The next morning dawned gray, the storm's remnants still lingering in the heavy clouds that cloaked the sky. Seraphina stood at the window of her room, clutching the faded curtains as if holding them tightly could delay the inevitable. Beyond the glass, the Vale estate looked worn and tired, the once-vibrant gardens wilted, their blooms long gone. It had been her sanctuary once, a place of childhood laughter and quiet moments with her mother before illness had stolen her away. Now, it felt like a hollow shell, soon to be stripped of everything she had ever known.
Behind her, the room carried the familiar scent of lavender and old books. The wooden chest at the foot of her bed sat open, half-packed with clothes and small trinkets—each item carefully chosen in the late hours of the night while she tried not to cry. She had taken only what she could carry, leaving behind pieces of her life that she couldn't bear to part with but knew she must.
A soft knock came at the door. Seraphina stiffened, her grip tightening on the curtain. She knew who it was before his voice broke the silence.
"Rina?" Caleb's tone carried both worry and anger, though the anger wasn't directed at her.
"Come in," she whispered.
Her brother entered, his broad shoulders hunched as if he bore the weight of the entire estate on them. His blond hair was disheveled, his eyes shadowed from a sleepless night. Caleb closed the door behind him and leaned against it, watching her silently for a long moment before crossing the room.
"You don't have to do this," he said quietly.
She turned, her heart aching at the desperation in his voice. "Yes, I do. You know I do."
Caleb shook his head, his jaw tight. "It's not right. Father made those choices, not you. You shouldn't pay for his mistakes."
Seraphina's gaze softened. "And yet, I'm the only one who can. If I walk away, they'll destroy him, Caleb. They'll strip us of everything. Do you want to see Father in chains?"
His fists clenched at his sides. "No. But I'd rather see that than see you trapped in Kael Thorne's world."
Her chest tightened. She wanted to agree, to run with Caleb far away from this cursed land and forget the debts, the contracts, the Alpha who haunted her every thought. But she couldn't. The Vale name might have been crumbling, but it still meant something to her father. And Caleb—stubborn as he was—would never stop fighting for it. If she left this burden behind, it would fall on him, and she couldn't let that happen.
"I'll be all right," she said softly, though the words tasted like lies. "I'll find a way."
Caleb's eyes glistened with unshed tears. He pulled her into a fierce embrace, wrapping his arms around her as if trying to shield her from the world. She buried her face against his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of home—woodsmoke, leather, and the faintest hint of pine from his hunting trips.
When he finally released her, he placed both hands on her shoulders. "If he hurts you, Rina—if he so much as touches you in a way you don't want—you tell me. I'll come for you, no matter what."
Her lips trembled into a faint smile. "You'll get yourself killed."
"I'd rather die than sit back and watch him destroy you."
The door creaked again, and their father, Edmund Vale, appeared in the doorway. His face was pale, his hair streaked heavily with gray, and his once-proud posture bent beneath invisible chains. He looked older than his years, hollowed by guilt and shame.
"Seraphina," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "It's time."
Her heart sank.
She nodded and picked up the small chest. Caleb tried to take it from her, but she shook her head. "I'll carry it."
The walk down the grand staircase was heavy with silence, every step echoing like a countdown. Her father trailed behind, his head bowed. At the bottom, the front doors loomed tall and imposing. Through the stained glass, she could already see the black-clad figures of Kael's men waiting outside, their presence as suffocating as the storm clouds above.
Seraphina paused, her gaze sweeping across the foyer. The familiar tapestries, the paintings of their ancestors, the chipped banister she and Caleb had slid down as children—all of it imprinted on her heart like a final goodbye.
Her chest burned as tears pressed against her eyes. This was her last moment in the only home she had ever known. She turned once more, taking in Caleb's fierce glare and her father's haunted gaze.
"I'll come back," she whispered, though deep inside, she wasn't sure if she ever truly would.
She stepped forward, her hand brushing against the door handle. The wood was cold beneath her palm. She hesitated, her heart screaming to run, to lock herself in her room and never leave.
But then the door swung open, and the biting air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine and earth—and the undeniable reminder that her fate was no longer hers to control.
Kael Thorne's carriage waited at the gates.
And with one final breath, Seraphina stepped out of her past and into her prison.