Serenaโs POVI pressed myself into a corner and squeezed my eyes shut, wondering why I felt angry when it wasnโt like I liked Rhett.A sharp voice rang out..โYou couldโve given me a chance!โWinnie.Her sulking tone rang out like the whine of a spoiled child denied a treat.โI know how to take care of a baby!โ she huffed. โItโs not like I havenโt done it before. I wanted to be his nanny, but noโโRhett snorted, the sound as casual as it was cutting.I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. I doubt that She even knew how to hold a spoon for him.โYeah? You wouldnโt know how to take care of a baby unless you let it let it latch onto one of theseโฆ.โ He grabbed one of her breasts.I scrunched my face in disgust at that single act.Winnie gasped, a sharp intake of air that made my ears burn.โStop it,โ she whined playfully.โStop what?โWinnie huffed, arching her back to make her chest more prominent. โYou know,โ she leaned closer to him. โI got them for youโ she smiled. โYou love these
Serenaโs POVI stilled, my heart slamming hard against my chest as I wondered how he knew about Dorian and I.Although he didnโt say anything about keeping the fact that we were mates a secret, I didnโt think he would want everyone to find out just like that.โWhat are you talking about?โ I said, attempting to sound calm, although my voice wavered just enough to betray me. Rhett tilted his head, his messy blonde curls catching the sunlight. He had that look on his face, the one that said he knew exactly what buttons to push. โOh, donโt play coy, Serena. You know exactly what I mean.โ โI donโt,โ I insisted. โI need to leave now,theโฆโ โCome on, Serena,โ he interrupted immediately. โYou think I donโt notice things?.โ He shoved his hands casually into the pockets of his jeans, his sea-blue eyes sparkling with amusement. I froze, โYouโre imagining things.โ โAm I?โ he drawled, leaning closer. His voice dropped just slightly, like he was sharing a juicy secret before straightening up an
Serenaโs povI stared at him, my mind reeling. This couldnโt be happening. Not with him. โNo,โ I whispered again, my voice barely audible.He was speaking, but I wasnโt listening, my mind was racing with several thoughts. After what felt like hours but was just several minutes, I turned around and began to run.I didnโt stop running until I was safely inside my room, the heavy wooden door slamming shut behind me. My chest rose and fell as I leaned against it, struggling to catch my breath. The memory of Rhettโs touch, the undeniable bond that had snapped between us played on a maddening loop in my mind. โNo. No, no, no,โ I whispered, pressing my hands to my temples as if I could squeeze the thoughts away. For weeks, Iโd believed Dorian was my second chance, a gift from the Moon Goddess herself to make up for the disaster that was my first mate. He was strong, powerful, and exactly the kind of mate I thought I deserved. But now? I clenched my fists, closing my eyes as my mind repla
Serenaโs povI barely had time to catch my breath before Damien scoffed, he crossed his arms as he looked me over like I was some incompetent fool. "You sure you're fit for this job, Serena?" His tone was sharp, holding every bit of seriousness. "If you canโt even walk properly, how are you supposed to take care of anything else?" Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I forced myself to stay composed. He was my employer, I couldn't afford to snap back, no matter how much I wanted to. "The floor was wet," I said evenly as my eyes landed on the bucket and mop which leaned casually against the corner of the staircase. It was clear that someone had been cleaning but left no warning sign.He hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Stop coming up with excusesโ. I bit the inside of my cheek. "I am not coming up with excuses, itโs not like you canโt see as well. The wet flour isnโt my job and I didnโt asked you to catch me either. You could haveโฆ. ," I paused, realizing I have said too much. โI will be mo
Serenaโs povDamien stood there without a word, tall and imposing, the moonlight casting sharp shadows across his face. But what made me shudder wasnโt just his sudden appearance, it was the dark, wet stains on his leather gloves. Blood. My eyes widened in panic.Damien sighed impatiently, peeling off one glove and tossing it to the ground. โRelax, itโs not mine.โ That did absolutely nothing to calm me. โThat doesnโt make it better!โ I muttered. He gave me a flat look. โQuit whining! I said "It's not mine, I had to do some business.โ I paled. โBusiness?โ What kind of business involves being covered in blood?โGangsters.โI blinked rapidly as my eyes met his. Had I said that out loud?He lookedโฆ annoyed. Like I was the problem for being startled or I shouldโve been grateful that it wasnโt his blood.Meanwhile, Alice was calm, even excited. โHeโs strong! We need him!โ. I mentally rolled my eyes, she had no idea that he was such a jerk. My eyes met Damienโs when I raised my head and
Serenaโs povDamien smirked, tightening his grip around my waist as his free hand tilted my chin upwards, his grip firm but not painful. The scent of blood clung to him, thick and suffocating, mingling with the sharp smell of leather. His thumb brushed over my lower lip, smearing blood in its wake. I shivered, my breath coming in shallow gasps. His sea-blue eyes darkened, something unreadable flickering in their depths as he took in the sight of me, lips painted in blood, trapped beneath his touch. A slow smirk curled his lips.โSerenaโ he murmured, voice rough with something dangerously close to hunger. Before I could react, his mouth was on mine. It was not gentle. It was fire, raw and consuming, his lips claiming me with a force that left no room for refusal. His teeth grazed my lower lip, tugging and demanding. His other hand traced invincible lines on my waist before slipping lower. A jolt of panic shot through me. I gasped against his mouth as I tried to push him away, but
