Burning Down

Thea’s POV

I stretched lazily in bed Saturday morning, the events of last night’s charity gala still replaying in my mind. Despite all the tension, the big reveal of my identity as the Dawnhaven Foundation’s founder had gone well. I’d finally stepped out of the shadows, and honestly? It felt pretty fucking good.

Kane had driven me home but didn’t stay over. He had some early-morning business to attend to and didn’t want to disturb my rest. Sweet of him, really. I’d gotten used to waking up alone over the years, but for the first time in forever, I felt like I had options.

I padded to the bathroom, squeezing toothpaste onto my brush while mentally replaying last night’s confrontations. When Aurora cornered me, I’d been ready for her bullshit. What surprised me was sensing Sebastian’s presence before she did. I’d always been more attuned to him than I wanted to admit.

Part of me was glad he overheard everything. Let him see the real face of the woman he loved so much. Every word I said came straight from my heart—no sugar-coating, no holding back.

Everyone thought Aurora was this perfect angel who could do no wrong. Maybe that was true for who she used to be, but not anymore. Perhaps the breakup with Sebastian changed her, or maybe becoming a lawyer hardened her heart. Whatever the reason, she’d transformed into someone colder, more calculating. And definitely not for the better.

After my shower, I pulled on a simple pair of jeans, a comfortable t-shirt, and flat shoes. Nothing fancy today—just me being me. As I prepared breakfast in the kitchen, I remembered I had to meet Fiona at Dawnhaven Home at nine. It was our standard post-event check-in.

My phone vibrated on the counter while I was eating. A text from Kane: Good morning, beautiful. I couldn’t help but smile. God, it felt good to be wanted and desired. This was how things should have been with Sebastian, but he’d never opened up. His loss. Now I had a man who actually treasured me, and that was all I could ask for.

I texted Kane back, our messages growing increasingly flirtatious. This boldness was both terrifying and exciting. I’d never been this way before. When Kane texted that just thinking about me got him excited, I felt a satisfaction I’d never known before.

Had I ever made Sebastian excited? I honestly couldn’t say. Maybe when we were together, he was picturing Aurora the whole time. The thought no longer stung as much as it once did.

After breakfast, I headed out to Dawnhaven Home. Driving there, I felt unusually light-hearted. For the first time in ages, things were actually looking up.

Dawnhaven Home was a masterpiece with its sleek, modern design. Clean lines and large glass windows. The soft colors blended with the lush green surroundings. As you approached the house, a long, tree-lined driveway welcomed you, leading to an entrance adorned with tall double glass doors and decorative columns.

Inside, the house was both beautiful and functional. The living room was filled with natural light and comfortable sofas. We had numerous spacious bedrooms, each uniquely decorated according to each child’s preferences, ensuring every kid had a personalized and comfortable place they could call their own. Additionally, there were entertainment areas like game rooms, a home theater, a library, a gym, an indoor pool, and a playground with swings and slides.

All Dawnhaven Homes followed the same design. We prided ourselves on providing the best conditions for these kids. When I’d asked the architect to design it, I wanted these children to have a home they could be proud of.

Besides Leo, the Dawnhaven Foundation was my other pride and joy. Being able to change these kids’ lives always brought me happiness.

As I walked into the living room, the pups greeted me enthusiastically. Today was a relaxed day where they could just chill. I hugged as many as I could before continuing on my way.

“Hey, Thea,” the older kids lounging on the sofas called out in unison. I smiled, greeting them back before asking about Fiona’s whereabouts. Jade told me she was in her office. Jade was seventeen, kicked out by her parents after getting pregnant. She’d been with us for two years since becoming pregnant at fifteen. She’d chosen to keep her baby, and we respected her decision. Her daughter Lily was the most vibrant pup I’d ever met, and everyone absolutely adored her.

I thanked her and headed toward the office, receiving more greetings from other children and staff along the way.

I found Fiona sitting at her desk, flipping through magazines. She looked up with a smile. “Your face is all over magazine covers,” she said, handing me the one she’d been reading.

The cover featured a photo of me speaking at last night’s gala. The headline read: THEA STERLING REVEALED AS THE MYSTERIOUS FOUNDER OF THE DAWNHAVEN FOUNDATION, NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL WEREWOLF CHILDREN’S CHARITY.

I snorted after reading the headline and put the magazine down.

“There are several more magazines with more or less the same headlines,” she said, spreading them out on the desk. “Some of the things they wrote and speculated about are hilarious; you should read them.”

I shook my head. “No, I really don’t care what they have to say… can we focus on work?”

“Of course,” she replied, pushing the magazines aside. “Give me the report so far.”

“Everything’s good. The gala was a success, and as of yesterday, donations have doubled.”

She handed me some documents, and I skimmed through them. I was impressed with their progress. Although some people donated just to look good, as long as the money helped these kids, I didn’t care about their reasons for donating.

“Look here,” she pointed to an amount in the report, “you’ll see your ex donated ten million dollars last night.”

I stared at her in shock. Sebastian was our biggest donor, but he’d never given that much in one go.

“Impressive, right?” she asked with a grin.

I nodded, returning my gaze to the documents. Sebastian had been donating monthly since the Dawnhaven Foundation was established, totaling nearly seventy million dollars.

My phone vibrated again. Another text from Kane: Sorry, beautiful, I was busy earlier and couldn’t reply.

I was about to respond when Fiona’s panicked voice calling my name made me look up. Her face was clouded with fear and horror.

“What is it, Fiona?” I asked, anxiety rising.

“Your…” she stammered.

“Spit it out,” I commanded; the way she was making my heart race was about to give me a heart attack.

When she finally got the words out, everything inside me went still.

“Your house is on fire.”