Serena’s POVThe moment Damien left, a text came in my phone while I was still tangled up in Damien’s expensive sheets. My bones ache in the best way possible, and I was half-dressed plus half-drunk on his scent, definitely still trying to figure out how the hell I’d fallen into this whirlwind called being his “contracted mate.”[Unknown Number: I know what you are and how the Soul Bound is dangerous. You’re going to ruin everything by staying with the Alpha and If the Mafia finds out, you’re done. I can disentangle that bond. Let’s talk and come alone.]My heart dropped in dread and goosebumps filled my skin.I sat up slowly, brushing my hair back and staring at the message like it was cursed. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, feeling uneasy and it growled low in my head.“What the hell is this?”Soul Bound?My fingers trembled, and the phone almost slipped from my hand. I didn’t know who the sender was but they knew. It means someone knew about the bond Damien and I share and if they
Serena's POVMy feet ached, but I kept walking. Every bone in my body screamed at me to turn back. Damien warned me not to leave, and here I was—sneaking past his guards with a fake-ass smile like I wasn’t mentally freaking out. They gave me confused stares but they didn’t question me. Maybe they thought I was taking a walk or they assumed Luna duties included evening strolls with secrets in your phone and fear in your gut.Stupid. This is so stupid.I wanted to take a cab, but hell no—I wasn’t risking some shady dude putting a needle in my neck. So I walked instead, trying to text back the mysterious number.“Who the hell are you? Meet where?” I typed.I barely hit send when something hard cracked against the back of my head and there was instant blackness.When I opened my eyes, my skull throbbed like it had gone twelve rounds with a brick wall. I was tied to a damn chair in what looked like an abandoned warehouse straight out of a Mafia torture flick and there were dried bloodstai
DAMIEN POV The Pack grounds were too quiet by the time we got to the supposed attacked place. Like eerily, gut-twisting, bone-deep quiet. No blood, No smoke, No claw marks in the dirt. Just wind, chirping birds, and wolves training like it was just another Tuesday in the goddamn werewolf Olympics. And I’d just flown here like an idiot, mid-negotiation with Russian arms dealers and my mate who had a lot to explain about a goddamn lingerie that came from nowhere. My jaw ticked. My wolf was suddenly pacing, it's hackles half-raised in anticipation, but there was nothing to bite. No rogues, no attack, no chaos and to worsen it all, I wasn't near my mate. “Zayn!” I barked, stepping out of the armored SUV. My voice cut through the stillness like a blade. “Tell me this is a bad dream and not a waste of my goddamn time.” Zayn looked like he’d been slapped by an unaware illusion. He jogged toward me, nerves written all over his dumb pretty-boy face. “I’m sorry Alpha it came fro
DAMIEN'S POVBy the time I went back, the Pack house was too quiet except this time, it wasn’t the calm-before-the-storm kind of quiet.It was the kind of quiet that gnawed at the back of your skull and whispered to you that something was missing before you even stepped through the damn door.My wolf was already clawing at me and I stormed into the house, kicking the door open so hard that the hinges cried. My eyes scanned the living room, the hallway, the corner and there was no scent, not even a trace.My mate wasn’t here.“Elena!” I bellowed, voice shaking the fucking walls. “Sloane!”Both of them stumbled into the hallway like two nervous rabbits caught in headlights with matching robes and matching fake innocent faces. The ones that screamed we definitely know what’s wrong but we’re going to pretend we don’t.Elena blinked. “Damien. You’re… back early.”Sloane gave a shaky laugh. “Serena just went out for a walk. Nothing serious. She’ll be back soon—”I took a step forward and th
SERENA'S POV Pain had a language of its own and right now, it was screaming through every nerve in my body. My wrists were tied so tight that I could barely feel my hands anymore. My legs throbbed from being kicked earlier when I refused to kneel for him or accept his proposal and my jaw still ached from the slap Julian gave me the last time I told him he smelled like wet socks and daddy issues. But that wasn’t going to stop me, I’d rather die on my feet than live as some idiot’s second choice Luna. “You could’ve had it all, Serena,” Julian said, stepping closer like he was some tragic hero in a horror film. “Power, Status and a legacy your father would be proud of. He wouldn’t have to keep calling you a cursed Omega anymore.” I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might fall out of my head. “Oh, please. Spare me the soap opera,” I said with my voice so hoarse but it's still sharp. “The only thing my father would be proud of is if I kicked you in the balls hard enough to fix you
Serena's Pov I didn’t even know when the tears started to fall. One minute, I was tied up like some dog meat in a basement, and the next, the iron door was blown open with a thunderous bang.And there he was—Damien.My Damien.A blur of shadows and raw fury, his face twisted in pure rage as his eyes scanned the room and landed on me. Relief washed over me so fast, I felt like my lungs collapsed and filled all over again. Zayn was right behind him, storming in like a demon at war.“Damien…” My voice cracked.“Get your fucking hands off her!” Damien roared, charging like a storm.Julian didn’t even get the chance to blink before Damien’s fist slammed into his jaw so hard, I heard bones crack. Julian went flying off the floor like he weighed nothing. Good. Serves the bastard right.Ivy screamed.“Don’t you fucking move,” Damien growled at her without even sparing her a glance. His steps thundered toward me, and I swear I saw death in his eyes.Zayn grabbed Damien’s shoulder before he co
