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
Serena’s POV Derek! My world crumbled before me as I stared at him in the embrace of another, they slowly moved along to the music and the woman's features became clearer. “What?” A wave of disbelief washed over me and my throat tightened with hot tears that threatened to spill over. I knew her! I knew who the woman was. Cynthia, my best friend and training partner. But didn’t she say she was sick? My eyes were wide as I stared at them. Derek was cheating on me with my friend! I suddenly felt very dizzy. My shirek had attracted stares my way and Derek suddenly looked up and his eyes met mine. “Serena,” his face changed and he froze. A stab of pain shot through me as I met Cynthia's surprised face, she didn't look guilty. She stared at me as a look of pity filled her features. Derek let go of her as he took a few steps forward, “Serena, I can ex…” “I trusted you,” my voice trembled as I stared at him, ignoring the gazes that focused on us as the hall settled into a stunned s
Serena’s POV My heart thudded in my chest as I stared at Derek, my hands that cupped my cheek came away bloodstained. My eyes were still wide in disbelief. Derek slapped me? I stared at him, shock washing over me. My eyes swept over him, his strong slender hands that once cupped my cheeks now the weapon he used to inflict pain. But only the pain hadn’t come from his hands, his words were much worse. My eyes blurred with tears as his words echoed in my head at that moment. I was useless, good for nothing… and naive. “Take that back, Derek,” I sobbed and I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand. “Or what?” Derek scoffed, and he took a step forward. His threatening gaze pierced through me, “There's nothing you can do,” a cold smile tugged at his lips. “You…” Hot tears of pain and humiliation streamed down my face. This was all my fault! I had been such a fool to believe that anyone.. or worse, someone as handsome and talented as Derek could ever love someone like me. He'd
Serena’s POV What was going on? I felt the blood drain from my face as I tried to wrap my head around everything. Father was no longer the Alpha? How could it be? I couldn’t wrap my bead around it. My first reaction was to call Cynthia to ask what was going on, but then an image of her face flashed through my mind, wrapped in Derek’s embrace. A lump formed in my throat and I dropped the phone. I had to get to the hospital quickly, I wasn't going to find out anything here I thought, putting the car in drive. Different thoughts swirled in my mind as I drove, each worse than the other. Pack politics was brutal, if Susan was right I had no idea What could've happened but it wasn't good. Father had been the Alpha since I was a little girl, what could've happened? I swallowed hard. I turned on the radio, the silence got too much and almost immediately a female voice came over the speakers, her words made my heart sink. Oh no! “… the feelings of the public towards the recent upheav
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
Serena’s POV My eyes were still wide with shock as Susan led me into the ward, I barely even flinched at the sight of Father on the hospital bed. The ward was filled with the quiet beeping of hospital equipment as they worked to keep his condition stable. “Father,” my breath hitched in my throat when I met his gaze, and waves of guilt flooded into me. This was all my fault. Father remained silent, his eyes flashed with steel as he stared at me. Stephanie was seated beside him, I felt jealous as I stared at how she was so comfortable with him, their intimacy more than I'd ever had with him. Perhaps that's why Susan had brought such a suggestion I thought, the shock from her words still causing chaos within me. “He doesn't have long,” Susan whispered in a low tone from behind me. Her cold eyes bore holes into me, “You will do as you're told, Serena. They will pay us well if you can have children for him,” I took a sharp intake of breath at her words. This wasn't a request. I s
Serena’s POV My shoulders were sagged as the two men walked me down the hospital corridor, our group attracted a lot of stares when we stepped into the lobby. My breath hitched in my throat at the thought of my impending fate, I still couldn't believe what was happening. Susan wanted me to get married to Darius, and father supported her. An all too familiar ache gripped me as we made our way to my doom. Every part of me kept screaming at me to turn around and run away, but I couldn’t do that. Aside from the two men flanking me, my guilt plagued me, perhaps this was my punishment I thought, wiping my eyes. I couldn’t abandon my family even though they had easily sacrificed me to a man they didn’t even know. I'd brought this upon myself, and now I had to fix it. If getting married to… I broke off, the thoughts too painful to bear. “Uhh,” I coughed as we made our way down the stairs, my cough catching the attention of the man on my right. I felt stupid asking the question I was a
