THE DISCOVERY

CHAPTER THREE

Serena's POV

I woke up, groaning in pain. I opened my eyes to take in my environment. Plain white walls greeted my vision as the smell of bleach filled my nose.

It seems that I was brought back to the pack clinic after my ordeal. I was a bit surprised that they did leave me to wallow in pain at the center of the field.

"Thank God you're finally awake. I nearly thought that you wouldn't make it," Mira voiced out, interrupting my thoughts. “The Alpha did not hold back”

I looked down at my battered body, which had begun healing. I didn't get the fast healing that all wolves had, meaning that I have been here for quite some time.

"How long have I been out for?"

"Three weeks."

"You have been in and out of consciousness before you fell into a coma. It is a miracle that you are awake," she said softly.

She averted her gaze, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She walked to my bedside, reaching out to touch my shoulders but decided against it.

“Serena, I'm sorry. I should have stood my ground in your defence.”

“Apologies don't heal wounds, Mira,” I said coldly. “Besides, you should not be the one apologizing to me.”

I tried to sit up, but my back groaned in pain. I looked at my wrist and paused. It was empty.

“Where is it?”

“Where is what?”

“My jade bracelet. I always wear it. My father gave it to me.”

We both looked down for the bracelet.

“It must have fallen off during the whipping. I will send some guards to help you find it but I doubt it because the grounds have been cleared.”

“I’ll find it myself. It's my family heirloom”

“Serena, you have much bigger problems than jewelry,” she said quietly, leaning in close.

“Someone came to visit you while you were in a coma. She said some things that you are not going to like,” Mira said in a trembling whisper.

Before I had a chance to ask who, the door slammed open.

Amelia.

My sister, or rather, the girl my father adopted after rescuing her during a rogue attack, strode in.

She was clad in expensive garments, her silky black hair pinned up in perfection.

“Get out, Mira,” Amelia ordered.

Mira obeyed quietly. She grabbed her tray and left, casting one last scornful look at Amelia.

“It’s good to see you miserable like this,” Amelia taunted.

“Always a pleasure, sister,” I bit out. “What are you doing here, away from your pack and your mate?

“You touched what is mine,” she fumed, her eyes filled with deep-seated hatred.

“What are you yapping about?”

“Leo. He’s my son, you wretch.”

My eyes widened in shock. My breath paused as the words she spoke sank in my brain. The room blurred around me.

“H-How is that possible?” I stuttered in confusion. “You are mated to someone else.”

“I am not mated to anyone. Trent was mine long before the moon goddess paired the both of you together,” she hissed. “You stole the one thing I could call my own.”

“But you left. You left five years ago after telling me you met your mate at a neighboring pack during your training. When did you get together with Trent?”

“I lied. I just discovered that I was pregnant before you stole him as your mate,” she shouted in anger. “He had to send me away so he could fully gain the trust of the pack as the new Alpha, with you by his side.”

“How could you? You are a traitor to this family. After all Father did for you, you still choose to betray his blood.” I said, shaking my head in pity.

“Oh, spare me the sermon. This is your family not mine,” she spat out. “Stay away from my son and Trent. It's bad enough that he had to bear your irritating presence for five years”

She turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving me in utter silence.

I laughed mirthlessly. My entire life is a joke. Every memory I had of this place was a lie. I need to look for a way out right now. I'm fed up.

I was about to get up when Tyra entered.

Ughhh! I really don't want to hear her aggravating voice right now.

She walked towards me, throwing a piece of paper on my lap.

“You are to pack the rest of your trash out of the pack house before the end of today. Alpha’s orders.”

I looked down at the paper recognizing Trent’s familiar cursive writing. The note wasn’t stamped with his seal. Strange.

“Better move fast, Serena. I’d hate for you to lose your ‘precious’ items,” she said, her eyes roaming my battered form with a satisfactory look on her face before leaving.

I sighed heavily. I barely have the strength to make it to the door, let alone walk to the pack house.

Mira walked back in. It seems she didn't go too far.

“I just saw Tyra walk out. Hope she didn’t say anything nasty,” she asked, pointing at the entrance.

“You need to lie down and rest. I will brew some herbs for you to completely relieve your pain.” She said as she moved to the table. She took a small bowl containing a foul-smelling mixture.

“That smells bad. What herb is it?” I asked, closing my nose with my fingers.

“Its a new concoction that I'm working on. It reduces the pain drastically.”

She held the cup against my lips and I gulped the mixture. It tasted bland contrary to my expectations.

“It should knock you out in a minute. I'll make sure to wake you up to go pick your things,” she assured.

Her voice faded out as I drifted to a painless sleep.

*LATER THAT NIGHT*

I woke up with a start. My limbs felt weightless as I got off the bed. The mixture worked like magic. I felt a lot better.

I glanced around for Mira, but she was nowhere to be found.

Without wasting time, I made my way quietly to the pack house, with the written note scrunched in my palm.

The pack house was shrouded in darkness by the time I got there. Cameron and Max stood at the entrance guarding it.

They recognized me instantly.

“Stay back. You have been banned from this place. We have orders not to ever let you in,” Cameron said, gripping his dagger tightly.

I rolled my eyes, opening up the written note in my palm and showing it to them.

“I am here on your Alpha’s Orders. Unless you want to explain to him why my things are still inside and his orders weren't followed, you will do well to let me in,” I said firmly, standing my ground.

Max took the note examining it. He shared a look with Cameron, grumbling as he stepped back.

“Five minutes,” Cameron spat out.

I briskly walked in, heading towards my old room. I caught sight of a door in the west wing that made me stop in my tracks.

The pack library. The very one housing my Father's maps.

I looked around to make sure no one was following me.

As I approached the heavy metal door, I froze.

Three hooded figures rushed out of the library, heading towards the back door. One of them had a striking resemblance to Tyra. But what about the other two? They looked elderly and smelled heavily of sulfur and earth. They didn't look like any of the pack elders.

What could Tyra be doing here? She is banned from entering this place. Maybe I was mistaken. It was dark after all.

I pressed myself against the cold wall until they were out of sight. I didn't have any time to waste. I pushed into the library, my heart hammering against my chest.

I headed straight to the geographical section, scanning the shelves as fast as possible

There!

The maps were at the top of the shelves. I recognized the leather wrappings that covered them. I dragged the maps out as the dust in them filled my nose.

I hurriedly tucked them underneath my shirt. My stomach bubbled with excitement. I was going to leave this damn pack.

I turned to leave when the coppery stench of blood hit my nose. I looked around in curiosity. It was coming from behind the wooden reading desk.

I walked slowly towards it, my breath hitching in my throat.

Nothing could have prepared me for the sight before me.

At the top of my voice, I screamed.