Five
1366 Words
Chapter Five
Seraphina’s POV
Oh my God! What am I gonna do?
Fresh tears escape my lips and I fight the urge to haul myself to the ground and wail.
Why is this happening to me?
Whatever Ryder did, he must have aggravated the situation. My throat burns, and my head begins to spin.
These men are dangerous. Too dangerous. Everything will be over for me if they get to the foundation sponsoring my law school education. It will be the end of my law career.
I’m still trying to process everything when the door creaks open. I glance up and meet Ryder’s gaze. His expression is unreadable, but there’s something in his eyes—something intense.
“I’ll pay it off,” he says.
I blink. “What?”
“Your father’s debts. Whatever those bastards are holding over your head.” His voice is calm, but there’s steel beneath it. “I’ll take care of it.”
I stiffen, shaking my head. “No.”
“Seraphina—”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that.” I stand, ignoring the dull ache in my ribs. “I don’t want to owe anyone, especially not someone like you. I don’t want to be a burden.”
His jaw tightens. “You wouldn’t be. I want to help.”
“I’ll figure this out,” I counter. “I have some monies coming.”
Something flickers across his face—frustration, maybe.
It makes me think he’s someone who doesn’t take no for an answer.
But he doesn’t push. Not yet. Instead, he exhales and nods. “Fine. But if you change your mind—”
“I won’t,” I cut in. “But I appreciate your offer. Thanks.”
He studies me for a moment longer, then turns and leaves without another word.
The call I’ve been dreading comes a few days later.
I stare at my phone, my fingers cold and numb. I slide the screen of my phone with trembling fingers and put my phone in my ear.
“Miss Sinclair?” A female voice calls from the other end of the phone.
“Yeah, that’s me,” I say after pushing the lump in my throat.
“I’m calling from Penelope Vaugh’s foundation. We’re sorry to inform you that your scholarship has been revoked due to the scandal tied to your family’s name.”
A heavy weight drops in the pit of my stomach, and although I considered the possibility of this, nothing prepares me for the pain that follows.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve put all my hopes on the scholarship and—”
“My most sincere apologies Miss Sinclair. I wish you luck in your future endeavors.”
“Wait,” I say, desperation clawing at me, but the line has disconnected.
Oh my goodness! This can’t be happening to me.
A beep comes later from my phone and I stare wide-eyed at my ejection letter from the council of legal education. It says that my admission has also been revoked.
No. No. No.
Raw tears stings my eyes, blurring my vision, and I shake my head in denial.
Everything I worked for—gone with a snap of the finger.
My tears drop on my phone, as I read the message again and again. My fingers tremble as I try to contact them via email.
But a knock at the door interrupts me as I begin to type my message, but I barely register it before it swings open. Ryder steps inside, his eyes locking onto mine. His gaze darkens immediately.
“What happened?”
I swallow hard, gripping my arms. “It’s over,” I whisper.
His brow furrows. “What is?”
“My scholarship. My admission. My legal career. They…” My head spins even harder, and I drop my phone and press my fingers in my skull. “They canceled everything.” My voice wavers, but I force myself to hold it together. “Because of my father. Because of his debts. They said they can’t fund my education because of the stain in my father’s name.”
Ryder’s fists clench at his sides. “That’s bullshit.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “It’s reality. Everything I’ve worked hard for is gone.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “What can I do to help?” He asks, his gaze intent.
I snap my head up. “No.”
“Seraphina—”
“I said no!” My voice comes out sharper than I intended, but I don’t take it back. “I’m not taking your money. I cannot be indebted to anyone at a time like this. Please, let it go.”
His nostrils flare. “And what exactly is your plan? Let them drag you down until there’s nothing left? Let those loan sharks hunt you until you have nowhere to go?”
I swallow, my throat tight. “I don’t know yet.”
He exhales, taking fast strides to meet me, and running a hand through his hair. “Stay.”
I frown amidst the tears in my eyes. “What?”
“Stay until after the pack party,” he says, his voice softer now. “It’s in a few days. You’re not thinking properly now. Besides, your wounds need to heal properly. I don’t want you to make any rash decisions."
I hesitate. The pack healer had mentioned that my injuries were still mending slower than normal due to the severity of the attack. Leaving now wouldn’t just be reckless—it would be stupid.
Finally, I nod. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
But only until after the party.
That’s the plan.
—
The pack party arrives sooner than I expect.
The bonfire crackles, casting flickering shadows across the gathering. Laughter and music fill the air as pack members mingle, drink, and celebrate. I sit off to the side, watching the festivities with mild amusement. As much as I try to blend in, I still feel like an outcast, especially with the stares I’m getting.
“You don’t like parties?” Ryder asks, appearing beside me with a glass of wine in hand.
I glance at him, and swallow as I take in his view. He’s wearing a pair of suit and a tuxedo, and his hair is slung back. I reach for the barista next to me and take a long sip. “I just don’t belong here,” I finally say after I can feel my voice.
I’ve been glancing around in search for him since I stepped into the grand party wearing the dress he had delivered to me. It’s a sequin embellished long-sleeve sheath black dress.
His gaze lingers on me for a moment before he speaks, and I feel them resting on my cleavage. I swallow as heat flushes through me from the intensity of his gaze. Then, he speaks and I feel it to my thighs. “You don’t have to belong to enjoy yourself.”
Before I can respond, the crowd quiets. A woman steps forward, dressed in flowing robes, her long silver hair cascading down her back. She moves with an eerie grace, her eyes gleaming with something I can’t place.
“A psychic entertainer,” someone whispers nearby. “She’s reading the energies of the room.”
The woman closes her eyes, lifting her hands as if sensing something unseen. A hush falls over the crowd. Then, suddenly, her head snaps toward me.
Her eyes fly open, locking onto mine, and my heart skips a beat.
I tense, my stomach twisting.
“You,” she breathes.
The air shifts.
My heartbeat pounds in my ears as she steps closer. Ryder stiffens beside me, his presence grounding yet unsettling at the same time.
She lifts a trembling finger, pointing between us. “You are bound by fate.”
A murmur ripples through the crowd.
Ryder’s entire body goes rigid. “What?”
“You both are fated mates,” the psychic declares.
Silence.
Then, chaos.
Gasps. Whispers. Shocked glances thrown our way.
I stand frozen, my mind racing. This—this can’t be happening.
- Writer
