16 Chapter 16

Seraphina’s POV 1

The car was warm and comfortable, a welcome relief from the cold concrete and my bleeding feet. I settled into the soft leather passenger seat with a grateful sigh, still clutching the torn fabric of my wine-stained dress around myself. My rescuer-I realized I still didn’t even know his name-seemed genuinely concerned about my wellbeing, which was more kindness than I’d experienced in the past

several hours.

“Thank you again,” I said softly, watching the city lights blur past the window. “I really appreciate this. I’m Seraphina, by the way.”

“Michael,” he replied with that same warm smile. “Michael Harrison. And don’t mention it—I couldn’t just leave you walking around

barefoot and bleeding.”

As we drove through the quieter residential streets, I found myself relaxing for the first time since the disaster at the restaurant. Michael kept up a gentle stream of conversation-asking if I was too cold, whether I needed to stop somewhere for first aid, if there was anyone I wanted to call. His voice was soothing, almost hypnotic, and I felt my earlier tension beginning to ebb away.

“Actually,” he said as we stopped at a red light, “my place is just a few blocks from here. I have a first aid kit, and you could clean up, maybe get those feet properly bandaged before heading home. It’s the least can do after what you went through tonight.”

Something in his tone made me glance over at him, but his expression remained the same-concerned, caring, genuine. Still, a tiny alarm

bell went off in the back of my mind.

“That’s very kind,” I said carefully, “but I don’t want to impose any more than I already have. If you could just drop me off at the station—”

“Nonsense,” Michael interrupted, his voice carrying a hint of something I couldn’t quite identify. “The subways aren’t running this late anyway. Just let me help you get cleaned up, and then I’ll drive you wherever you need to go.”

As we continued driving, I began to notice a strange, sweet smell in the car-something floral and cloying that seemed to grow stronger with each breath. At first, I thought it might be air freshener or cologne, but there was something odd about it, something that made my

head feel slightly fuzzy.

“Michael,” I said, pressing a hand to my temple as a wave of dizziness washed over me, “what’s that smell? It’s very… strong.”

“Oh, that?” His voice sounded different now, less warm and more calculating. “Just something to help you relax. You’ve had such a

stressful evening.”

head suddenly became a deafening siren. I tried to reach for

my mind, but even her voice seemed muffled

I said, my words slightly slurred despite my efforts to speak clearly. “I want

dropped completely, revealing something cold and predatory beneath.

almost there.”

what was happening. The sweet smell-it had to be some

173

about such things, black market substances used by wolves with the worst

I tried to shout, but my voice came out weak and breathless. “Stop

he’d worn when

and promises of

he said conversationally, as if he were discussing the weather instead of kidnapping me. “It’ll all be over soon.

even enjoy parts

it was made of cotton and lead, my limbs heavy and unresponsive. I managed to fumble

from my grasp to fall somewhere

of a modest house on a quiet residential street. The

were dark-no neighbors around to hear if I

and came around to my side of the car, opening the door

arm.

to pull away from his grip. My coordination

not going in there.

“Sweetheart, after tonight’s little performance

your precious Alpha looked

but they also sparked a flame

was fighting, lending me what

go of me,” I said, my voice

grip tightened painfully. His pleasant mask had completely disappeared now, replaced

something cruel and hungry.

drag me toward the

happens to them. Especially when they’ve already

concrete as he pulled me up the front steps. The drug was making everything feel dreamlike and

to scream, but the sound that

with his keys while maintaining his grip on my wrist.

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