Chapter 6: Caught
646 Words
Seraphina's breath caught in her throat. Lucien stood at the bottom of the staircase, his silver eyes fixed on the suitcases beside her. The early morning darkness cast shadows across his face, making his expression hard to read. But one thing was clear—he was suspicious.
"Where are you going?" he asked again.
Seraphina tightened her grip on the suitcase handle. Think. She couldn't let him stop her. Not now. Not when she was so close.
"I told you yesterday," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "I'm visiting my mother."
Lucien didn't move. His gaze shifted from her face to the two suitcases, then back again. "For a few days?" The same question. The same doubt.
Seraphina nodded. "Yes."
Silence followed. The tension between them stretched painfully. Normally, Lucien's presence made her feel safe. Now it felt suffocating.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Then why are you leaving before sunrise?"
Her heart skipped. Because if she waited until daylight, he might stop her. Because if she stayed another hour, she might lose the courage to leave. Because she couldn't bear looking at him anymore. But she couldn't say any of that.
"I couldn't sleep."
Lucien remained silent. For a terrifying moment, Seraphina thought he would see through the lie. Then his shoulders relaxed.
"At least take some guards with you."
Panic shot through her. "No." The response came too quickly.
Lucien frowned. "No?"
"I mean... I'll be fine."
"You'll travel alone?" His voice had grown colder—more Alpha than husband.
Seraphina cursed inwardly. She needed to be careful. One wrong move and he would never let her leave.
"My mother's house isn't far." Another lie. The truth was she had no destination, no plan—only a desperate need to escape.
Lucien studied her. The silence dragged on. Then unexpectedly, he stepped closer. One step, then another, until only a few feet separated them. The mate bond stirred painfully. Seraphina fought the urge to retreat.
Lucien reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The familiar gesture almost broke her. Almost.
"You've been acting strangely since yesterday." His voice softened. "Did I do something wrong?"
The question hit her like a slap. Did he do something wrong? A bitter laugh nearly escaped her lips. He had destroyed her entire world. And he didn't even know it.
For a second, Seraphina wanted to tell him everything. Wanted to scream. Wanted to demand answers. Instead, she lowered her eyes. "No."
The lie tasted bitter. Lucien's jaw tightened. Clearly, he didn't believe her. But before he could question her further, his phone vibrated. The sound shattered the moment.
Lucien glanced at the screen. Immediately, his expression changed. Seraphina didn't need to look. She already knew who it was. Valeria. The woman who still had a place in his life. The woman who had unknowingly destroyed her marriage.
Lucien declined the call. But the damage had already been done. The small spark of hesitation inside Seraphina vanished. This was her chance. Maybe her only chance.
Lucien slipped the phone back into his pocket. "I'll have one of the drivers take you."
"No."
His eyes narrowed. "No?"
"I want to go alone."
The Alpha in him clearly disliked that answer. But before he could argue, a warrior suddenly rushed through the front doors. The young wolf looked pale and terrified.
"Alpha!"
Lucien immediately turned. "What is it?"
The warrior swallowed hard. "We found a rogue at the northern border."
Lucien's expression darkened instantly. "Alive?"
"Yes." The warrior nodded. "But he's asking for you."
Lucien frowned. "For me?"
The warrior hesitated. Then he spoke the words that made the entire room go silent. "He said he has information about the heir of the Blackthorne Pack."
Seraphina froze. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach. And for the first time that morning... fear gripped her heart.
- Writer
