Serena's POVI woke up feeling more beat than how I was yesterday. My arm hurts more from the wound I got from being stabbed, and I intend to see a doctor today. Rachel helped with the healing, but there's so much she can do.I realised I slept in my uniform, and I needed to change out of them and freshen up. I got up from bed, and it felt like gravity acting on my arm worsened the pain.I sat on my bed and picked up my phone to call Rachel."Good morning. How are you?" Rachel asked. She sounded tired, which was out of character for her. No matter how busy, she tries to get a good amount of sleep."I'm okay," I said, but my voice said otherwise."Are you sure? You sound like you're in pain.""I'm good. I need new clothes, and I don't have any here…""I'll be in your room in five minutes with clean clothes." She said softly, then hung up.I took off my uniform, and I realised the wound I had looked dark and unhealthy, almost like it was infected.I heard the door open, and I turned to
Serena's POVAfter breakfast, I went to find Alpha Zone because we needed to walk. He has been acting weird around me and I can't take it anymore. I want to know if he's mad at me or if i did anything wrong.I saw him giving orders to other guards ,and I didn't want to interrupt him. As soon as he was done, he turned to me. He sighed and attempted to walk away from me."Hey?" I said as I followed him.He was walking a little faster than husual,and I had to pick up my pace. I maintained that pace stohconversewith him ,but I felt out of breath ,and it looked like I was practically running."Zone, why have you been cold to me?" I asked."I have just been busy." He said flatly."Really? I've been b, sy too ,but you don't see me acting like a jerk about it." I spat out.He stopped and turned to me. "There you have my attention. Say what you want so I can go back to work."I scoffed. "What is with you? You kept looking at me weirdly at the table.""When were you going to tell me about your
Arden's POVAfter seeing that Serena was well, I returned to the palace. I needed to find out who that way and why they would attack me.The zone was correct when he said he couldn't distinguish the person because there were so many others coming in, but I know for a fact that as long as it was by invitation, the person who came in had an invitation.I got into the palace, and I was greeted by a guard I tasked to investigate this issue."Any update?" I asked."Yes, sir, but I'm afraid you won't be pleased about it." He said anxiously.I stared at him with annoyance and impatience. "Well, get to it.""It was probably a servant." He said."Probably? So, you're not sure?" I asked."It was a servant, sir." He quickly corrected himself."Ask her to see me in my throne room. So as Alf." I said, then went into the throne room.I sat down and remembered how she saved my life. She could have said she couldn't get to me in time and let the dagger hurt me, but she didn't. And now, I will not res
Arden's POVSylvia looked like life was drained from her. She looked pale and utterly confused. Her mind must be running a double shift trying to figure out what to say to either cover it up or lie, but she knows she can't do that with me. I knew she did it, and like a cornered cat, she had no choice but to accept her fate."Arden, listen, I didn't mean to…""The answer, Sylvia, not excuses," I said in a low growl."Yes, it was me. I did it." She admitted.I looked at her in awe but mostly in anger. How could she do such an awful thing to her? Even if I mistreated Serena, she had no right to treat her this way."Why? Did you realise if she missed, I would be the one hurt and in the hospital right now?" I growled.I was losing my temper, and I don't know how long I could keep holding my anger. I felt my heart pumping so hard, but I tried to look calm on the outside."Yes, I do, and I was banking on the fact that Serena would never let anything bad happen to you. She would protect you n
Serena's POVAfter days of being monitored in the hospital, it was time for me to be discharged, and I couldn't be happier. I was not too fond of the idea of everyone coming to see me in the hospital every single day. I am grateful for what they do, but the attention shift was massive, and I don't know what I can do to repay them.If anything was shocking, it was Arden coming to visit every day. He would stay here with me and Rachel, and at other times, he would ask her to return to the palace. Even more surprising was how he wasn't trying to be intimate with me. He was just here to look out for me.I want to feel some security, but that hasn't worked in my favor the last few times it happened. So I'll take it as a working relationship, a King worried for the safety of his guard. Nothing more nor less.Rachel came with Arden to get me, and he made sure that the doctors double-checked if I was fit to go back to the palace. I appreciate this concern, but as I said, work relationships."
