Seraphine’s silver eyes shimmered with unshed tears as the weight of her past filled the small motel room. The lamplight painted soft gold across her dark wavy hair and the curves of her face, highlighting the exhaustion and quiet strength that had carried her through years of hell. Darius held her close, his powerful arms a protective barrier against the memories threatening to pull her under. He could feel the subtle tremors in her body, the way her breath hitched when certain names rose to the surface.
She spoke of her father first, a lone alpha who had walked away from pack life young, seeking freedom that constantly eluded him. He met Lira Bree, a beta wolf whose family rejected the match. Lira left everything behind for love, and for a few precious years they built something beautif