Serena’s POV “I…” My eyes widened at the sight of his eyes, and I nearly jumped in fright. But I quickly noticed something was wrong his eyes… weren't moving at all, they just stared into space. Jeez, I thought he'd woken up for a moment there I thought, and I pressed a hand above my racing heart. I slowly approached him, making all sorts of gestures to catch his attention but like stone, he didn’t move an inch. He remained motionless. A lump formed in my throat as I stared at him, this was the man who I was supposed to get married to? The thought filled me with disbelief, my breaths became shaky and my body trembled with quiet sobs. I couldn't bear to stay in the room any longer, the weight of the situation crashing down on me. I rushed out of the room, tears streaming down my face. I felt like a dagger had been stabbed in my chest, a few hours ago I'd been happily thinking about how I'd get married to Derek. And now? Now I was to marry someone in a vegetable-like state, s
Alex’s POVThe soft melody echoed through the room as my fingers danced over the keys, the notes felt like a bind that pulled me into my thoughts while still expressing them. I was so deep in my trance that I didn't notice the figure in the dark corner. My thoughts resurfaced like the tide, its melody soothing yet it always came back to her.Serena.I suddenly missed a key, the jarring note cutting through the notes. “Again,” I exhaled slowly, my fingers faltering before I found the rhythm again. Why was it always about her? I didn’t understand it. It didn't make any sense, She was Darius's mate for Christ's sake. His woman. That was enough reason to squash all my nonsensical thoughts about her. Only that it didn't. If anything, it only made it worse.I sighed, drawing in a deep breath. I'd started this to rile up Darius and get on his nerves but along the line, my intentions seemed to have shifted unknowingly. I wasn’t supposed to enjoy her company, enjoy the way her cheeks flushed
Susan’s POVWhere was Dylan? My heart beat erratically as I glanced around the room, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Derek had done the unthinkable, he'd taken Dylan right under the nose of the Crimson Pack, he was going to pay for this I thought, about to start searching for my phone. I'd just begun searching when I paused, my mind filling with thoughts. If I reported this quickly I had no doubts the Crimson Pack would swing into action and find Dylan with all their might. But… my eyes flashed, did I want them to? Different thoughts surged in my mind like the rising tide. If Dylan was killed, I wouldn't fear Stephanie telling him the truth, the thought of Stephanie revealing the truth of my plan. My plans of stealing from him. The door was nudged open suddenly, making me scream. “Who’s that?” I turned around so quickly that I tripped, I retreated with my hands and feet, my eyes staring with dread at the open door. “Who…” my voice hitched as I backed up, putting as much distance as I
Darius’s POV The darkness settled around me, blurring my vision. “Jake, we need to move. Now,” I barked, my voice sharp, resolute. Jake’s jaw tightened, his expression mirroring the storm raging inside me. He held up the stamp, the damning evidence that tied Alex to the attempt on my life. “This was too much,” he muttered, following me. It couldn’t been a coincidence that we'd found the stamp hidden close to the car. The men who knew about the explosives said they'd seen it on the person who'd bought them. I’d trusted Alex, leaned on him, and now this? My fingers curled around the soft glossy edge of the stamp as I stormed out of the room, Jake close behind. Alex sure as hell didn’t know what was coming for him. I hissed under my breath, I couldn’t believe he Could be behind this but the evidence was overwhelming. We were striding down the corridor when Agatha appeared, she looked surprised to see us. “Uhh,” she frowned, her gaze shifting between us. “What's going on?” She
Dylan’s POV Dylan’s vision was blurry as he slowly stirred, regaining consciousness and he winced as a sharp pain stabbed at the back of his head. “Where…” His words came out as a slur, his senses gradually returning. “Where am I?” He breathed out. He was seated in a chair with his hands tied behind him. “Finally awake huh?” Derek’s cold voice echoed in the room. “You…” Dylan’s head snapped up and he stared at Derek with deep sated hatred. Derek’s hands walked slowly across the room, his hands in his pockets. “What do you think you're doing Derek?” Dylan spat, his eyes held a trace of disgust. “This won't end well, I'm assuring You of that.” “I'll regret a lot of things,” Derek's expression didn't change. “But not this,” a mocking expression climbed onto his face. “You're not qualified.” Dylan pulled against his restraints, his muscles straining, but the ropes held firm. “Coward! You couldn’t even face me like a real Alpha. You had to resort to trickery, skulking around li
