We stayed for what felt like hours but was probably only two. Tristan paced the small room like a caged wolf, his alpha energy crackling
with barely contained rage.
I sat in the uncomfortable visitor’s chair, trying not to stare at Seraphine’s battered face, trying not to let the memories it triggered drag
me back into my own dark places.
When she finally woke up, her voice was barely a whisper, hoarse from the damage to her throat.
“Tristan?” she managed, her eyes unfocused from the medication.
“I’m here,” he said, immediately moving to her bedside. His voice was gentle, the way it got when he was trying to comfort someone who
was hurting. “You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
She tried to sit up but winced and fell back against the pillows. “He said… he said I embarrassed him at the pack meeting. That I talked
too much, made him look weak.”
Tristan’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Sera, how long has this been going on?”
“A while,” she admitted, tears starting to slip down her cheeks. “It wasn’t always this bad. At first it was just… grabbing too hard when he was angry. Pushing me when I said something he didn’t like. But lately…”
She trailed off, her hand moving unconsciously to her stomach. “I lost my baby,” she whispered, and the pain in her voice was so raw it made my chest ache. “Last month. He said it was my fault, that I was too weak to carry his pup properly.”
That’s when the memories I’d managed to bury came flooding back.
The room started spinning, and I must have made some kind of sound because suddenly Tristan was at my side, his hands on my
shoulders, steadying me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
2
“I’m fine, I managed, even though I was anything but fine. The similarities between Seraphine’s story and my own were too much, too
close to the surface.
Tristan studied my face for a long moment, and I could see the exact moment he put the pieces together. His expression darkened with
understanding and rage.
“We should go,” he said quietly. “Let Seraphine rest.”
The next day at work, everything felt different. Tristan was distracted, constantly checking his phone, and I could tell his mind was
elsewhere.
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18:37 Fri, Jan 2
Chapter 41
:
Around noon, he got a call that made him immediately start gathering his things.
“She’s asking for me,” he said, not really looking at me. “The doctor thinks it would be good for her recovery if she has familiar faces
around.”
My heart sank, even though I had no right to feel possessive of his time and attention. Seraphine needed him more than I did. She was
fighting for her life and recovery from trauma that I understood all too well. Even though I still don’t know their relationship together.
“You should go,” I said, forcing my voice to sound normal. “She needs you.”
He hesitated, clearly torn. “Come with me. I don’t like leaving you alone, especially after…..” He didn’t complete it but I already know
what he was saying.
“I can take care of myself,” I insisted, even though part of me wanted nothing more than to stay close to his protective presence. “Leah
will drive me home. We’ve been doing fine without you hovering over me.”
He tried to argue, but I could see the urgency in his eyes. Seraphine was calling for him, and he needed to answer.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he promised, grabbing his keys. “Call me if anything happens. Anything at all.”
Comments
R Visitor
is it Victoria or seraphine, Daxon or dixson…
7 days ago
✩ 7
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
