SERA'S POV
My wings vanished the second my feet hit solid ground, and I crashed into the forest floor hard enough to taste blood.
Pain exploded through my body. The silver light flickered and died, leaving me gasping in the darkness. I'd flown—actually flown—for what felt like hours but might have been minutes. Time felt broken, twisted by the ancient presence still whispering in my head.
Weak. Pathetic. You can't even maintain your wings.
"Shut up," I sobbed, clutching my stomach. "Just shut up."
The cramping started then—sharp, vicious pain that made me scream. Something was wrong. The baby. Oh god, the baby.
I stumbled through the trees, branches tearing at my skin. I had no idea where I was. Somewhere outside the city. Far from Kael. Far from the hospital. Far from anyone who could help.
Blood trickled down my legs.
"No, no, no," I begged, pressing my hand to my stomach. "Please don't take my baby. Take everything else but not this. Please."
The ancient voice went quiet, almost... concerned.
The pup lives. For now. But you need help. Soon.
I kept moving, each step agony. My vision blurred. Was I crying or was the transformation doing something to my eyes? Everything looked silver-tinted, too bright.
The trees opened onto a road. Headlights blinded me.
I threw up my hand to shield my eyes, and the silver light sparked again—just enough to make the car swerve violently. It screeched to a stop inches from me.
"What the hell!" A man jumped out, looking furious. Then he saw me—bleeding, glowing, barely standing. "Holy shit. Are you okay?"
"Hospital," I gasped. "Please. I'm pregnant. Something's wrong."
His eyes widened. "Get in. Now."
I collapsed into his back seat. He drove like a demon, calling someone on his phone. "Yeah, emergency. Pregnant wolf, bleeding, some kind of power surge. ETA five minutes."
Wolf. He knew I was a shifter. That meant—
"You're pack?" I managed to ask.
"Moonshadow Pack. Alpha Theron's territory." He glanced at me in the mirror. "What were you doing out here alone? Where's your mate?"
Mate. The word felt like a knife.
"Gone," I whispered. "I don't have anyone."
"Well, you've got us now. Hang on."
The hospital appeared—not a human one, but a supernatural medical center. Wolves in scrubs rushed out with a stretcher. They lifted me carefully, asking questions I couldn't answer.
"How far along?"
"Eight weeks."
"What pack are you from?"
I hesitated. If I said Silvercrest, Kael would find me. "No pack. I'm... rogue."
Lies. But I couldn't go back. Couldn't let him take my baby.
They rushed me into an exam room. A doctor appeared—older woman with kind eyes and silver-streaked hair.
"I'm Dr. Sarah Chen," she said gently. "Let's see what's going on with you and your baby."
Sarah. The name felt important somehow, like fate was pushing pieces into place.
She examined me while I bit my lip to keep from screaming. The cramping was getting worse. The silver light kept trying to surge.
"The baby's heartbeat is strong," Sarah said finally. "But you're having complications from some kind of magical surge. What happened?"
"I don't know." The truth tumbled out. "I've been cursed my whole life. No wolf. Then I got pregnant and everything started changing. Now there's this voice in my head and I grew wings and—" I choked on a sob. "I'm turning into something I don't understand and I'm so scared."
Sarah sat down beside me, taking my hand. "Hey. Look at me. You're safe here. Whatever's happening, we'll figure it out together."
"You don't understand." Tears streamed down my face. "My mate... he only wanted me for this baby. There was a contract. He was going to take my child and throw me away."
Her expression hardened. "What's your mate's name?"
"Kael Stormridge."
Sarah's grip on my hand tightened. "The Silvercrest Alpha?"
I nodded miserably.
"That bastard." Her voice went cold with fury. "I've heard stories about him. Cold. Ruthless. Uses people like chess pieces." She stood up. "Well, he's not getting you or this baby. I don't care how powerful he is."
Hope flickered in my chest. "You'll help me?"
"Help you? Honey, I'm going to make sure you disappear so completely that even he can't find you." She pulled out her phone. "I have connections. Women who help other women escape dangerous situations. We'll get you a new identity, a new life."
"But the transformation—"
"We'll handle that too. I know someone who specializes in curse-breaking." Sarah squeezed my shoulder. "You're not alone anymore, Sera. I promise."
I started crying for real then—relief and terror and gratitude all mixed together.
"Thank you," I sobbed. "Thank you so much."
Sarah left to make calls. I lay there, hand on my stomach, feeling my baby's tiny heartbeat through the bond.
You'll be safe, I promised silently. I'll protect you from him. From everyone. Whatever I'm becoming, whatever this power is, I'll use it to keep you safe.
The ancient voice stirred. Good. Let the anger make you strong. You'll need it.
A knock on the door. Sarah came back with a tall, broad-shouldered man with silver eyes—the same color as my wolf light.
"Sera, this is Alpha Theron Ashwood," Sarah said. "He controls the territory you flew into. And he's agreed to help."
Theron stepped forward, his presence powerful but somehow gentle. "Sarah's told me your situation. I want you to know—you're under my protection now. Kael Stormridge doesn't control what happens in my territory."
"Why would you help me?" I asked. "You don't even know me."
His silver eyes met mine, and something flickered there—recognition? "Because five years ago, my sister ran from an abusive mate. She died before we could save her." His voice went rough. "I won't let that happen to you."
The silver light pulsed between us—a strange resonance, like our powers recognized each other.
"There's something else," Theron said carefully. "Your power signature... it's similar to mine. Silver Wolves are supposed to be extinct except—"
An explosion rocked the hospital.
Alarms blared. Someone screamed. Theron's eyes went gold as his wolf surged forward.
"Nightshade Pack," he snarled. "They found her."
Through the window, I saw them—dozens of wolves surrounding the building. And in the center, Lyanna Whitefang smiled viciously.
She locked eyes with me through the glass.
"Hello, little Luna," she called, her voice carrying. "Did you really think you could run? We've been tracking your power signature since you grew those pretty wings. Now come out, or we'll burn this hospital down with everyone inside."