LUCIAN’S POV
I arrived later than I intended.
Mostly because I wasted time weighing the pros of seeing Sera against the cons of entering Kieran Blackthorne's territory.
Obviously, the pros won out.
Nightfang’s courtyard buzzed—children screeching, parents hovering with plates, the entire pack alive with excitement for the heir’s birthday.
The sun drenched the area in Californian light, reflecting off torches and banners, making everything seem sharper and louder.
But none of that could distract me from the only reason I came.
I instantly sought out Sera, attuning my senses to her unique scent and aura.
I wish I didn’t.
I wish I had never come.
Because then, I wouldn’t have overheard their conversation.
It wasn’t even intentional. I turned toward a hidden walkway looking for a quiet vantage point, and the sharp, charged scent of heightened emotions hit me before I saw them.
Then I heard her voice.
