Sera's Pov
I stared in disbelief as Oliver crumpled on the ground, her body racked with sobs.
The sound was raw, uncontrollable—like something had broken inside her.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
But Lucian could.
There was no trace of the man I'd seen acknowledging her existence even though barely on the training grounds. Who—just before the explosion—had been standing right next to her. Talking to her.
That Lucian was gone.
This man—this Alpha King—looked at Oliver like she was a complete stranger.
No, worse.
Like she was a threat.
He moved. One swift, terrifying step forward—then he grabbed her by the hair, forcing her up from the floor like she weighed nothing.
I flinched.
Oliver gasped in pain, her hands flying up to clutch his wrist as she was yanked upright, her head forced back to meet his gaze.
Lucian's voice was like ice.
"What do you know?"
She whimpered. "I-I told you—I don't know. I didn't know this was what they meant—"
