Chapter 1: Heartbreak

 

Serena POV

 

I will never forget the day my whole life fell apart. The day I lost everything I had ever loved.

 

It had been a beautiful evening, and I had just spent all day in my gallery, located at the center of our pack, blissfully sketching a portrait of my handsome, talented, and charming fiancé —Derek.

 

It was supposed to be my two year anniversary gift to him. Last year’s anniversary was amazing, but this year’s anniversary was made even much better by the fact that my boyfriend — the same one who had vowed to never get married— had just asked me to marry him last night!

 

Words couldn’t explain the amount of sheer joy in my heart. That’s why I decided to channel my emotions into painting this portrait, with the hopes that he would see it and realize that even though we weren’t fated mates, I loved him terribly, and 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.

 

After hours of painting, I looked at my watch and released a gasp when I saw the time! It was almost 6pm, and if I didn’t get ready now, I would be late for an engagement party I was scheduled to attend in an hours time.

 

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 engagement party was beautiful, and I couldn’t help taking mental screenshots of what I would like to recreate at my own wedding with Derek.

 

I had to swallow a smile at the thought. The mere memory of Derek’s proposal easily turned me into a giggling mess.

 

I still couldn’t believe he wanted to marry me, an unwanted Omega no one else wanted. I was so happy, that I could scream it on the highest mountain for the world to hear.

 

Derek wants to marry me!

 

Speaking of Derek, my eyes unexpectedly caught a familiar sight, standing in a corner.

 

It was Derek’s mother, my future mother in law. I hadn’t known that she would be attending the party, which meant that she didn’t know I would be here too.

 

I wanted to approach and greet her, but she looked to be in deep and serious conversation with another familiar but older woman. It would be rude to interrupt them.

 

I instantly recognized who that older woman was too. I had seen her on the news and in magazines too.

 

She was former Luna Crane, the mother to the powerful Alpha of the Crimson Pack. For several decades, they had been the most powerful, most wealthy and most influential pack and family in the whole region. But then tragedy struck.

 

By just pure misfortune, her only son, the powerful Alpha, Darius Crane had suddenly become disabled just two weeks ago.

 

Alpha Darius was famous for hiding his identity, so no one actually knew what he looked like, but it was still all over the news. He was said to have been involved in a ghastly motor accident that destroyed his body, made him disabled and now he was in a Coma in the hospital.

 

I felt a pang of pity as I looked at her, all the money in the world couldn’t save her son from his unfortunate fate.

 

“Oh my gosh look! Aren’t they the cutest couple ever?I heard someone exclaim as they rushed to the dance floor where I noticed the crowd was already gathering.

 

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

 

I realized that the couple were probably having a special moment on the dance floor. This was the perfect time to show them my love and support too, so I made my way to the dance floor.

 

But the minute I got there, my feet halted in their tracks before my brain could even process the sight in front of me.

 

A couple were truly dancing very intimately on the dance floor, but that wasn’t the couple I had expected. No, it was far worse than that. It was a scene from my worst nightmare.

 

It was Derek, my Derek! And he was tightly entwined with a woman who’s face I couldn’t see because it was tucked into his neck. He was smiling and peppering loving kisses on her bare shoulders. I had never seen him look so happy in our entire relationship.

 

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!

 

His arms wrapped tighter around the woman’s waist, she raised her head and I felt my throat tighten with hot tears.

 

I knew her! I knew who the woman was. This was Cynthia Baker, my supposed friend and training partner!

 

Derek was cheating on my with my own friend! I suddenly felt very dizzy.

 

What was going on? Was this real or some kind of cruel prank.

 

As if he could sense my presence, Derek suddenly looked up, our eyes locked and he froze.

 

His eyes widened in panic and that’s when I realized that this was not a dream! The only man I had ever loved was publicly hugging and kissing my own friend in front of me!

 

I quickly turned around and ran from the crowd as the tears began to run down my face.

 

I couldn’t believe it! How could Derek do this to me? Why would he do this to me? He had just asked me to marry him last night for goodness sake! Why would he ask me to marry him and suddenly turn around to cheat on me?!

 

What was the problem? Was I not enough for him?

 

Painful sobs began to wrack through my body and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. The pain in my heart was too much!

 

Just then, i felt someone grab me and usher me into a nearby room. Just as we got in, I looked up to see that it was none other than Derek with his guilty face staring at me.

 

“Baby, please I can explain, it’s not what you think.” He began and I burst out laughing. Those were the last words any woman would ever want to hear from her fiancé.