Serena’s POV The drive back home was heavy with silence of unspoken words, I still felt like everything that'd happened in the past hours was a dream. Cynthia punished, Darius declaring me as his mate and he'd overturned the elder's decision. Every detail from earlier—the confrontation with Cynthia, Darius stepping in for me—replayed in vivid clarity. “What made you do it?” I finally asked, turning to face him. “Do what?” Darius asked, he stared me in the eye. “You know what,” I pressed. “You stood up for me tonight, defended me in front of everyone. Why?” My voice choked with emotion as I stared at him, all my life I'd never had someone stand up for me. Susan and Stephanie had treated me as they pleased and my father had never interfered. Seeing Darius go to such lengths made me feel… I sighed, I couldn’t find the words for it. This time, he glanced my way, his dark eyes unreadable. “Because someone had to.” “That’s not an answer, Darius,” I shot back, my voice firmer no
Susan’s POV The hallway outside was eerily quiet and the sound of my footsteps echoed in the hallway. The two men standing guard let me pass without a word. My breaths were shaky and my palms slick with sweat, I tried hard to resist the urge to wipe them on my gown. I inhaled slowly as I paused just outside the door. He doesn't know. He can't know I thought, Stephanie wouldn't betray me. I wasn’t certain. I pushed the door open slowly and I stepped inside, my heart in my throat. A faint beeping filled the air when I stepped in. Dylan was seated on a couch, his beady eyes scanning through the documents in his hand. When his eyes lifted to meet mine, I couldn't spot any obvious change. “Susan,” he greeted, his tone even but distant, “what brings you here?” His eyes followed me as I walked up to him. “Don't be like that,” I forced a smile, “I came to see how you're feeling. I've been so preoccupied but of course I'll come to see you,” I leaned in to peck him on the cheek. “Indee
Serena’s POV I could barely keep the smile off my face as I walked side by side with Darius and he led us out of the room the drawings were in. I still couldn't believe Darius had gone to such lengths to get my drawings. The thought left me both touched and shaken, “Thank you,” I whispered for what must have been the one-hundredth time. “You didn’t have to,” I whispered, seeing his eyes fixed on me. “I did,” Darius replied, his tone firm. “You poured your heart into these. Letting them be destroyed wasn’t an option, though, of course, I didn't know Cynthia was going to try to destroy them.” At the mention of Cynthia Darius’s expression hardened for a brief instant before the dark clouds were gone and his expression brightened. My heart swelled with emotion as I stared at him, unconsciously pausing in my steps. Darius had become an enigma, I couldn’t seem to see through. Cold and unyielding one moment, kind and thoughtful the next. “Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a
Serena’s POV My mood was heavy as I headed back to the house, my mind in a daze. The putrid smell of smoke that clung to me stung my nostrils, reminding me of Cynthia’s cold words back at the studio. I'd tried to confront her but she'd come along with company. “You're lucky I can't lay a finger on you yet,” she'd sneered as she left, protected by two mean-looking men. But that wasn't important I thought, as I ran a hand through my hair. My paintings, my soul poured onto each canvas, all gone. I trudged into the compounds, ignoring the strange looks the guards shot at me. When I pushed the door open, the last thing I expected was to find Darius waiting for me in the living room. I nearly gasped, the sight of him taking me by surprise. He turned as soon as he heard me come in and his gaze swept over me. “Serena,” his eyes held mine for a moment. “We need to talk.” Talk? A chuckle escaped my lips and I shook my head. “If this is about earlier, save it. I’ve had enough for one d
Serena’s POV I was tired—emotionally, physically, and mentally. It felt like I was caught in a web of everyone else’s expectations and emotions, while I had no time to untangle my own. Darius had been silent all morning, his brooding energy filling the house like a storm cloud. The memory of him storming into the restaurant and dragging me out in front of everyone replayed in my mind, each time sending a fresh wave of embarrassment coursing through me. And yet, underneath the embarrassment was something more complicated. Anger? Definitely. But there was something else I didn’t want to admit—something closer to… relief. Relief that he’d cared enough to act. But that didn’t mean I was okay with it. “Darius, you had no right,” I said for the third time, pacing the living room as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes made it impossible to tell what he was thinking, but I could feel his frustration simmering under the surface. “I had every