Chapter 0342

Seraphina

"He won't find you here. I don't understand why you refuse to believe me. I've lived here five years and he hasn't come anywhere close."

"How could you possibly know that?" I frown while scanning the open fields. Evelyn continues gathering eggs from her chickens, completely unbothered as I remain on high alert.

I'd been here almost a week and still couldn't relax. No matter how many times she said it, I kept expecting to see Levi and his creepy glassy-eyed nurses coming for me.

Evelyn had shared parts of her prison story, but aside from what I told her, I couldn't bring myself to say more. It was a memory I wanted to forget, yet I couldn't let it go because I was still waiting, preparing for a fight I knew I'd lose.

Part of me wanted to go back. To drive a knife straight through his heart. To help the others escape. But I stood no chance. Not anymore. "Can I ask you something?" I say as she closes the chicken coop. "Do you feel like you deserved this?"

"The farm?" She asks, looking confused.

"No. Losing your Lycan nature."

She slowly walks back toward the house with her wicker basket full of eggs. A heavy frown settles on her face. She stops just outside the kitchen door and turns to face me. "I didn't at first. After a while, I understood why Levi did what he did. Sometimes I still struggle with wishing I had certain abilities, like smelling approaching storms, being able to heal quickly, running without getting winded. Human stitches are terrible!" She winks at me.

"You think you deserved it?" I ask, surprised by her response.

"No, but I've learned much about myself these past five years. Honestly, I wasn't a good Lycan. Maybe it taught me a lesson. Maybe it was already written in my story so I could help you." She gives me one of her bright smiles.

"You believe that?"

She shrugs and sets the egg basket on the counter. I watch as she expertly pulls her long blonde hair into a bun. My own hair now made me look like a toilet brush with how short and spiky it was.

"It doesn't matter what I believe, Seraphina. But we do know I'm right about some things. You survived without that stupid IV drip. You didn't want to believe that either."

I look at my arm where the connection tube had been. A large purple bruise still lingered, though it was shrinking daily and part had turned a sickly green color. Humans were so fragile, and I was one now. I couldn't afford to be reckless anymore.

"That was the worst night of my life." I mutter.

"But you survived, just like I said you would."

"I thought I was going to die!"

Evelyn gives me a lopsided grin. "So dramatic. Though I'm still waiting to hear more about this half-sister of yours."

Apparently I'd muttered something about Athena during the excruciating pain and blackout moments. Evelyn had asked me several times since, but I always shut down. It might be different if I'd met her under different circumstances.

She pours me a glass of juice and sets it before me. "Seraphina, I'm going to ask you something and I need you not to freak out. I want the truth." She takes a deep breath. "Was Levi holding you because you did something to your half-sister?"

"No."

"Seraphina, don't lie to me. I'm trying to help you."

"It wasn't because of her. He didn't even know she was my sister, not at first. He would have if he'd met her."

"That's all I need to know."

"Seriously? You don't want to know more?"

"It's not about what I want to know. It's about you telling me the truth."

"Would you have even known if I lied?" I ask curiously.

"You're human now. Of course I would have."

As Evelyn lights the fire, its warm glow fills the small sitting room. I decide to take the risk and tell her everything.