SERENA’S POVThe rest of the day passed with me trying my best to keep Eliana away from my adoptive mother. Although it'd make no difference if she saw her but knowing she was human would make Eliana want to bully her. And I definitely would not stand for that. Later that evening, Lucas arrived home looking exhausted.“How did your meeting go Lucas?” I asked “Alpha Vincent had to reschedule, he couldn’t make it” he replied, running his hands through his hair. "Did you.... speak to Elijah yet?" I asked further and he had a strange look in his eyes before replying. "Uhh not yet. He.... couldn't make it to the company." I had to force a smile, feeling slightly upset. My thoughts immediately went back to my investigation with Elijah just as I got a text from him. My heart skipped a beat as a glanced at the screen:'I’ve got some information about Alpha Vincent. Let’s talk soon.'Seems like we were making progress already, keeping my phone aside, I looked up at Lucas as he continued rec
Alpha Lucas’s POVI turned away from the window, unable to stand still any longer. My thoughts were like a storm, spinning with no clear direction. Serena. Secrets. Elijah. It was all too much. I needed to clear my head. Maybe the study would help—anything to keep myself from replaying that moment earlier.That damn text.My lips still burned from kissing her. I’d deepened the kiss deliberately, needing to drown in her presence, to silence the creeping doubt that came with seeing Elijah’s name flash on her phone. Why was he texting her so late? Why had she hidden it so quickly?I sighed, stepping into the hallway. The air was cooler here, brushing against my skin like a warning. But I wasn’t alone.“Couldn’t sleep either?”The voice came from the shadows at the end of the hall. Soft, calculated, familiar. Eliana.I stopped, turning to face her. She was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me like a predator waiting to pounce. Her sharp eyes seemed to see right through me.
ELIANA’S POVEarlier, I had been pacing around the pack house, trying to shake off the feeling that Elijah and Serena were up to something. They’d been acting strange for days, whispering in corners, their movements secretive. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Every time I caught a glimpse of them together, it was like a knife twisting in my gut.“What could it be?” I muttered to myself, the question looping endlessly in my mind. Maybe it was something harmless—or maybe they were hiding something deeper. My chest tightened as a darker thought crossed my mind. Were they having some sort of secret affair? If that was the case, I’d deal with Serena for trying to hog two men and Elijah for excluding me.A faint noise broke me out of my thoughts. Who on earth is talking at this time of night? Annoyed, I went to my window. The moon cast long shadows, but even with the dim light, I could make out two silhouettes. It was them—Elijah and Serena.I stepped back, my nails digging into my palms.
ALPHA LUCAS'S POV The sun was already sinking below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest, and still no sign of her. My heart pounded with frustration, anger boiling just beneath the surface. Where could she be? I had searched everywhere, checked every possible place they could have gone. Yet there was no trace of Serena.I even checked in with Mara in hopes that she'd say Serena and her had gone out together. Nothing. Out of curiousity I asked about Elijah and she says she hadn't seen him either. Fuck.I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my emotions in check. The thought of them together, out there somewhere, made my blood run cold. Worse, I couldn't even track her. hat were they doing? Why hadn’t they come back yet? My mind raced with questions, each one more painful than the last. I had returned to the pack earlier and planned a date with Serena but then she was no where to be found. I waited a bit before going in search for her.
SERENA'S POV~EARLIER~We walked back through the woods, the silence between us heavy. My legs ached from the uneven terrain, and my chest felt tight with disappointment. We'd come all this way for nothing. The Seer was gone and I couldn't shake the thought that something was off about it. Elijah on the other hand didn't seem bothered. I wondered why but push back those thoughts."This is so pointless." I muttered, lacking at a twig on the ground. "All that effort, and for what? A dead end."Elijah slowed down and glanced back at me. "Sometimes that's how it goes," he said. his voice calm. "We just have to keep moving forward"His calmness annoyed me. "Easy for you to say" I shot back. "You're not the one feeling like a failure right now"He stopped walking and turned to face me. "I didnt say you failed. I said we have to keep moving. Do you want to find answers or not?"I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could, a loud crack echoed through the air. My heart stopped. It was follo
Serena's POVThe car was too quiet except for Elijah’s heavy breathing. I could see his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel, his arm still bleeding. I kept glancing at him, my unease rising with each passing second. The scent of blood and burned skin filled the air, and it was making me sick.“Elijah, you shouldn’t be driving,” I said with worry as tears threatened to spill.“I’m fine,” he grunted, not even glancing at me. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temple. “No, you’re not!” I suddenly snapped before I could even control myself. “Pull over.” I said strictly.He hesitated, his jaw clenching. “I said I’m fine, Serena. We’re almost there.”“Pull over,” I said again, this time sharper, my voice leaving no room for argument. He glanced at me, his once bright blue eyes dim with exhaustion. “Serena—”“That’s an order!” I cut him off. I didn’t know where the authority in my voice came from, but it worked. He sighed heavily and pulled the car to the side of the road.
