Chapter 5

• Serelina’s POV
• My fingers clenched the sheets. I was nervous.
• I didn’t know what to say. If Emeric knew I was dying, would he feel even a little sad? Would he regret treating me like this?
• No. He’d probably be thrilled, grateful that his loathed mate was finally about to die.
• I had nothing left to fear, so I goaded him. “The routine checkup report—you keep saying I can’t get pregnant, right? Wanna see if I’m even qualified to give your family an heir?”
• Emeric’s gaze slid over me, flat and emotionless. “No need.”
• Then he lifted his foot and stepped right on the report without a second glance.
• Tamsin hurried after him with her head down. At the door she looked back at me, that smug, pitying look only a winner could have, like she already had “I win” stamped across her face.
• The door shut.
• I sat on the bed, staring at the trampled report on the floor. My vision went dark at the edges. Even breathing hurt.
• Turned out, being completely ignored by Emeric was the knife that finally killed whatever was left of my love.
• …..
• Emeric took Tamsin on a business trip. A full week passed with no word.
• I wasn’t sitting around either.
• Snownight Pack was preparing a financial industry cooperation summit, a big annual official event. Investment groups from all the major packs across the Northern Dominion would be there.
• As Snownight Pack’s news anchor, I had been tapped to co-host the opening of the gala.
• I had done a hundred gigs like this. Even with my body getting worse, I was still the station’s safest pair of hands.
• But I had been on edge these days. Emeric was gone, and Hawthorne Group still hadn’t called me back.
• Aren had already laid it out: if we didn’t nail an ad contract at this summit, the show ‘Era Interviews’ would be shelved for good.
• It was the project I cared about most in my career. I had fought for six months before the station finally agreed to launch it after the new year.
• I couldn’t accept losing it.
• Even if I had to hold myself together for one more day, I wanted that show on air—something I could leave behind with my name on it.
• So, I wasn’t putting all my chips on one table. At this summit, I set my sights on Emeric’s nemesis—Theron, Alpha of the Northfang Pack.
• Soon, the night of the summit arrived.
• I was dressed, makeup done, sipping water in the dressing room.
• A knock came at the door. My assistant poked her head in. “Serelina, ten minutes till you’re on.”
• I stood, nodded, grabbed my mic, and headed out.
• Spotlights flared. Applause crashed over the hall.
• I glanced at the crowd, and a familiar silhouette muscled into my sightline.
• Emeric.
• He sat farther back, keeping a low profile.
• But I still spotted him right away.
• When the stage lights swept the seats, the deep-blue cufflinks on his suit flashed with a cold, lethal gleam.
• I forgot to breathe for a second. I hadn’t expected him here. When did he get back?
• My cohost must’ve noticed me spacing out and gave a light cough.
• I snapped back, smoothed my expression, and launched into my opening.
• By the third paragraph, something was off.
• Heat bloomed in my chest, like fire crawling under my skin.
• I forced my smile to stay, and pushed through the segment, then turned to my cohost.
• She picked it up instantly, smiling as she introduced the next part.
• I used the gap to edge offstage, steps shaky, bracing myself against a prop wall.
• My mind felt like it was coming apart. A hollow ache swelled from the inside out, ready to swallow me whole.
• My body went hypersensitive. Even fabric sliding over my skin made me shiver.
• Then, it hit me hard—I’d been drugged!
• “How… how is this happening…”
• Panic clawed at me. I dug my nails into my palm, trying to cut through the fog with pain.
• It didn’t work.
• My breathing turned ragged. Wetness slicked between my thighs with zero foreplay, and fear spiked.
• I staggered toward the restrooms, desperate to find somewhere empty.
• If anyone saw me like this, my career would be dead on the spot.
• I careened around a corner and slammed into a man in a suit.
• His scent sent a rush of heat through me. I grabbed his tie, trembling. “Hel—help me…”
• He slid an arm around my waist, voice amused. “Help you? Doing it right here is not exactly appropriate.”
• My stomach dropped, he’d gotten the wrong idea. I tried to pull back, but his scent and the heat of his hand made my body greedy. I bit down hard on my tongue, riding the pain to a moment of clarity. “Please… find Emeric for me…”
• A second later, I was lifted off the ground. He scooped me up. “Let’s change venues. I, Theron, can handle this favor, too.”
• “Theron?”
• I froze. Of all people to run into, and in this state!?
• But the heat inside me kept surging like a tide, wiping out coherent thought.
• Instinct made me fight. “Alpha, are you… taking advantage of me right now…”
• My voice came out weak.
• “I’m being generous, actually,” Theron said, half-smiling.
• He carried me on.
• “But I’m curious, what are you to Emeric? Word is he doesn’t touch women, yet here you are, a mess, asking for him.”
• The question cut through the haze for a brief second, sharp enough to make me hesitate.
• “He… he’s my… mate…”
• The drug had me in a vice. I couldn’t think clearly anymore. I had completely forgotten that Theron and Emeric were mortal enemies, and I answered whatever he asked.
• Two weeks ago, Emeric had stolen a deal Theron had worked on for months. Bringing up my tie to Emeric now basically guaranteed Theron wouldn’t let me go easily.
• Through the blur, I felt him carry me into the men’s restroom and set me on the sink counter.
• Cold marble shocked my skin, and I jolted like I had been zapped. Before I could slide down, Theron closed in.
• One hand gripped my waist to hold up my useless body; the other bracketed my jaw, forcing my head up.
• Only then did I really see him. He was insanely handsome, easily a match for Emeric. Strong nose, cut features, and those dark green eyes that added a wicked edge.
• Right now, those green eyes were heavy with want, fixed on me.
• I felt like I was about to drown in it.
• He dipped his head to kiss me.
• My mind was gone. I couldn’t even tell who he was anymore. Instinct screamed to get closer.
• But right as his lips were about to touch mine, a low, ice-cold voice cut in.
• “Let her go.”