises, ranging from orphanages to medical outreach programs. It wasn\\\'t for publicity. There were no press releases, no social media accolades. It was simply something he did quietly, consistently. That year, he planned to attend the opening of one of the foundations in person. As always, his daughters were scheduled to give their welcome speech. But this time, he invited Seraphina to come along. She remembered the knock on her door that night. When she opened it, Darius stood there holding a black garment bag. The girls insisted, he said with a smile, eyes warm. \\\'They want you there, and so do I.\\\' Inside was a sleek maroon Dior designer gown. \\\'Simple but breathtaking.\\\' She was stunned. It\\\'s beautiful, she breathed. So are you, he replied, voice low. And then he was gone. She blushed and went back inside. Seraphina helped the girls with their speeches in the days that followed. Lyra was confident. Sable more nervous. But Seraphina\\\'s calming presence turned the process into something joyful. The night of the event arrived. Seraphina dressed the twins in pink tweed dresses, curling their hair, and adding delicate pearl barrettes. Only when she slipped into her gown and met them in the driveway did she realize her maroon gown perfectly complemented Darius\\\'s dark tuxedo. He paused when he saw her. Something raw flickering in his gaze. You look beautiful, he said. This time it wasn\\\'t just a compliment. It was a confession. The alpha was slowly beginning to like Seraphina. The event was held in a grand open-air venue strung with golden lights. Seraphina was struck not just by the wealth on display but by how seamlessly Darius navigated the elite. He moved like a king among nobles. Always grounded, always composed. When the girls took the stage to speak, Darius stood beside Seraphina, one hand resting lightly on her back. She could feel the heat of his touch through the fabric of her gown. Lyra spoke with confidence, Sable with gentle conviction. When they were done, the applause was thunderous. Afterward, they all slipped away to a private amusement park arranged for the children, supported by the foundation. The girls dragged Seraphina and Darius from game to game. Laughter echoed in the air, light and full. \\\'Come on,\\\' Lyra called, pointing toward the roller coaster. \\\'It\\\'s for grown-ups,\\\' Sable added, eyes gleaming with mischief. Seraphina hesitated, but the girls cheered them on. With a chuckle, Darius offered his hand. \\\'We\\\'re doing this,\\\' she took it. On the ride, her grip tightened on his as the world spun around them. Her screams blended with laughter. When it ended, her legs trembled. Darius laughed. Truly laughed. A deep, unrestrained sound that sent a thrill down her spine. She had seen him smile. She had heard him chuckle, but never this. She stared at him, breathless and overwhelmed. In that moment, a wild, dangerous thought passed through her mind. I could have a child with this man. I could be part of this family. And as if her thoughts summoned him, Darius turned. His gaze met hers and lingered. A look that said he saw her. Truly saw her. Something ancient stirred in both of them. Darius felt the pull deep within. The unmistakable resonance of fate. His wolf stirred restlessly. Seraphina was his mate. There was no denying it now. That night, after the girls were bathed and tucked in, Seraphina left their room quietly only to find Darius waiting just outside. \\\'Couldn\\\'t sleep?\\\' he asked. She shook her head. \\\'Too much in my mind. Walk with me.\\\' They moved through the quiet halls, then out onto the balcony overlooking the woods. The moon hung low, bathing them in silver light. You ever wonder how people become who they are? He asked. Seraphina turned to him, sensing the vulnerability beneath the question. Darius\\\'s voice was soft. Veyra, my ex. She was my Luna. Or so I thought. But when the twins were born, something changed. She wasn\\\'t ready to be a mother. She walked out, disappeared. No explanation, just gone. Seraphina\\\'s breath caught. She had expected some story of betrayal, but not abandonment, not pain. I tried to protect the girls from it. Filled the house with people to distract them, but none of it worked until you came. She couldn\\\'t look away. His honesty disarmed her. You\\\'re not what I expected, she whispered. He smiled sadly. I think we\\\'re both more than what people expect. That night, Seraphina wrote only a few vague lines in her report to her father. Something about Darius attending a charity event, nothing more. She couldn\\\'t bring herself to write the truth. The truth was that Seraphina was falling in love. She became a cornerstone in the girls\\\' lives. She taught them how to stand tall, how to be gentle and fierce at once. She helped them with school projects, cheered at their ballet rehearsals, and cried when Sable performed her solo. Darius watched, always just close enough to see, just far enough to give her space. But his wolf growled every time another man looked at her too long. And every morning he brewed her coffee, setting it out before she woke. It was his silent confession. He couldn\\\'t tell her, \\\'Not yet. He was her alpha.\\\' But he didn\\\'t want her love because of the bond. He wanted it because she chose him. And deep down, Seraphina was beginning to wonder if her mission had never been about vengeance at all. Maybe it was about fate. Chapter 4. Secrets at Midnight. The night was draped in soft velvet darkness. The Nightshade mansion quiet. But for the occasional whisper of wind against the grand windows, Seraphina found herself in the kitchen barefoot, her fingers wrapped around a warm cup of tea. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting shadows that danced across the polished countertops and marble floors. She didn\\\'t expect company at this hour, but then he appeared. Darius, dressed in a black t-shirt and dark joggers, his hair slightly tousled as if he too couldn\\\'t sleep. He paused when he saw her, a small smile tugging at his lips. \\\'Couldn\\\'t sleep either?\\\' he asked. She nodded. Thought tea might help. He stepped into the light. I was going for wine. Care to join me? She hesitated only a second before nodding. Moments later, they sat on a long bench by the wide stone fireplace in the kitchen, sipping red wine from tall glasses. The fire warmed the room, and something else began to simmer between them. Silence stretched comfortably at first, filled with flickering firelight and the occasional clink of glass. \\\'What do you dream of?