Derek’s POV My heart thudded erratically as I paced the dimly lit room, my gaze flicking over the mess of papers scattered across my desk. Every shred of information, every clue I’d uncovered led me closer to Serena’s father. My eyes reddened as rage whipped into me. He thought he could hide, thought he was safe behind hospital walls, and hired guards. The corner of my mouth curled into a smirk. Not safe enough. I just had to find which one specifically. After days of digging, following leads, and bribing every lowlife connected to the Kensington family, I finally had what I needed. I’d found him. Serena had to know she couldn’t just walk away from me. And if she needed a reminder, her father would be perfect. Maybe then she’d realize just how powerful I was—and how wrong she’d been to choose Darius. A dark satisfaction settled in my chest as I went over my plan. Within minutes, my men were on their way to the hospital, each one moving under the radar, blending in like shadows.
Serena’s POV “Mother?” My eyes widened as I opened the door, “What… what happened?” I gasped, taking in her haggard appearance. She looked… awful, her eyes were red and swollen with dark circles. She looked nothing like her confident, polished self. I couldn't quite believe my eyes as I stared at her. “Serena…” she began, her voice thin and almost unrecognizable. “There's been a terrible incident, her eyes quivered. “Is Darius in?” She asked, stepping inside. “What happened to you? What's going on?” My breath caught in my throat as I ushered her inside. I rushed to bring a glass of water for her, I could feel a thread of dread tighten in my belly. I just hoped it wasn't about father. My mind raced with possibilities, each one worse than the last. I shook my head, trying to press down the surge of panic that threatened to rise within me. “It’s Stephanie,” Susan's voice was hoarse as she spoke, her eyes glimmered with tears. “She's been kidnapped.” “What!” the news hit me li
Serena’s POV The air was tense as I sat across from Agatha, my food lay untouched. I could barely raise my head, not daring to stare at her squarely. She'd listened to me quietly as I explained the situation to her, not saying a word. I couldn’t even begin to guess what was on her mind. “So,” Agatha began, her lips pulling into a mocking smile. “You’ve decided to ignore my very clear instructions, haven’t you, Serena?” I winced a little at her sharp biting tone, “I…” I stammered. “I didn't have a choice,” I whispered, my voice shook slightly. “I… I’m sorry for barging in without a proper arrangement, Luna.” I felt like gagging when I called her Luna, but I pushed through. “I wouldn’t have come if it weren’t… important,” I stared at her, hoping she'd reconsider. “Important?” Agatha’s lips thinned, her expression becoming forbidding. “The only thing you should be concerned with is keeping your end of the bargain,” her expression became more severe. “You seem to have forgotten.
Darius’s POV The silence of the garden was comforting, and it held a steady pulse of stillness that I’d come to seek out in recent days. I sighed as I stared into the distance, I had been avoiding her—Serena. I had just gotten off the phone with Jake, his words echoing in my ears. “Serena’s step-sister has been kidnapped,” Jake had spoken tersely, his voice tight with tension. “Her mother came to give her the news, I assume she will Come to you for help,” Jake's voice lowered. “What will you do about it?” Jake paused before adding, “Derek's sent a letter with his demands, we can't reveal our hand easily Darius,” his voice was grim. “Remember that.” “I need to think” I'd said, ending the call and even now I still didn't know what I was supposed to do. “Damn you Derek!” I hissed under my breath, my eyes narrowing. I exhaled slowly, trying to calm down. I needed to remain calm and rational about this. Derek's plan was well carried out I thought, clenching my fists. He'd let his
Darius’s POV I arrived at the house in good time, Jake wheeled me in. I ignored all the gazes that shot my way, not minding them in the least. I had to give credit to Jake, he'd gotten the wheelchair and neck support. “Darius,” Mother rushed in at that moment, her eyes brightened for a split second before darkening again. “You're awake,” she whispered, cupping my face softly. “Yes mother,” I nodded slowly. “Thanks to Serena,” I kept my tone calm, staring calmly at her. Her eyes held mine for a long moment and she seemed to catch on, her expression hardened. “You're here because of her,” she snapped. It wasn't a question. “Yes,” I answered, keeping my expression calm. “It's to my understanding that we can't afford to allow Derek to get any more leverage against us.” Agatha’s face twisted, a scornful laugh escaping her. “Leverage? That should mean nothing to you, Darius. Derek's not our problem, he's not even our opponent.” Her eyes narrowed, “I've done my part of the deal. I
Serena’s POV I was still grappling with my emotions as I walked outside quickly, already somewhat familiar with the mansion's layout. Everywhere I passed, the guards, maids, and attendants all gave me looks of respect but at this point, I couldn't be bothered. A chill breeze blew into me as I stepped outside, blowing gusts of wind that made my hair stand on end. I sighed as I walked down the stairs, a sense of defeat weighing down on me. I didn't dare imagine Susan's reaction when I told her that Agatha wasn't going to lend a hand, she was our only chance. Well, not only, I thought. I felt a wave of mixed emotions when I thought about Darius. “Leaving so soon?” a familiar voice said, snapping me out of my thoughts. My heart skipped a beat as I turned around, staring into Alex's eyes. He was leaning against the side of the building, his expression almost lazy as he stared at me with an unreadable expression. “I…” my heart thudded as I felt his gaze linger intently on me. I c
