Serena's POV
Just as the beast prepared to attack Jess, the bar door crashed open, and a familiar voice came through, cutting through the chaos. “Hey! You better step back from those kids!” It was Dad's voice.I immediately looked towards the entrance and definitely he was there and behind him was mom, her face was pale with fear. I wanted to run to them, to beg for help because something horrifying was happening to me. But suddenly, the beast inside me roared with a fierce possessiveness, its gaze fixating on my father as a weird hunger erupted within me again.I wanted to scream, to tell them I was still in here, that I didn't want to hurt anyone, especially not them. But the beast was in control, and with a snarl, it launched at my father. I screamed in my head, “Don't hurt him! Please, don't hurt my dad!”Miraculously, my parents were quick on their feet. They ran out of the bar, and I was reluctantly after them. They led it toward the woods near our house, dodging through trees with a familiarity that left me stunned. How did they know where to go? Why did they seem prepared for this?Dad came to a stop in a small clearing, turning to face me as though no longer scared. “Serena, darling, I know it's you in there,” he said, his voice softer now. “You're confused and scared, but please try to control your wolf, and you'll be alright, okay?”Mom also spoke up, “Sweetheart, we can help you through this. You just need to focus and try to calm down.” Their words should've been a comfort, but I couldn't help but wonder how exactly they knew it was me? Somehow I felt they knew about this, and they knew it would happen. But they didn't tell me!I suddenly felt extremely angered as the thought settled in, this has to be why they were constantly attempting to keep me from the outside world. I couldn't control myself anymore, and it felt like my insides were burning in rage. I looked away from them, attempting to conceal my rage, How could they not tell me? How could they hide something so huge?Suddenly, I began feeling the hunger once more. The surrounding forest became blurry, and the last thing I heard was a scream, a scream that broke me down completely. Dad's scream.And then the world went black.A whole year had passed, another year, another birthday, but there was no joy in it. I lay on my bed, feeling numb as silent tears trailed down my cheeks. It was today, a year ago, that I had killed my father because of a stupid curse. The police were still clueless, about what had happened and were chasing shadows while the truth was too wild to believe.There was a sudden knock at the door, but I didn't move an inch. The door creaked open, and Mom's head appeared, her eyes were filled with the same sorrow that I had in mine.“Serena, can I come in?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. I felt too tired and lazy to answer. I just stared at the ceiling, constantly remembering how I felt on that day, waking up on the bloody grass, naked and covered in my father's blood while his remains were inside of me.Mom took my silence as consent, and entered the room. She sat at the edge of my bed and her hand reached out to stroke my hair. “Happy Birthday Serena.”I didn't respond to her at all, and after a while she continued. “I know it's hard on you,” she murmured. “I wish I could take away all your pain, but I can't. You need to move on from this, Serena.”Her words stung, even though I knew she meant well. How could I move on when, every night, I'd go to sleep knowing I ate my father?“It's been a full year,” she continued, "You got accepted into all the colleges you applied to, but you never went. You've disconnected from everyone, you never leave the house..."She paused, looking into my eyes, or at least trying to. I had no interest in living anymore, so why would I try to study or pursue my dreams? I could feel how thin and frail I'd become, but this is good. I'll continue not existing until I actually don't exist anymore.“I'm worried about you,” she finally said. I turned my head to meet her gaze, and asked her for the thousandth time. “Mom, please... tell me how I got this curse. I know you know something. I need to know how I got it and how to end it.”Her eyes shifted away, unable to hold my gaze. She sat there in silence, a wordless statue, and something inside me snapped. Tears of anger began to flow, hot and uncontrollable. I pushed myself off the bed and stormed past her, heading for the attic, where my dad's old things were kept. The one place I felt like I could breathe, even if it was just a little.The attic was dusty and abandoned, just like me. I looked at my father's things which I had felt too guilty to touch, I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat and started tearing through the boxes. There were old photos, letters, books and I had all the time in the world to go through them.I suddenly saw an old picture of my dad, mom, and a five-year-old me messing with my dad's hair. There was also a picture of my dad with a bad hairdo, and I remembered being the one that made his hair. At the time he loved the hair, no matter how embarrassing it was. Tears streamed down my face as I admired the pictures. Then Lorna, my wolf, the one I'd named after the meanest character I could think of from an old book, spoke up.