Serena’s POVAlpha Hayes was the last person I expected here now, as I thought we left him at the courthouse. Had he followed us back to the mansion? My questions would go unanswered because he was already here standing with an unyielding presence. The man I had always viewed as the embodiment of tyranny, the root of all evils that had plagued my thoughts and the Pack Alliance for so long. Yet, now, as I looked at him closely for the first time, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the undeniable aura of kindliness that surrounded him. His posture was commanding, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s, scanning both me and Baird with an intensity that made us seem insignificant in comparison. No matter how many times I went over it in my head, it still didn't make sense. If this man, who was as feared and revered as he was across the country, was capable of raising someone like Baird, was there more to him than the tyrant’s mask? Could there be a hidden depth behind those steely eyes?
Serena’s POVThe night was quiet, a stillness in the air that felt like the world holding its breath, waiting. Baird and I sat in the dimly lit living room. His gaze was passionate, as he rubbed his fingers over my hand, and it filled with such a comfort I had never felt before.“I know you’ve been thinking about going back to the Pack Alliance,” Baird began, his voice steady but soothing. “And I want you to know that I will help you do that. If that's what you truly want.” He kissed the back of my hand lightly. Electricity surged throughout my whole body, and my pulse quickened. I blinked away my surprise. This wasn’t what I had expected. How had he known that was what had been on my mind? Moreover, he said he'd be willing to send me back.“You’d really let me go?” My voice wavered as I spoke. I searched his eyes for any sign of uncertainty, but all I found was sincerity.He nodded. “Yes. On our wedding day. It’s the perfect time. The guards will be too focused on guar
Serena’s PovI adjusted the cuffs of my tailored blazer; the dinner meeting was intense, but I held my ground; securing this business deal would solidify the Lancaster Company's dominance in the industry. My father’s words echoed in my mind: "Elegance and strength, Serena. That’s what makes a true leader." I had both.In the lavish negotiation hall, the opulent chandeliers cast a golden glow over the room, reflecting off the polished mahogany table and gilded decorations. I moved with grace, my heels clicking softly on the marble floor. Speaking with the intellect and poise of someone who knew how to run a company, I felt the eyes of my team and my opponents on me. My team was composed of the company’s finest strategists and negotiators. They stood in a cluster behind me, their faces a mix of admiration and relief. I wasn't going to need their help today.My opponents could only watch as I made light work of their proposals to the investors in the room; they looked helpless
Serena’s PovWhen I saw Edmund walk into my father's...our father's study, I felt the intensity of my anger rise to unimaginable levels. The Lancaster Company had been my life’s work, a legacy I was determined to uphold, and now it was threatened by the least deserving person imaginable.Edmund stood beside me at the table, attempting to look authoritative. I remembered the way he fidgeted nervously during the negotiations earlier today; he was genuinely incompetent. I couldn't suppress a sneer as I watched him settle into the seat beside me. How could someone like him even consider himself fit to lead this company?“This is ridiculous,” I muttered under my breath, catching my father's disapproving glance. But I didn’t care. This farce had gone on long enough.“Serena, do you have something to add?” Edmund’s voice was stern. He was trying to put up a strong front.“I do, actually,” I said, standing up. I turned to my father. “How can you possibly consider someone who l
Serena’s PovI slammed the front door behind me, my mind a chaotic swirl of frustration and determination. The familiar halls of the Lancaster estate, usually a source of comfort, now felt like a battlefield. I knew what awaited me in my father's study: another round of harsh criticism and disappointment. But this time, I was ready to stand my ground.Alpha Lancaster sat behind his imposing mahogany desk, his stern gaze piercing through me the moment I entered. The grand study, adorned with centuries-old artifacts and family portraits, seemed to amplify his authority. His presence filled the room with an air of dominance that was impossible to ignore, a reminder of the legacy and power he held as the head of the Lancaster family. His eyes, cold and unyielding, bore into me with a mixture of disappointment and anger, making the air feel heavy and oppressive."Serena," my father began, his voice a cold, sharp blade, "you've returned.""Yes, Father," I replied, my voice stea
Serena’s PovThe sun hangs high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the dense forest. The trees stand like silent sentinels, their leaves whispering secrets to the afternoon wind. I take a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs as I stare at the border that separated our territory from that of the Storm Pack. The tales of their strength and ruthlessness are enough to send shivers down the spine of even the bravest werewolf. In our world, most packs have established an alliance, the Pack Alliance. This alliance bring peace and cooperation among the wolf packs, ensuring that disputes were settled diplomatically. However, one pack stands apart, refusing to join the alliance: the Storm Pack. This pack is known for its conservatism and isolation. They shun contact with the outside world and frequently intrude into neighboring territories, causing tension and fear.The other packs, despite their collective strength, find themselves helpless against the Storm Pack.