 

“Explain Derek? So I didn’t just see you kissing my own friend in public right?” I barked sarcastically. “Well please go ahead and explain.” I said, folding my hands and glaring at him.

 

“I-I.. She doesn’t mean anything to me honey. It’s you I love. She’s just our training partner, I was just talking to her about expanding our training center.” He stuttered and my vision turned red.

 

“You were talking to her about training Derek? Do I look like a fucking child to you? So you talk about training by kissing and hugging in public right? Do you take me for a a fucking fool Derek?” I screamed incredulously.

 

Derek looked uncomfortable. “Can you keep your voice down Serena? People will hear us!” He snapped and I felt the overwhelming urge to punch him in the face.

 

“Let them hear us! At least they’ll know what a lying scumbag you are!” I yelled with tears pouring down my face. “You looked like you were two seconds away from tearing off her clothes back there! What kind of fucking training partner is that Derek?!” I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to tell me such a terrible lie.

 

Did he really think I was that stupid? That I’d just believe his crap?!

 

All of a sudden, there was a shift in his eyes and his demeanor abruptly changed. The worry and panic in his eyes instantly disappeared and was replaced by something cold and sinister. I had never seen him look so cruel before.

 

“Fine Serena, you want to hear the truth? Here it is….. Yes I have been sleeping with her behind your back.” He admitted and i gasped. It wasn’t just from the shock of his confession, but it was the chilling way he said it. With no care or feeling, like there was nothing I could do about it.

 

“Derek?” I cried. “How could you do this to me? After everything I have done for you?”

 

Derek suddenly rolled his eyes at me. “And so what Serena? Just because you got me a good position at your father’s pack and gave me a few millions doesn’t mean I should bow and worship you. Cynthia is the daughter of a well respected noble man too, and since your pack and family doesn’t even want you, she is ten times more valuable and more influential than you’ll ever be, I’m just using her to get the life I deserve.” He snarled.

 

I gaped at him in shock. How could he talk to me like this? After all the sacrifices I made for him? My Derek used to be so warm and caring, but this…. I didn’t know this monster in front of me.

 

“Derek.” I whispered. “I gave you everything! I gave you everything you asked, anything you wanted, whenever you wanted. I gave you all of me, even when I didn’t have anything for myself! How could you do this? How can you be such a fucking monster?!”

 

No sooner had the words left my mouth, before Derek’s hand swung at my face, giving me a horrible hard slap that left me stumbling back in pain and in shock. Derek slapped me.

 

I turned to look at him in shock and he shot me a satisfied smile. “You should know when to shut your fucking mouth Serena. Gosh! I’ve been itching to do that for years! You don’t know how hard it was for me not to show you you my real self!” He snapped.

 

I touched the cheek he slapped me on, and my fingers came away with blood. From the reflection of the mirror opposite me, I could see that his ring had cut my face, and left the angry imprint of brand’s mark on my face.

 

It was a luxury brand called Sapphire. It was a brand I loved for years, but couldn’t afford because I was spending all my money on Derek. And it turns out he was using my money to buy the same brands for himself and probably his girlfriend.

 

Hot tears of pain and humiliation streamed down my face now. This was all my fault! I had been such a fool to believe that anyone.. or worse, someone as handsome and talented as Derek can  ever love someone like me.

 

With one last look at his cold, cruel face, I made my decision. I didn’t want anything to ever do with him or love, ever again!

 

I immediately rushed past him before he could stop me. I tried running through the crowd but the  tears was blinding me.

 

I was close to the exit, but before I could reach it, i suddenly bumped face first into the broad chest of a tall firm man. He immediately grabbed my shoulders and steadied me on my feet… then his eyes fell on the blood on my cheek and tears in my eyes.

 

“Ma’am? Are you alright? Do you need help? Who did this to you?” He snapped with a frown and a deep velvet voice.

 

I almost laughed at him. Even if he knew the answers, there was nothing he could do to help me. I tried to walk past him but he tried to hold me, so I just shook my head and ran past him before he could try to stop me again.

 

I finally got a moment of privacy when I jumped into the car and locked the door. I was finally alone in my shame and grief.

 

I rested my head on the steering and let the painful sobs tear out of my throat. My whole body shook with the force of my cries.

 

After about 20 minutes of crying, I finally tried to regain my composure and brush the tears away, but then I suddenly saw my phone flashing with a notification.

 

20 missed calls from St. Louise hospital, and a text from my stepmother.

 

It read. “Where the hell are you Serena?! Your father has just been admitted to the hospital! He’s in critical condition! I don’t think he will survive it.”

 

My breath hitched in my throat. Daddy?