“Check the old wooden box in the corner,” Lorna's voice echoed in my mind, insistent and oddly calm. “Shut up, Lorna, you she-devil,” I hissed back.I would rather not listen to her and had warned her never to speak to me. “Call me what you want, but check the box if you want to understand anything, it has a carving that belongs to a long lineage of werewolves,” Lorna explained, unbothered by my name-calling.I sat there, still and silent, before my desperate need for answers overpowered my reluctance. I moved toward the corner and eyed the old, dusty box. The rusty lock seemed almost ancient, but I ripped it off with my bare hands.Lifting the lid, I found a pile of documents, all related to my dad. I pulled them out one by one, my heart sinking as nothing seemed to stand out, just work papers, no answers. Lorna had to be messing with me, I thought.Just as I was about to give up, something caught my eye. The bottom of the box had an uneven edge. Curious, I poked at it, and to my surprise, it popped open. It had a secret compartment.Inside was a photograph of baby me, wearing an amulet too big for my neck, and next to the picture was a small box. I opened the box and there it was, the same amulet from the photo. I picked up the picture, and as I did, I noticed there was another document there.It was folded and old, but it was still intact. I opened it carefully, feeling curious, and what I saw made my heart feel like it had stopped beating.They were adoption papers, my adoption papers. I was adopted. How? Why? How is this even possible? “Mom,” I stammered, even though I was alone. “What is this? Why didn't you tell me?”I suddenly found myself on the verge of having a panic attack. Does that explain why mom didn't tell me about this curse? She truly has no idea?With the amulet in one hand and the adoption papers in the other, I stormed out of the attic, my voice echoing through the quiet house. “Mom! Mom!”Her reply came from downstairs. “I'm in the kitchen, Serena!”I hurried down to her. She was standing by the stove, stirring something, but when she saw me, she broke into a smile. “Oh, Serena, I haven't heard you yell like that in a year. I've missed it.”But I wasn't there to reminisce. I thrust the documents and the photo in front of her. “What is this mom? Am I really adopted?”Her smile disappeared as though it was never there, her face turned as white as the apron she wore. “Serena, where did you find these?”“Answer me, Mom!” I yelled, my emotions scattered. “Am I adopted or not?”She took a step back, her whole body shaking. Without a word, she turned and walked away from me. I yelled after her retreating figure," This is what you always do, never tell me anything and live in secrecy. If you're going to keep being secretive, then fine! But I will find out the truth, with or without you.”I couldn't sleep all night, and I left my room before the sun even made an appearance. I tiptoed to my father's study and began to search for anything that might give me more clues about who my real parents are and why on earth my adoptive parents would hide so many things from me. What I found nearly stopped my heart, engagement papers.It seemed like an engagement between two packs. I grabbed it along with some other papers that mentioned packs and documented wars. My curiosity was on fire, but I knew Mom wasn't going to help me anyway. I returned to my room and locked the door behind me. I looked through every single detail and I discovered that my father had connections to the northeast region, home to the Crescent Grove Pack.That was it. I needed to find that pack. They had to know something about my parents, about me. Or maybe, they were even like me.I went back to the adoption papers to find the agency my parents had adopted me from. They should have details about my birth parents, their names would be most beneficial. I was adopted from a rescue site that had been shut down fifteen years ago. “Great,” I muttered in frustration, “Dead end.”A few minutes later.I opened my closet and brought off a small bag, then began putting some clothes in it. I couldn't stay here any longer, no way. Since mom has decided to keep hiding things from me, then I'll just have to discover them myself. I had to find answers, and if that meant heading to the North region to find the Crescent Grove Pack, then so be it.I arranged for an Uber on my phone. The documents and the picture of me as a baby with the amulet went into my bag, along with the other essentials. Before zipping it shut, I snapped a photo of my adoptive parents with my phone, as it would help with my investigation.I took one last look around my room and suddenly began feeling a bit afraid. It's literally my first time going on a road trip. Was this a mistake? But then the image of my father, the sound of that terrible scream, flashed across my mind, and I couldn't back off. I had to do this, for me.I slipped out the window, just as I had done a year ago, but this time my escape wasn't for a party and there was a possibility that I won't be returning. The Uber was waiting, its headlights cutting through the predawn darkness. I got in without looking back. Not because I was brave, but because I knew if I looked back even once, then I'd run back into my room and hug my pillow.Serena's POVAs the car pulled away, I took out my phone and began to type a message to Mom. My fingers hovered over the keyboard before I started;“Mom, I apologize for leaving like this, but I have to find out who I am. I can't keep living with all these questions and this, this curse. I promise I'll be safe and keep in touch, if you don't come looking for me. I need to do this, or I'll never be normal or happy again. I love you.”I sent the text, feeling a bit better, knowing that she wouldn't be completely worried about me now.I suddenly realized that I hadn't really opened up my social media account for a full damn year, and I opened my messaging apps to find a barrage of texts and emails. My mom was right there, a hundred and twenty-seven unread messages. So many schools had accepted me, so many opportunities I'd ignored.Then, with a hesitant finger, I tapped on Jess's profile. There she was, smiling and laughing. She posted numerous pictures and videos of parties and new coll
Lucas's POVI had gone out of the pack house earlier after I had gotten news of a rogue trying to break through the pack borders. I arrived just in time, before the rogue could do much harm to one of the pack members. “Alpha Lucas” It snarled in anger and growled even more. I looked at its stance and figured it had to be a second generation, it was big but wasn't good or skilled. I suddenly felt the urge to punish the pack member who had been attack by it, and I will. Such an unskilled wolf actually beat up one of my pack members.It launched at me, but I didn't flinch. As it got closer, I gave it a powerful kick, sending it flying to the other side. I lazily walked over to where it had landed and saw a naive girl standing there looking at it in bewilderment. My first thought of her was that she had to be human, but then as I took in her scent, I figured she had a feminine wolf aura around her. Except the fact that hers were way stronger than other regular wolves. Like the scent of a