Serena’s POV I fiddled with the bedsheets in my hands, my thoughts were on Darius. I'd messed up, big time I thought. Darius had carried a stone-cold look all through the ride. Even now his words replayed in my head like a saved audio clip, his anger coming through. “If you’re so besotted with Alex… why don’t you ask him to help with Stephanie instead of me?” The memory of his cold tone stabbed into me like a thorn I couldn’t pull out. I wasn’t “besotted” with Alex, and it burned to think Darius saw me that way—as if I were some foolish, love-struck girl, oblivious to what mattered. I’d tried to shake off the pain, telling myself I didn’t care about his opinion. But my heart hadn’t listened. I felt like I'd betrayed him. A sudden knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. My heart sank as Susan appeared, her gaze fixed on me with that all-too-familiar intensity. “So,” she began, folding her arms, “What did the Luna say about Stephanie?” Another wave of guilt crashed int
Darius’s POV The car was quiet as Jake drove towards Derek’s winter mansion, the only sound to be heard was the sound of Jake’s fingers as he tapped on the steering wheel. I could tell Jake wasn't happy with my decision, he'd called it foolish but I didn’t care. I needed to do this I thought, leaning back in my seat. I had this strange urge to prove a point. Why? I didn't want to think about it, despite Serena’s calm features filling my mind's eye. “You think this is a good idea?” Jake finally broke the silence, his voice was grim. “I don't,” Jake's voice was tight and he glanced outside the glass, worry clear in his features. I kept my gaze forward, unwilling to be swayed. “I can't let Derek gain a bargaining chip, Jake, it would affect our plans,” I replied evenly, each word carrying a weight I hoped Jake would understand. “You know Derek’s not going to make this easy,” Jake countered, glancing over at me. “He’s dangerous, unpredictable. And let’s be honest, in your conditio
The corridor was dark and dim as Derek’s men made their way down to Dylan’s holding cell. They didn't have pleased expressions however, if anything they were confused. Derek’s orders had been clear enough, they just couldn't understand why he wanted them to release Dylan who he'd kept hostage for weeks already. It made little sense. Releasing Dylan, the man they'd once called Alpha felt like a bitter soup being forced down their throat. In Derek’s study earlier, the command had been given with an authority that left no room for argument. His tone had been sharp, his gaze cold as ice.“Release him,” Derek said, his voice as cold as ice. A wave of murmurs spread through the group of men. One of the braver men had hesitated, his brows furrowed in confusion. “But—” he tried to speak up but Derek wasn't having any of it. His fist slammed onto the desk, the impact echoing through the room like a gunshot.“But what?” He snapped, his eyes narrowed dangerously. “Do you intend to question
DariusThe air outside the council felt like freedom as I stepped out, leaving those group of old foggeys behind me. I exhaled slowly, the tension leaving me as my tense shoulders relaxed and thoughts swirled inside my head. I'd not been as relaxed as I'd made myself look. Damn them! I snapped internally, my eyes narrowing. They hadn't cared that Alex had kidnapped Serena, hadn't cared at all. All they cared about were their interests. “Darius!” Agatha’s voice broke through the mess of thoughts in my mind. I hadn’t noticed when she'd walked out after me. I halted mid-stride, my jaw tightening as I turned to face her. “What is it, Mother?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. I forced a smile, “won't you join them in their discussion?” I waved my hand, gesturing back at the closed chamber. “No,” Agatha smiled a little. “They already know where I stand on this, there's no need for more formalities.” I felt a warm fuzzy feeling at her words and I smiled. “You need to be more
DariusThe chamber felt colder than usual when I strode in, the sound of my steps echoing as my boots stepped on the freshly polished floors. My eyes were cold and icy as I glanced straight, scanning the group of people in front. Mother was seated at the far end of the room, she sat ramrod straight but I could see the weariness in her eyes. She had borne the weight of the pack for a while now but now, even she seemed rattled.The three elders were present, they sat quietly by the side but one would be unwise to ignore them. Not like I cared much for them I thought, stopping a few meters away. “Mother,” I began, bowing my head. I glanced at the elders for a moment, my eyes staying on that of Elder Mortis for a moment. He was the eldest and outspoken one, his eyes met mine with a piercing glare but he didn’t say a word. Elder Reed as always looked ready to criticize, his lips twisting into a scowl as he glanced at me. Elan, the quietest of the three, sat back with his hands clasp