Serena's Pov Cont…“What have you done to my son?!”Vivian’s voice slapped the air harder than her palm did my cheek. My face stung, but my pride burned hotter. I stood there frozen for a second, then something deep in my bones cracked. The kind of crack that doesn’t break you—it frees you.I met her eyes, loud and unflinching. “Don’t you ever lay your hands on me again.”She scoffed. “You turned Damien against his own mother! And now you’re standing here, about to marry your own stepbrother. Have you no shame?!”I flared. “Don’t twist this to fit your delusions, Vivian. Damien was never my brother. I didn’t even know he existed until I came here. So, whatever fantasy of a family you created in your little head doesn’t apply to me.”“You ungrateful brat!” she shrieked, hand raised again.“Touch me,” I dared her, “and I swear, I’ll call the guards and have you dragged out of here like the disgrace you are. I’m not that scared little girl you used to slap around. Try me.”The air thicke
Damien's POV I stood there, hopeless.Not the kind of hopelessness that meant confusion or anxiety. No. This was a deep-rooted, gut-splitting kind of hopelessness that came from watching something you’ve fought like hell to protect get torn apart in the blink of an eye.Serena.This wasn’t supposed to happen. I thought I had done everything—everything—to make sure her past wouldn’t come back to haunt her. I had buried it so deep, paid off everyone, bought the damn club, wiped clean every trace that could tie her to that old life. But I guess fate wasn’t done playing games with us.At this moment, I hated myself. I regretted planning this wedding tonight. I should’ve waited. Should’ve let her heal first. She was still recovering from being abducted, tied like some damn goat to a chair. She hadn’t even processed that trauma fully. And now this? Public disgrace? From the same people she called family?I turned sharply to Zayn, my voice low but heavy with anger. “Shut it down. Whatever i
Serena’s POVI was so confused and scared, this man hates my guys and Part of me wondered if he was going to accuse me of another scandal, maybe threaten to throw me in the dungeon again for being too mouthy or too stubborn or too… me.I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time a powerful man tried to silence me.Especially not in this damn Pack.I was already hanging on by a thread in this household, being a stripper-turned-mate was scandal enough. That alone had already made half the Pack elders sharpen their knives behind my back.But this moment alone with Magnus, in a hallway echoing with old secrets—it felt like something else entirely.Something colder.“I want food,” Magnus said suddenly, voice low but firm, like it was an order carved in stone.I blinked. “Excuse me?”He didn’t even flinch. “I said I want food, Serena, Prepared by you.”I was almost sure I misheard.“Would you like me to get the maids to maybe prepare it?”“No.” It was one word, that was sharp and final which made
Serena’s POVThe nightmares didn’t start slowly because they came like a damn storm like it was meant to be there all this while and I was just blind about it.First, it was the way Damien’s jaw clenched in his sleep and how his fingers curled tightly into the sheets. Then it was the whisper of a name he never spoke aloud.His mother’s.I wasn’t supposed to hear it but I did, every night. A faint whisper of mother leaving his lips and how scared he was like he was falling apart and she was the only one to Keep him sane.I never expected Damien to have nightmares, especially not him.Not the Alpha who tore men apart like they were paper but he did and they were worse than anything I had imagined.Every night for the past three days, he tossed and turned beside me, his breaths were ragged and his jaw clenched so tightly that I thought he’d shatter his teeth. At first, I thought it was just stress of the few days we had encountered, the attack, fire, Vincent, Lilith and me.But then… I s
Serena's Pov The silence in the car was thicker than smoke. Damien sat beside me, blood dried around his temple, his suit ruined, but somehow… he still looked like sin dressed in Armani.I could feel his power pulsing through me.It wasn’t just adrenaline or rage. It was real, Raw and alive. My body hummed with it, like a second heartbeat that wasn’t mine. And every time I looked at him, I could feel his pain, his fear and his obsession with protecting me, even when I didn’t ask for it.“You’re quiet,” he muttered, glancing over at me as the SUV sped down the road, leaving the burning warehouse behind us.“I just kicked a grown man off a rooftop,” I whispered, staring out the window. “I don’t think there’s a manual for this.”Damien chuckled under his breath, but it wasn’t playful, it was dark. “He deserved worse.”I turned to him slowly. “So this is what it feels like… being one of you.”“You’re not just one of us,” he said, eyes locking with mine. “You’re mine.”There was something
