Chapter 31: Cornered
Seraphine's POV
"Orion." Kaelen's eyes stayed on me. "You didn't tell old John about Seraphine being here, did you?"
Oh fuck.
Orion shook his head. "No. This situation is... complicated. I wanted to discuss it with you first."
"Good."
Kaelen leaned back. His expression unreadable.
"When you respond to John, tell him we'll assist in searching for the intruders. But currently, we have no leads."
Wait. What?
Lucian's eyes widened. "You're saying we should—"
"Hide the truth," Kaelen said flatly. "Technically, Seraphine wasn't in our territory three days ago. We know nothing about her whereabouts then."
He's... protecting me?
My chest tightened. The bond pulsed.
No. He's protecting himself. Because of the damn mark.
Cordelia bit her lip. "But Kaelen, if John finds out we lied—"
"This isn't a choice." His voice sharpened. "We've marked each other. That changes everything."
The weight of those words hit me like a punch.
Because of me. He has to lie because of me.
Orion nodded slowly. "Understood. I'll tell John we'll help search the outer forest areas."
"We keep this contained," Kaelen continued. "Only the people in this room know the truth."
Lucian sighed. Deep and tired. "We'll keep the secret. But you need to be careful. Humans aren't stupid. If this drags on, they'll get suspicious."
They're all risking everything. For me.
Because they have no choice.
My hands clenched under the table. Nails digging into my palms.
---
"What about Lyralei?" Cordelia asked quietly. "The search—"
"Continues," Kaelen said. "But more carefully. We avoid human patrols. And we can't let John suspect anything."
"At least she wasn't captured," Cordelia added. Voice hopeful. "That means she might be hiding somewhere. We still have a chance."
Lyralei. Please be okay. Please.
I couldn't look at any of them.
Couldn't face the reality of what I'd done.
They're lying to humans because of me. Risking a treaty because of me.
Kaelen's gaze landed on me. Held.
"Seraphine."
I forced myself to meet his eyes.
"For the next few days, you need to be extremely careful. Don't go out alone. Especially at night."
His tone was calm. But his eyes were sharp. Cutting.
He knows. He fucking knows what I'm thinking.
"The mark is done," he continued. Voice low. "Whatever happens now, we're bound together. Understand?"
It wasn't a question. It was a warning.
Don't try to run. Don't try to leave.
I managed a small nod.
Couldn't trust my voice.
The bond flared. Brief but intense.
I feel it too, you bastard. I feel the chain around both our necks.
---
Dinner ended in tense silence.
I barely touched my food. Just pushed it around until Rowan cleared the plates.
Cordelia walked me back to my room. Tried to make conversation.
But I couldn't focus. Couldn't hear her words over the screaming in my head.
They're all in danger because of me.
If John finds out, there'll be consequences.
If Damien tracks me here, he'll destroy everything.
And it's all my fault.
"Get some rest," Cordelia said at my door. Squeezed my hand gently. "Things will look better in the morning."
No. They won't.
But I smiled. Nodded.
Watched her walk away.
---
Alone in my room, I sat on the edge of the bed.
The walls felt like they were closing in.
I reached into my pocket. Pulled out the small lavender sachet Marge had given me.
"For stress," she'd said. "Just breathe it in when things get hard."
The scent of lavender and chamomile filled my nose.
It should've been calming.
Instead, it made everything worse.
She was so kind. They've all been so kind.
And I've brought nothing but trouble.
I replayed dinner in my head. Every word. Every look.
Kaelen's warning echoed: "Don't go out alone. Especially at night."
He knows I want to run. He's telling me not to.
But that was exactly why I had to.
The mark binds us. If I die, he dies.
So he has no choice but to protect me. To lie for me. To risk everything.
Because he's trapped.
The bond pulsed in my chest. Steady. Constant.
Proof that I've fucked up his life completely.
---
I thought about Cordelia's shocked face. Lucian's resignation. Orion's calculating stare.
They didn't sign up for this.
They're only helping because their Alpha is bound to me.
If I wasn't here, none of this would be happening.
