DAMON'S POV
The library is quiet and still with no soul in sight, the tall wooden shelves standing like ancient sentinels among the dust motes that dance lazily in the beams of afternoon sunlight filtering through the high windows. Serena clings to me tightly, her breathing still uneven and shallow, her slender body trembling slightly against mine, radiating waves of fear that I can almost taste in the air between us. I can still hear Isabella's venomous threats echoing in my mind, her unbridled rage vibrating through the air like the aftershocks of an earthquake even though she is no longer physically present. And judging by the way Serena's grip on my arm tightens with painful intensity, her fingernails leaving crescent-shaped indentations in my skin, she can hear those threatening echoes too.
She looks up at me, her normally bright blue eyes now clouded with worry and uncertainty, resembling a stormy sea rather
SERENA'S POVOh, good goddess, we are definitely screwed this time. My heart pounds relentlessly in my chest, each beat hammering against my ribs like a desperate warning as I watch Lucian storm toward us, undisguised fury radiating off him in palpable waves. His chiseled features contort into an expression that is an alarming mixture of righteous rage and unyielding duty, his knuckles turning white as his grip on his sleek black phone tightens. He is clearly preparing to make the fateful call that will inevitably seal my doom. My father will hear about this transgression—this blatant defiance of his explicit orders—and I cannot even begin to imagine the volcanic eruption that will follow. A cold shiver races down my spine as countless possible scenarios flash through my mind. I know one thing for absolute certain—he is not going to take this betrayal lightly, not after everything he has sacrificed to keep our family
SERENA'S POVSchool activities have settled back into their usual rhythm, and everything seems normal again—at least on the surface. As the day crawls to an end, exhaustion weighs heavily on me. My mind is completely drained from the relentless workload, the never-ending assignments, and the overwhelming pressure of studying. Each subject feels like an uphill battle, and my brain screams for a break.To make matters worse, Lucian continues to hover around me like an unshakable shadow, never straying more than a few steps away. His sharp, piercing gaze never falters, scrutinizing my every move as if I might flee at any moment. The way everyone looks at me—as if I'm some fragile pet under my father's watchful eye—is beyond frustrating.I feel suffocated, trapped in this invisible cage of so-called protection that I never asked for. I can't keep living like this. For the third t
SERENA’S POV"Serena! Serena, look at me—hey—stay with me!"Damon’s voice. Smooth, commanding, but laced with panic. I hear it cutting through the chaos in my mind like a lifeline in a storm. It echoes inside me, pulling me out of that suffocating dark place. I blink. Once. Twice. My lungs seize, then release violently as I double over, coughing hard, desperate to catch a single clean breath.I’m back. In the hallway. My locker is cold against my back, its metal biting through my jacket. Damon grips my shoulders firmly, grounding me. His eyes dart around, sharp and alert, scanning every shadow, every corner. Always calculating, always aware."Serena, what the hell just happened?" Cassidy’s voice slices through the thick air like a blade. She crouches beside me, her brows drawn tight with worry, her hand hovering over my arm like she&rsqu
SERENA'S POVThere’s nothing I can do now. Not against Lucian. My father’s most trusted vampire bodyguard stands tall, stone-faced, unwavering. He’s as immovable as a mountain, determined to carry out his orders. And when my father commands something, there’s no room for negotiation. Right now, he wants me home. Immediately.But all I can think about is Damon. The feel of his arms around me. The way he holds me like he’s the only thing keeping me tethered to this world. I want to stay wrapped up in him, to let his warmth erase everything else. I want to hold him close and never, ever let go. But I already know that’s not going to happen. Not tonight. Not with my father pulling the strings.Lucian calls for another vehicle, his voice as cold as the air outside. Within minutes, a sleek black five-seater sedan glides to the curb, almost silently. Its windows ar
Chapter 109: Dealing With The Most Infuriating Man On EarthSERENA’S POVThe ride back home is quiet—eerily quiet. Not even Cassidy’s usual sarcastic jabs nor Luna’s soft humming can cut through the tension pulsing through the vehicle. My fingers grip the edge of the seat, knuckles turning white, as I stare blankly out the window. Lucian sits in the front, as still and composed as a statue, his aura unreadable as always. My heart pounds in my chest like a war drum. I don’t even know if it’s fear, guilt, or pure rage and longing coursing through me. Maybe it’s all three—merging and exploding within me like a storm I can’t control.The car slows as we approach the apartment building. A thick silence blankets us as we step out into the cool night air. The streetlights flicker overhead, casting golden glows that don’t feel comforting—just cold. I take one step