\\\' he asked suddenly, his voice low, almost husky. Seraphina blinked, surprised by the intimacy of the question. She laughed, light and playful, trying to chase away the sudden gravity in the air. A blue Lamborghini. Not red, not black. Blue. It has to be blue. He raised a brow, amused. And where are you driving this very specific car? To my lakehouse, she said, grinning. Something small and peaceful. A garden, a dock, maybe a canoe I\\\'ll never use. Darius chuckled, the sound warm and unguarded. You don\\\'t strike me as the canoe type. Exactly, she said, her smile faltering just slightly. But I like to dream I might be. He tilted his head, watching her, not just looking, but memorizing. Every expression, every word, every shift in her voice. That night, something changed. It was the beginning of a quiet yearning. The kind that didn\\\'t need declarations, the kind that grew stronger in silence. Seraphina didn\\\'t know what to make of it. The more time she spent in the Nightshade estate, the more she saw of the man behind the Alpha title. She wasn\\\'t just falling for his strength or his undeniable magnetism. She was falling for his heart, for how he loved his daughters fiercely and without condition, for how he remembered every detail of her day, for how he left her coffee every morning. Darius, on the other hand, was no longer trying to suppress his feelings. At night, his dreams were filled with her laugh, the sound of her footsteps down the hall, the way her eyes softened when she looked at Lyra and Sable. He woke up restless, his wolf pacing inside him, craving her presence, wanting more. One evening, as they watched the twins perform a silly dance they\\\'d choreographed in their room, Seraphina turned to him. Why don\\\'t you have any portraits of Veyra? He was quiet for a long time. Then he exhaled slowly. Because I don\\\'t want them to remember her as someone who stayed. She didn\\\'t. Seraphina frowned gently. But she was your Luna, the girls\\\' mother. Darius\\\'s eyes turned distant. She was never my mate. My father arranged the bond, marked us, said it was for the good of the pack. And Veyra, she was never really in love with me. I tried, Seraphina. I gave her everything I could, my time, my name, my devotion. But it wasn\\\'t enough. He paused, his voice tight with old pain. She wanted more, more than me. So one day, she left. No warning. The girls were barely a year old. I woke up and she was gone. Seraphina felt her heart twist. \\\'You don\\\'t want them to hate her,\\\' he nodded. \\\'But I won\\\'t lie to them either. They deserve better than to grow up surrounded by her ghost.\\\' The fire cracked, breaking the stillness. Seraphina stared at him, her chest aching. He wasn\\\'t the monster her father described. Not even close. This man was broken, yes, but still whole in the ways that mattered. Compassionate, protective, honest, and fiercely loyal to his girls. And here she was, torn between two worlds. Her duty to the Iron Fang pack, to her father, Alpha Kaelthor, who carried the scars of the war with Nightshade, and her heart, which had begun to beat for the very man she was meant to betray. That night, as Darius poured them another glass of wine, their hands brushed. The contact lingered longer than it should have. Neither pulled away, Seraphina\\\'s voice was barely a whisper. Maybe you\\\'re not so bad after all. Darius met her gaze, firelight dancing in his eyes. Maybe we both aren\\\'t. They chuckled, and it was quiet. In that quiet moment, beneath the ancient beams of the Nightshade kitchen, with secrets poised like shadows around them, Seraphina felt something unravel. She no longer knew where her loyalties lay, but she did know this. She wanted to know the man behind the alpha, and he wanted her to stay. Chapter 5. Camping under the full moon. The Nightshade woods stretched wide and wild beneath the waxing silver moon. The trees tall and ancient, whispering stories through their rustling leaves. Alpha Darius Nightshade stood at the edge of his estate with a quiet, unreadable expression as he packed the final items into the SUV. The time had come. His daughters, Lyra and Sable, were nearing the age when their wolves would awaken, and Darius, ever the thoughtful father, wanted them to embrace this change with peace, love, and security. That\\\'s why he\\\'d chosen a camping trip. Far away from the echoes of duty and politics, somewhere sacred, nestled deep in Nightshade territory, a place where his daughters could shift for the first time under the light of a full moon. Seraphina, ever the steady force of calm in their lives, packed everything they\\\'d need. Blankets, sleeping bags, enough food for the weekend, marshmallows for roasting, and clothes for all types of weather. She moved efficiently through the mansion, double-checking supplies, ensuring the girls had their favorite snacks, and humming softly as she helped the twins prepare. By late afternoon, they were on the road, laughter echoing in the car as the girls pointed out animals they spotted, and Seraphina shared silly camping stories. Darius drove in silence, but with a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, watching Seraphina through the rearview mirror. She was radiant with joy, and it was infectious. By the time they reached the clearing, an ancient Nightshade site surrounded by tall birches and open skies, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. Darius stepped into alpha mode, setting up the camp efficiently. Tents rose under his command, and a gentle fire was lit with practiced ease. Once camp was secure, he made coffee the old-fashioned way, boiled over the fire, and handed a steaming mug to Seraphina. Their fingers brushed. She smiled and took it and whispered, \\\'Thank you.\\\' The moon began its ascent, glowing bright and full. The twins, nervous yet excited, looked to their father. \\\'Is it going to hurt?