Serenaโs povI stood there for a long moment, waiting for him to say something or even just glance at me. Dorian did nothing and instead, the silence stretched, cold and indifferent, as he continued flipping through a patientโs file as if I wasnโt standing right in front of him. My heart constricted painfully in my chest as a familiar ache settled in my chest, but I forced myself to swallow it down. Fine. If he wanted to ignore me, I wouldnโt beg. With stiff movements, I turned to the nearby medical cabinet, yanking it open. My fingers trembled slightly as I grabbed what I needed to clean the wound, gauze, antiseptic and tweezers, clutching them tightly as I moved to the nearest bed. I set everything down and inhaled deeply. โYou can do this.โI sat on the infirmary bed, my fingers trembling as I tried to disinfect the wound on my ear. The sting was sharp, like tiny needles pressing into my skin, and no matter how careful I was, the earring stuck to the wound, refusing to budge,
Serenaโs povThat evening, as I arrived at the secluded poolside venue, my stomach twisted with unease. The scene before me was far from what I had expected. Rhettโs party wasnโt some casual gathering, it was a private indulgence, exclusive and extravagant. The pool shimmered under the golden glow of lanterns, the water reflecting the silhouettes of the people lounging around it. Champagne bottles popped in the background over the lot music blasting from the stereos.Laughters and flirtatious whispers filled the air, and everywhere I turned, there were beautiful women draped in tiny dresses or nothing but bikinis, draped over Rhett and his friends like living decorations. They were practically throwing themselves at him.My jaw tightened as I spotted Rhett reclining on a poolside lounge chair, a stunning redhead perched on his lap. He was grinning, his dimples flashing, one hand lazily playing with her hair while the other casually traced circles on her bare thigh. Another girl, a b
Serenaโs POVRhett grabbed me just then, pulling me to his body which was warm against mine. He exhaled a sharp breath, pulling back slightly, but his arm remained protectively around my waist.Damienโs eyes flickered to his hands and then at my face and his entire body stiffened.โSerena.โ His voice was low, rough, and unmistakably demanding. โCome here.โA shiver ran down my spine, but not from fear.Anger burned in my chest, simmering under my skin like an open flame.Before I could respond, another voice cut in.โDamien, enough,โ Dorian said, stepping into the kitchen with his usual calm authority. His eyes moved between us, assessing the situation. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Rhettโs hand on my waist. โLetโs not make a scene.โDamien didnโt even glance at him. His eyes stayed locked on mine.โI asked you a question,โ he said. โDid you choose him?โRhett scoffed. โOh, for fuckโs sake..โโSerenaโฆโโI caused the explosion,โ Rhett admitted, rubbing the back of his neck wi
Serenaโs POVA sharp, ear-piercing alarm blared through the kitchen, followed by the sudden hiss of sprinklers activating above us. Cold water rained down, soaking me instantly. My breath came fast, my heart still racing from the shock of the explosion. And Rhettโฆhe was still on top of me. His arms were braced on either side of my head, his golden eyes searching mine as if trying to determine if I was hurt. His body was pressed so close to me, heat radiating off him despite the icy water soaking through our clothes. I ignored the way my breath hitched at the proximity and shoved his chest away. โRhettโฆget off me!โ He blinked, seemingly snapping out of his daze before shifting his weight and rolling to the side. I scrambled up to my knees, reaching out to check for injuries. โAre you hurt?โ I demanded, scanning his arms and torso. He smirked. Even with water dripping from his dark hair and soaking his shirt, he had the audacity to look amused. โAww, Serena, you do care about
Serenaโs POVThe moment the maid gasped in exaggerated horror, I knew exactly what was coming. I had come to the kitchen to take my food that afternoon, but the way she clutched the empty jewelry case to her chest, trembling as if sheโd just witnessed a murder, made it clear, this was not a coincidence.โThe former Lunaโs brooch is missing!โ she cried, her voice thick with feigned distress.The other maids immediately fell silent, their gazes darting around the room, searching for someone to blame.I didnโt have to guess who their target was.Their eyes landed on me almost immediately.Winnie and the maid mustโve planned everything with the rest of the maids who obviously hated me for what they thought was me seducing the Alphas.I felt it before anyone said a word, the heavy weight of accusation pressing against my skin, wrapping around my throat like an invisible noose. Then one of them finally said it.โI saw her,โ a younger maid spoke up, hesitation laced in her voice. โSerena l
