Chapter 1: And Then Things Fell Apart

Serena’s POV

 

The evening was cool and calm. I arched my head to the side, enjoying the soft chirps of the birds from outside. My brows were furrowed as I focused intently on the portrait I was sketching, the charming features of a man slowly coming into shape.

 

Derek. My heart swelled with love as I stared at my nearly finished portrait. It had taken me almost a week to get it done, and I wanted to present it to him as a gift to mark our second anniversary. My eyes clouded over as I recalled his words from yesterday.

 

“Will you be my mate, Serena?” he'd asked, his warm eyes staring into mine, seeing my soul. I hadn’t hesitated, not even a bit. A smile tugged at my lips. Of course, I said yes.

 

Derek and I had courted for two years now, and even then, it hadn't been easy. I was born into a strong family, and my father was the Alpha. Contrary to what people thought, I was unloved and mistreated at home. Father had remarried, and my new stepmom, Susan, made it clear that she didn’t like me.  

 

It didn't help that father was always busy with pack affairs and so Susan was in charge at home. ‘If only I could change,’ I thought, sighing deeply, my hands still moved across the sketch pad. I'd been born wolfless, I couldn't change into wolf form. It was a thing of a shame to our family, little wonder father treated me like I was air, instead he treated Susan's children better.

 

Derek was the only person who treated me nicely and loved me, I'd planned to channel my emotions into painting this portrait, I hoped he'd see it and see the love I had for him.  He meant everything to me.

 

No really, Derek literally meant the world to me, I had never loved anyone this much in my entire life, and considering how much my pack neglected wolfless Omegas like me, Derek was the only person in the world who cared for me too.

 

I was so engrossed in my sketching that I didn't notice someone had walked in until a shadow loomed over me. My heart jolted and I glanced up, meeting Susan's cold eyes.

 

“Mo–mother,” I stammered, rising to my feet quickly and I closed the sketch pad.  “I didn't see you come in,” my voice shook and I lowered my head as I spoke, not daring to meet her eyes.

 

“Hmph!” Susan didn't say a word and she scoffed lightly, her cold eyes raking over me before slowly settling on the sketch pad. “You seem to have forgotten that you're to present yourself at the dinner party later,” her eyes filled with contempt.  “Not staying here fiddling with rubbish,” she sneered.

 

“You've been the source of shame to this family and you know it,” Susan's eyes bored into mine. Her words were threatening, “You'd best be on your best behavior if you make any mistakes…” she trailed off, leaving her barely concealed threat hanging in the air.

 

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and nodded quickly, not daring to say anything. Susan was always concerned about our family’s image.

 

It annoyed her immensely that I was my father's first daughter, despite my special case of not being able to turn I had to attend and represent my father as the daughter of the Alpha. If Susan had her way, my step-siblings would take charge, not like they weren't trying to already.  

 

“I…” I stammered and my cheeks reddened. “I'll get ready right away,” I jumped to my feet, closing my sketch pad quickly.

 

“I want you to get ready in time or else,” Susan snapped, her eyes shooting fire as she glared at me. The air became heavy from the weight of her words, and my breath hitched. I stared at her as she turned and walked away without another word.

 

I heaved a sigh of relief watching her leave and I hurriedly got to my feet. The party was being thrown by one of our pack’s wealthiest noblemen, so as the eldest daughter of the Alpha, I couldn’t afford to miss it at all.

 

Thankfully, by the time I got dressed and arrived at the party, I realized that I had made it just in time.

 

The party was bustling when I arrived, with finely dressed people moving about the place. I couldn’t help but sigh as I mentally thought about how I'd recreate such a scene at my wedding with Derek.

 

I could feel cold stares coming my way but I ignored them, already accustomed to such looks. I'd arrived minutes ago but aside from being announced at the door, no one had come up to welcome me. No one wanted to associate with the castaway daughter of the Alpha.

 

I sighed at the thought but I forced a smile and raised my head high. I couldn’t let them see me cower, Derek had always reminded me of that. I still couldn’t believe he wanted to marry me, an unwanted Omega no one else wanted.

 

Derek wants to marry me! That was all that mattered to me.

 

I took a deep breath before I walked inside, my eyes searching through the crowd for Derek, I hoped he'd be there. I also wished that Cynthia was here with me, Cynthia was my best friend. My only friend. I'd planned to come with her but she'd texted she was busy with something.

 

I'd just walked in when I heard hushed whispers from around me.

 

“Oh my gosh look! Aren’t they the cutest couple ever? I heard someone exclaim as they stared towards the dance floor where I noticed a small crowd had already gathered.

 

“Damn! I wish a man would look at me with as much love as he looks at her.” Another guest sighed.

 

Who could that be? I wondered, walking forward as I craned my neck curiously to see who it was that'd gotten everyone agitated.

 

But the minute I got there, my feet halted in their tracks before my brain could even process the sight in front of me. “What!” the blood drained from my face as I stared in shock.

 

A couple were truly dancing very intimately on the dance floor, the man's hands were wrapped possessively around her as they moved slowly to the music. “How…” my breath caught in my throat. “How can this be?” I felt as if my legs were about to give way beneath me, my eyes were glued to the man.

 

It was Derek, my Derek! He held the woman whose face I couldn’t see because it was tucked into his neck. He was smiling and peppering loving kisses on her bare shoulders.

 

I felt as If a knife was slowly twisting in my gut as I watched, shocked to my bones.

 

I stared at him, unable to move. Unable to even breathe as my heart and my dreams shattered into a million pieces in just one second! How could he? My eyes blurred with tears, and I felt my heart give way within me.

 

This couldn’t be happening, except, it was.