\\\' Sable asked softly. Darius knelt before them, placing a steady hand on each of their shoulders. It will feel strange, but you are Nightshades. You\\\'re strong, and I\\\'ll be right here. Seraphina stepped forward, warmth in her eyes. Your wolf is a part of you. Trust it. Let it guide you. The girls stood in the moonlight, holding hands. Then it began. Their bones shifted. Their forms rippled. Within moments, two majestic brown wolves stood before them, their eyes glowing with excitement and wonder. You did it, Seraphina whispered, tears in her eyes. Darius\\\'s chest swelled with pride. His daughters, his strong, brave daughters, had taken their first step into their legacy. Without hesitation, Seraphina stepped back and shifted as well. Her white wolf form was dazzling under the moonlight, ethereal, graceful. The girls yipped excitedly and bounded toward her, nuzzling and racing in circles. Darius watched, his silver-gray wolf form hidden just beneath the surface, fighting to break free, but he held back. For now, he wanted to watch. The three she-wolves ran through the woods, weaving through trees, leaping over fallen logs. Their joy was pure and untamed. Darius eventually shifted, his massive silver wolf following quietly, protectively. He ran beside them, the proud father and alpha, keeping pace but letting them lead. When they finally returned to the camp, breathless and energized, they shifted back and wrapped themselves in blankets. Laughter bubbling up as they sat around the fire roasting marshmallows. Seraphina leaned into Darius\\\'s side, not touching, but close enough that their shoulders almost met. \\\'They\\\'re incredible,\\\' she whispered. He nodded. You help them find that strength. She turned her head, her eyes catching his in the firelight. You\\\'ve raised them well. You\\\'re a good father, Darius. He looked at her for a long time. His voice, when it came, was soft. I\\\'m trying to be better. Unbeknownst to them, across the shadows of the woods, a figure watched Veyra. Her presence was cloaked in silence, her posture rigid, her breath shallow. Rage coursed through her veins, hotter than the fire Darius sat beside. She had returned from wherever she\\\'d disappeared to, drawn by the whispers of the pack. The rumors of the human-turned nanny, the wolf who now stood too close to her daughters, and even closer to the alpha she\\\'d abandoned. Her eyes blazed with jealousy. She watched the white wolf run with her daughters. She saw Darius\\\'s smile in a way he never had with her. Her claws dug into the bark of the tree she leaned against, her thoughts spiraling. She had expected to return one day, reclaim her place, her family, her title. But someone else had stepped into the light, and Veyra was consumed by the darkness of knowing it might be too late. Back at the camp, Darius placed a blanket over the sleeping twins who had curled up beside each other by the fire. Seraphina stood nearby, brushing her hair back, her face glowing in the moonlight. He stepped toward her, and for a long moment, neither spoke. Then Darius said, barely above a whisper. \\\'You\\\'ve given them something I never could.\\\' She tilted her head. \\\'What\\\'s that?\\\' He smiled. A mother\\\'s warmth. Seraphina felt the breath catch in her chest. In the heart of the forest, beneath the watchful gaze of the full moon, two souls, bound by fate, scarred by duty, stood on the edge of something neither of them could yet name. And in the shadows, a storm brewed, carried by a ghost of their past. The night wasn\\\'t done with them yet. Chapter 6. Gifts of the heart. Dawn broke over the Nightshade estate in soft hues of rose gold and sapphire. The light streamed gently through the curtains, casting a glow across the sleeping mansion. But Alpha Darius was already awake earlier than usual, his mind humming with anticipation and nerves he hadn\\\'t felt in years. He stood quietly by the window of his study, gazing out at the peaceful grounds. The memory of last night\\\'s camping trip still danced in his thoughts. The sound of Seraphina\\\'s laughter echoing through the forest, the sight of her running alongside his daughters in her glorious white wolf form. The image stirred something primal and vulnerable inside him. He\\\'d never known another Luna could exist after Veyra. But Seraphina—Seraphina wasn\\\'t just different. She was everything. That night, by the fire in the kitchen, she had joked about her dreams. A blue Lamborghini, a lakehouse, a quiet life surrounded by peace. At the time she had laughed, brushing off her words with a playful smirk, but Darius remembered every syllable. And so this morning, he made it happen. The sound of gravel crunching stirred Seraphina from her sleep. She slipped into her robe and padded to the balcony of her room. Her heart stuttered. Parked in the driveway below was a sleek, dazzling blue Lamborghini Aventador. Its metallic paint shimmered beneath the morning sun like the surface of a clear lake. Seraphina blinked, then blinked again. Her gaze shifted as Darius stepped out of the driver\\\'s side, dressed in his signature dark suit, hair tousled from the early start. He glanced up, caught her staring, and smiled, a smile that melted every wall she\\\'d carefully built. \\\'Come down,\\\' he called. She hurried, barely tying the belt of her robe. She stepped onto the front steps, heart racing. Darius held the driver\\\'s side door open, revealing a black velvet box on the seat. Inside it was a set of keys, and beneath those property papers bearing the Nightshade seal. Seraphina stared, speechless. \\\'It\\\'s the lakehouse,\\\' she whispered. Darius\\\'s eyes softened. \\\'You said it was your dream.\\\' Her vision blurred as emotions surged. Darius, I didn\\\'t mean—I know, he interrupted gently. She turned to him, still stunned. Why? He stepped closer, his presence enveloping her. Because you\\\'ve given me more than I could ever repay. You gave my daughters joy, a home. You gave me hope again. And you\\\'ve become the woman I never thought I\\\'d meet. Seraphina\\\'s breath hitched. Her hands trembled as she clutched the keys, her pulse thumping violently in her chest. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him. Darius caught her, strong arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her into the hard plane of his chest. They stood like that for a moment, lost in the quiet. Then she felt it, the change. The air thickened with tension. She looked up. His eyes were darker now, glowing faintly and fixed on her lips. Seraphina\\\'s heart fluttered. His hold tightened. And then just as his head began to lower, she panicked. \\\'I\\\'m sorry,\\\' she whispered, stepping back quickly, putting space between them. \\\'Jax\\\'s face fell.\\\' \\\'Seraphina, this is a mistake,\\\' she said, avoiding his eyes. \\\'I can\\\'t. This isn\\\'t why,\\\' he asked quietly. She shook her head, tears threatening. \\\'Because if I let myself follow you, I\\\'ll forget.\\\' Darius took a slow step forward. \\\'Forget what?\\\' She froze. He looked at her like she was the answer to every question he\\\'d never asked. \\\'Forget why you came here.\\\' Seraphina turned away, biting her lip. She couldn\\\'t tell him. Couldn\\\'t reveal the truth behind her presence, her lies, her father\\\'s orders. Not now. So, she nodded stiffly and murmured, \\\'Thank you for the car and the house.