Chapter 42: Daddy Dearest

Serena

Was I dreaming? Had I been slammed to the floor harder than I thought? Was it really Baird standing before me? His handsome features came into focus as he held both hands out in a sign of peace.

What was he doing? Why did he come anywhere near me instead of just letting me go? Now he could be implicated, too. He might be labeled a traitor and sent to the execution grounds without a second thought. I had never been so glad to see his face, and yet I was also resolved, worried, and panicked at the sight of him.

With his hands raised slightly before him, he slowly walked toward me. He wasn’t a wolf. He wasn’t a threat. He was trying to convey that message so no one would take him down. His goal was obvious. He wanted to be by my side.

When he was no more than five feet from me, he glanced at the guard on either side of me and flicked his fingers toward him. They let go of my arms, and I was able to rise to my knees. Baird offered his hand to me and I took it. He pulled