Serena’s POV I stood at the edge of the stronghold, the heavy iron gate looming above us like a silent sentinel guarding our uncertain fate. The villagers clustered around me, their faces a mixture of fear and hope. The chill of the evening air only added to the tension, making each breath feel labored. Baird had gone inside to speak with Marcus, and the waiting was agony. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the dread and confusion that swirled within me. Moments later, Baird announced to the villagers, his expression stern but resolute. “Everyone,” he announced, “you are free to go. You have done nothing wrong, and you do not deserve to be punished.” His voice carried the weight of authority. A collective sigh of relief swept through the villagers. Some villagers even began to weep openly, clutching their loved ones. One by one, they began to disperse, heading back to their homes and loved ones. A
Serena POV He didn’t answer, instead he looked down at his feet. After a long silence, I decided to ask him something else. I made a mental note to circle back to the question later."I need to know, Baird," I began, my voice trembling slightly but gaining strength as I continued. "What will you do if Alpha Grayson finds out who I am and commands you to kill me? You're a warrior of the Storm Pack, bound by duty. Will you follow his orders?" He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Serena, as long as I'm on the patrol team, I will do anything to protect this pack and the people I love, including you." "But that's not an answer!" I shot back, frustration bubbling up inside me. "What if the Storm Pack insists on fighting the Pack Alliance? Will you invade my homeland and attack my people?" Baird's jaw clenched, and he took a step closer to me. "You're worrying about things that will never happen." "How can you be so sure?" I pressed. "I've met Alexia. She doesn't see
SerenaWhat was Nathan doing here? Had he come to find me? I had to practically pick my jaw up from the ground. He was nearly the last person I expected to see. If he really was here for me, how did he know I had been arrested as a spy from Pack Alliance? They were pretty secretive about their inner pack details.I had so many questions and I knew the only person who could answer them was locked in the dungeon, doomed to be sent to military court, just as I had been before. I shuddered at the memory. I had to find a way to get to Nathan. If he had been arrested like me, he was likely doomed, just as I had been. I had to find a way to save him.Nathan was my personal aid, and we’d been working together for the past five years. In many ways, he was my best friend. I couldn’t watch him get an unjust trial from the military court. And I really couldn’t watch him trudge into the execution grounds and hang. I rubbed my neck. I knew all too well how horrible that was, and I wasn’t go
Serena“Serena!” Nathan cried, threading his fingers through mine. The bars were in the way, but we did the best we could to join together. “I’ve never been so happy to see someone in my whole life.”“I saw you earlier, and I knew I had to get to you.” I glanced over my shoulder. How long did we have before Cervine couldn’t keep the guard from his post any longer?“I looked for you all along the border.” Nathan shook his head. “When you were nowhere to be found, I was worried that you might have broken past the transition zone on accident.”“Nathan…” I stared into his eyes. “Did you break into the transition zone looking for me?” A lump formed in my throat.He nodded. “I did.”The tears slid down my cheeks. “You shouldn’t have.”“I know,” Nathan agreed. “But Serena, you’re not just my boss. You’re my best friend.”I squeezed his fingers between mine. “You would have done the same for me.”I wiped my cheek on my shoulder. I didn’t want to let go of his hands. He was right. I
SerenaWhen I woke up, my mind was fresh and clear. The moment I realized I was on the floor and Nathan was in the bed in the next room, I remembered everything that had happened the day before. My decision was still unclear. I’d hoped that a good night of sleep would help, but I had an idea.Nathan rolled over in the bed and sat up. “Serena?” he called.“Right here.” I sat up as well and waved at him.“Sleep okay?”Baird’s scent had worked wonders. “Very well, you?” I asked.“This bed was much better than a dungeon floor, I’ll tell you that much.”I laughed. “Don’t I know it.” I stood up and stretched my arms over my head. “The food here isn’t quite what you’re used to.”“Is that so?” Nathan tilted his head.“I’m afraid it’s bland and rather strange, but if you’re hungry, it’ll do.”“Oh I’m hungry.” Nathan smiled at me.I did my best repeating the steps I’d seen Baird take and made breakfast for us. When we sat down at the table, Nathan picked up the hard bread and turned i
SerenaI knew the moment the SUV spun around that we were heading back to the dungeon. It was almost the last place I wanted to go. The last being the execution grounds, of course. At least in the dungeon, I had plenty of air to breathe, no matter how dusty and dingy it might be.Once Marcus tossed me into the cell that had held Nathan the day before, I almost felt a sense of relief. I didn’t have to fear going back to the dungeon now. I was already there. Nathan and Cervine were safe. That was all that mattered.I rubbed my wrists. It still felt like the cuffs were on, though Marcus had gruffly removed them before slamming the cell door. My mind moved to Baird as I sank to the ground. The last time I saw him, we had quite a fight. If I had only known what would become of me, that I would likely never see him again, I never would have argued with him in the first place.I closed my eyes and pictured his handsome face. I removed the fight from my mind and put into its place an alter
BairdThe rogues were fierce, but battles were something I was used to. What I wasn’t used to was losing. And this was not a battle I would lose. The moment I saw the rogues coming for us, I knew I had to find the leader of the pack. If I could take him out, and I would, the battle would be over before it began.I jumped around the rogue that came for me and searched the group. The leader was fighting off one of my warriors, looking around the area, searching for me. His thought was the same as mine. I narrowed my eyes as I bolted in his direction. This is the same rogue that kidnapped Serena. He would not get through this battle unscathed.I leapt toward him at the same time he leapt at me, and we clashed midair, our paws intersecting and our teeth snapping. The last time we met, this particular rogue escaped his fate when we had the upper hand. The patrol team looked for him all night, but they never found any clues as to where he had gone. The forest was searched top to bot
BairdMarcus’ face reddened. Everyone could hear the commander’s voice ringing through the phone well enough to know Marcus was getting reprimanded. The commander was covering for me. Would Marcus suspect that there was more to my relationship with the commander? Why else would he stand up for me without having been here himself?Marcus lowered the phone and his eyes. “You are free to go.” His voice was light and disappointed. I certainly wasn’t going to explain myself. He was letting me go and that was all I needed. I nodded to Marcus and raised my wrists in front of me. One of the guards unlocked them, and they fell to the ground. I gave Marcus a half-smile and sidled around him. I was out of there.I wanted to go back home more than anything. I had the walk to think about Serena. I couldn’t wait to see her. I wanted to apologize about our argument. I never should have fought with her in the first place. When the rogues surrounded my group in the forest, she was the firs