\\\' Then she walked back inside, her heart in pieces. Darius remained by the car, watching the door close behind her, confused, frustrated, and aching. Inside, Seraphina closed her bedroom door and leaned against it, clutching the keys to her dream in one hand, and the weight of her secret in the other, the gifts of the heart had been given. But at what cost? And how long could she keep her heart from giving in? Chapter 7. Forbidden Truths. The nights had turned warmer. The air scented with pine and distant jasmine, but Seraphina\\\'s thoughts remained tangled in a whirlwind of emotion. Since the morning Darius gifted her the blue Lamborghini and the lakehouse, her world had tilted off its axis. Every smile from him, every glance across the room, it all held more weight now, more meaning. But she hadn\\\'t told him, couldn\\\'t? Her feet hit the soft earth as she ran through the estate\\\'s outer trails. her wolf barely contained under her skin, stretching restlessly beneath. Running had become her escape. Her sanity, the soft rustle of trees and rhythm of her breathing drowned the questions until she heard the snap of a twig. Then another. She paused. Before she could react, someone tackled her to the ground with supernatural force. Seraphina grunted, the wind knocked out of her. She looked up into blazing emerald eyes and long flowing auburn hair. Veyra, the former Luna. Seraphina\\\'s blood ran cold. She knew that face, not from photos, but from the features reflected in Lyra and Sable. There was no mistaking it now. Veyra\\\'s face was twisted in rage. \\\'You little fox,\\\' she hissed. \\\'You think you can play mother to my daughters? Mate to my alpha?\\\' Seraphina struggled beneath her, but Veyra\\\'s strength as a former Luna was overwhelming. I don\\\'t want your title, Seraphina snapped. I didn\\\'t come here for Darius, but I stayed for them. For him, for your daughters who you left. Veyra\\\'s grip tightened before Seraphina found the leverage to push her off, sending Veyra stumbling back. Both women rose to their feet, eyes locked. I left because I was suffocating Veyra spat. I deserved more than being a trophy Luna. And now you want to take everything I abandoned. Seraphina stepped forward, fire igniting in her eyes. I didn\\\'t take anything, but I\\\'ll protect them with everything I have. Your daughters deserve love. Darius deserves loyalty, and I will give them both. Veyra snarled. I\\\'m warning you, she growled. Leave now or I\\\'ll ruin you. With that, she shifted into a sleek russet wolf, her growl echoing through the trees before vanishing into the shadows of the night, Seraphina stood shaking slightly, but not from fear, from fury. She didn\\\'t realize someone had been watching. Behind a nearby tree cloaked by shadows, Darius\\\'s silverfang stood silent, unmoving. He had followed Seraphina as he often did when she went on evening runs, drawn by instinct, by the fear she might be taken from him. He had heard it all, her defiance, her love, her vow to protect his daughters. A deep growl vibrated in his chest, not of anger, but of possession, of longing. She was his, his Luna. The truth settled in him like a sunrise. Days passed and tension hung heavy in the air like a storm waiting to break. Darius invited Seraphina to the library, an ancient candle-lit room filled with secrets and history. She entered cautiously, finding him at the hearth, dressed in black, his jaw clenched tight. \\\'You wanted to see me?\\\' she asked. He didn\\\'t speak immediately. He gestured to a seat across from him, and she obeyed. There\\\'s something I\\\'ve never told anyone outside my bloodline, Darius said after a long pause. But I want you to know because I trust you, Seraphina swallowed hard. What is it? He met her eyes. The Nightshades have a weakness. During the blood moon, once every 5 years, our strength fades, our wolves weaken. It\\\'s the only time we\\\'re truly vulnerable. Her heart stopped. That was it. the strategic advantage her father had been waiting for. The detail that could give Iron Fang the upper hand, Darius continued, unaware of the war in her heart. It\\\'s why we close the estate and retreat indoors during the blood moon. No one outside the inner circle knows. Seraphina nodded slowly, carefully masking the tremor in her voice. Why tell me? He leaned forward. Because you matter to me, and I believe in protecting what matters. Her throat burned, her eyes stung. Later that night, she stood alone on the balcony of her room, staring at the stars. In her pocket, her burner phone buzzed. Her father\\\'s message glared at her. Have you found their weakness yet? Seraphina\\\'s fingers hovered over the keys. The answer was yes. She had the information. She could tip the scales of power in a second, but she didn\\\'t. She deleted the message, turned off the phone, and stepped away from the balcony because love, true love, was no longer a luxury she could deny. And betraying Darius now, after everything, would shatter more than just her heart. It would destroy the family she had grown to cherish. And for that family, Seraphina would defy everything, even her own blood. Chapter 8. Veyra\\\'s revenge. The forest air felt sharper, heavier. Something dark was stirring beneath the trees and within hearts. Seraphina sensed it, an unease that clung to her skin like cold mist. She had not told Darius the truth. Not yet. Every time she looked into his eyes, she felt the truth choking her. But how could she speak it when silence protected the family she\\\'d grown to love? But secrets don\\\'t stay buried. Not forever. Far away, cloaked in vengeance and shadows, Veyra paced inside a luxury hotel penthouse. The glow of her laptop painting her face in eerie blue light. She\\\'d spent days hunting for Seraphina\\\'s past, obsessed with tearing apart the woman who had somehow taken her place. Her lips curled into a smirk when the truth flashed before her eyes. Seraphina wasn\\\'t from the Emberwylde Pack at all. She was the daughter of Alpha Kaelthor, Iron Fang\\\'s disgraced leader. Rage boiled in Veyra\\\'s chest. She remembered Kaelthor. She had been the one who stripped his pack\\\'s magic and spread the lie that it was Darius\\\'s doing. The betrayal, the manipulations, the destruction of a pack she considered a threat to her dominance. And now Kaelthor\\\'s daughter had wormed her way into Darius\\\'s home. his heart. No, not on her watch. Driven by fury, Veyra devised a plan and slipped away under the veil of night, making her way to the Iron Fang border. She arrived cloaked, her scent masked. The warriors who approached her were wary until she called herself an ally. \\\'I have information you\\\'ll want,\\\' she told the sentries about your enemies. Word reached Alpha Kaelthor quickly. When Veyra was ushered into his darkened war tent, she expected arrogance and cruelty. \\\'What she didn\\\'t expect was calculation. Still powerful, still ruthless.