A woman's scent . Her . My pupils dilated and before I realised my wolf had been trying to take control of me , wanting to break free . That curved back , too flexible . The lithe way her hips shifted when she moved - too precise , too fluid . The pale , sweat - slicked skin at her neck , her breath catching when my hand touched her waist . Everything about her screamed danger . Not to me . but to herself . A chuckle escaped from my lips as I bit my lip staring at the closed door . My heart pounded in a rhythm that wasn't entirely mine . It belonged to something older . Wilder . My wolf . He was clawing beneath the surface now , intoxicated by every inch of her , growling for more . Not just to taste her, but to possess her . She'd made the mistake of tempting me . Of toying with me . of lying to my instincts , and thinking she could get away with it . Bur wolves ? Wolves didn't let prey go just because it runs . SERAPHINA I found myself back in the Healers ' Wing - back in the sterile , moonlit hospital room I'd fled from earlier . I could no longer return to the dormitory room … not when the wolf who'd nearly devoured me was waiting there like a patient predator . With the back of my hand covering my eyes , I lay on the bed , struggling to calm the rapid , erratic beat of my heart . My breathing was uneven , ragged with the weight of what had just happened . " He doesn't know … right ? " I whispered to my wolf . Phina didn't respond . She was just as shaken as I was . But even in her silence , her thoughts mirrored mine - unspoken but undeniable . We both remembered the way Ronan's gaze lingered on my hips , how he always seemed too aware of my movements , how his uniform had been tailored to fit me with unnerving precision . He had always breached that invisible line of distance - too close , too observant , too dangerous . " No. " I signed , eyes squeezing shut , gripped by panic , frustration , and the cold sting of regret . My carelessness been enough to ruin everything . it might've I slowly opened my eyes , staring blankly at the ceiling as the moonlight filtered through the curtains . I needed a plan , I couldn't hide in this room forever . My punishment , monitored probation , would begin tomorrow . I'd be assigned to an instructor for behavioral guidance and combat discipline . The plan was simple : I'd fake pain from my wound , enough to justify staying here for two days while undergoing the punishment . The instructor could come to me . But after that … I clenched my fists . After that , I'd have no excuse . I'd have to return to my dorm . I'd have to face him again . What am I supposed to do now , Goddess ? Two days passed in a blur . My wound had nearly healed . My probation had ended . But I still hadn't really slept - not with every creak of the infirmary door sounding like Ronan's approach . Not when every shadow felt like his voice curling in the dark , whispering truths I waui't ready to face . And somehow , that unsettled me even more Sull . I couldn't stay hidden . If I didn't leave the hospital wing now , I'd miss another trial - and I'd already been barred from the last one . My rank was slipping Everything I'd worked for was teetering on the edge . " You've got a delivery , " the assistant said , eyes on his clipboard . " Mattress request . Head to the front unloading bay . " My heart nearly leapt out of my chest , a delivery . So … it wasn't that . I forced myself to nod , hiding the tremble in my fingers . " I'll grab it " But inside , I was reeling . Had he not told anyone ? Why ? Or maybe he had and they were biding their time . My mind screamed with the weight of the unknown , panic clawing up my throat . the The loading bay sat at the edge of the Academy campus , hidden away from the main training grounds . As I approached , a familiar unease took root in my stomach . A tall , broad - shouldered " delivery man " stood near the transport truck , tugging a wrapped mattress down the ramp . His cap was pulled low over his face , concealing his features . " I'm here . That's mine , " I called out , my tone even and distant . The man glanced up ever so slightly , adjusting the cap . Then " Sera " My heart stilled . My eyes snapped up . That voice . That voice . " Lily ? " 1 gasped . Send Gifts