Page 115 of Seraphina (Castle Omega)

“No, I came to kill you,” she declares, her voice resolute. She rises from her seat, spilling tea as she tosses her cup onto my father. She crouches before him, her voice steady and cold. “Your reign of terror is over. Finally.”

Detached, my mother watches as my father draws his last breath, staring up at the omega he once abused. I had always imagined I would be the one to end his tyranny, but no—this privilege, this right, has always belonged to her.

I look at my father’s lifeless body and feel nothing. No love, no hate—only a deep sense of peace that his threats against my life and pack are forever silenced.

As he fades away, my mother’s shoulders sag with relief. She turns to me, her eyes brimming with pure happiness. “Devlin,” she whispers before rushing over and wrapping her arms around me, her soft sobs shaking her body.

It takes me a moment to respond, but then I embrace her tightly, her familiar scent enveloping me like a childhood balm. Suddenly, I’m six years old again, frightened by a storm outside, and there she is, my mother, crawling into bed beside me to soothe my fears, her scent a cocoon of love and comfort.

I want to savor this moment, to hold on to the feeling of being safe in my mother’s embrace, but I can’t. Not yet.

Pulling back, I put my mother at arm’s length.

“What is it?” my mother asks, her instincts instantly switching to alert mode.

“My mate is in danger,” I say, urgency coloring my voice.

Without hesitation, she moves to grab her coat, surprising me. “Let’s go help her. I’ve wasted enough years being held back by fear,” she declares, glancing at my father’s lifeless body before turning back to me. “You’ve got backup now, Devlin. I’m sorry it took me this long.”

Her words resonate with a deep sense of regret and resolve. I nod, accepting her apology, though my thoughts are already racing ahead to Seraphina and the others. I need to be with them now.

The door bursts open, and Ashton strides in, followed by my dads, including the one I never met before. “Do you know this one?” Torren asks, his gaze moving between us.

Ashton, however, seems unfazed by the gravity of the situation. He whistles at the sight of my father’s body and comments, “Nice job, Dev.”

I’m about to correct him, to say I didn’t do it, but my mother speaks first. “A job well done, don’t you think, Devlin?” she asks, tilting her head slightly.

I understand her tactic immediately. If word spreads that she was the one who killed him, she would be putting her own life in danger, but if it’s believed that I, as his heir, was responsible, then they would see it as a rightful act of succession in our society.

“Yes,” I reply quietly, a mix of reluctance and necessity in my voice. I don’t want his death on my conscience, but it’s a necessary illusion to protect my mother and keep our pack safe.

There’s a weight to this moment, a turning point that marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. As I stand there, surrounded by my newfound family, I feel a sense of unity and purpose. We’re a pack now, bound not just by blood but by our shared experiences and the trials we’ve overcome.

With a final look at my father, I turn to face my family. “We need to move fast. Seraphina and the others are waiting.” My voice is steady, the role of a leader settling naturally on my shoulders.

As we leave the room, leaving the past behind, I step into the future with a newfound determination. We are stronger together, and whatever challenges lie ahead, we will face them as one.

CHAPTER 34

Seraphina

The wind whipsaround my face, its frigid touch making the exposed skin on my neck sting sharply. Bundled up in layers of thick, insulated clothing, I’m grateful for Max’s insistence on wrapping me up so well. Huddled against his back, I feel his warmth seeping through, a stark contrast to the cold air around us.

Gripping the edges of Max’s jacket, I trust him to navigate the snowmobile expertly through the dense woods. Avery leads the way on another snowmobile, but I can’t shake off the suspicion that we’re going in circles. I’ve recognized the same landmarks at least three times, suggesting we’ve backtracked.

When Max finally slows down, coming to a stop beside Avery, the sudden silence feels alien after the constant hum of the engines. Max removes his helmet, his face a picture of discomfort from the cold. Avery, doing the same, looks equally affected by the freezing temperature.

“How far?” Max sniffles.

Avery points ahead, his breath visible in the icy air. “Half a mile. Straight ahead,” he confirms.

“Alright, let’s head directly there?—”

“What?” I can’t help but interject, my anxiety spiking. Struggling with my helmet, I fumble with the clasp in my haste. Max, ever attentive, helps me with it.

Avery looks at me, a mix of determination and concern in his eyes. “I agree with Max. We should go directly. I’ve circled back numerous times, and there isn’t an area they haven’t scouted.”

“But it could be an ambush,” I counter, worry evident in my voice. “Driving straight up to the cabin might be exactly what they expect. And what if Thea is behind this? I still can’t wrap my head around her being part of something so... dark.”

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