SERENA’S POVMy eyelids fluttered open, only to see Lucas, staring at me from the chair he sat on. I didn’t know for how long he had been staring at me, but he still kept his straight gaze even when I opened my eyes and stared back.“I think you passed out due to the overwhelming anger you felt.” He finally spoke, after a minute of weird silence between us.I scoffed a little, and pursed my lips before releasing them again.“How is it possible for me to pass out due to an overwhelming anger?” I questioned, finding his statement or discover, ridiculous.“Well, Serena, you’re probably still trying to handle things with your wolf, especially because you are in your natural habitat. You might experience stranger things.” He said, then rose to his feet suddenly.My gaze followed his movement until he halted at the door. “By the way, this is my room, and this is where you’ll be sleeping.” He informed me, with a straight expression.I suddenly felt rage building up from within me, and it kept
SERENA’S POVI couldn’t relent just because I was thrown back into the room, and locked in, again.“Think, Serena. Think.” I urged myself as I paced around the room, with folded arms.I placed my thumb on my lower teeth while pacing around until one perfect idea came to my mind. A smile formed, right from the corner of my lips as I settled on the bed to think deeply on it.One other way that could make my escape, from here, faster is to do something which would land me in hospital., and it had to be something which would seem really serious. “Alright! I know what to do.” I uttered as I rose to my feet abruptly.There was nothing as sharp as a knife here, except for my hair pin which they had placed on the bedside drawer for me. I didn’t know where the boldness came from, but the next thing I knew was that I had done the deed.Blood was dripping from my wrist, non-stop, and my face squeezed to express my pain. It’s all for my freedom, anyways. I walked up to the door, and hit it as hard
SERENA’S POVI smiled as he turned to me completely, and then I didn’t waste a second before walking up to him. My head was filled with bursts of fireworks as I felt like a pro.“So, now you see I have something on you.” I uttered as I folded my arms. “If you don’t want me to reveal your forbidden feelings to the whole world, you have to help me with my escape.” To my shock, he only stared at me from my head, down to my toes in one bat of his eyes, then he pushed his door open, and went into his room.Did he just ignore my threat? Or he didn’t hear a word I said?I wasn’t ready to back down; not at this point. He was definitely acting that way so I would feel I had nothing on him. I pulled his door knob and hit the door, and unexpectedly, I fell into his room.I was only intending to act like I was going to cause some attention with hitting his door, not knowing he didn’t lock his door. Immediately, I picked myself up only to meet his straight gaze which seemed like he was a little pi
SERENA’S POVA little smile came up on his face, and then he let out a sigh.“If you’ll do that, then you might not really have a way to escape, then.” He said, giving me an annoying expression that made it obvious that he knew I would still be at the losing end if I told Lucas about it.But I couldn’t let him feel I had something to lose.“I could easily find another way to escape this shit of a palace, but you, you could actually be sentenced to do death, or anything. So, you’ve got more to lose.” I said, in a feisty manner.Then a guard walked in suddenly, and he bowed to Elijah. Elijah then turned to me.“Enjoy the rest of your day.” He said, then turned around to leave.I could have confronted him or stopped him from heading out, but I didn’t want the guard to think there was something going on or anything. That would only spoil whatever I was planning.In annoyance, I walked back to my room, and buried my head in my pillows. If Lucas wanted us to meet again this evening, could
SERENA’S POVThe anger mixed with pain led me to an outburst. I growled out loud and my claws came out, along with my fangs that tore out of my gum.This time, I didn’t turn into a wolf, but I could feel almost the same strength I felt, back then. The only difference was that I was a little in control, here. But the anger and pain in me, took a bigger part of the control.Before I could think deeply on what I was about to do, I raised my right hand, and clawed him right under his belly, which caused him to let out a loud growl.As I removed my hand from his belly which I had dug into, the wolf still tried to attack me, but before I could give it a deadly attack which I had in mind, I heard a growl which made me feel small, and my wolf whimpered.It sounded more like a command, coming from someone mighty, and something about it, felt familiar, and yet, not familiar.My claws and fangs went in, while the wolf turned back into human. I looked away so as not to see his nakedness, and my ey
SERENA’S POV“He is… he is your brother?” I asked again to confirm what my ears had just heard.“Yes.” She nodded, with a smile on her face.Disappointment reigned in my heart, and I felt my interest, being right here in this garden, die down. All hopes were lost, and what gave me the assurance that I would escape from here, vanished like thin air.I felt hopeless, lost, and empty to an extent that I just wanted to go to my room, and crouch down in the darkness, letting my tears out, and allowing the guilt of leaving my mother, settle in my heart, and beating me up.What was my gain of coming here? Ever since I came here, I hadn’t found one single thing that gave me a clue on what I came here for. Truly, the word going around about how mother knows best, is right, and correct.“Mother knows best.” I uttered under my breath as my voice shook a little.“Did you say something?” Mara asked, looking curious.Then I looked up at her gentle, and calm face.“Nothing. I actually thought you and Luc