Serena's POVAfter resting after returning from the hospital the previous day, I felt energized. I looked out my window, and even if it was still morning, the sun was almost entirely out. It is going to be a beautiful day today. I can sense it.I went to freshen up, and I dressed in light clothing. I had breakfast, and I went back to my room because, according to Rachel, I hadn't rested enough, and to my annoyance, Arden and Alpha Zone agreed with her.I understand their point, but I have one major issue with it. I'm bored. There's nothing to do in the palace. I can read, but there's nothing like going outdoors and taking a pleasant, relaxing stroll.That's it.I ran to Rachel's room, and she was seated on the couch with her legs folded in a yoga style. Her hair was up, and she was in light clothes. She had a book in her hand, and everyone knew better not to disturb Rachel while she read."Rachel, can I ask you something?""If it involves training or getting work done, you know my ans
Serena's POVRachel stood there completely immobile staring at her newly found mate. I sense how fast her heart was beating and how heavy her breathing was. I am not surprised she felt this way. I'm surprised that Rachel, who is rarely dumbfounded, has absolutely no reaction nor nothing to say.I looked at her mate and he looked familiar. He is the Beta King. This was absolutely perfect. Two Betas. I'm so glad Rachel won't run into the problem both Alpha Zone and I ran into.He walked up to her and he stretched out his hand. "Hello." He said softly and sweetly to her. I could literally feel how swoon Rachel was. I knew I could be swoon."Hi." She could barely say out loud.He pointed to her. "I know who you are. I heard about you when you had to complete your task before your graduation.""You did?" She squealed and she immediately covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I'm a little nervous." She said,"It's alright. It's an honor to finally meet you." He said."Well, thank you and likewise b
Serena's POVI was seated in my room trying to read but in all honesty, I was waiting for Rachel to come back from her date for her to give me all the details.She was so excited earlier as she got ready for it and I was excited for her too. He picked her up in his car and he looked even dashing than when he met him earlier.Ever since Rachel left I have been so restless. I wanted her to come back so she could give me every single detail because I know it won't in any way be a boring date.I heard heels on the tiled floor and I knew for a fact that it was Rachel. She opened the door and she looked like she was flooding in clouds. Her happiness was very infectious because I too was so happy for her."Looks like someone had fun tonight." I teased her."Fun does not begin to explain what I felt tonight," She sat on my bed and took off her shoes. "It was magical. He was a gentleman and he is so sweet to talk to and he listens and takes in every single detail." She said excitedly.She thre
The camp had been unusually quiet that morning, but my thoughts were anything but still. Gilly was stronger now—more alert, more alive than she’d been since her rescue—but I couldn’t help noticing how Dominic avoided looking at her. His usual smirk was absent, and he kept his eyes away from from hers.Gilly seemed to notice, too. She stood a little apart from us, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on Dominic as if she were trying to solve a puzzle.“Gilly,” I said softly, walking over to her. “How are you feeling?”“Better,” she said. “A lot better, actually.” She hesitated as her gaze flickered toward Dominic. “But something’s off with him. He keeps avoiding me.”I followed her eyes, watching Dominic as he checked his weapons with meticulous precision. “That’s just how he is,” I said, though I couldn’t deny the unease creeping into my chest.“Serena,” Gilly said quietly with her voice almost a whisper. “He feels… familiar. I don’t know how to explain it,
The next morning, Zone and Dominic’s bickering had started again before we even broke camp.“You’re leading us into another trap, aren’t you?” Zone growled with his arms crossed as he faced Dominic, who leaned lazily against a tree.Dominic smirked, completely unbothered. “You’ve got trust issues, big guy. Relax. If I wanted to betray you, I’d have done it already.”“You’d say that whether you planned to or not,” Zone shot back with a sharp tone.“Enough,” I snapped, stepping between them. My patience was wearing thin, and I couldn’t afford to let their constant tension derail us. “This isn’t helping. We’re all here for the same reason—to find Ardan. Keep that in mind, or we’re not going to make it.”“No, you, are here to find Ardan. I’m done. I am telling you, Dominic is leading us into some trap I cant trust him.” Zone cried.“I saved you, I saved Gilly and I saved Rachel. I didn’t ask you to come with me. This is my fight and my fight alone. Do you think I trust Dominic?” I asked s
The sun was up as we made our way to the canyon. Dominic led the way. Zone followed close behind with his hand resting on his sword. Rachel and Gilly were at my side. Gilly was leaning on Rachel for support as she regained her strength.The air felt heavier here, every sound was amplified and echoing off the rock.“Something’s not right,” Sally murmured in my mind.“I feel it too,” I replied with my senses sharpening as I scanned the cliffs above. The silence was unnerving.“We should move faster,” Zone said in a low but urgent tone.“Relax,” Dominic called over his shoulder, his tone infuriatingly casual. “This path is clear. I’ve used it dozens of times.”Zone’s growl was barely audible. “And how do we know you’re not leading us into a trap?”Dominic turned, walking backward with a grin. “Like I said, If I wanted you dead, you’d already be dead. Trust me, big guy.”I clenched my fists. “Keep moving. We’re too exposed here.”Dominic smirked but complied, turning forward again.Then a
