Sera's Pov
I knew I saw something.
At first, I told myself I didn't. That it was the lighting, or the way the candles flickered against the glass panels of the arched windows. But the second time I looked—really looked—there was a movement. Fast. Low. Dark.
Gone before I could blink.
Now, my eyes wouldn't stop scanning. The edges of the room. The shadows between the curtains. The narrow gap behind the sculpture pedestal. I kept hoping to catch it again. Hoping and dreading all at once.
Nothing.
I rubbed my palms against the fabric of my dress, suddenly too aware of how thick the air felt. Something wasn't right. It wasn't the lights. And even if I couldn't name it, I knew one thing for sure—there were too many wolves; my father, other high-ranking alphas, lunas, in this room for me to pretend I didn't feel it.
It wasn't paranoia. It wasn't nerves. It was instinct—and years of training and quiet warnings whispered into my bones by my mother before she passed. When something feels wrong, it probably is. And right now…something felt off.
I wasn't stupid. Whatever I saw—or thought I saw—I wasn't going to investigate it myself like some kind of foolish heroine in a movie. No, this would be way above my paygrade if I had one. I needed someone who was responsible for handling things like this.
Lucian.
I needed to find him.
I scanned the massive room, ignoring the sting of my heels as I stepped toward the edge of the crowd, craning my neck for a glimpse of that all-too-familiar presence. It didn't take long to spot him again. He was standing at another far end of the hall, taller than most, dressed in a blue suit whose shade so similar to mine it was—well, unfortunate. I hated how much that made us look like we'd come together. Again, of all the colors in the world…
I pushed through clusters of chatting guests, gently waving at other trainees who recognized me. I didn't stop. I didn't feel I had the time to.
Then—"Sera!"
I paused, turning automatically.
Kael.
He looked good. Relaxed in a way that no one else in this hall did. No stiff suit, no forced smile. He wore a black button-down shirt rolled at the sleeves and slacks that were just formal enough. His hair was tousled, like he'd only barely remembered to brush it. And yet… somehow it worked.
I grinned, shadows momentarily forgotten. "Kael. I was hoping to run into you here eventually."
"I knew it," he said with a smirk, stepping closer. "You missed me."
I rolled my eyes. "A little." I held up my fingers an inch apart.
"That's all I get?"
"Well, you're not my dad."
His smile softened. "So you saw him?"
"Yeah," I said, instantly warm. "Just a few minutes ago. He's here with our beta and I didn't fully realize how much I needed to see him until I did."
"I'm happy for you." He looked genuinely pleased. "I saw my alpha too, just before I spotted you."
That piqued my interest. "Really? What's he like?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Why? You planning to switch packs?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm just curious. What kind of Alpha would have you as a second in command. Plus you never speak about him."
"He's kind of crazy." Kael said with a shrug, clearly not joking.
"More than you are?"
"Is that supposed to be a jab? Yes."
"Well now I have to meet him. Introduce me."
He tilted his head. "You didn't introduce me to your dad."
"That's different."
"Double standards," he muttered. "Unbelievable."
I laughed. "Please. My dad would have interrogated you for twenty minutes straight. Your alpha will probably just nod and pretend to care."
He chuckled and shook his head. "Fine. I'll take you—"
But I never heard the rest of his sentence, because suddenly I felt it—hot and sharp, like a spear sliding into the side of my neck. Not physical. Not touch. A gaze. No that's wrong. A glare was more like it.
I didn't have to turn to know whose it was.
Lucian.
I sighed audibly, not bothering to hide the irritation on my face. But grateful in a way. He just reminded me of what I was supposed to be doing before I got distracted.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later," I told Kael.
"Wait—what—already?"
"Duty calls." I nodded toward Lucian.
Kael followed my gaze. "He looks like he's about to kill me."
"He always looks at you like that." I muttered.
He snorted. "Fair. You guys are matching though."
"Point that out again and I'll step on your groin with my heels."
Kael didn't even flinch. "Kinky."
I shoved him and shaked my head, then turned and made my way toward Lucian, weaving between people who instinctively moved aside.
He didn't let me say a word.
"You two looked cozy," Lucian said the second I stopped in front of him.
Oliver, who was conveniently standing next to him now, smirked. "Very cozy. Sure you guys aren't doing each other?"
"Not everyone is as shameless as you." I told her sharply. She blinked at me in surprise.
I turned back to Lucian. "There's something more important than your overreactions."
He narrowed his eyes. "Go on."
"I saw something earlier. Shadows. Movement. I thought I was imagining it, but I'm sure I wasn't. There was something off. Someone watching. I don't know who, but I felt it. And there are too many people here to ignore it."
His expression changed instantly. The accusing eyes gone. His shoulders straightened. All traces of annoyance were replaced with something cold and focused.
"Where?"
I pointed. "Left side of the hall, near the curtains by the arches. I looked again a few times. Nothing now, but… I trust my instincts."
He didn't question that.
"What kind of movement?"
"Quick. Like someone stepping out of sight. Human height, maybe. But not standing still." I paused. "And I felt watched. Not curious-watched. Threat-watched."
He gave a short nod. "Thank you."
That was it. The conversation was over. He turned, already issuing quiet commands to someone I hadn't even noticed behind him. Oliver leaned in again but I'd already stepped away.
I didn't need to be a part of what came next. That wasn't my job. I did what I had to.
I started scanning the crowd again, looking for my father. I wanted to find him, make sure he was safe—if only to ease the feeling in my chest that wouldn't go away.
Then I heard it.
A low hum—barely audible, but sharp, irritating. A frequency that felt like it came from inside my ears. It vibrated against the back of my teeth. I winced, clutching the side of my head.
And then—
BOOM.
The explosion tore through the hall, sudden and violent. Screams. Glass shattering. People dropping to the floor. The lights flickered once. Twice.
Smoke rose at the far end of the room, and firelight danced across the once-beautiful marble floor.
My heart dropped. My view flickering.
The last I saw was everything—everything—descending into chaos.