Chapter 110: Rebellion and the GatheringSERENA’S POVThe moment I start acting like the word rebellion, both Cassidy and Luna freeze. It’s almost comedic how their jaws drop in perfect sync. Luna blinks like she can’t see me properly, and Cassidy’s eyebrows shoot so high I think they might vanish into her hairline.“You want to rebel against your dad?” Cassidy gapes, eyes wide in mock horror. “Serena, are we absolutely sure you’re not possessed?”I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smirk tugging at my lips. “I’m serious. I can’t take this anymore. He’s crossed every imaginable line.”Cassidy grins and leans in. “Easy there, girl. I envy you, though. Getting to experience this whole mate bond thing. I’ve read about that feeling so many times in those supernatural historical roma
1. He Is Not Worth ItSerena's POV "You have no freaking idea how disgusting you sound right now."" Oh really? Why don't you tell me? You disgusting human filth." His voice hits me back with strong disdain etched in it and this increases the fury in my mind. I'm going so crazy right now. I step towards him and stand directly in front of him. "I don't get you. Is it because of how rich your father is you lift yourself so high you begin to bully and mistreat others anyhow you think? Yet, you have no idea that you are just living off your father's riches. You are nothing more than a bum as far as I can tell. You have achieved nothing and you are just taking your father's heritage as an advantage to bring others down just because they didn't have the kind of opportunity you have." I reply with some more fury and I can realize that the argument between us is already catching the attention of various other students in the hallway. A large number of them are behind him, cheering and sup
Damon's POV LATER THAT NIGHT... I swerve the vehicle through the night on the road, speeding through and glancing at intervals at the dashboard to check the time to ensure that we are not late." Yo man, the way you handled that Serena girl was wild. I mean, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it throughout the day. You were harsh, man. I mean, you couldn't even cut the little girl some slack." Brian, one of my friends in the passenger seat beside me, says out loud, and this forces me to chuckle as I glance at the side view mirror of the car, trying to figure out if there are any cops nearby."Bro didn't even consider that she was a person with a soul and could easily get hurt. I felt the blast of the insult you rained upon her, man; it was epic." Ryan, another of my friends speaks up from the backseat, but all I just do is chuckle as I brush my fingers against my chin, still moving my hand through the steering wheel on the road. I am trying to keep my focus intact and not a
Chapter 110: Rebellion and the GatheringSERENA’S POVThe moment I start acting like the word rebellion, both Cassidy and Luna freeze. It’s almost comedic how their jaws drop in perfect sync. Luna blinks like she can’t see me properly, and Cassidy’s eyebrows shoot so high I think they might vanish into her hairline.“You want to rebel against your dad?” Cassidy gapes, eyes wide in mock horror. “Serena, are we absolutely sure you’re not possessed?”I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smirk tugging at my lips. “I’m serious. I can’t take this anymore. He’s crossed every imaginable line.”Cassidy grins and leans in. “Easy there, girl. I envy you, though. Getting to experience this whole mate bond thing. I’ve read about that feeling so many times in those supernatural historical roma
Chapter 109: Dealing With The Most Infuriating Man On EarthSERENA’S POVThe ride back home is quiet—eerily quiet. Not even Cassidy’s usual sarcastic jabs nor Luna’s soft humming can cut through the tension pulsing through the vehicle. My fingers grip the edge of the seat, knuckles turning white, as I stare blankly out the window. Lucian sits in the front, as still and composed as a statue, his aura unreadable as always. My heart pounds in my chest like a war drum. I don’t even know if it’s fear, guilt, or pure rage and longing coursing through me. Maybe it’s all three—merging and exploding within me like a storm I can’t control.The car slows as we approach the apartment building. A thick silence blankets us as we step out into the cool night air. The streetlights flicker overhead, casting golden glows that don’t feel comforting—just cold. I take one step
SERENA'S POVThere’s nothing I can do now. Not against Lucian. My father’s most trusted vampire bodyguard stands tall, stone-faced, unwavering. He’s as immovable as a mountain, determined to carry out his orders. And when my father commands something, there’s no room for negotiation. Right now, he wants me home. Immediately.But all I can think about is Damon. The feel of his arms around me. The way he holds me like he’s the only thing keeping me tethered to this world. I want to stay wrapped up in him, to let his warmth erase everything else. I want to hold him close and never, ever let go. But I already know that’s not going to happen. Not tonight. Not with my father pulling the strings.Lucian calls for another vehicle, his voice as cold as the air outside. Within minutes, a sleek black five-seater sedan glides to the curb, almost silently. Its windows ar