\\\' Kaelthor regarded her with cold eyes that saw straight through her. \\\'I know who you are,\\\' he said without preamble. Veyra didn\\\'t flinch. \\\'Then you know I have no loyalty to Nightshade. I came with a gift.\\\' He said nothing, so she continued, voice low. Every 5 years during the blood moon, the Nightshades weaken. Their wolves are powerless. Their security becomes ornamental, and no one outside their pack knows this. She paused, letting the silence do the rest. Kaelthor raised an eyebrow, curious. Why now? Because the she-wolf in your ranks, your daughter. She\\\'s forgotten her purpose. She\\\'s forgotten you. A flicker of something unreadable crossed Kaelthor\\\'s face. He didn\\\'t trust Veyra, but he trusted the opportunity. He dismissed her, but the wheels of war were already turning. Back at Nightshade mansion, Seraphina paced the hallways like a ghost. Every time she passed Darius\\\'s study or caught the scent of his cologne in the corridor, her heart ached. She knew what she had to do. She had to tell him, but she couldn\\\'t. And when she looked into Lyra and Sable\\\'s joyful faces, she knew that revealing the truth might rip them apart. She whispered to the silence, \\\'Just a little more time.\\\' That night, the stars glowed crimson. The blood moon rose. Inside the estate, the Nightshades had already sealed the gates. They had no reason to expect an attack. No one outside their bloodline had ever known about the blood moon weakness. It was sacred, sworn. Until now, the Iron Fang warriors struck with ruthless precision, crossing the borders with weapons enchanted by old forest witches and claws sharpened with vengeance. They knew exactly when to strike, when their enemies would be at their weakest. They breached the estate before the alarms could even scream. Darius, meanwhile, fought tooth and nail in his study, but even his strength was faltering. He was magnificent, even weakened, but the blood moon stripped him of his edge. One by one, the guards around him fell. They came for him next. A dozen warriors armed with silver chains. He roared, but they overpowered him, dragging him down with brutal force. Blood stained his shirt, and still he fought until they drugged him with wolf\\\'s bane and locked him in silver restraints. Captured, the great alpha of Nightshade brought to his knees. The estate burned in the distance, small fires set to drive the pack indoors. Inside, the remaining Nightshades hid or were taken. Someone had betrayed them, and above the blood moon watched, silent and merciless. War had come to Nightshade, and nothing would ever be the same again. Chapter 9. Escape to the lake. The air inside the Iron Fang stronghold was thick with the weight of power and old grudges. Alpha Darius Nightshade, chained in silver cuffs that burned into his skin, sat tall and silent in the dimly lit cell. His mind was already racing when the steel doors creaked open and in walked Alpha Kaelthor clad in black, his crimson eyes burning with rage and grim satisfaction. You didn\\\'t think your secrets would remain hidden forever, did you, Nightshade? Kaelthor hissed. Darius met his stare without flinching. What are you talking about? Kaelthor gave a cruel smile. Your pack\\\'s little blood moon weakness. Someone from inside told me. someone close to you. At that moment, Darius\\\'s chest tightened. The pain from the silver cuffs dulled in comparison to the searing ache in his heart. He thought of Seraphina, her smile, the softness in her touch, the way she made his daughters glow with happiness. His mind fought to reject the thought, but the seed had been planted. Betrayal or something darker? Kaelthor laughed lowly and left him there, broken and burning with questions. Seraphina\\\'s voice mingled with a cheerful chorus of Lyra and Sable\\\'s song as they drove home from ballet. The girls giggled, mimicking twirls with their arms and talking about what flavor of ice cream they wanted for dessert. But as they neared the Nightshade Estate, Seraphina\\\'s instincts kicked in. She slowed the car when she spotted unfamiliar vehicles parked along the estate perimeter. Her eyes locked onto the Iron Fang sigils etched onto the black SUVs. Her heart dropped. Her father had made his move. \\\'Girls, change of plans,\\\' she said, masking the panic in her voice with a smile. She made a sharp U-turn and sped off, heading toward the only safe place she could think of, the lakehouse Darius had gifted her. Seraphina clutched the wheel tightly. Her wolf snarled within, torn between the pull of blood and the call of her heart. She had betrayed Darius without meaning to. Somehow her silence, her omission had fed into her father\\\'s vengeance. They arrived at the lakehouse just as the sun set behind the horizon. Seraphina ushered the twins inside, locked every door, drew the curtains, and armed the perimeter with protective charms she learned in her childhood. \\\'Are we on a secret adventure?\\\' Sable asked, her voice a mix of excitement and concern. \\\'Yes, baby,\\\' Seraphina whispered, brushing a hand over her hair. But I need you both to be very quiet. Okay. The girls nodded. Seraphina tucked them into bed, kissed their foreheads, and waited until she heard their soft snores before stepping out onto the porch. The moonlight rippled across the lake surface. Seraphina sank to her knees on the deck and sobbed silently. She had never wanted this war. She had never expected to fall in love. Not with the enemy, not with the alpha her pack blamed for all their losses. But Darius wasn\\\'t the monster they painted him to be. He was a father who loved fiercely, a man with integrity and heartbreak tucked behind his powerful exterior. And now he was in danger because of her. Her wolf stirred. A silent vow formed within her soul. She would save him. Seraphina rose, her back straightening, eyes gleaming in the moonlight. The guilt wouldn\\\'t fade, but she could still fix this. She began pacing, planning every step. She knew her father\\\'s tactics, his strategies, his blind spots. Her mission had changed. It wasn\\\'t about gathering intelligence anymore. It was about redemption and love. Tomorrow, she\\\'d return to Iron Fang territory to do the unthinkable. She would betray her blood to save her heart. And this time, she wouldn\\\'t fail. Chapter 10. The Council and the Fall. The Nightshade estate was no longer the safe