[Unwanted Marriage Series 2] RETURN OF THE LYCAN LUNA

Chapter 001

SERAPHINA

The water hit me like a thousand knives.

Cold.

So cold it stole the air from my lungs before I could even scream.

I kicked hard, fighting toward where I thought the surface should be, but the river had other ideas.

The current grabbed me and pulled me under like a hand closing around prey.

I broke through once, gasped in half a breath, then went under again.

My arms and legs moved slower now.

The cold was seeping into my bones, making everything heavy. I could not feel my fingers anymore.

This was it. I was going to drown.

Water rushed into my mouth and nose when I tried to breathe.

Panic clawed at my throat but my body would not respond the way I needed it to. I was sinking.

Desperation made me foolish. I stopped fighting the current and let my mind reach out instead.

"Please." The prayer formed without words. "Moon goddess, if you can hear me, I need one more chance. Just one. I will be stronger. I will find a way back to Cassandra. I will do better. Please do not let me die like this."

The prayer felt stupid even as I thought it. The moon goddess abandoned me the day she let Lucien force me into marriage with monsters. She did not care about me then and she would not care about me now.

The water closed over my head one last time. I stopped fighting. Let the current take me wherever it wanted.

Everything went black.

****

Something was touching my face.

I tried to open my eyes but my eyelids would not cooperate.

My whole body ached like someone had beaten me with clubs.

The touch came again. Gentle fingers on my forehead.

I flinched without meaning to. Every instinct I had left screamed that touch meant pain.

"Easy." A man's voice said calmly. "You are safe now. Just rest."

I wanted to ask where I was. Wanted to know who he was and what he wanted from me.

But exhaustion pulled me back down into darkness before I could force my mouth to work.

****

Time stopped making sense.

Sometimes I woke to find the man sitting beside the bed.

He would help me drink water even though my hands shook too much to hold the cup.

He brought spoonfuls of broth to my lips and waited patiently while I swallowed.

When fever made me shake and sweat, he changed the cool cloths on my forehead.

I caught glimpses of his face but my vision stayed blurry.

****

My head felt clearer when I woke this time. The fog had lifted enough that I could actually think in complete thoughts.

The man was there again, sitting in a chair he must have pulled close to the bed. When he saw my eyes open and focus on him, relief flooded his face.

I tried to speak but my throat felt like I had swallowed broken glass. He