SERAPHINA’S POV
I woke up before sunrise on Daniel’s birthday.
The house was silent in the blue-gray pre-dawn. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, reality pressing in.
Daniel’s birthday.
The day of his heir ceremony.
My baby was officially stepping into his new role as heir of the Nightfang Pack. The thought was bittersweet, and part of me wanted to crawl under the covers and will this day away.
But I couldn’t. Today wasn’t about me or my fears.
So I slipped out of bed and padded down the hallway to Daniel’s room. His door was cracked open, just enough to let in the hallway light, and I eased it open without knocking.
He was still curled under the blankets, hair a messy halo, one arm dangling off the edge of the bed, breathing soft and steady.
My heart clenched painfully. Where did all those precious years go?
