Chapter 5: The Proposition.

Serena’s POV

 

I'd wiped away my tears by the time I walked up the stairs to the hospital, my eyes stung from all the crying I'd done.

 

I took deep breaths as I followed a nurse as she led me to my father’s ward, every step of mine felt as ominous as the empty, sterile corridors.

 

“How's he?” I mustered the courage to ask the nurse, my heart beating erratically. “Is he…” I trailed off, not able to continue.

 

“I can't say, Miss,” the nurse shook her head, her response disappointing me. “You'll have to speak to the Doctor.” I nodded, not asking any more questions.

 

She led me forward a few paces before we took a left and there, straight ahead Susan and Stephanie were standing in front of the ICU. My heart skipped a beat when I saw their dreadful expressions, they wore grim faces as they stared at the closed doors.

 

Stephanie was a replica of her mother, Susan, only a younger one. The sound of my footsteps caught their attention.  When they saw me, they shot me disgusted sneers before completely ignoring my presence like I wasn’t even there at all.

 

“Mother,” a lump formed in my throat. “How's father?” I asked in a small voice, dread settling at the back of my throat.

 

“Hmph!” Susan snorted coldly and she turned away, completely ignoring me. Strangely Stephanie also kept mute, not giving me any of her scathing remarks that I'd gotten used to in the past.

 

My family didn’t usually speak to me I could've been dead to them for all they cared. It'd been that way, ever since my mother died, and my father remarried.

 

“Please,” my voice cracked, “what's going on? How is Father?” I whispered, searching their eyes for any clues.

 

Susan kept mute, I could've been invisible to her at that moment. Susan had brought Stephanie when she'd married her father, and since then, father had channeled all his time, energy, and fatherly love to her.

 

He said since I was just a useless Omega, there was no point wasting time training me when it was my husband who would inherit the pack not me.

 

But even then they hadn't treated me like this, like an annoying fly in the corner. A thread of panic tightened in my belly as thoughts filled my mind, each worse than the last.

 

I sighed as I stared at them, and a sense of helplessness welled up within me. I'd tried to no avail to find out what was wrong but they'd remained mute.

 

I sighed and took a seat in the corner, silently uttering a word of prayer to the moon goddess for Father to be fine. Some nurses walked in and out of the ICU but I'd not stopped any, they’d all rushed in and out without sparing any glances at us. I felt the tension rise to breaking point within me.

 

We must've been there for hours, my eyes were red from crying as I watched the nurses move back and forth, trying to stabilize  Father’s condition.

 

I jumped to my feet when a doctor in white scrubs stepped out, his eyes surveying us before he stopped before Susan.

 

“How's his condition doctor?” Susan's voice shook and she swallowed, trying to remain calm.

 

“He's stable,” the doctor nodded, his words were like a knife that cut through the tension that'd enveloped the hallway. I couldn’t help the sigh of relief that escaped me at his words and my shoulders relaxed as the tension left them. Father was okay and that was all that mattered.

 

“Can we see him?” I couldn’t help but ask, Susan's expression became cold at my words but she stared at the doctor, waiting for his reply.

 

“This…” the doctor frowned, his eyes staring at me. “Who is Serena?” My eyes flashed at his question, I didn't recall telling him my name, Susan and Stephanie too had turned to stare at me with cold eyes.

 

“I'm…” I took a deep breath and stepped forward, “I'm Serena,” my voice shook as I stared at the doctor, wondering what this was all about. Did Father ask for me? I wondered, thoughts racing through my mind.

 

“You,” the doctor appeared surprised for a moment before he regained his bearings. He adjusted his specs, “Your father has requested that you not be allowed to see him,” the doctor's face was grave as he stared at me. He was dead serious.

 

“What!” My mouth dropped open. His words felt like a crushing blow to my already bruised heart, and pangs of guilt hit me. I couldn’t blame Father I thought, he probably blamed me for bringing Logan upon our family.  

 

Stephanie directed a mocking glance at me, the corners of her lips curled up slightly. Susan didn't spare me a glance either, they both walked into the ward together, leaving me staring behind them.  

 

“I'm sorry, but your father made it clear that you were not to go in,” the doctor cleared his throat awkwardly when he saw me staring at the closed doors.

 

“It's okay,” I forced a smile, “I'm just glad he's alright.”

 

“He…” The doctor was about to speak when the doors opened and Susan poked her head out.

 

“Serena,” her voice startled me, and she nodded at me. “Come,” she gestured at me.

 

“Me?” I stared at her in surprise, wondering what made Father change his mind so soon. I rushed up immediately I noticed her expression becoming cold.

 

“Wait,” Susan stopped me at the door. “This mess was caused by you and your foolishness,” Susan's tone was harsh as she glared at me. I lowered my head, not daring to say a word.

 

It went without saying that if it wasn't for me, perhaps Derek wouldn't have been accepted into the pack. He wouldn't have gotten a position in the pack and it was due to my support he'd gained merit within the pack. My heart throbbed with the pain of betrayal as thoughts of him crossed my mind.

 

“We have found a way for you to save your father,” Susan's words snapped me out of my thoughts.

 

“Are you…” a glimmer of hope rose within me.

 

“Shut up and listen,” Susan snapped, interrupting me.  

 

I nodded, my breaths becoming hastened. “Please tell me how and I will do it immediately.” I pleaded. If there was any way to make amends for my mistake I wanted to give it a try. If Derek succeeded with his plan of taking over the pack, not to mention the heavy debt hanging over our necks, I wouldn't dare imagine the consequences.

 

Susan pursed her lips as she stared at me. “Your  father has decided to marry you off to that disabled Alpha Darius, the son of Luna Crane.”

 

I thought I misheard, “What!” My breath caught in my throat as I stared at Susan, she was dead serious. “This…” I exhaled shakily.  This couldn't be happening. But it was, and as I stared into Susan's cold eyes, I knew she wasn’t going to offer me a way out.