Chapter 222: Dancing with TemptationSERENA'S POVA good lord knows that I will try my best to be good here, but for heaven's sake, this individual with his mysterious magnetic presence is not making it any easier for me. He is not making it easy for me to follow the protocols I'm supposed to follow, to heed the advice I received from my friends the previous day concerning this confusing, escalating situation, which is why I find myself here right now, presently, in the center of the Halloween dance, looking around with confusion as I fiddle with my fingers, my entire nervous system and my heartbeat thumping so hard and so fast in my chest that I can practically hear the rhythm echoing in my ears.I had tried to practically ignore him this afternoon, hours before the Halloween dance, listening to my instincts telling me that this is the moment whereby I should avoid Gabriel with practically every nerve in my body. But I had noticed the way he kept following me around, the way he kept
Chapter 221: Damon's Suspicions SERENA'S POVAfter the entire episode of the whole work and everything else, I try my possible best to ignore Gabriel. The weight of what almost happened between us in the library sits heavy on my chest like a stone, making it difficult to breathe properly. Every time I glance in his direction, I can still feel the phantom touch of his breath against my cheek, can still see the way his emerald eyes darkened when our faces drew close. The memory sends shivers down my spine that I desperately wish I could suppress.I greet him a warm, faint goodbye as I quickly head over towards my home. "Thanks for the help with chemistry," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper as I gather my books with trembling hands. I can't meet his eyes, can't risk seeing whatever expression might be lingering there after our near-miss moment."Serena," he says, and there's something in his voice that makes me pause despite every instinct screaming at me to run. "If you
Chapter 220: Hearts and HomeworkSERENA'S POVI'm trying my possible best to ignore everything that Gabriel told me a few minutes ago, but it's extremely really, really hard. Really hard to picture everything he says. The words echo in my mind like a relentless drumbeat, each syllable carved into my consciousness with startling clarity. His voice, deep and melodious, replays over and over again, describing things that should be impossible—things about my heritage, my bloodline, the dormant power that apparently flows through my veins like liquid fire waiting to be awakened.Everything feels confusing, and I feel like I need to just clear my mind from everything by burying myself into homework. The familiar weight of textbooks and assignments seems like the only anchor I have left in this increasingly surreal world. Mathematics equations and history dates feel safe, predictable—unlike the chaos that my life has suddenly become. So the moment school closes, I find myself locked up in t
Chapter 219: Supernatural StirringsSERENA'S POVThe first sign that something is wrong comes during third period Chemistry. I'm trying to focus on Mr. Patterson's explanation of molecular bonds when the shadow cast by the lab equipment begins moving in ways that have nothing to do with the overhead lights. At first, I think I'm imagining things—my sleep has been restless lately, filled with dreams I can't quite remember but that leave me feeling anxious and drained.But then Jessica Morrison, who sits two tables over, lets out a startled gasp and points at the wall behind me."Did anyone else see that?" she whispers, her voice tight with confusion. "The shadow just... moved. Like, by itself."I turn to look, and for just a moment, I swear I see a dark shape sliding along the wall before it snaps back to its normal position. Mr. Patterson continues his lecture, oblivious to the disturbance, but several students are now glancing around nervously."Probably just the air conditioning mo
Chapter 218: The First TouchSERENA'S POVGabriel's words from yesterday echo in my mind like a song I can't stop humming as I make my way through the school hallways. *You don't have to settle for scraps of someone's attention when you deserve their full devotion.* The truth in his statement sits heavy in my chest, making it hard to concentrate on anything else.I try to focus on my morning classes, but my thoughts keep drifting back to our conversation under the oak tree. The way Gabriel looked at me when he said I was worthy of being someone's first priority—like he really meant it, like he could see something in me that I'd forgotten existed. It's a dangerous train of thought, one that makes guilt twist in my stomach every time I catch myself thinking it.By fourth period, my head is spinning with confusion and conflicted emotions. I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a cliff, and every interaction with Gabriel pushes me closer to stepping off into something I can't take back.
Chapter 217: Growing DistanceSERENA'S POVThe laptop screen shows 8:47 PM, and still no call from Damon. I refresh my messages for the hundredth time in the past ten minutes, hoping to see some explanation for his silence, but there's nothing. Just the growing hollow ache in my chest that's become my constant companion over the past three weeks.When my phone finally buzzes at 9:23, I practically lunge for it, desperate to see his face and hear his voice after what feels like an eternity."Hey, beautiful," Damon says when the video call connects, but his smile looks strained around the edges. Behind him, I can see his dorm room—messy, with textbooks scattered across his desk and what looks like pizza boxes stacked in the corner."Hi," I say, trying to keep the hurt out of my voice. "I was starting to worry something had happened to you."Damon runs a hand through his hair, and I notice it looks different—longer, more styled, like he's actually putting effort into his appearance for