haven it once had been. With Darius still in captivity and Seraphina missing from the mansion, tension rose like wildfire, consuming what little peace remained in the pack. And Veyra, beautiful, manipulative, dangerous Veyra, used the absence of the alpha to stir the flames to her favor. Under the pretense of emergency, Veyra summoned the Nightshade Council, the ancient wolves, gray-haired and heavy with tradition, gathered in the ancestral council hall. As the ex-Luna, she still held a degree of authority in their eyes, especially now that the true alpha was imprisoned and unreachable. She stood at the head of the long stone table, her posture regal, her eyes cold. The time has come for Nightshade to rise from its ashes, she declared. We were betrayed from within. Not by our enemies, but by someone close to Darius, someone he trusted. Gasps rippled through the council. Seraphina Emberwylde, Veyra said, her voice venomous. Or should I say, Seraphina of Iron Fang, daughter of Alpha Kaelthor, the very one who orchestrated the attack on us. There was a moment of stunned silence before the council broke into murmurs and hushed debates. She was the closest to him. An elder said she knew about the girls, the routines, the mansion, and how would she know about the blood moon? Only someone on the inside could have revealed that. The room shifted quickly from shock to accusation. Seraphina, the young woman who had warmed Darius\\\'s cold heart, who had cared for the twins as if they were her own, became the scapegoat. Veyra watched the council crumble under her manipulation, satisfaction flickering in her eyes. She didn\\\'t reveal that she had betrayed the Nightshades, that she had whispered secrets into the ears of Iron Fang\\\'s Alpha Kaelthor. No, Seraphina was the perfect pawn to take the fall. By the time the council recessed, Veyra had everything she wanted. The council\\\'s blessing to take over Nightshade in Darius\\\'s absence. As interim alpha, news traveled quickly. Darius, still caged in a silver-bound cell deep in Iron Fang territory, received word through whispers carried by his captured warriors. Veyra has taken the council. She blamed Seraphina. They believe she betrayed you. Darius clenched his fists, fury overtaking his entire being. Not at Seraphina, but at himself for trusting her. The pain was sharper than any physical blow. A cocktail of anger, betrayal, and heartbreak twisted inside him. But deep down, a part of him screamed that it couldn\\\'t be true. Seraphina couldn\\\'t have betrayed him. Not the woman who laughed with his daughters. Not the woman whose scent haunted his dreams. Meanwhile, in the quiet sanctuary of the lakehouse, Seraphina remained hidden with the twins. She had done everything to keep them safe, never lighting fires at night, never using phones, keeping all windows shuttered, but food and water had run low. One afternoon, she left the lakehouse to drive to a nearby hidden grocer deep in werewolf territory. The girls were safe, nestled inside with a fireplace gently crackling. She wore a hoodie and sunglasses, blending into the background. But her scent, familiar and unmistakable to wolves, betrayed her. On the way back, just as the lakehouse came into view through the trees, she sensed it. Too late. The ambush. Out of the woods emerged wolves cloaked in Nightshade sigils. But they weren\\\'t the loyal guards of Darius. These were wolves who had pledged allegiance to Veyra. Their eyes were cold, their stance aggressive. Seraphina tried to run, but they had been tracking her. A dart pierced her side, laced with wolf\\\'s bane. She stumbled, fell. Veyra approached slowly, her smirk cruel and triumphant. \\\'Thought you could run forever, little fox,\\\' she whispered. \\\'You should have left while you had the chance.\\\' Seraphina growled weakly, but her limbs betrayed her. \\\'You framed me. I simply exposed the truth. You were too cowardly to admit.\\\' Veyra circled her like a predator. You\\\'ll go down in history as the girl who nearly ruined Nightshade. And now you\\\'ll disappear quietly. You think hiding with my daughters makes you their mother? You\\\'re nothing but a traitor, and now you\\\'ll pay for it. As Seraphina lost consciousness, the last thing she saw was Veyra ordering the others to leave the girls untouched for now. Then everything faded to black. The world was shifting again, and this time the fall might be greater than anything Seraphina or Darius could have prepared for. Chapter 11. The Chamber of Truths. The chamber was cold, silent, and steeped in despair. Deep beneath Veyra\\\'s newly claimed Nightshade Fortress. The walls of rough stone swallowed light and hope alike. Seraphina lay on the floor, her once radiant hair matted and dull. Her skin pale from days without food or water. Every breath she took was shallow, her strength slowly ebbing away. Her hands were chained to the wall, and the only sound was the slow drip of water from a pipe overhead, mocking her thirst. Veyra visited her every day. She never brought food or comfort, only venomous words and twisted truths. On the seventh day, Veyra entered the chamber with her usual smug smile, her steps echoing as she approached. Seraphina looked up weakly, her body aching, her lips cracked. \\\'You think you were betrayed by Darius? That he was the monster in your story?\\\' Veyra sneered, kneeling so they were eye to eye. \\\'You poor foolish girl. It was never Darius.\\\' Seraphina\\\'s breath hitched. Veyra leaned in closer. \\\'It was me. I destroyed Kaelthor. I framed Darius for it. Your father never even saw it coming. I leaked the Nightshade Blood Moon secret to Kaelthor myself, just to see both packs crumble from within. Seraphina blinked slowly, trying to understand the magnitude of what she had just heard. Her entire life, her mission, her hatred had been built on a lie. She had hated the wrong person, betrayed the wrong man. Rage erupted inside her like wildfire. you.\\\' She tried to speak, but her voice was raw. \\\'Why?\\\' Veyra grinned, standing up. \\\'Because I could. Because I wanted everything Darius had, and if I couldn\\\'t have it, I\\\'d see it all burn.