Chapter 0288
Seraphina
My gaze locks onto the children playing in the front yard.
They're perfect copies of their father.
They laughed while kicking a ball between them.
Giggles filled the air until the younger boy slipped on the ball.
He landed hard with a heavy thud.
Their joyful sounds instantly turned to cries.
The older boy started screaming for his mother.
She rushed out of the house immediately.
An apron was tied around her waist.
A small dish towel draped over her shoulder.
Her jet black hair was pulled into a high bun.
She dropped to her knees beside the boy.
Pulling him against her chest, she rocked him gently.
She promised everything would be fine.
She's raising them to be weak.
There wasn't even any blood visible.
If I had fallen from a tree at their age...
She would have told me to get up immediately.
'You're stronger than this. Toughen up! Do better!'
They were all smiles again quickly.
The tears stopped when she promised cake and ice cream.
I rolled my eyes at the indulgence.
I would have been lucky to get dinner at that age.
But here I was now.
I needed a place to hide temporarily.
Somewhere to think clearly.
I returned to my mother's home hoping for shelter.
Maybe just for a night or two while figuring things out.
Forcing myself from my new blue BMW, I straightened up.
My bones cracked from the movement.
I had barely managed to shift back yesterday.
It took tremendous effort.
But I was in human form again.
I needed to maintain it now.
Stepping toward the house, I scanned the small cul-de-sac.
Every house here contained Lycans.
The remnants of what was once a great Lycan pack.
The white gate creaked as I pushed it open.
I noticed the curtains twitch immediately.
The front door was ripped open moments later.
My mother's husband stood there glaring.
His deep blue eyes burned with anger.
"What the hell do you want?" Caleb demanded.
"Not you, that's clear." I retorted sharply.
"I came to see my mother and brothers."
"She's not here." He stated firmly.
"The boys don't even know who you are."
He started shutting the door quickly.
I stuck my toe in the door to stop him.
He glared at me with pure hatred.
"You're stupid if you think I believe that."
"I just saw her outside." I hated him intensely.
Almost as much as I hated Athena and her friends.
"What do you want, Seraphina?" He stepped outside.
He made me back up as he folded his arms.
His defensive stance was unmistakable.
"You're not welcome here at all."
"Don't give me bullshit about wanting to see your mother."
"You haven't been here in five years."
"I bet you can't even remember your brothers' names."
I took a deep breath slowly.
He wasn't wrong about that.
The youngest was just born when I left.
"Maybe it's time I get to know my brothers." I offered.
"So you can warp their minds too?" He snarled angrily.
I could kill him right now.
I've thought about it countless times.
But for some messed up reason, I couldn't do it.
He made my mum happy after years of sadness.
I didn't want to take that away from her.
"I know I haven't been around." I admitted.
I cast a nervous glance up and down the street.
I really didn't want others to see me.
"Thank god for that." He snapped.
"You almost led that Hunter bastard to our door."
He ran a hand over his shaved head.
"I killed his family." I stated.
"But you didn't kill him." He countered.
"Big fucking mistake that was."
"I..."
"Seraphina, this isn't a good time."
A baby started crying from inside suddenly.
"You had another pup?" I asked.
"Yes." He confirmed. "You have a sister now."
"Mum shouldn't be having pups at her age." I retorted.
He didn't answer me directly.
His deep blue eyes remained fixed on me.
He seemed to be waiting for something else.
My mother appeared holding a newborn pup.
"Seraphina." She whispered when seeing me.
She didn't smile at my presence.
"Why...why did you come here?" She asked.
I watched her hands tighten around the baby.
She took a step back nervously.
She was clearly scared of me.
"Well?" Caleb demanded. "Your mother asked you a question."
"I already told you." I said.
"I want to know my brothers...and meet my sister."
I forced a smile that felt unnatural.
"You mean you're on the run." He muttered.
"You need somewhere to hide temporarily."
His blue eyes moved to my neck.
"You have a mate now. Where is he?"
"Why isn't he protecting you?"
"Doesn't matter." I muttered in annoyance.
I was furious with Julian.
I didn't know what he had done.
Or what had happened to him.
But I knew he was dying.
I could feel it intensely.
I couldn't link him anymore.
I couldn't read his thoughts either.
"What did you do, Seraphina?" Mum asked.
Her eyebrows shot up in concern.
"I fell in love with the wrong fucking man." I admitted.
Her eyes narrowed at my words.
I had hit a nerve clearly.
History has a habit of repeating itself.
"Watch your fucking tone." Caleb growled.
"This is our home now."
"You don't bring that attitude to our doorstep."