ELIJAH'S POVMy eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. For a second, I thought I was dead. There was no pain—none of the searing burn I had felt before. My body felt whole, healed."You're welcome" Cana's deep voice echoed in my mind. His tone was full of annoyance and yet satisfaction.I chuckled weakly, shaking my head. "I take it you’re going to lecture me now?""Lecture?" he growled. "This is beyond a lecture, Elijah. You deserve a beating. You intentionally got yourself shot with a silver bullet just to keep her close. That’s not just stupid; it’s irresponsible and reckless.""It worked, didn’t it?" I teased, though I knew better than to push him too far."What is wrong with you?", he snapped. "Lying about the seer to lead her into the woods was bad enough, but this? This is madness. An obsession."“Enough,” I muttered aloud, cutting him off. I didn’t need his judgment right now. Turning onto my side, I froze when I noticed a familiar
Serena's POVI had just finished my touch up makeup when my phone buzzed with a new message, lighting up the screen with a familiar name. Jess, my best friend, had texted, “Hey girl, we're right outside. Come out when you're ready!”I couldn't suppress a giggle, I felt so excited. Today, I'm finally Eighteen and an adult. Tonight will be filled with freedom, fun, and a break from my overprotective parents. I quickly typed a response, “Be there in a sec!”I grabbed my jacket, my keys jingling in my pocket, and headed towards the door. But as I reached for the doorknob, a stern voice froze me in place.“Serena, we need to talk,” my mom said, her tone was filled with the all too familiar anxiety that instantly made my stomach drop. My dad stood next to her, his expression stern.“Please, sweetheart, don't go out tonight,” She begged. I rolled my eyes at their drama again. “You've got to be kidding me,” I replied. “It's my eighteenth birthday today, and you two didn't even let me have a
ELIJAH'S POVMy eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. For a second, I thought I was dead. There was no pain—none of the searing burn I had felt before. My body felt whole, healed."You're welcome" Cana's deep voice echoed in my mind. His tone was full of annoyance and yet satisfaction.I chuckled weakly, shaking my head. "I take it you’re going to lecture me now?""Lecture?" he growled. "This is beyond a lecture, Elijah. You deserve a beating. You intentionally got yourself shot with a silver bullet just to keep her close. That’s not just stupid; it’s irresponsible and reckless.""It worked, didn’t it?" I teased, though I knew better than to push him too far."What is wrong with you?", he snapped. "Lying about the seer to lead her into the woods was bad enough, but this? This is madness. An obsession."“Enough,” I muttered aloud, cutting him off. I didn’t need his judgment right now. Turning onto my side, I froze when I noticed a familiar
Serena's POVThe car was too quiet except for Elijah’s heavy breathing. I could see his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel, his arm still bleeding. I kept glancing at him, my unease rising with each passing second. The scent of blood and burned skin filled the air, and it was making me sick.“Elijah, you shouldn’t be driving,” I said with worry as tears threatened to spill.“I’m fine,” he grunted, not even glancing at me. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temple. “No, you’re not!” I suddenly snapped before I could even control myself. “Pull over.” I said strictly.He hesitated, his jaw clenching. “I said I’m fine, Serena. We’re almost there.”“Pull over,” I said again, this time sharper, my voice leaving no room for argument. He glanced at me, his once bright blue eyes dim with exhaustion. “Serena—”“That’s an order!” I cut him off. I didn’t know where the authority in my voice came from, but it worked. He sighed heavily and pulled the car to the side of the road.
SERENA'S POV~EARLIER~We walked back through the woods, the silence between us heavy. My legs ached from the uneven terrain, and my chest felt tight with disappointment. We'd come all this way for nothing. The Seer was gone and I couldn't shake the thought that something was off about it. Elijah on the other hand didn't seem bothered. I wondered why but push back those thoughts."This is so pointless." I muttered, lacking at a twig on the ground. "All that effort, and for what? A dead end."Elijah slowed down and glanced back at me. "Sometimes that's how it goes," he said. his voice calm. "We just have to keep moving forward"His calmness annoyed me. "Easy for you to say" I shot back. "You're not the one feeling like a failure right now"He stopped walking and turned to face me. "I didnt say you failed. I said we have to keep moving. Do you want to find answers or not?"I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could, a loud crack echoed through the air. My heart stopped. It was follo
ALPHA LUCAS'S POV The sun was already sinking below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest, and still no sign of her. My heart pounded with frustration, anger boiling just beneath the surface. Where could she be? I had searched everywhere, checked every possible place they could have gone. Yet there was no trace of Serena.I even checked in with Mara in hopes that she'd say Serena and her had gone out together. Nothing. Out of curiousity I asked about Elijah and she says she hadn't seen him either. Fuck.I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my emotions in check. The thought of them together, out there somewhere, made my blood run cold. Worse, I couldn't even track her. hat were they doing? Why hadn’t they come back yet? My mind raced with questions, each one more painful than the last. I had returned to the pack earlier and planned a date with Serena but then she was no where to be found. I waited a bit before going in search for her.
