Seraphina’s POV 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

His hand slid from my waist to my thigh, lifting my leg to his waist. By then I was completely lost, feeling his body pressed against mine. I was desperately craving, pulling him closer, wrapping my leg around his waist.

"Your lips feel so great." I smiled at him, feeling tremors throughout my body.

He kissed me all the way to the top floor, finally even carrying me in his arms. We entered a luxurious suite, and as soon as we entered, his hand slipped under my skirt, caressing my most sensitive places. When his fingers explored inside, I moaned softly. "You’re so incredible. " he said, kissing me even more forcefully.

The electricity between us was undeniable, as though some ancient force had drawn us together on this moonlit night. When his fingers found the zipper of my dress, I didn’t stop him. When he whispered my name like a question, I answered with a kiss that left no room for doubt.

"Tell me what you want," he breathed against my neck, his voice rough with barely controlled desire.

The words tumbled out before I could think. "You. I want you."

I’d never been so reckless, so utterly consumed by the moment. But tonight, I’d promised myself—no more hiding, no more holding back. Tonight, I would live.

He merged into me at a deliberate pace, prompting my head to fall back as I absorbed his overwhelming presence. His mouth blazed a trail down my neck. When he finally settled within me, he paused—just long enough to murmur against my skin, "Now."

His withdrawal was sharp, followed by a deep thrust that shattered my awareness. I dissolved under the frantic rhythm, each movement stripping away reason until only raw sensation remained.

My other leg was suddenly anchored against his hip, our bodies a desperate tangle. His mouth claimed mine as the impact grew heavier, deeper, until gravity ceased to exist. All solid ground fell away.

When the first wave of pleasure crashed over me, I cried out against his shoulder, and he held me tighter, murmuring words I couldn’t quite hear over the thunder of my own heartbeat. The intensity built again, higher this time, until I shattered completely in his arms.

"You’re extraordinary," he whispered afterward, his lips brushing my temple with unexpected tenderness.

Perhaps it was the alcohol driving me, or perhaps his rich scent made me dizzy. I don’t know how many times we did it, my last memory stopped at him kissing me, softly asking what my name was, and I no longer had the strength to answer.

The next morning, I woke up with my head pounding like a jackhammer, feeling like someone had taken a sledgehammer to my skull. The bed beside me was cold and empty—nothing but rumpled sheets where he had been. If it weren’t for the purple kiss marks scattered across my neck and collarbone, I might have convinced myself that the entire night was just some vivid, alcohol-fueled dream.

I stumbled out of bed on unsteady legs, my body still aching in places that reminded me exactly how real last night had been. The mysterious man had vanished without a trace—no note, no phone number, not even a stray piece of clothing. Even after everything we’d shared, we’d never removed our masks. I had given my virginity to a complete stranger on the eve of my eighteenth birthday.

"Sera."

The voice exploded in my mind like a thunderclap, making me jump so violently I nearly fell over. My heart hammered against my ribs as I spun around the empty hotel room, searching for the source.

"Who’s there?" I whispered, panic creeping into my voice.

"Relax, it’s me—I’m your wolf. You can call me Ayla."

The realization hit me like a bucket of ice water. My wolf. Of course! At eighteen, I’d finally awakened my wolf consciousness. I’d heard stories of exceptionally gifted wolves who could communicate with their inner beasts from childhood—Valerie had been bragging about talking to her wolf since she was twelve. But naturally, someone like me would be a late bloomer even in this.

"Oh God, Ayla..." I sank onto the edge of the bed, running my hands through my tangled hair. "I’m so sorry. With everything that happened yesterday, I completely forgot. It’s... it’s wonderful to finally meet you."

"We have much to talk," Ayla’s voice was warm but urgent in my mind, "but first—"

My phone’s shrill ringtone cut through our mental conversation like a knife. I lunged for it, seeing Ophelia’s name flashing on the screen along with a notification showing twelve missed calls. My stomach dropped.

"Sera!" Ophelia’s voice erupted through the speaker before I could even say hello, pure fury radiating through every syllable. "Where the hell did you disappear to? I’ve been worried sick! If you don’t have the explanation of the century, I swear on the Moon Goddess I will hunt you down and tear you apart with my bare hands!"

"Ophelia, I’m so sorry—" I began, but she cut me off.

"Sorry? SORRY? Do you have any idea how terrified I was? A whole night! I thought someone had kidnapped you or worse!"

Guilt crashed over me in waves. I took a shaky breath and launched into the whole tale—the mysterious man, the dancing, the passion, waking up alone with nothing but marks on my skin and a splitting headache to show for it.

The line went dead silent. For a moment, I wondered if the call had dropped.

Then Ophelia’s voice came back, but now it was filled with barely contained excitement rather than rage. "Oh my God, Sera! You actually did it! You had a one-night stand with a gorgeous mystery man!" She paused, and I could practically hear her grinning. "Okay, I’m officially no longer mad at you. In fact, I’m proud of you! After what that bastard Gabriel did, you deserved a night of mind-blowing passion."

"The tension in my shoulders began to ease—until Ophelia’s sudden realization. "Wait. Sera, when you said you weren’t thinking clearly..." She paused, studying my face. "Did you even remember to—"

I didn’t need her to finish. The truth crashed over me like a tidal wave. My hands flew to my mouth.

"I completely forgot," I whispered through my fingers. "The emergency pill, protection, everything. It never even crossed my mind."