The walk back to camp was filled with tension. Dominic’s easy smirk didn’t help; if anything, it made Zone’s temper simmer hotter. I could feel the heat of Zone’s eyes boring into Dominic’s back, but I kept my focus on the path ahead. We didn’t have time for petty arguments—not when Ardan was still out there.When we arrived, Rachel was sitting beside Gilly with her hands glowing faintly as she worked to stabilise our friend’s breathing. Gilly lay on a makeshift bed of leaves. Her face was pale but peaceful. Rachel glanced up as we approached. Her brows furrowed when she spotted Dominic.“Who’s this?” Rachel asked in a wary tone.Dominic gave her a lazy wave. “Dominic. Smuggler, information broker, occasional charmer. At your service.”Zone growled. “We don’t need your act. Just tell them why you’re here.”I stepped forward, cutting through the tension. “This is Dominic. He knows the rogue king’s network and might have information about Ardan’s whereabouts.”“Might,” Dominic echoed, l
Dominic’s smirk widened as he crossed his arms, leaning casually against one of the tent poles. He was tall, lean, and radiated this air of arrogance that set my teeth on edge. His sharp green eyes darted between Zone and me, sizing us up like the way predators size their prey.“Ardan,” I said firmly, cutting straight to the point. “You know where he is.”Dominic raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Oh, do I now? And what makes you think I’d share that information with you?”Zone stiffened beside me with his hand twitching toward his blade, but I placed a calming hand on his arm. This was my fight.“Because we both know you don’t work for free,” I replied. “You don’t owe the rogue king loyalty, and I can pay you better than he ever could.”Dominic chuckled, pushing off the post and circling me slowly. “Interesting theory. But what makes you think your cause is worth my time? I mean, look at you—tired, desperate, and woefully out of your depth. You’re chasing a ghost, sweetheart.”I
The forest had become our home and our prison. Days turned into nights without relief. The rogue king’s forces were everywhere, and we were forced to move like ghosts, never lingering in one place for long.Gilly’s condition had improved, but she still wasn’t strong enough to travel far, and Rachel rarely left her side. That left Zone and me to scout ahead, searching for any sign of Ardan or the rogue king’s plans.The frustration was beginning to pile up, and my wolf, Sally, understood my restlessness. “We’re wasting time,” she growled in my mind as we crept through an underbrush. “He’s out there, and we’re stuck chasing the wrong thing.”“You think I don’t know that?” I shot back. “I just don’t know how to prove it.” I continued. He was alive—I was sure of it—but every moment we spent running felt like another moment he slipped further from my reach.Zone crouched beside me with his sharp eyes scanning the road ahead. “Trail’s fresh,” he murmured, pointing to a set of boot prints in
We had finally gotten out of the dungeon and I helped Zone and Gilly to the hidden passage I’d used to enter. Every sound echoed in my ears—the clink of Zone’s chains that we had now gotten rid of, Gilly’s shallow, pained breaths, and my dragged footsteps against the stone floor. I was angry and confused. What I’d seen… it wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be.“That wasn’t Ardan,” I reminded myself, swallowing down the lump in my throat. My wolf, Sally, had already made it clear: this Ardan was an imposter, the rogue king in disguise. But knowing didn’t lessen the pain of seeing my mate’s face twisted into something cruel and unrecognisable.“Serena,” Zone growled behind me in a low tone but he was very much angry. “Are you going to explain now, or do I have to figure this out on my own?”I paused, staring back at him. He was cradling Gilly in his arms. She looked so small and so broken. The sight of her nearly brought me to my knees.“That wasn’t Ardan like I said,” I said softly and with
The night was cold as we quietly and carefully passed through the palace corridors. Gilly, though still unconscious, rested securely in Zone’s arms. Rachel and I moved ahead, scanning for threats while Zone followed close behind.The memory of what I had seen in the dungeon was burned into my mind. I couldn’t shake the image of the imposter Ardan. Yes, my mind has been on it and will continue to be on it until I am able to find my mate. The rogue king had not only stolen my mate’s appearance but had turned the palace—our home—into a place of fear and lies.Meanwhile, the silence between I and Zone was heavy and it was broken only by the faint sound of our footsteps. I knew how Zone felt about his unanswered questions and his simmering anger he was trying to keep at bay. I understood his rage; I felt it too. But now wasn’t the time to lose control.We reached the palace’s outer gardens without any incident. The moon shone bright, making it harder to stay hidden. I motioned for the othe
If the guards’ rumours were true, Zone was in chains for “colliding with a witch,” and I could only imagine what they’d done to Gilly, who was already vulnerable. If there was even a chance they were in the dungeons, I had to find them.“We’ll get them out, Serena,” my wolf promised. Her confidence became mine.Soon, I sighted the thick door to the dungeon, guarded by a lone guard. I timed my movement. I waited for him to shift his attention momentarily and then I moved past him swiftly. His flickering torchlight casted only a slight glimpse of me.I hadn’t been in these dungeons in ages. I remembered how prisoners were brought here under Ardan’s orders, criminals as well who had chosen the wrong side. But this was different. Ardan had always been just. To think of Zone and Gilly down here, locked in these cells, made my blood boil.As I went down the stairs, a tortured howl echoed off the stone walls. The sound was unmistakable. It was Zone. I picked up my pace, sprinting down the na