Damien's Pov I yelled at Vincent and he smirked, pinned Serena to his body.Her hands were tied and her lips were trembling with her eyes wide and a goddamn gun was pressed to her head.I took a nasty step to meet him but that same moment, someone slammed a pipe into the back of my knee and I went down.A scream ripped out of her throat and I felt enraged not from the stab but where when stabbed me because it would be difficult to heal. I tried to get up, but another strike came and my ribs cracked. “Tsk, tsk, Alpha Damien. Look at you. On your knees for a woman.” Vincent smirked with smile whispering into Serena's ears.“I’ll kill you,” I growled, spitting blood on the floor.He chuckled. “You said that already.”“Touch her again, and I’ll skin you alive,” I snarled in pain, looking for anything to distract him while it fucking slowly heals.“Such a devotion,” he smirked, then waved to one of his men.The guy stepped forward with a knife.I lunged, even on my knees and half-broken
Damien's Pov We had barely reached the warehouse when the wind carried the smell of smoke long before we saw the flames.Something felt off even before I left and I hated it. That eerie, cold twist in my gut. It wasn’t even about the fire. It wasn’t the silence on the line when I tried to call Serena for the fourth damn time. It was like my soul was pulling me in the opposite direction. I clenched my jaw, scanning the road as we drove. My wolf was restless, pacing under my skin, whispering her name like it was the only word left in the universe.I suddenly pulled the brakes hard.“Zayn,” I muttered, gripping the wheel tightly. “You need to go back.”Zayn’s brows pulled together. “We’re almost there, Damien. Don’t start.”“I’m serious. Go back.”“Why? So you can walk into hell alone? No.” He crossed his arms with his jaw firm.“Zayn—”“No,” he snapped. “This attack is mine too. You keep pushing me back like I’m some damn coward. I’m your Beta, not your bodyguard.”I slammed the door o
Serena's Pov They all left in a hurry, rushing like any more second would make everything collapse.Before I could puzzle it out, a familiar voice made my blood run cold."Well, well. Look who's back."I turned to find my stepsisters, Elena and Sloane, emerging from the shadows of the corridor. They'd been suspiciously quiet all day, and now I understood why—they'd been waiting and plotting theirs as if it would be any different."Where have you two vipers been hiding?" I asked, instinctively taking a defensive stance.Elena smirked, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Watching you ruin everything, as usual. You really are a witch, aren't you? Poor Damien isn't even thinking straight anymore because of you.""Fuck off," I growled. "I don't have time for your games.""Oh, we can't do that," Sloane purred, stepping closer. Her sleek black hair framed a face that could have been beautiful if not for the cruelty in her eyes. "Not when you've made such a terrible mistake.""
Serena's Pov “I'll be back Damien, please just a moment with–”“I don't bloody care, don't fucking leave that door with Vincent!” He roared at me like a mad animal and my heart twisted, could he not think of it that way. I needed to talk to Vincent too, I need to confirm and set things right not to cause any misunderstanding and seeing that he was blind to all of that, I held Vincent's hand and walked outside l.The moment we stepped outside the mansion, Vincent grabbed my arm and shoved me against the rough stone wall. His eyes glowed amber as his wolf pushed to the surface, teeth elongating as he snarled in my face."What the fuck are you doing staying with Damien when we clearly had an agreement?" he growled, his breath hot on my face.I pushed back against his chest, refusing to be intimidated by his silky tantrums and fake concerns.. "It wasn't an agreement, Vincent. I was forced to say those things because of the situation and you freaking know that."His laugh was cold and hol
Damien's PovI couldn't help the smile that spread across my face when Serena slapped Ivy so hard she toppled off her chair. My little mate had fire in her and it's precisely what this pack needed in a Luna. Watching her drag Ivy back up by that ridiculously expensive dress and threaten her sent a surge of pride through my chest. If only she'd hit her again."Please, Alpha," one of the maids sobbed, falling to her knees before me. "We don't want to die. Have mercy!"Another was hunched over a decorative vase, emptying the contents of her stomach. The sound of retching filled the dining hall as panic spread among them like wildfire. Their faces had gone pale, eyes wide with terror—all because they believed I'd poisoned them.Fucking Fools. All of them."Get up," I commanded, my voice cutting through their pathetic cries. "I haven't poisoned anyone."The room fell silent except for a few hiccuping sobs."What?" one of them whispered, voice trembling.I leaned back in my chair, enjoying
Serena’s Pov My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Damien interact with the maids. The easy smile on his face, the way he laughed at their jokes, the casual touches—it all seemed so genuine that for a moment, I questioned whether I had misunderstood his intentions.“I meant behaviours for the benefit of this pack, don't worry please eat up.” He smiled but it was the fakest thing I've ever noticed"More wine, Alpha?" one of the maids simpered, leaning forward to give him a better view of her cleavage."Thank you, Lily," Damien replied smoothly, holding out his glass. His eyes flickered to mine briefly, and I caught a hint of something mischievous beneath his charming facade.When he caught me staring, his lips curved into a knowing smirk. I quickly looked away as heat rushed to my cheeks. This whole situation was making me uneasy. One minute he was declaring me as his mate, and the next he was flirting with the maids who had tormented me for months.What game is he playing? I wond