Wrong love

Chapter Twenty-Two: Seraphina Vale

The moment Elara stepped through the front door, she knew something was wrong.

The house felt different.

Too quiet.

Too tense.

Which usually meant one thing.

Trouble.

She dropped her bag near the entrance.

Then froze.

"Oh no."

Sitting comfortably on the couch was a woman with long dark hair and striking silver-blue eyes.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Dangerous.

Seraphina Vale.

Elara's older sister.

The one person capable of ruining her day simply by existing.

Seraphina smiled.

Slowly.

Creepily.

"Hello, little sister."

Elara immediately turned around.

"Nope."

"Come back."

"No."

"Come back."

"No."

"Elara."

"SERAPHINA."

Orion sat nearby holding a drink.

Watching the exchange like it was his favorite television show.

"Honestly," he said, "I had the exact same reaction."

Elara pointed at him.

"You let her in?"

Orion pointed at the front door.

"She walked through it."

"Why?"

"I asked."

Seraphina lifted her glass.

"He did."

"And?"

Orion spread his hands.

"She refused to answer."

Elara groaned dramatically.

"Of course she did."

Seraphina's smile widened.

Which somehow made her look even scarier.

"I missed you too."

"You absolutely did not."

"No."

Seraphina nodded.

"That's fair."

Elara rolled her eyes and headed upstairs.

Far away from whatever chaos this was.

Behind her she heard Orion laughing.

Traitor.

Later that evening...

The house was quieter.

For once.

Elara had disappeared into her room.

Leaving Orion and Seraphina alone.

Orion sat across from his sister.

Watching her carefully.

Something was wrong.

He could tell.

Seraphina wasn't the type to visit without a reason.

Finally—

"Why are you here?"

The smile disappeared.

Instantly.

That got Orion's attention.

Seraphina set her glass down.

Slowly.

"I encountered something."

Orion frowned.

"What?"

For the first time since arriving...

Seraphina looked genuinely unsettled.

And that was concerning.

Very concerning.

"I don't know."

"That's not helpful."

"I'm serious."

Orion sat forward.

Now interested.

Seraphina rarely admitted uncertainty.

Ever.

"It looked like a wolf."

Silence.

"But it wasn't."

Orion's expression hardened.

"Explain."

Seraphina crossed her arms.

"It had a wolf's strength."

"Okay."

"A wolf's durability."

"Okay."

"But it moved like a vampire."

Orion frowned.

"What?"

"It was too fast."

She shook her head.

"Way too fast."

Orion didn't interrupt.

"It fought like a vampire."

"It hunted like a wolf."

"And it nearly killed me."

That sentence hung in the air.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Orion stared.

Trying to determine whether she was joking.

She wasn't.

That worried him.

A lot.

Then Seraphina added quietly—

"It's already killed eight vampires."

The room became silent.

Completely silent.

Orion's face darkened.

"Eight?"

Seraphina nodded.

"Within two days."

Neither spoke for several moments.

The implications were terrifying.

Finally Orion stood.

"I'm checking it out."

"I figured."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

Their eyes met.

Both understanding the danger.

If Seraphina had struggled against this thing...

Then whatever it was...

it wasn't normal.

Not even close.

Orion grabbed his jacket.

Heading for the door.

Then paused.

Looking back.

"Keep an eye on Elara."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"Take her to school."

"No."

"Bring her home."

"No."

"No disappearing."

"Absolutely not."

"No sneaking out."

"I refuse."

"No trouble."

Seraphina looked offended.

"I am not trouble."

Orion laughed.

The loudest laugh of the evening.

"You are literally trouble in human form."

"That's rude."

"It's accurate."

Seraphina sighed dramatically.

Then waved him away.

"Fine."

"Good."

"I'll watch her."

"Good."

"Like a prison guard."

"Perfect."

"I hate this."

"I know."

For a brief moment...

the siblings smiled.

Then Orion's expression became serious again.

He opened the door.

The cool night air rushing inside.

"Be safe."

The words surprised Seraphina.

Orion didn't usually say things like that.

She smiled softly.

A genuine smile this time.

Rare.

Very rare.

"You too."

Orion nodded.

Then stepped into the darkness.

Gone.

Leaving Seraphina standing in the doorway.

Watching him disappear.

And for the first time since arriving...

She felt uneasy.

Because whatever she had encountered out there...

Was waiting.

And something told her that before this was over...

Every member of the Vale family would be involved.