Serena’s PovThe wolf’s fur was thick and glossy, glinting like silk in the sunlight. Its sharp claws pressed against my throat, the points barely piercing my skin, but I felt like it could easily tear flesh and sever veins with ease. For the first time in a long while, I felt truly afraid. My breath hitched, and I couldn’t help but yell for help, even though I knew no one would hear me out there.“Help! Somebody, please!” My voice echoed, swallowed by the forest.I couldn't believe this was how I'd meet my end. I closed my eyes, bracing for the wolf to tear into me. But the pain never came. Instead, the pressure on my throat lessened. I opened my eyes just in time to see the wolf step back; its head tilted as if it had realized something.I scrambled backward on my hands and feet, making sure to put a sizeable distance between us. My eyes were wide with fear and confusion. And then, right before me, the wolf began to shift. Its fur receded, its bones cracking and reformi
Serena’s PovI had always prided myself on my keen senses and quick reflexes, but tonight, they had failed me miserably. I crouched low behind a thick clump of bushes, trying to steady my breath as the howls of the rogues echoed through the forest. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a deafening reminder of my peril. I now understood the warning the captain of the storm pack was trying to say to me before I jumped into the river. He was trying to warn me not to head in this direction. I had washed up directly in the center of Rogue Wolf territory.The forest seemed to close in around me, shadows stretching and twisting like the hands of the rogues themselves. I tried to stay perfectly still so I could mask my presence, anything that might lead them to me. But I knew it was futile. Rogues had a terrifyingly acute sense of smell and hearing. It was only a matter of time before they found me.Suddenly, a twig snapped behind me. I bolted, adrenaline surging through my vein
Serena’s POVThe night was quiet, a stillness in the air that felt like the world holding its breath, waiting. Baird and I sat in the dimly lit living room. His gaze was passionate, as he rubbed his fingers over my hand, and it filled with such a comfort I had never felt before.“I know you’ve been thinking about going back to the Pack Alliance,” Baird began, his voice steady but soothing. “And I want you to know that I will help you do that. If that's what you truly want.” He kissed the back of my hand lightly. Electricity surged throughout my whole body, and my pulse quickened. I blinked away my surprise. This wasn’t what I had expected. How had he known that was what had been on my mind? Moreover, he said he'd be willing to send me back.“You’d really let me go?” My voice wavered as I spoke. I searched his eyes for any sign of uncertainty, but all I found was sincerity.He nodded. “Yes. On our wedding day. It’s the perfect time. The guards will be too focused on guar
Serena’s POVAlpha Hayes was the last person I expected here now, as I thought we left him at the courthouse. Had he followed us back to the mansion? My questions would go unanswered because he was already here standing with an unyielding presence. The man I had always viewed as the embodiment of tyranny, the root of all evils that had plagued my thoughts and the Pack Alliance for so long. Yet, now, as I looked at him closely for the first time, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the undeniable aura of kindliness that surrounded him. His posture was commanding, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s, scanning both me and Baird with an intensity that made us seem insignificant in comparison. No matter how many times I went over it in my head, it still didn't make sense. If this man, who was as feared and revered as he was across the country, was capable of raising someone like Baird, was there more to him than the tyrant’s mask? Could there be a hidden depth behind those steely eyes?
Serena’s POVMy mind was a whirlwind, trying to grasp what had just happened. For a moment I thought my ears were not working, I couldn't have heard that correctly. Did Baird just call Alpha Grayson Father? The word echoed in my ears like a distant, disorienting sound, one I couldn’t quite believe was real. This had to be some sort of mistake, a cruel joke. Yet, as I glanced around the room, taking in the unperplexed faces of all the others, I knew it wasn’t a mistake. It was the truth—a truth that sent a shiver down my spine.Baird was the son of Alpha Grayson, a man who many regarded as 'The tyrant'. That also made him the heir of the Storm pack. He would also inherit his father's unsavory title, he would become the next tyrant. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless. How could this be happening? The man who had saved my life, the one who had shown me kindness and warmth, was destined to become the very monster I had feared all my life.Alpha
SerenaWas 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
SerenaStorm Pack’s jail wasn’t the worst place I’d ever been. No one was torturing me, so that was the upside of the cell. It was much more agreeable in that way. But at the same time, I knew the situation was a lot more dangerous. Alpha Grayson had me. No one was going to get past him to save me. He would interrogate me himself, and he would believe whatever he wanted to believe—no matter what I said.I was having trouble keeping my hands from shaking. Yes, the cell was cold, but it wasn’t the damp chill in the air that caused my tremble. I was nervous. I was worried about my own well-being, but more than that, what about Baird? Did he go to the stronghold? Would he be at all implicated because of me?Perhaps no news was good news. I nodded and drew my knees up to my chest, encircling them with my arms. Yes. That’s what I had to believe for now. No news was good news. The less I heard about, or even saw Baird, the better off he was. As much as I wanted to be near him, I was
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
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
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
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