The Final Preparations
Seraphine’s plan was coming together with precision, every detail meticulously arranged. She and Kael had spent weeks skirting the edges of Crimson Fang territory, observing the pack’s routines, memorizing patrol schedules, and ensuring their disguises were flawless. The Luna Consummation Ball wasn’t just an event—it was the perfect distraction. The rituals following it, where the Alpha and Luna would seclude themselves for days, offered an unparalleled opportunity to replace Isla without suspicion.
Crouched in the shadows of a dense grove near the packhouse, Seraphine scanned the windows above them. The flickering light of lanterns inside cast faint shadows across the curtains, teasing glimpses of the activity within. The faint strains of music drifted through the air, mingling with the rustle of leaves around them.
“I still think this is madness,” Kael muttered under his breath. His posture was tense, his hands clenched at his sides as he cast an uneasy glance at the packhouse.
Seraphine turned to him, her expression sharp and unyielding. “Your job isn’t to think,” she said, her voice a low hiss. “It’s to act.”
Kael’s jaw tightened, and he looked away, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. He hated the way she spoke to him, but he couldn’t deny the logic behind her plan. It was ruthless, calculated, and almost foolproof. Almost.
Seraphine adjusted her cloak, the fabric shifting to reveal the crescent birthmark painted onto her cheek. The detail was perfect, matching Isla’s mark precisely. With her hair styled the same way, her movements rehearsed to mimic her sister’s, and the replica gown she had commissioned, her resemblance to Isla was uncanny. The thought turned Kael’s stomach.
“She won’t have the chance,” Seraphine replied, her tone clipped. “Once we take her, you’ll get her out of here. Draven won’t know the difference until it’s too late.”
Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line. He couldn’t shake the image of Isla’s face when she realized what was happening, the betrayal that would flicker in her eyes. His hands clenched tighter. “And what happens after that?” he pressed, his voice sharper now. “What happens to her?”
Seraphine turned to him fully, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. “She’ll be free,” she said, her lips curling into a cold smile. “Isn’t that what you want?”
Kael didn’t respond immediately, his throat tightening as he held her gaze. The words hung in the air, heavy and insincere. He knew Seraphine well enough to recognize the lie hidden beneath her promises. “Free,” she had said, but he could see the darkness lurking behind her eyes. Isla’s freedom wasn’t her goal—it never had been. Seraphine didn’t care what happened to her sister as long as she was removed from the equation.
“And Draven?” Kael asked, his voice low. “You think he’s just going to accept this? That he won’t see through you?”
Seraphine scoffed, her confidence unshaken. “He won’t care. Not when the rites begin. The seclusion is private—intimate. By the time he realizes anything is off, it will be too late. He’ll already be mine.”
Kael’s stomach churned at her words. “You don’t know that. He—”
“I know men like Draven,” Seraphine interrupted, her voice icy. “They see what they want to see. And once I’m standing beside him, no one will question it.”
Kael’s gaze dropped to the ground, his thoughts spinning. “And Isla? What if she fights back?”
“She won’t,” Seraphine said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. “She won’t have the chance.”
Kael’s chest tightened. He had agreed to help Seraphine because he had convinced himself it was the only way to protect Isla. To free her from the weight of being Luna, from the responsibilities she had never asked for. But now, as the pieces of the plan fell into place, the lines between protection and betrayal blurred.
“Do you even care what happens to her?” he asked, his voice quiet but edged with anger.
Seraphine’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course I care,” she said smoothly. “I’m doing this for her. She’s not meant for this life. You know that as well as I do.”
Kael’s silence spoke volumes. Deep down, he knew there was more to her plan—something darker, something far more final—but he didn’t dare voice it. Not yet. Not until he could figure out how to stop it.
Seraphine turned her attention back to the packhouse, her focus sharp and unrelenting. “We move tonight,” she said, her voice firm. “No mistakes. No hesitation.”
Kael swallowed hard, his fists clenching at his sides as he nodded. The weight of his complicity pressed down on him, threatening to crush him. But for now, he followed her lead, the shadows of his own guilt trailing behind him.
