Chapter 7

Serena couldn't take it anymore. She shoved him off the bed, forcing down her disgust and anger as she snapped, "I said I'm tired!"

After being rejected so many times, Forrest's face darkened. Still, after a moment, he lowered his voice. "I get it. I won't touch you."

The next morning, Serena assumed he would've left by then. Instead, when she opened her eyes, she saw him smiling at her.

She frowned. "Why are you still here?"

He chuckled softly. "I took the day off, and I'm going to spend it with you. Aren't you happy?"

Serena understood immediately. Caspian was probably busy spending time with Aurelia and had no energy to deal with her, so Forrest had been sent to placate her instead.

She was about to refuse, but Forrest didn't give her the chance. He grabbed her hand and pulled her outside. "Didn't you always want to go on a date with me? Today, it's just us. I'll make sure you have a great time."

He dragged her through shopping malls, restaurants, and a movie theater, doing everything couples were supposed to do.

In the past, Serena would've been deeply moved. Now, knowing the truth, all she felt was impatience and disgust.

In the end, Forrest led her into a narrow alley and spoke gently, "Serena, do you remember this place? This is where we first met. I have a surprise for you. Be good and wait right here for me."

With that, he vanished.

Serena stood there, bored and restless. Suddenly, several male werewolves reeking of alcohol stumbled into the alley. When they saw her, their eyes lit up.

"Well, look at this. How did a beauty like you end up here? Looks like it's our lucky day!"

As they spoke, they started moving in on her.

Serena instinctively backed away and shouted, "What are you doing? I'm a researcher—"

One of them cut her off with a sneer, "Don't kid yourself. You think we can't tell? You're just a lowly Omega, talking big. You're claiming to be a researcher? Do you even know where the research institute is? It's unfortunate that you ran into us today. You'd better behave, or we'll send you off to a club!"

Serena's heart sank. She wanted to shift and escape, but they'd completely blocked her path. If she shifted, they would shift, too.

Serena wasn't a fighter. She stood no chance against a group of male wolves. They forced her back until she was trapped in a corner.

She spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at them in terror as memories from years ago came crashing back all at once.

At the last possible moment, Forrest dropped down from above.

When he saw how badly Serena was injured, his eyes turned red. He shifted instantly and charged at the male wolves.

He fought viciously, every blow heavy and ruthless. Within moments, several of them were knocked to the ground.

One of the remaining wolves, realizing they were losing, suddenly pulled out a knife and lunged toward Serena.

Forrest's eyes filled with panic. "Serena!"

He hurled himself in front of her, wrapping her tightly in his arms.

As the blade sank into flesh, Forrest's face drained of color as he collapsed right in front of her.

Serena stared at the pool of blood beneath them, her mind going completely blank.

The guards arrived just in time and rushed Forrest to the hospital. The doctor said the knife had been made of silver. If they had arrived any later, his life would've been in danger.

Serena held his hand and stayed by his bedside all night.

Early the next morning, she went back to pack some things for him and even made his favorite dish.

But just outside the hospital room, she heard his laughter. "There's no way anything could've happened to me. Only an idiot like Serena would think a werewolf who could become an Alpha would be seriously injured by a single stab from a silver knife."

A stranger asked, "So, you were the one who hired those guys?"

"Of course," Forrest replied casually. "My brother can stage a heroic rescue, so why can't I? I searched forever to find an alley exactly like that one. This time, Serena will definitely be completely devoted to me.

"If she hadn't suddenly thrown a tantrum and refused to sleep with me, I wouldn't have gone this far. You have no idea how good she feels—slim waist, long legs, sweet voice. She even resembles Aurelia. More than once, I couldn't help imagining she was Aurelia instead."

The other person hesitated. "If you like Aurelia so much, why not just take her back?"

Forrest waved it off. "Forget it. Caspian likes her, too. I'm not fighting him over that. Besides, Aurelia wants to become Luna. I'll help her get what she wants.

"As for Serena, sleeping with her is great. While Caspian hasn't kicked her out of the pack yet, I'd better take advantage and sleep with her a couple more times."

Serena's fists clenched and loosened as her body trembled despite herself.

As it turned out, the brutal fight last night, and even that rescue years ago, had all been carefully staged. Caspian had done it to make her fall in love with him, while Forrest had done it to get her into bed.

Astraea was furious. "You thought he was saving you. Turns out it was just another lie!"

In fact, he'd even treated her as a substitute for another woman in bed.

Serena bit down on her lower lip until blood filled her mouth before she finally let go.

Her gaze full of agony, she staggered away from the hospital.