**Seraphina’s POV**
Once again, someone was in turmoil because of me. Kael, the Lycan King, had broken off his engagement. His palace was in disarray, and the rumors of me being a witch had cast shadows over his reign.
Would I truly overcome this darkness, or was I destined to remain a witch—a cursed agent of destruction, bringing ruin to everyone around me?
“Maybe I’m truly cursed,” I thought bitterly, my fingers trembling as I gripped the edge of the counter. Everything and everyone seemed to be against me—the world, the universe, even fate itself. The weight of it pressed down on me until one thought broke through the chaos: Should I just end it? End the running, the fear, the pain?
But as quickly as the thought came, I pushed it away. No. My resolve hardened. I can’t give up—not without a fight.
“Seraphina.”
The sound of my name startled me, pulling me from my dark thoughts. My gaze snapped up to meet his.
Lucian.
The man standing before me looked so different from the one I remembered. His expression was soft, almost tender—a stark contrast to the cold indifference he’d shown me in the past.
“Here you are,” he said, his tone casual, as though we were old friends or perhaps lovers meeting by chance.
I stiffened, narrowing my eyes. “What are you doing here?” My voice was cold, laced with irritation I didn’t bother to hide.
He smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s not how you’re supposed to address your mate.”
“Mate?” The word slipped out before I could stop it.
“Yes,” he replied, his gaze unwavering. “You disappointed me, Seraphina.”
I scoffed, the absurdity of his words twisting my lips into a sneer. “Don’t forget, Lucian—you rejected me.” My voice was sharp, each word cutting. “And why do you even care if I’m alive or not?”
His confident facade cracked, his gaze faltering. “I... I made a mistake,” he stammered. “I was stupid. But now I know better.”
“Well, I don’t care,” I snapped, my patience thinning. “Leave, Lucian. Go back to your perfect life with Lyra and stay out of mine.”
He hesitated, guilt flickering across his face. “Seraphina, I’m sorry—”
“Lucian, get lost,” I hissed, cutting him off. “And pray Lyra never finds out you came crawling back to me.”
The silence stretched between us, tense and brittle. Before he could respond, a sharp voice shattered the moment.
“Lucian!”
I turned my head, irritation flaring. Of course. Lyra.. I rolled my eyes as I yelled internally. " Can today get any worse?"
She stormed toward us, her face a mask of anger and hurt. Her eyes darted between me and Lucian, brimming with betrayal.
“What are you doing here?” Lucian asked, his voice faltering as guilt bloomed across his features.
Instead of answering, Lyra slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the quiet room. “You bastard,” she spat, her voice shaking with pent-up emotion. “How could you do this to me?”
Lucian winced, his hand moving to his cheek. “Lyra, I—”
“And you!” Her venomous glare turned on me, which in the past would have made me tremble with fear, but not anymore. “You witch! You’ve bewitched him again, haven’t you?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but Lucian stepped between us, his tone firm. “Lyra, stop it. Let’s just leave.”
She yanked her arm from his grasp. “No! I won’t let her get away with this.”
Her words set something inside me aflame. “Lucian, leave us,” I said, my voice low and steady.
Lucian hesitated but eventually nodded, retreating reluctantly.
As soon as he was gone, I stepped forward, standing tall before Lyra. “Say what you need to, and then get out,” I said, my tone mocking.
Her face twisted with rage. “After everything my family did for you. We took you in when you had nowhere to go and this is how you repay us?”
I let out a bitter laugh, her audacity was laughable. “Your family did nothing for me except use me until I was no longer useful. The only person who treated me as a human being was Jon. You and your mother? You saw me as a slave.”
Lyra’s mouth opened, but no words came out. I pressed on.
“I thought of you as a sister, a friend,” I hissed. “But you? Have you ever seen me as a friend? You’re obsessed with a man who doesn’t even want you. And now, he’s obsessed with me. What a pitiful existence.” I let out a sardonic laugh.
"You bitch," she cursed as her hand shot up, aiming to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-air and twisted it back. She yelped, stumbling and falling onto the floor.
Leaning down, I fixed her with a dark glare. “Don’t ever come here and disrespect me again,” I warned, my voice low and dangerous. “Next time, I won’t hold back.”
Her eyes burned with fury, but she didn’t reply. She stood, brushing herself off. “You’ll regret this,” she snarled before storming out.
The moment she was gone, I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling. A surge of black magic coursed through me, overwhelming and uncontrollable. My bones cracked, and I felt the familiar, terrifying pull of transformation.
I quickly slung my bag over my shoulder, my fingers fumbling as I grabbed the keys. My heart raced, and I scrambled to lock up the café, casting nervous glances over my shoulder. Once the door was secure, I hurried down the dimly lit street, desperate to make it home before the brewing destruction within me unleashed itself.
Then my wolf stirred, her voice clear and urgent. Mate. Mate.
My eyes darted to the shadows, and there he was. Kael.
“Seraphina,” he called softly, stepping into the light.
Our eyes met, and in that moment, every fear, every doubt melted away. A calm I hadn’t known in years washed over me. Somehow, Kael’s presence steadied me, keeping the darkness at bay.
Was he my salvation, or simply another curse waiting to unfold?