\\\' Unbeknownst to Veyra, two small shadows were hiding in the darkened hallway just beyond the chamber door. Lyra and Sable. The twins, their hearts pounding in their tiny chests, had followed Veyra. Their innocent eyes had seen and heard everything. Their faith in their mother shattered. Tears rolled silently down Sable\\\'s cheeks, and Lyra clenched her little fists. Seraphina had always loved them, protected them. And now she was suffering for something she never did. When Veyra left the chamber, locking the door behind her, the girls waited until the hallway was clear. They crept forward, their tiny fingers fumbling with the set of stolen keys they had taken from Veyra\\\'s cloak earlier. Seraphina lay limp, but her eyes fluttered open when she heard the soft whisper. Seraphina, it\\\'s us. She gasped when she saw Lyra and Sable. What? How did you? We heard everything, Lyra said. We know the truth. We know you\\\'re not the enemy. Sable worked the key into the lock, tears streaking her cheeks. With a final twist, the shackles fell away. Seraphina collapsed into their arms, weak but overwhelmed by emotion. She wrapped her arms around them, holding them tightly. \\\'Thank you,\\\' she whispered, her voice cracking. \\\'Thank you, girls.\\\' As they helped her to her feet, the bond between them deepened. \\\'No bloodline or prophecy could be stronger than the love they now shared. They weren\\\'t just girls under her care. They were family. Together they would escape. Together they would fight. And together they would bring the truth to light. Seraphina\\\'s heart beat with new purpose. It was no longer just about love or betrayal. It was about justice for herself, for Darius, for the daughters who had shown her the greatest loyalty. And for the first time in days, hope bloomed. The Chamber of Truths had become the birthplace of their rebellion. Chapter 12. A daughter\\\'s defiance. The stars shimmered above the lakehouse, but peace had become a fragile dream. Seraphina and the girls returned under the veil of night, their steps careful, weary from the trauma they\\\'d endured. But as they approached, Seraphina halted in surprise. Nightshade soldiers, silent, vigilant, stood around the property, their presence a wall of strength and loyalty. They were Darius\\\'s wolves, those loyal to their true alpha, stationed there to guard his heart, his daughters, and now Seraphina. The girls ran into the house, giggling with a kind of joy that only children could still find in such chaos. Seraphina, however, remained outside. She stared into the forest that surrounded the estate, the full moon casting silver shadows across the earth. Her heart ached for Darius. He was still imprisoned, broken, and she couldn\\\'t bear the thought of leaving him behind. In the days that followed, Seraphina transformed into something more than a caretaker. She trained Lyra and Sable in combat, shifting, and self-defense. It was no longer about ballet lessons or bedtime stories. It was survival. The girls listened, learned, and grew stronger, just like their father would have wanted. But Seraphina couldn\\\'t sit still. The longer Darius remained in the hands of Iron Fang, the more unbearable the guilt became. So she made a decision, a dangerous, defiant one. That night, cloaked in shadows, she slipped through the woods and crossed into Iron Fang territory. Her childhood memories of the land guided her silently. She moved like a ghost, slipping past guards and old friends turned strangers. In the depths of Iron Fang stronghold, she found Darius. He was chained, weakened by the blood moon\\\'s after effects. His shirt torn, his body marked by neglect and wounds. But when their eyes met, something shifted in him. He stood taller, even as his body trembled. \\\'Seraphina,\\\' he whispered, voice and cracked. \\\'You came?\\\' she knelt by him, unchaining his wrists with trembling hands. \\\'Of course I came. I\\\'m not leaving you behind.\\\' With his weight pressed against her shoulder, they slipped out. The guards didn\\\'t stop them. Why would they? Seraphina had been one of them. She knew the hidden paths, the blind spots. But just as they reached the outer boundary, a large figure blocked their path. Alpha Kaelthor. He stared at his daughter and the man she held up, bloodied and battered. Why? Kaelthor growled, his voice heavy with disappointment and disbelief. Why would you betray your own blood for him? Seraphina\\\'s heart pounded, but she stood tall. \\\'I didn\\\'t plan for this. I didn\\\'t expect to fall for him, for the girls, but I do. I would die for them.\\\' Darius, barely conscious, lifted his head with great effort. \\\'She\\\'s everything,\\\' he murmured. \\\'Seraphina changed. Changed everything for me, for my girls.\\\' The raw emotion in his voice, his confession echoed in the cold night. Kaelthor\\\'s stern expression faltered. He remembered the young girl he once loved, the innocence of a past long buried. For a moment, he saw Seraphina not as a traitor, but as a daughter who had found her own path to love. Chapter 13. A father\\\'s choice. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the Iron Fang territory. Alpha Kaelthor stood before Seraphina and Darius, his expression unreadable. The wind howled around them like the spirits of old wolves whispering secrets in the night. Seraphina stood tall, shielding Darius\\\'s weakened body behind her as Kaelthor took a slow step forward. His eyes weren\\\'t filled with rage. They were clouded with memories. \\\'I loved your mother,\\\' Kaelthor said, voice thick with old sorrow. \\\'And I see her in you, fierce, stubborn, loyal.\\\' Seraphina\\\'s hands trembled at her sides. I never meant to betray you, father. I just—I never expected to love him or the girls, but I do. I would die for them. Darius groaned beside her, barely able to stand, but his grip tightened on her hand. \\\'And I love her,\\\' he whispered hoarsely, his voice roughened by days of torture. \\\'Seraphina changed everything for me. She made me believe again.\\\' Kaelthor closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. Then go. But know this, if you\\\'re wrong about him, if he ever hurts you, no wolf, no moon, no heaven will protect him from me. I wouldn\\\'t want it any other way, she replied. The silence that followed was deafening. Kaelthor turned away, shoulders hunched beneath the weight of years and wars and the ruin of a pack legacy he had mourned for far too long. before I change my mind. Go and don\\\'t come back, Kaelthor said. Seraphina\\\'s heart broke and healed at the same time. She helped Darius walk, his arm over her shoulder as they limped away from the heart of Iron Fang, past guards, who did not stop her. A single tear slipped down Kaelthor\\\'s cheek. As they reached the Nightshade border, they found Lyra and Sable waiting beneath the whispering trees, bundled in cloaks, their faces alight with joy and worry. They rushed toward their father, throwing themselves into his arms, even as he staggered under their weight. \\\'We knew you\\\'d come back,\\\' Sable whispered, eyes wide with unshed tears. \\\'Seraphina