SERENA’S POV"Serena! Serena, look at me—hey—stay with me!"Damon’s voice. Smooth, commanding, but laced with panic. I hear it cutting through the chaos in my mind like a lifeline in a storm. It echoes inside me, pulling me out of that suffocating dark place. I blink. Once. Twice. My lungs seize, then release violently as I double over, coughing hard, desperate to catch a single clean breath.I’m back. In the hallway. My locker is cold against my back, its metal biting through my jacket. Damon grips my shoulders firmly, grounding me. His eyes dart around, sharp and alert, scanning every shadow, every corner. Always calculating, always aware."Serena, what the hell just happened?" Cassidy’s voice slices through the thick air like a blade. She crouches beside me, her brows drawn tight with worry, her hand hovering over my arm like she&rsqu
SERENA'S POVSchool activities have settled back into their usual rhythm, and everything seems normal again—at least on the surface. As the day crawls to an end, exhaustion weighs heavily on me. My mind is completely drained from the relentless workload, the never-ending assignments, and the overwhelming pressure of studying. Each subject feels like an uphill battle, and my brain screams for a break.To make matters worse, Lucian continues to hover around me like an unshakable shadow, never straying more than a few steps away. His sharp, piercing gaze never falters, scrutinizing my every move as if I might flee at any moment. The way everyone looks at me—as if I'm some fragile pet under my father's watchful eye—is beyond frustrating.I feel suffocated, trapped in this invisible cage of so-called protection that I never asked for. I can't keep living like this. For the third t
SERENA'S POVOh, good goddess, we are definitely screwed this time. My heart pounds relentlessly in my chest, each beat hammering against my ribs like a desperate warning as I watch Lucian storm toward us, undisguised fury radiating off him in palpable waves. His chiseled features contort into an expression that is an alarming mixture of righteous rage and unyielding duty, his knuckles turning white as his grip on his sleek black phone tightens. He is clearly preparing to make the fateful call that will inevitably seal my doom. My father will hear about this transgression—this blatant defiance of his explicit orders—and I cannot even begin to imagine the volcanic eruption that will follow. A cold shiver races down my spine as countless possible scenarios flash through my mind. I know one thing for absolute certain—he is not going to take this betrayal lightly, not after everything he has sacrificed to keep our family
DAMON'S POVThe library is quiet and still with no soul in sight, the tall wooden shelves standing like ancient sentinels among the dust motes that dance lazily in the beams of afternoon sunlight filtering through the high windows. Serena clings to me tightly, her breathing still uneven and shallow, her slender body trembling slightly against mine, radiating waves of fear that I can almost taste in the air between us. I can still hear Isabella's venomous threats echoing in my mind, her unbridled rage vibrating through the air like the aftershocks of an earthquake even though she is no longer physically present. And judging by the way Serena's grip on my arm tightens with painful intensity, her fingernails leaving crescent-shaped indentations in my skin, she can hear those threatening echoes too.She looks up at me, her normally bright blue eyes now clouded with worry and uncertainty, resembling a stormy sea rather
DAMON'S POVThe evening garden feels increasingly suffocating under Isabella's seething presence. The ornamental trees and flowering bushes that should provide comfort now seem to close in around us like a verdant prison. Her threats echo through the carefully manicured landscape, venom lacing every carefully articulated word, each syllable dripping with malicious intent. I hold Serena close to my side, her warmth against me the only reassurance in this nightmare, my mind racing through our dwindling options like leaves scattered in an autumn storm. None of the possibilities that present themselves are ideal or even remotely promising. Fighting Isabella outright is dangerous—perhaps suicidal given her growing powers—and running blindly through unfamiliar territory could lead us straight into another meticulously planned trap."We need to get out of here," I murmur against her hair, my grip tightening protectively on Serena's slender hand, feeling the delicate bones beneath her soft s
Isabella sits motionless in her classroom, her fingers drumming lightly against the polished surface of her desk, her expression a mask of simmering rage. Around her, the school buzzes with the aftermath of the earlier chaos—the fire alarm has sent students into a frenzy, but now the initial excitement is fading. None of it matters to Isabella. The world outside her seething thoughts is insignificant. Her mind is fixated on a singular purpose: revenge.She replays the events of yesterday, the sting of betrayal carving deeper into her heart with each recollection. Damon had dared to strike her—to slap her—over that wretched half-breed. The memory of it is a scorching brand against her pride. Her blood burns with indignation, her magic simmering just beneath the surface, aching for release. Serena will pay for this. For all of it.As her anger churns, her power responds instinctively. The pen on her desk lifts into the air, spinning slowly at first before picking up speed, a silent exte