Chapter 33 Disappointments And Heartbreaks
CHAPTER 33: Disappointments And Heartbreaks
Seraphine's POV
I knew it the second I heard the sound again.
It wasn’t the forest, it wasn’t the wind and it was footsteps and more than one.
My heart pounded hard against my ribs as I slowly got to my feet with every sense sharpening all at once. I wasn’t an ordinary human.. not red river Village. My hearing was sharper than it had ever been. I could hear the way the steps tried to stay light, tried to blend with the ground but failed anyway leaves crunching softly with twigs snapping under weight. Breathing came controlled but there.
They were circling me.
I turned just as a figure stepped out of the thick bushes ahead.
Sardor…!
He straightened slowly like he wanted me to really see him with his mouth stretching into a wide ugly grin that made my stomach twist. Moonlight caught his sharp features with his eyes bright with something cruel and excited.
“Well, well,” he said lazily. “Looks like the little human finally wandered too far.”
My hands clenched into fists and rage burned hotter than fear.
“You should’ve stayed hidden,” I snapped. “I handled you just fine the last time and I can do it again.”
He laughed loudly and mockingly.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
More shapes moved in the shadows.
One by one, Lycans stepped out of the thicket, surrounding me in a loose circle. Big, armed and smiling like this was entertainment. I counted fast.
One.
Two.
Three.
Eight..!
Sardor spread his arms.
“You can take one Lycan, maybe two if you’re lucky. But eight?” He shook his head, clicking his tongue. “Those odds aren’t in your favor.”
For a brief second, something cold settled in my chest. I was cornered. Really cornered but backing down wasn’t in me.
I lifted my chin and planted my feet firmly into the dirt.
“If you think I’m going to beg, you’re going to be very disappointed.”
Sardor snorted.
“Beg? No. I want you scared.”
He took a step closer with his eyes glittering.
“Do you know how pathetic our King looks now? Letting a weak little human spread her legs and turn him soft.”
My stomach churned but I didn’t look away.
“He’s not fit to rule anymore,” Sardor went on. “Not when he’s busy fucking you instead of doing what he was born to do.”
One of the Lycans laughed.
“Lady Vespera should’ve been his mate. Not this thing.”
Sardor nodded.
“Exactly. And once you’re gone, he’ll come back to his senses. He always does.”
My heart pounded.
“You’re insane if you think you can scare me!” I hissed.
“Maybe,” Sardor said calmly. “But we’re also going to kill you.”
Then he smiled wider.
“Get her!”
They rushed me all at once and I didn’t think.. I moved.
I ducked under the first grab, slammed my elbow into a jaw and felt bone crunch. Another came from behind and I spun, kicking hard and feeling my boot connect with ribs.
Someone grabbed my hair and yanked. Pain exploded through my scalp but I twisted and drove my knee up, hearing a grunt of surprise.
For a moment, I thought... just for a moment... that maybe I could do this and then the numbers crushed me.
A fist slammed into my side, knocking the air clean out of my lungs. I stumbled and another blow caught my back, sending me face-first into the dirt. I rolled, coughing with blood already warm in my mouth.
I swung blindly, felt skin split under my knuckles but hands grabbed me again. Someone kicked my ribs and I screamed with the sound tearing out of me before I could stop it. Something cracked and I felt it deeply, sharply and awfully.
I tried to stand but I failed.
They beat me like I wasn’t even real.. like I was just a problem to erase with punches, kicks and boots slamming into my stomach, my back and my legs. Blood soaked my clothes with my vision blurring at the edges.
Sardor crouched in front of me as I struggled to breathe.
“You should’ve stayed in your pretty little room.”
He raised his hand and just at that moment, a sound cut through the forest quickly and heavily with multiple bodies moving at once.
Sardor froze and his head snapped up.
“Shift. Now.”
In seconds, bodies twisted, bones snapping and fur bursting through skin. Wolves appeared massively in dark shapes. They scattered instantly, vanishing into the trees faster than my eyes could track.
I collapsed onto my side, gasping and footsteps rushed toward me and voices shouted.
Lycan soldiers…
Strong arms lifted me carefully like I might fall apart if they weren’t gentle and I tried to shove them away.
“Don’t… touch me.”
“Easy,” one said softly. “You’re hurt bad.”
“I can walk,” I lied.
My legs buckled immediately.
They didn’t argue after that. They carried me out of the forest and I hated how small and useless I felt in their arms, hated how broken my body felt, hated how right it felt when I finally stopped fighting.
The pack house came into view through my blurry vision and then I saw him.
Aric.
He stepped out just as they reached the clearing with Darius beside him. Aric moved like he was going to rush toward me, like instinct pulled him forward... but then he stopped and he just stared.
“What happened?” he demanded coldly.
The soldiers slowly placed me on my feet but supported me from either side.
“She went into the forest alone, my King. We followed as fast as we could and we found her like this. Likely Grimhowls.”
“No,” I croaked and every face turned to me.
I forced the words out even as pain tore through my chest.
“It was Lycans. Sardor led them.”
For a split second something dark flashed across Aric’s face but then it was gone and his next words totally broke my heart all over again.
“No,” he said sharply. “It can’t be Sardor..”