Chapter 4: HERE SHE COMES

“I know all about his plans,” June says, as Sera tucks her into bed. She’s such a cute old woman, with her hair in curlers and her nightie pulled up to her neck.

“What plans?” Sera asks, as she prepares some medicine for June. 

“He’s going to take her back, isn’t he? That Miriam?” 

So she does know, Sera sighs. She turns to June with a faint smile and nods. “Over my dead body,” June replies. Sera can’t help but smile. Even though she’s weak in bed with pneumonia, she’s still feisty as ever. “She’s selfish. I won’t let her come into this family.”

“Take your medicine, June,” Sera tells her. June obeys, slamming back the medicine like a shot of tequila. Then she grabs Sera’s arm with a strength that surprises Sera. “We’re on your side,” June says, staring straight into Sera’s eyes. It’s almost too much for Sera. Such a kind, sweet woman. But there’s literally nothing anyone can do; Damion has made up his mind. 

“How long have you been sick?” Sera asks, trying to change the subject. 

“A few weeks. I’m much better than I was,” she admits. “When is Miriam getting back?” Sera ignores the last question. 

“Why didn’t you call me?” she asks June. “I would have come sooner. I could have helped.” 

“No need,” June says, stubborn as ever. She was a strong Luna in her day; there’s no way she would admit to needing help, not even in her golden years. 

“June, it’s okay to ask for help. That’s what doctors are for.”

“That’s what I told her,” Stephen says then, coming into the room. “But you know what she’s like. When June has her mind set on something.” He looks at her lovingly and June lowers her eyes, coyly. It’s clear how much they care about each other. 

That’s what I want, Sera thinks. That kind of love. Long and lasting. 

“I told her,” June says to Stephen. “I told her that we know about Miriam and that we’re Team Sera here in this house.”

“I appreciate that, I really do. But there’s no need to take sides,” Sera says. “I’m leaving. I’m going back to my pack. Damion is really excited to see Miriam.”

Stephen reaches out and pats Sera on the arm. It’s a loving, fatherly gesture. “He’s a good kid, Damion,” Stephen tells her. “Always was. Heart of gold, that one. He just needs time.”

“I don’t think so,” Sera says weakly. “He loves Miriam.”

“We saw the way you looked after him during his recovery. He has feelings for you,” June says. “I know he does. Deep feelings. He just, he just doesn’t know it yet.”

Sera sighs. If only that were true. June continues. “He’s used to Miriam. She was his only friend growing up. He thinks he loves her but he doesn’t even know her anymore. It was his first crush. First love. It’s not real. He’ll see that.” 

“She didn’t even come to see him. After the accident? He was crippled, lying in the goddamn hospital, for weeks! And she didn’t even show. No. She was off in Paris with Alpha Kris’s son. Having the time of her life on vacation while Damion was suffering,” Stephen says, anger in his voice.

“She’s young and fickle,” June adds. “Just wait. You’ll see. He’ll come around.”

Sera shakes her head and gets up to leave. She doesn’t want to hear anymore. She doesn’t know anything about Miriam and she doesn’t want to. She already knows everything she needs to; Damion loves her. 

Sera walks back to the bedroom they’re sharing. Damion is in the shower. She’s laying out clothes for him when she hears his phone vibrating. She ignores it at first – it’s none of her business – but it keep vibrating. She picks it up but doesn’t see a name. 

What if it’s urgent? She wonders. A pack emergency?

“Hello?” Sera says, answering the phone. 

“Uh, hi. It’s Miriam. Is Damion there?”

Fuck. She shouldn’t have answered the phone. “No. I mean yes. Well, he’s in the shower,” Sera stutters. 

“Who is this?” Miriam asks. 

“I’ll…I’ll tell him you called.”

“Wait! Who the hell-“

Sera hangs up quickly, feeling guilty, just as Damion walks out of the shower. 

He has a towel wrapped around his waist, revealing his muscular chest. Drops of water run down his arms and stomach. His hair is dripping wet. Sera’s breath catches in her throat. He looks at her, with those lustful eyes. They both stand and stare for a moment, breathing heavily. Then Sera steps forward and runs her hands over his chest. He stands still. She wants him so badly she can’t stand it. She buries her head in his neck and kisses him. 

“Sera,” he says. His voice sounds tortured. He tilts her chin up to him. There lips are inches apart. She leans in but he pulls away. “I can’t,” he says, still breathing heavily. 

She’s embarrassed and hurt. “All good,” she says softly. “No worries. I understand.”

“I’m sorry,” he continues, tenderly. “it’s just that…”

“I get it,” she interrupts. I’m not yours anymore. “Anyway, she called while you were in the shower.”

“She WHAT?” Damion asks, clearly upset. He grabs frantically for his phone. Suddenly, there’s an angry female voice on the other end. Sera can’t hear what she’s saying, but she’s clearly yelling. 

Then Damion turns to Sera, his eyes wide. 

“She hung up on me,” he says, the phone still at his ear. “What did you say to her? She called me a liar?”

“I, I didn’t say anything,” Sera stutters. 

“Well clearly you did! Because she’s really pissed off. She said she’s breaking up with me!” He slams the phone down on the table and puts his hands in his head. He begins pacing around the room. 

“Just call her back,” Sera suggests. She knows she shouldn’t have answered the phone, but this all seems a bit dramatic. Damion interrupts her. 

“You don’t understand. She won’t answer. She’s really upset. Frantic. Her plane just landed. She has NOWHERE to go!” Damion is really worked up now. She doesn’t see him like this often. He’s usually very calm, cool, and collected. “She doesn’t have any family left,” he continues, on the verge of yelling. “No since Old Beta died in the last pack war. That was her last family tie. She’s all alone, Sera. And it’s late. It’s dangerous out there.”

Dangerous? Well, I don’t know about that. She does feel bad for Damion, though. She didn’t mean to cause such a problem. And she didn’t know that Miriam was all alone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“I’m all she has! I – I have to go find her. Now.”

“Now? But what about your mom?”

He doesn’t stop to answer though. He just grabs his keys and rushes out the door and down the stairs.