ELIANA’S POVEarlier, I had been pacing around the pack house, trying to shake off the feeling that Elijah and Serena were up to something. They’d been acting strange for days, whispering in corners, their movements secretive. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Every time I caught a glimpse of them together, it was like a knife twisting in my gut.“What could it be?” I muttered to myself, the question looping endlessly in my mind. Maybe it was something harmless—or maybe they were hiding something deeper. My chest tightened as a darker thought crossed my mind. Were they having some sort of secret affair? If that was the case, I’d deal with Serena for trying to hog two men and Elijah for excluding me.A faint noise broke me out of my thoughts. Who on earth is talking at this time of night? Annoyed, I went to my window. The moon cast long shadows, but even with the dim light, I could make out two silhouettes. It was them—Elijah and Serena.I stepped back, my nails digging into my palms.
Alpha Lucas’s POVI turned away from the window, unable to stand still any longer. My thoughts were like a storm, spinning with no clear direction. Serena. Secrets. Elijah. It was all too much. I needed to clear my head. Maybe the study would help—anything to keep myself from replaying that moment earlier.That damn text.My lips still burned from kissing her. I’d deepened the kiss deliberately, needing to drown in her presence, to silence the creeping doubt that came with seeing Elijah’s name flash on her phone. Why was he texting her so late? Why had she hidden it so quickly?I sighed, stepping into the hallway. The air was cooler here, brushing against my skin like a warning. But I wasn’t alone.“Couldn’t sleep either?”The voice came from the shadows at the end of the hall. Soft, calculated, familiar. Eliana.I stopped, turning to face her. She was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me like a predator waiting to pounce. Her sharp eyes seemed to see right through me.
SERENA’S POVThe rest of the day passed with me trying my best to keep Eliana away from my adoptive mother. Although it'd make no difference if she saw her but knowing she was human would make Eliana want to bully her. And I definitely would not stand for that. Later that evening, Lucas arrived home looking exhausted.“How did your meeting go Lucas?” I asked “Alpha Vincent had to reschedule, he couldn’t make it” he replied, running his hands through his hair. "Did you.... speak to Elijah yet?" I asked further and he had a strange look in his eyes before replying. "Uhh not yet. He.... couldn't make it to the company." I had to force a smile, feeling slightly upset. My thoughts immediately went back to my investigation with Elijah just as I got a text from him. My heart skipped a beat as a glanced at the screen:'I’ve got some information about Alpha Vincent. Let’s talk soon.'Seems like we were making progress already, keeping my phone aside, I looked up at Lucas as he continued rec
SERENA'S POV“What do you mean by ‘pack engagements’?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.Lucas noticed my change in expression and quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Calm down, Serena. It’s nothing bad, I promise.”His attempt to reassure me didn’t work. I narrowed my eyes and threw a pillow at him. “You shouldn’t say things like that without an explanation! You scared me!”He dodged the pillow with a chuckle. “Alright, I deserve that. But seriously, don’t worry. It’s just about business dealings.”I relaxed slightly but didn’t drop my guard. “Business dealings? What does that have to do with engagements?”Lucas walked over and sat at the edge of the bed. “Let me explain. The pack’s dealings in the human world are mostly tied to Elijah’s company. It’s a partnership. But my company is technically at a higher level because it’s been around longer, and I’ve expanded into areas Elijah hasn’t touched yet.”I tilted my head, trying to piece it together. “Okay… so what’s happen
SERENA'S POV"What do you want, Eliana?" I froze.Eliana?The name echoed in my head like a warning bell. My brows furrowed instinctively as I sat up in bed, pulling the blanket tighter around me. My gaze fixed on Lucas as he leaned casually against the doorframe, looking completely at ease while the person who made my stomach churn stood just outside.“I just thought,” Eliana’s sickeningly sweet voice filled the air, “that maybe you’d like to join me for a morning stroll. The forest paths are especially beautiful today and I thought to explore them with you. I promise you wouldn't get bored.”As she spoke, she didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she stepped into the room uninvited. Her brown eyes scanned the space until they landed on me, her perfectly arched eyebrows shooting up in disbelief as we locked gazes. Suddenly a mischievous thought popped in my head and a smirk appeared on my lips“Eliana,” Lucas said, his tone a mix of warning and amusement, but he made no move to stop he