Chapter 0404

The morning battles commence after breakfast. These early rounds serve to weed out the weaker packs, a tedious but necessary process given the sheer number of participants.

By lunch, the arena clears as warriors regroup. We join Evelyn, Adrian, Sebastian, and Seraphina. Relief washes over me—all our fighters remain standing. The first two rounds have already cut the competition by nearly 2500 wolves. The afternoon will bring fewer but fiercer matches as the strongest advance.

As we load our trays, Seraphina freezes. "Tobias?"

An older man turns, brow furrowed. "Do we know each other?"

She abandons her food and approaches him. Sebastian tenses immediately, passing baby Julian to Isolde before following his mate.

"Tobias. It's Seraphina Bennis. Well, Seraphina Blackstone now."

"Seraphina? Goddess above." He pulls her into an embrace, only to recoil when Sebastian snarls.

"Alpha Sebastian. No disrespect intended." Tobias bares his throat. "I served with her father. We were warriors together."

Seraphina touches Sebastian's arm. "This is the man who protected my family. The only safety I knew after we fled."

Sebastian's posture shifts instantly. He extends a hand. "Then I owe you more than gratitude."

Tobias's voice cracks. "When we found your parents... We thought you..."

"That story requires time I'd gladly give you later."

"Name the hour."

A new Alpha strides over. "Tobias? What's happening here?"

"Alpha Dominic, may I present Sebastian and Seraphina Blackstone. Seraphina is Reginald and Eleanor Bennis's daughter." Tobias's shoulders stiffen—whether from Dominic's presence or the topic, I can't tell.

Dominic's gaze sharpens. "The couple who abandoned our pack? We found their bodies years later. Their daughter was presumed dead."

Seraphina mirrors Tobias's cautious tone. "As I told Tobias, it's a complicated history we can't unpack here."

Dominic stares too long. Sebastian moves closer, arm encircling Seraphina.

"I demand to know why your father betrayed us. Mine spent years searching for his Lead Warrior, only to find traitors' corpses."

"Her father didn't trust yours with her life," Sebastian counters.

"Lies! My father cherished every pack member. Whatever delusions drove your desertion—" Tobias's jaw clenches. Something dark lurks beneath his words.

"Feel that?" Isolde murmurs, bouncing Julian.

I nod. "That Alpha's aura is wrong. After everything we've witnessed, the signs scream at me."

She scans the room. "Agreed. Who are they?"

"Seraphina's birth pack. The one her parents fled." I leave the rest unsaid—this hall thrums with shifter ears, and Seraphina's secret isn't mine to reveal.

Sebastian kisses Seraphina's temple, eyes locked on Dominic. "Show him, my love."

The moment her irises shift to Guardian silver, Dominic's expression morphs from outrage to hunger. Now we understand why her parents ran.

"Guardian," he purrs, the word slithering across my skin.

"Well, the secret's out," Evelyn mutters. The room has gone silent, but the stares aren't just for Seraphina. They're assessing our clustered packs—and the other women standing with us.