Chapter 4 Layla's eyes darted wildly as she yanked the gag from my mouth, her voice rising into a shrill pitch. "Are you really Seraphina?" Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth as I sneered. "Believe me now? Why don't you hurry up and get my brother to-" Before I could finish, her hand cracked across my face, the slap echoing through the cold air. "Shut your mouth! I'm Ethan's rightful Luna, bonded to him in the Nightshade Pack! Who the hell do you think you are?" Her tone sharpened as something seemed to click in her mind. "So what if you're Seraphina? That doesn't change the fact that you're nothing but a homewrecker!" With a triumphant flourish, she pulled out her phone and shoved the screen in my face. The moment my eyes landed on the mate contract between Ethan and Layla, my mind went blank. A dull roar filled my ears as the words blurred. Then I saw the date-and everything inside me collapsed. A hollow laugh tore from my throat. So that was why, for the past five years, Ethan had always claimed he was "buried in work." Five years ago, he had already bonded with Layla. And I-pathetic fool that I was-had pitied him. I'd even begged my brother to find him capable pack members to ease his so-called workload. All those nights he said he was "working late"... he'd been with her. Seven years of love-and for five of them, Layla had been there, living in the shadows of what I thought was ours. I was, as she so proudly called me, the other woman. Laughter spilled from me uncontrollably, tears cutting down my face as my body convulsed. I choked and spat up a mouthful of dark, clotted blood. Chapter 4 50.00% Dreame-Read Romance Stories I looked at my hand still oozing thick sticky red liquid. I'm a werewolf. 4.4 FREE Installed Open "My mate loves me! He'd never raise his voice at me!" Layla shrieked, her fingers clamping around my throat. "Admit it! You seduced him, didn't you? Say it!" I sank my teeth into her wrist. The metallic tang of blood flooded my mouth, vile and nauseating. I spat the bloody saliva onto the floor and glared up at her, a mocking smile twisting my lips. Layla didn't even flinch. Her eyes gleamed with wild delight. "Go to hell! Once you're gone, Ethan will be mine-completely mine!" She stumbled out, only to return moments later clutching a canister of liquid. With a vicious jerk, she splashed it all over me. The icy liquid soaked through my clothes, and the acrid stench hit instantly. Gasoline. Layla wanted to burn me alive. Panic surged. I grabbed at my brother, trying to drag him toward the door, but it was already too late. She flicked open a lighter and tossed it. Flames roared to life, devouring me in an instant. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. I writhed on the ground, screaming as agony consumed me. The fire only grew hungrier. Maybe my screams were what brought my brother back to consciousness. His eyelids fluttered open, horror flooding his gaze. "Sera!" His voice cracked with fury and fear as he ripped through the ropes binding his hands and feet. He stumbled toward me without a thought for his own life. I shook my head, sobbing through the pain. "No! Don't save me! You'll die too! Stay back!" But he didn't listen. He threw himself at me, beating at the flames with his bare hands. "Sera, I won't let anything happen to you!" The instant his skin touched the fire, it blistered and blackened, raw flesh peeling beneath the heat. Chapter 4 Dreame-Read Romance Stories I looked at my hand still oozing thick sticky red liquid. I'm a werewolf. 4.4 FREE Installed Open 50.00% "Stop! Please!" I cried, but my tears evaporated before they could fall. He forced a shaky smile through the agony. "Sera, don't cry. I'm fine. It doesn't hurt." I had never seen my brother like this-so desperate, so broken- and it was all because of me. Guilt tore through me like claws. I glared at Layla through the flames, hatred boiling in my veins. This was my fault. I'd dragged him into my mess. If I hadn't been so blind-so stupid-to fall for a heartless bastard like Ethan, we wouldn't be here. "Layla!" I screamed, my voice raw and feral. "When my father gets here, I'll make you pay with your life!" She only laughed, her face twisted with madness. Gasoline splashed across the floor as she spun the lighter in her hand. "Still talking tough when you're about to die? Fine-I'll send you both to hell together!" Just as the flames surged toward us, two furious roars ripped through the air. "Stop!" Ethan burst in, his face pale as death. "Who dares touch my children?" My father stormed in with a squad of warriors behind him. The moment his eyes fell on us, his fury became a living, breathing thing that could have torn the world apart. Ethan's legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees, shaking. Layla froze her face draining of all color. - Chapter 4 - ... Dreame-Read Romance Stories I looked at my hand still oozing thick sticky red liquid. I'm a werewolf. 50.00% 4.4 FREE Installed Open D