And then there was Lyralei.
She got away. She's out there somewhere. Alone. Scared.
Waiting for me.
The guilt was crushing.
But beneath it, a desperate hope flickered.
If I leave, they can claim I ran away. That solves their problem with John.
And I can find Lyralei on my own.
The plan formed slowly. Painfully.
Kaelen warned me not to go. But that's exactly why I have to.
The farther away I am, the weaker the bond might get.
Maybe if I'm far enough, it'll break completely.
Maybe he'll survive.
I knew it was probably bullshit. Knew the bond didn't work that way.
But desperation makes you believe stupid things.
---
I stood. Walked to the nightstand.
Carefully placed the lavender sachet on top. Right where it'd be visible.
Then I found paper and pen in the drawer.
My hand shook as I wrote:
Cordelia—
I'm sorry. This gift is too precious. I don't deserve it.
I know because of the mark, you can't turn me over to John. But I won't watch Kaelen suffer for my mistakes.
When I'm gone, you can say I ran. That should help with the humans.
I'll find Lyralei myself.
Thank you for your kindness. Please forgive me.
—S
I folded the note. Placed it beside the sachet.
Stared at both for a long moment.
This is the right thing. The only thing.
---
I waited until midnight.
The house had gone silent hours ago. No footsteps in the hall. No voices.
I changed into dark clothes. Simple. Easy to move in.
Tucked the small amount of food I'd hidden from dinner into a cloth. Tied it to my belt along with a water flask.
The dagger went into my boot.
I opened the window. Cold air rushed in. Sharp. Biting.
One last look at the room.
Warm. Safe. Everything I don't deserve.
I thought of Kaelen's warning again. His hard eyes. His cold voice.
"We're bound together."
I know. That's why I'm leaving.
Maybe you'll get hurt. But at least you won't die because of me.
And Lyralei...
Wait for me, little sister. I'm coming.
I climbed out. Gripped the ledge. Moved along the outer wall.
Silent as a ghost.
---
The training ground was to the east. I'd memorized the route when Cordelia showed me around.
I stayed in the shadows. Kept low. Counted my steps to track distance from patrol points.
The village center appeared ahead. Alpha's estate blazing with lights.
My heart hammered.
Fuck. Too exposed.
I circled around back. Pressed against the outer wall. Held my breath.
Voices inside. Low. Indistinct.
Move. Move now.
I darted across the open space. Into the shadows of the meeting hall.
Someone was inside. Talking.
I froze. Crouched behind a stack of crates.
Seconds stretched into eternity.
Finally, silence.
Go. Keep going.
The training ground emerged ahead. Obstacle courses and weapon racks casting long shadows in moonlight.
I skirted the edge. Found the small path Cordelia had pointed out earlier.
East boundary. Three guard posts.
According to Cordelia, each post had one guard at night.
I checked my internal clock. 1:55 AM.
Shift change is at 2:00.
I hid behind equipment storage. Watched the first guard post.
1:58.
Another figure approached. The guards started talking. Focused on each other.
Now.
I ran.
Low. Fast. Silent.
A branch cracked under my foot.
Shit shit shit—
I froze mid-stride.
The guards kept talking. Didn't notice.
Breathe. Move.
I slipped into the tree line. Pressed against a trunk. Heart trying to explode.
Made it. First post clear.
---
I used the same method for the second and third posts.
Guard patterns. Timing. Shadows.
Finally, I reached the true boundary.
A stream. Silver in moonlight.
I stood at the edge. Looked back toward the village.
Cordelia's kindness. Marge's warmth. Even Kaelen's cold protection.
All of it... I'm throwing it away.
My hand touched the mark on my neck. It pulsed.
Steady. Insistent.
Maybe distance will weaken it. Maybe you'll survive.
Maybe.
I whispered to the darkness: "Lyralei. I'm coming. Just hold on."
Then to the bond: "I'm sorry, Kaelen. This is the only way."
I lifted my foot. Prepared to step into the water.
To cross the boundary. To leave Shadowmere.
And then—
"Going somewhere?"