Serena’s POV The air seemed still with unspoken words and I stared at Jake pleadingly. “Fine,” Jake nodded, relenting. He massaged his brows gently, “I'll take you to him,” he said, “But—” he held up a finger. “Only for a few minutes” he added, his expression serious. “If Darius finds out I let you see him…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Let’s just say I’ll be lucky if I still have skin on my back.”“I understand,” I nodded quickly, my heart pounding. “Thank you,” I whispered, "I won’t take long, I promise.”Jake didn't answer and his jaw tightened, but he motioned for me to follow. “Leave,” he turned to glance at the guards who stood further off, then nodded and turned to leave without a word. He probably didn't want anyone knowing what we were going to do I thought, watching the guards leave. “Let's go,” Jake waited until they'd left before he motioned me to follow him. We walked into one of the adjourning buildings, and through some dimly lit halls in silence, the atmosph
Serena’s POV I was deep in my thoughts when a knock at the door pierced the silence. I glanced up, surprised, as Susan stepped into the room. Her movements were slow and quiet as she drifted into the room, her gaze shifting nervously before settling on me.“Susan?” my eyes narrowed slightly. I was surprised to see her, and a moment later I frowned. There was something off about her I thought, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Her usual air of superiority was gone, replaced by something I couldn’t quite place.“Serena,” she began, her tone softer than I’d ever heard it.I straightened, sitting up while adjusting a pillow behind me, despite myself I was still wary of her. “What is it?”Susan hesitated, her hands twisting together. “I came to see how you were doing,” she beamed a smile at me as she fidgeted on the spot, unsure of whether to come close or stay where she was. “See me?”My brows shot up as her words threw me off, that was the last thing I'd expect Susan to
Serena’s POV The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Darius stood near the door, his arms crossed and I could feel his eyes on me, boring into me. “Th—thank you,” I stammered, my voice coming out in a whisper and I forced myself to look up at him. My chest tightened as his eyes flicked to mine, holding them for a moment too long before glancing away.He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he shifted on his feet, looking oddly uncomfortable—almost hesitant, as if he wasn’t sure how to respond.“Are you…okay?” he asked finally, his voice gruff but softer than I expected.“I’m fine,” I said quickly, the words feeling hollow in my mouth. Darius nodded, though the tension in his posture didn’t ease. The silence stretched again, awkward and heavy, until I couldn’t take it anymore.“I mean it, Darius,” I stuttered, my voice a little firmer now. “Thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you…”I trailed off, not finishing the statement. Alex had wanted to take me somewhere. So
Serena’s POVThe sound of the car was the only sound that filled my ears as we drove in the dark. My heart was beating erratically, a by-product of the tense thoughts floating In my mind. Darius was at the wheel, and his hands were gripping the steering very tightly as he drove, his expression was like stone. He hadn't said a word since we'd left, his eyes occasionally meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror. Marcella sat quietly beside me in the back seat, her presence reassured me. This wasn’t fake. This wasn’t a lie, I'd been rescued. I winced slightly as I adjusted my position, my body screaming with pain. I couldn’t get the image of Alex out of my head. ‘Was he fine, had Darius injured him? What had happened?’ I sat there struggling with the thought as it plagued me. I needed to know if he was okay if he’d made it out alive, but I didn’t know how to ask. My throat felt tight, I didn't wish to test Darius’s reaction by asking, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak.“He’ll be fi
Susan stood behind the door as she strained her ears to eavesdrop on a conversation with someone on the phone. She couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but the tone of Stephanie’s words made her feel very uneasy. Something was off. “…it’s handled, don’t worry about that,” Stephanie said quietly, pacing the room. She was dressed in a beautiful blue dress. “If you keep your side of the bargain, keep mine,” her words made Susan scrunch her face, suspicion filling her. “I’ll keep you updated,” Stephanie said. “Stick to the plan,” she ended the call. Plan? What plan? Susan’s brows furrowed and she pushed closer, trying to overhear more bits of the conversation but the conversation had ended already. Susan hesitated at the door, her face having all kinds of emotions. She took a deep breath before she pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Who's—” Stephanie exclaimed as she spun around, her words cutting off when she saw Susan and her expression hardened instantly.“Who were
Serena’s POV The sight of Darius in the doorway sent a flood of emotions through me and my breath caught in my throat. Relief and shock flooded my system, the adrenaline that had been keeping me upright suddenly abandoning me. My knees buckled, and before I could hit the ground, Marcella appeared beside me, her arms steadying me.“It’s okay,” she whispered, her hands helping hold me upright. “You’re safe now.”“You lying piece of—” Darius spewed a flurry of insults but he didn’t make a move. His expression was one of unrestrained fury, his gaze locked on Alex like a predator about to strike. The tension in the room was suffocating.“Darius, please,” I managed to choke out, my voice trembling. “Don’t let this get out of hand.” The look in his eyes frightened me, I'd never seen that kind of look in his eyes. Darius didn’t even glance in my direction. His jaw was clenched tight, and his fists were curled at his sides, trembling with barely restrained rage.Before I could blink Dari