156 Chapter 156

Seraphina’s POV 1

My heart hammered against my ribs as the footsteps behind me quickened. The sound echoed off the narrow buildings lining the street,

creating an eerie chorus that made my skin crawl.

*Move. Just keep moving.*

I clutched my grocery bag tighter, the plastic handles cutting into my palm. The bread was getting squished, but I didn’t care. All I cared

about was getting home. Getting somewhere safe. Getting away from whoever was following me.

The streetlights cast long shadows between the buildings, creating perfect hiding spots for anyone who wanted to stay unseen. But I

could still hear him back there. Still feel his presence like a weight pressing against my spine.

I turned right at the next corner, hoping to circle back toward the main street where there would be more people. More witnesses. More

safety.

But the footsteps turned too.

*Shit.*

My hands were shaking now, making it hard to keep hold of the grocery bag. The peanut butter jar rattled against the loaf of bread with

each step. Such normal, everyday sounds. Nothing like the terror pounding through my veins.

The footsteps sped up.

*Run.*

The thought hit me like lightning. I dropped all pretense of casual walking and broke into a sprint, my sneakers slapping against the wet

pavement. Behind me, I heard a grunt of surprise, then the sound of heavier footsteps giving chase.

*He’s following. He’s actually following me.*

I turned left into what I thought was another street, only to realize too late that it was an alley. A dead-end alley with brick walls on

to go but back the

Where he was waiting.

spun around, pressing my back against the cold brick wall, my grocery bag falling to the ground with a wet thud.

silhouetted against

thought. Broader. The kind of size that meant trouble for someone

out, his voice slurred and rough. “No need to

then-alcohol and something else. Something sour and unwashed that made

heading home,” I managed, my voice coming out higher

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143

I could see his face in the dim light. Stubbled cheeks, bloodshot eyes, a smile that made

do I,” he said, but there was something in his tone that suggested the opposite. “Just

each other.”

against the wall, wishing I

I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “My…

automatically, desperately. But the man

huh?” He looked around the

on supernatural strength or speed. But I still had my brain. I still had

to talk to. But I’m not the right person.

me like I

just said. “Really pretty. Bet you don’t get told that

you, but I really

I could see the broken blood vessels in his eyes.

got time.”

edged along the wall, trying to put some distance between us without making it obvious. “My

he repeated, and there was something mocking in his

heart sank. “I… I don’t wear it when I go out alone,” I

girl.” His smile

grocery bag at my feet rustled in the wind. “What do you

my veins. “I know a place. Real

The word came out sharper than I intended. “No, I can’t. I

his face.

its false friendliness. “Don’t be

wall behind me, feeling for any crack or gap that might give me leverage. Anything I could

stone and the growing certainty that

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