Chapter 160: Caged Dreams

Seraphine's POV

The word Luna came out of Vespera's mouth like honey dripped over broken glass—sweet on the surface, sharp underneath. She knew exactly what she was doing, wielding that title like a weapon, and the worst part was that it fucking worked.

"Alpha Kieran wouldn't have any reason to refuse our Luna's small request," she continued, her tone perfectly measured. "A simple visit to verify information about a missing family member. What alliance would deny such a thing?"

I felt Cordelia stiffen beside me. Lucian's jaw tightened. Orion shifted his weight, and I knew they all saw the trap closing around us just as clearly as I did.

"I appreciate the suggestion," I said, forcing the words through clenched teeth.

Vespera smiled. Small. Satisfied. Like she'd already won whatever game she was playing.

"Well," she said, smoothing down her dress, "I should be going."

Lucian stepped forward. "Jason will escort you out."

"How thoughtful." Vespera's eyes found mine one last time. "I do hope you find what you're looking for, my dear Luna."

The way she said it—like she was already laughing at whatever disaster waited for me in Ironfall—made my blood boil. But I stood there, perfectly still, until Jason led her out of the room.

The second the door closed, I whirled toward the others. "I'm going to Ironfall. Now."

"Absolutely not." Orion's response was immediate.

"It's not up for debate."

"You're right," he shot back. "It's not. Kaelen left orders to keep you safe, and charging into another pack's territory without him isn't safe."

"She could be there." My voice climbed despite my efforts to keep it level. "My sister could be sitting in a cell right now, and you want me to just wait?"

"I want you to wait for Kaelen to return," Lucian said quietly. "To make a plan."

"Properly." I laughed, jagged. "How long would that take? Another day? Two? While Lyralei sits there wondering if I'm ever coming for her?"

Cordelia moved closer, her hand finding my arm. "Sera—"

"Don't." I shook her off. "If it was your sister, you'd already be halfway there."

"Maybe," she admitted. "But I'd also be wrong."

The truth of that hit harder than any argument. I wanted to scream. I wanted Kaelen here so badly it physically hurt.

The mate mark throbbed against my throat, hot and insistent, trying to pull me toward him across whatever distance separated us.

"We wait," Orion said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "When Kaelen returns, we assess the situation together."

"And if the information changes by then?" I demanded.

"Then we deal with it," Lucian cut in. "But we deal with it smart. Not emotional."

I wanted to argue. God, I wanted to fight them on this. But the exhaustion was catching up, leaving nothing but hollow ache.

"Fine," I said finally. "We wait for Kaelen."

Cordelia's hand returned to my arm, gentler this time. "Come on. You need to rest."

I let her guide me to Kaelen's room, feeling Lucian and Orion's eyes on my back. They didn't trust me. I didn't blame them.

---

Two days.

Two fucking days since Vespera dropped that bomb, and Kaelen still wasn't back. I'd tried reaching him—sent messages, called, demanded answers. Every single response was the same: Wait for me to return. We'll handle this together. But two days later, he still wasn't here, and I was done being patient.

Two days of waiting, of pacing, of pretending I could be patient. Two days of sleeping in an empty bed that smelled like him but felt like a coffin.

And two nights of the same goddamn nightmare.

It came again, dragging me under before I even realized I'd fallen asleep.

Lyralei was in a cage.

Iron bars on all sides, barely big enough for her to sit up straight. Her blonde hair was matted, her clothes torn. When she saw me, her green eyes went wide.

"Sera!" Her voice cracked. "Sera, please, you have to help me!"

I ran toward her, but my feet moved through water—thick and resistant, holding me back.

"I'm coming," I shouted. "Hold on!"

But the cage started sinking. Slowly at first, then faster, the ground opening up beneath it.

"Sera!" Lyralei's hands wrapped around the bars, knuckles white. "Don't leave me!"

"I won't!" I was screaming now, clawing at the water. "Lyralei—"

The cage disappeared into darkness. Her screams echoed, growing fainter until they cut off entirely.

I jolted awake, heart slamming against my ribs, sweat soaking through my shirt. The clock read 1:51 AM.

Fuck.

I sat up, pressing my palms against my eyes. The third night in a row. The same fucking dream, over and over, like my subconscious was beating me over the head with a message I couldn't ignore.

And I was done waiting.

I'd tried running once before—bolted straight out the front door like an idiot. Kaelen had caught me before I'd made it a hundred yards. This time had to be different.

I moved to the window, staying behind the curtain's edge. Two guards patrolled in synchronized patterns, crossing paths every three minutes. Another stood near the training grounds, watching the forest line.

I tracked them for fifteen minutes, memorizing the rhythm. There was a section along the western edge where the lights didn't quite reach.

I changed into dark clothes—black jeans, dark gray shirt, boots. Tucked a knife into my waistband and another into my boot.

The hallway outside my room was silent. I eased the door open and slipped into the shadows.

---

Getting out of the house was easier than expected. Maybe my obedient behavior these past two days made them think I'd actually wait for Kaelen to return. The back entrance was unguarded. Outside, I pressed against the wall, letting my eyes adjust.

I kept to the buildings' shadows, working toward the western edge. My heart pounded but I made it past the first checkpoint.

The storage building loomed ahead. I slipped behind it, crouching low.

The tree line was maybe fifty yards away. So close.

I took a breath. Counted to three.

Then I ran.

My boots hit the grass almost silently. Stay low. Move fast.

Twenty yards. Ten. Five.

I was almost there when a figure stepped out from behind a tree.

"Luna," Lucian said quietly. "Please don't make this difficult."

I skidded to a stop, my heart dropping.

"Let me go," I said, hearing the desperation in my voice.

He shook his head. "You know I can't do that."

His hand moved to the device at his belt. "Orion. She's at the western forest entrance."

Fuck.

I spun, but Orion materialized from the shadows on my left.

"Go back," Orion said calmly. "Now."

"No." I backed toward the forest, my wolf rising. "I'm not asking permission anymore."

Lucian moved to block my path, he and Orion forming a V that cut off any escape. "Kaelen's orders were clear. We protect you. Even if that means protecting you from yourself."

My eyes flared gold. Part of me wanted to shift right there, to fight past them. But they were Kaelen's best fighters for a reason.

The standoff stretched, tension crackling between us.

Then I heard it.

A rustling from deeper in the forest. Branches snapping. Something moving through the underbrush—something big.