The Savior's Secret

ROMAN

The phone's vibration against my desk startled me from my brooding. Unknown number. I almost ignored it, but something compelled me to answer.

"Alpha Vance speaking."

"Roman." Seraphina's voice floated through the line, soft and hesitant.

My grip tightened on the phone. After our last conversation, I hadn't expected to hear from her so soon. "Seraphina. What do you want?"

"I know our dinner went... poorly," she said, her tone carefully measured. "But I've been thinking about everything—about us, about Vanessa, about the past."

I remained silent, waiting for whatever game she was playing to reveal itself.

"I don't expect forgiveness," she continued. "But maybe we could try... friendship? After everything we've been through together, I can't imagine my life without you in it somehow."

My jaw clenched. "Friendship requires trust, Seraphina. Something you destroyed."