Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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Aldus told me that Fynn demanded that there will be no electronic surveillance inside packhouse or around it, for their privacy. It's just me and Ari in the hallway, so whatever happens will stay between us. No wonder she came here arrogantly to put me in place.

Ari is faster and stronger than me and has no problem bullying the weak.

I looked at Ari who was getting in my face and spouting nonsense while waving the knife carelessly, and I got an idea.

She was brazen because she saw me as weak. Well then, I will show her my weak side.

I lifted my hands like I want to shove her away, and her arms moved in an instinct to prevent me from touching her. Ari was fast, but the sharp pain in my left hand told me that I've got my target.

I pressed forward until I felt the hilt of the knife hitting my palm. Bullseye!

"AHHH!", I screamed as loud as I could.

Ari's eyes widened in panic when she realized that her knife was stuck in my hand, and the tip of the blade was visible on the back of my palm.

It took about one second for Aldus to appear in the hallway. I knew that my father is reliable!

"What happened?", Aldus asked while inspecting my hand with his brows furrowed.

My eyes locked with his and I hoped that he will understand that I'm OK. Actually, he should know that I'm fine because in the lab my body goes through much worse than this one cut.

Fynn, Tessa, and Vito entered my peripheral vision and I started stuttering.

"I… I… I got out of my room and Ari was waiting for me. She said that I came here to seduce everyone and how she saw through me… and then she stabbed me."

Ari's face twisted in outrage. "You are lying!"

I sneered internally. The more she shouts and denies, the more believable my story will be. I already know that Ari is no one's favorite, and everyone sees her as willful and impulsive. Now it's time for payback.

I bit the inside of my cheek harshly and my eyes were filled with tears instantly.

"Which part of that is a lie? The one that you are in front of my room? Or that this is your knife?", I lifted my hand so that everyone sees.

Fynn came next to me, careful not to touch Aldus who glared at Ari like he is about to snap her in two.

"Can I see?", Fynn asked me, and I extended my wounded hand toward him.

Fynn turned to Ari. "This is one of the silver knives we carry when we patrol in human form. Explain." The ominous aura that spread from Fynn was impossible to miss.

Ari gulped audibly. "I saw Seraphina leaving the training ground and I followed her. I wanted to talk. Only talk."

I enjoyed seeing Ari squirming under Fynn's glare. He was furious and I wondered how far he will go to investigate this stabbing incident.

"What about the knife?", Fynn asked Ari through his teeth.

"Uhm… It's mine. I thought that she will take me seriously if I have a knife… But I didn't stab her!", Ari said with panic.

"Really?", I had to interject. "What are you trying to say? Did I throw myself at the knife?"

"Yes!", Ari shouted.

"This is too much, Ari…", Tessa said disappointedly. "What were you thinking?"

Ari was looking at Fynn, Tessa, and Vitto in disbelief. "Wait! You believe her?"

Otto rushed to me with the first aid kit in his hands.

By now, the hallway had a dozen of spectators who were standing a few steps away. They saw me with a bloodied hand and a knife, and Ari shrinking under Fynn's furious glare. Considering Ari's temper and reputation, they didn't need much to guess what happened.

Bert and the teens were not here. I guessed they were still out doing some exercises.

"I will take care of this.", Aldus said to Otto as he took the first aid kit and gestured for me to enter my room.

"No! No! She is lying!", Ari screamed, and her next words were cut off when Fynn slapped her harshly that even I jolted. I wondered if he dislocated her jaw.

"Otto, Vitto, lock her up. We will decide what to do with Ari when we confirm the extent of Serina's injury… and after I talk to Aldus."

"But…", Ari protested.

"Shut up!", Fynn cut her off angrily. "You should consider yourself lucky that Aldus didn't end you on the spot! When will you learn to behave?!"

Aldus asked everyone to wait outside while he tends to my wound. No one objected. Probably due to his dark expression.

I went to the sink and pulled the knife out of my hand, under the stream of cold water.

Aldus increased the water pressure so that we can talk without being overheard. Werewolves have a keen sense of hearing.

"Will you tell me what happened?", Aldus asked while leaning on the wall next to me.

"Ari told you."

Aldus frowned while scrutinizing my expression. "You stabbed yourself?"

"Ari was holding the knife. I just pushed my hand on the blade."

Aldus didn't need much to understand what I was trying to get at. "You wanted Fynn to punish her."

I didn't deny it. "And to keep an eye on her. If we are leaving Zoe, Ash, and Luca here, I don't want that toxic woman around them unsupervised. She said that I came here to seduce guys. I think that she is into Fynn. Today it was me, but tomorrow it could be Zoe. Or she could find a reason to bully Ash or Luca. They are young and feel that they need to behave in order to blend in and not disappoint me."

I smiled as I observed my hand that was good as new. This healing is quite handy.

Aldus struggled with deciding if he should praise me or scold me. Eventually, he spoke. "I didn't think that you are so… scheming."

I grinned. "I will take that as a compliment."

Aldus shook his head in disapproval. "Don't do that again. It was reckless. The blade is made out of silver. It could have been some other harmful material, or poisoned."

I didn't think it's a big deal. Aldus told me many times that I'm immortal and my body is miraculously perfect. I was willing to take advantage of that. What's the point of any ability if you don't use it to your benefit? Besides, it's not like I was getting stabbed in the heart, it was just a hand.

"Well, at least we know that silver is not impacting my healing ability and that there was no poison. Come and bandage my hand. We don't want to expose that my superpower is healing…"

Aldus grunted in response. He didn't like what I did, but I think that it was a solid plan, and it worked.

I wanted Ari to suffer for looking down on me. Now that these guys see Ari as someone who attacked me (aka Aldus's daughter), they will put extra effort for Zoe, Ash, and Luca to be safe.

Aldus made sure the blade is washed well before joining me on the bed and getting bandages. He even applied antiseptic cream on my hand, the medicinal scent will make it realistic.

"Will you talk to Fynn about this?", I asked.

Aldus confirmed. "I will make sure that Ari is punished, but not too harshly so that she doesn't come to seek vengeance against pups."

"Thanks..." I smiled. Aldus is the best.

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