said you would,\\\' Lyra added, looking up at Seraphina with pride. They were not alone behind the girls. A contingent of Nightshade soldiers stood at attention, having trailed the girls for protection. With a soft nod, Seraphina led the group back to the lakehouse. It was near dawn by the time they arrived. The forest was quiet, only the distant hoots of owls and chirping crickets breaking the silence. The lakehouse welcomed them with warm lights and familiar walls, a sanctuary amidst the storm. Darius was given medical attention, his wounds cleaned and bandaged by Seraphina\\\'s gentle hands. Yet, though his body began to heal, his eyes never softened when they met hers. He sat in the master bedroom later that night, staring out the window at the lake, glimmering under the stars. His heart was torn. He had loved Seraphina, maybe still did, but the betrayal cut deep. Seraphina lay on her bed in the room across the hall, staring up at the ceiling. The space between them felt like an abyss. She could feel the distance in his silence, the heartbreak behind his eyes. She closed her eyes and replayed every moment of their time together. Every laugh, every secret glance, every whispered word. She loved him. She loved his daughters. She had betrayed her mission, her pack, and risked her life because of that love. But would it ever be enough? In his room, Darius clenched his fists. Everything he\\\'d fought for, his daughters, his estate, his pack, had been upended in a whirlwind of secrets and betrayal. But he couldn\\\'t deny what he\\\'d seen in Seraphina\\\'s eyes when she faced her father for him. He couldn\\\'t forget the strength she\\\'d shown. And the way the girls looked at her, trusted her, loved her. He wasn\\\'t ready to forgive. Not yet. But maybe, just maybe, he wasn\\\'t ready to let go either. Outside, the moon began to sink, and the sky bled into dawn. Somewhere between darkness and light, two hearts lay broken, but not yet beyond repair, and love, silent and aching, waited patiently in the space between. Chapter 14. Hideout by the lake. The lake shimmered like glass beneath a warm spring sun. Tucked away deep within the protective embrace of the forest stood a hidden wooden cottage, rustic yet elegant, nestled beside the lake\\\'s edge. The hideout was known only to the most trusted of the Nightshade pack. Here the world seemed to pause. No pack wars, no betrayals, no burdens of leadership, just peace for now. Darius\\\'s silver fang lay quietly on a long couch before the fireplace, his muscular frame bandaged and tense from the battle wounds he had suffered. Days had passed since they escaped Iron Fang territory. Yet the pain of betrayal and confusion lingered heavier than any physical injury. His daughters, Lyra and Sable, bustled around him like little guardians, helping with meals, bringing water, whispering jokes to make him smile. But Darius remained silent. He hadn\\\'t spoken to Seraphina. Seraphina, who now occupied the room across the hall, had taken on the role of caregiver with quiet devotion. She cooked, cleaned, dressed his wounds, and cared for the girls. She kept her distance, knowing the storm of mistrust raged behind Darius\\\'s eyes. She couldn\\\'t blame him. Each night, she sat by her window, staring out at the lake as the moonlight danced across its surface. The tranquil view didn\\\'t ease her guilt. She had lied, hid her identity, kept secrets that threatened everything. The twins noticed the growing space between their father and the woman they had come to love like a second mother. At first, they kept quiet, believing the silence would break with time. But each passing day grew heavier. The air in the cottage was thick with everything unsaid. Finally, one rainy evening, Lyra stood at the foot of her father\\\'s bed. her arms crossed tightly. Sable sat beside him, fiddling with the edge of the blanket. \\\'Daddy,\\\' Sable whispered. \\\'Why won\\\'t you talk to Seraphina?\\\' Darius turned his head slightly, but said nothing. \\\'We know you\\\'re angry,\\\' Lyra added. \\\'But she saved us. You should know the truth.\\\' He blinked. \\\'The truth?\\\' \\\'Yes,\\\' Sable nodded, her voice trembling. \\\'We heard everything. That night, Seraphina was taken by Veyra. We were hiding behind the stairwell. We heard Veyra at the mention of his ex-Luna\\\'s name. Darius\\\'s jaw clenched. She was the one who told Alpha Kaelthor of Iron Fang about the blood moon. She was the traitor all along, not you. She framed you, Daddy. She made Alpha Kaelthor hate you. And she tortured Seraphina. Darius\\\'s world shifted. Lyra\\\'s eyes were wet. Seraphina didn\\\'t tell you because she didn\\\'t want to cause more pain. But we thought maybe if you knew the truth, you\\\'d understand why she risked everything. If she was bad, why would she do all that for us? His throat tightened. Emotions he had buried began to rise. Guilt, sorrow, regret. I\\\'m sorry, he murmured, pulling both girls into his arms. I\\\'m so sorry you had to go through any of this. It\\\'s not your fault, Lyra whispered. And it\\\'s not hers either. Later that night, after the girls had fallen asleep, Darius stood outside Seraphina\\\'s door. Through the narrow crack, he could see her curled on the bed, a blanket draped over her legs, her red hair glowing softly under the moonlight coming from the window. She was looking out at the lake again, as if hoping the waters would wash away all the pain. He knocked gently and stepped in. Seraphina turned startled but said nothing. He sat beside her, both of them silent for a moment, listening to the soft rustle of the trees outside. \\\'I should have known,\\\' Darius said at last. \\\'You were never the enemy. I let my anger blind me. I let you suffer in silence.\\\' Seraphina blinked fast, biting her lip. I should have told you who I was from the beginning. I just—I didn\\\'t want to ruin the trust we were building. I was scared. You were protecting my girls, he whispered, his voice raw. You were protecting all of us. And I turned my back on you. Seraphina looked down and slowly met his gaze. I never stopped caring, Darius. Not even when it hurt. He leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from her face. You\\\'ve been my mate this whole time. Her breath hitched. I knew from the first moment I saw you, but I didn\\\'t want to push you. I didn\\\'t want to use fate as an excuse. Seraphina\\\'s eyes welled with tears. You should have told me. I know. And then there were no more words. He leaned forward and kissed her deeply and slowly as if tasting truth for the first time. Her hands found his shoulders, and he drew