Serenaโs POVMy hands trembled as I stared at the photograph. Dorianโs stepmother, the previous Luna!But why was she dressed as a maid? Something about the picture sent a chill through me. It wasnโt just the unsettling look in her eyes or the fact that this photo had been tucked away in an old book.It was the feeling in my gut.I felt as though my presence in the Brokenmoon Pack might not have been a coincidence after all. As though it has been arranged for me to be the Alphaโs nannyโฆMy grip on the photograph tightened. It couldnโt beโฆthe moon goddess wouldnโt play such sick and cruel games with me.I refused to believe itโฆ at least not without proof. I pulled out my phone and took a picture of the photo, and quickly sent it to Sophie before sending a message.โCan you tell me about her?โThree dots appeared on the screen almost immediately. โLuna Victoria? Why?โI didnโt know what to tell her. I couldnโt tell her that it was because I thought we were similar in some ways.โI
Serenaโs POVShe studied me for a moment, her sharp gaze unreadable. โHave you noticed anything different lately?โI hesitated. โDifferent?โHer lips pressed together in thought before she finally said, โNo one has tried to harm you recently, correct?โI blinked at the unexpected question. Now that she mentioned itโฆ I realized she was right. Except from early, Winnie had been distant from me. Before, I had always been wary of the other maids. They whispered behind my back, gave me extra work, and some werenโt afraid to get physical when they thought they could get away with it. But recently, things have changed.Winnie and the others had confronted me, yes, but they hadnโt threatened me. And no one else had dared to lay a hand on me.The realization sent a shiver down my spine.Someone had ordered them to leave me alone.โWhoโฆโ I swallowed hard. โSomeone made them stop?โThe head maid gave a small, knowing smile. โWho do you think?โI couldnโt think of anyone, but there could only be
Serenaโs POVShe studied me for a moment, her sharp gaze unreadable. โHave you noticed anything different lately?โI hesitated. โDifferent?โHer lips pressed together in thought before she finally said, โNo one has tried to harm you recently, correct?โI blinked at the unexpected question. Now that she mentioned itโฆ I realized she was right. Except from early, Winnie had been distant from me. Before, I had always been wary of the other maids. They whispered behind my back, gave me extra work, and some werenโt afraid to get physical when they thought they could get away with it. But recently, things have changed.Winnie and the others had confronted me, yes, but they hadnโt threatened me. And no one else had dared to lay a hand on me.The realization sent a shiver down my spine.Someone had ordered them to leave me alone.โWhoโฆโ I swallowed hard. โSomeone made them stop?โThe head maid gave a small, knowing smile. โWho do you think?โI couldnโt think of anyone, but there could only be
Serenaโs POVI sighed, resigning myself to my current predicament. There was no getting out of Damienโs grip anytime soon. His fur was warm and fluffy, unexpectedly so.The small pill bottle I had kicked earlier lay just within reach. I carefully stretched out my hand, gripping it. The scent hit me immediately, sleeping pills.That explained a lot. I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at me. Maybe it was just the warmth, or maybe it was the lingering smell of the pills, but my eyelids grew heavy, and before I knew itโฆI gave into the darkness. When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that the weight against me was gone. The warmth, the solid grip had completely disappeared. The second thing I noticed was Damien. He was sitting a few feet away, shirtless, flipping through the medical records. The ones I had tried to steal!I sat up so fast my vision blurred. โWhat are you doing?โ Damien didnโt even glance at me. โYou talk too much when you sleep.โ โWha
Serenaโs POVMy hands trembled slightly as I bent down, my eyes scanning the papers that had scattered across the floor. Reports, medical reports. My stomach clenched as I caught a glimpse of the words: โRick Barnes. Status; GammaDeceased; Treatment ineffective. Condition worsened after administration of medicationโThey were reports of deceased people! All Gamma!My fingers tightened around one of the sheets, my heart racing as I read the name at the bottom of the report. Physician in charge: Dorian Ashmore. Dorian? Before I could process it further, the maid who had dropped the boxes let out a startled gasp and quickly snatched the papers from my hands. โIโm so sorry, Miss Serena,โ she stammered, hastily gathering the documents. โThese are confidential recordsโฆIโฆI shouldnโt have dropped them.โ I stood frozen as she scrambled to put the papers back into their boxes, my mind racing. Confidential? The moment she finished collecting them, she gave me a nervous nod and hurried
Serenaโs POVThe infirmary was quiet now, save for the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the far wall. Little Apollo had finally drifted into deep sleep, his tiny fingers curling slightly as he lay nestled beneath a soft blanket in a separate room. Now, I sat stiffly on the infirmary bed, the weight of exhaustion still pressing on my limbs. My fever had dulled, but the stiffness in my joints remained, making every movement feel sluggish. Across from me, Dorian sat with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes studying me intently. He had still not said anything about my earlier question.There was something different about the way he looked at me, something calculating, as if he was trying to decide whether or not to speak. He finally exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Even if we're mates, it still doesn't mean you'll choose me." I frowned. "What?" "You have three mates," he said plainly. "It's not just me. You have choices, Serena, three choices." A humorless laugh escaped my lips.