Chapter Two

The mist clung to the trees like a silent sentinel, thick and quiet in the early dawn. 

“Say that again I dare you.” Serena replied Lily

Lily smiled “Why do I have to when you clearly heard me. And you hear this over and over again. Why do you still get so pissed everytime.” 

“W—what?. Come here you piece of shit.” Serena said moving ahead with her hands reaching for Lily's hair. She pulled her around with her hair and none of her friends dared to intervene as this was the Alpha's daughter involved.

“I’d rather be shit than an adopted human to werewolf parents struggling with law.” Lily said grabbing ony Serena's hair. As they both pulled each other end to end with their hands on each other’s head, Serena's mother stepped out.

“What? What did you say. Come here you!” 

Serena immediately released Lilu and ran to hold her mother because she knew how crazy she always got when it concerned her.

Growing up, Serena was the joy and only child her parents me we had. 

The Alpha and Luna had been married for quite some time and tried severally to have a child , but the Luna couldn't conceive.

Out of the love the Alpha had for his wife, he decided to let things be. 

But one cold morning, as the Luna was searching for sole vegetable to prepare breakfast for herself and her husband she met an adorable little girl.

Serena.

The Luna took Serena to her house and showed her to her husband. She was so in love with Serena. 

Serena had witnessed her parents being murdered and couldn't remember much from that.

The Luna had fallen in love with Serena so much and couldn't send her back to the city.

The Alpha decided to keep Serena. They legally adopted Serena and raised her the best they could. It took time for her to adapt to and understand life with her parents and the other werewolves but she did.

The only thing that didn't adjust was the other werewolf kids her age. They bullied her for being a human living amongst them instead of living in the city. 

 They had all turned into werewolves on their 18th birthday but Serena couldn't because she was human. This made her have very little friends. The person who understood her the most was Rose. But there were others, like Aeron and Lynn who was always so fixated on her own business and spent more time studying others rather than interfering with them. 

The one thing Serena's mother would kill for was Serena. She didn't let her daughter get bullied for any reason and was caught fighting several werewolf royal women or other werewolf anytime they said something concerning Serena. 

Serena and the Alpha were almost already tired of separating fights between the Luna and other Ladys.

Now Serena had to hold off her mother from beating the hell out of those kids. She took her mother in and tried to calm her.

She ate the breakfast her parents made, and was off for work.

She pushed open the door to her corner office. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, but Serena barely glanced at them. Her eyes went straight to the woman sitting on her leather sofa.

Mara.

Mara wore a bold crimson suit and stilettos, her honey-blonde hair curled to perfection. She sipped from a disposable coffee cup and looked far too comfortable in a space that wasn’t hers.

“I’ve been here since eight,” Mara said without looking up. “Traffic was a nightmare.”

Serena walked past her and set down her briefcase, unbuttoning her coat with cool precision. “You didn’t have to wait.”

“Didn’t want to miss you before your day got swallowed by court calls politics.”

Serena paused, raising an eyebrow. “Something on your mind?”

Mara stood and walked toward the window, her red heels clicking against the wood floors. “Not exactly. Just wanted to check in. We haven’t had time to talk lately.”

“Things have been busy,” Serena said, already moving toward her desk. “You know how it is.”

“Oh, I do,” Mara replied. “I just didn’t realize how busy you’ve become. Snapping up high-profile clients. Getting the Vothman case reassigned to you without even a discussion. Impressive.”

Serena’s fingers froze above her keyboard for a second.

“Mr. Ash made that decision. The Vothmans asked for an expedited turnaround.”

“Of course,” Mara said smoothly. “And naturally, he gave it to you.”

Serena leaned back in her chair and studied her. “You think I lobbied for it?”

“I think you get what you want, Serena,” Mara said, turning from the window. Her eyes were sharp, gleaming with something that didn’t quite reach the surface—something dark and old. “Even when others work just as hard.”

There it was.

“Mara,” Serena said carefully, “I didn’t take anything from you. The Vothman case was redirected for strategic reasons. That’s not personal.”

Mara crossed her arms. “That’s easy for you to say. We've both come so far. We're both the youngest members of this firm who'll graduate this year. But I don't get as much praise as you do. Why do you think?.”

Serena stood up, her voice low but firm. “I built this place with my own blood and time. No one handed it to me. If that's what you're insinuating.”

Mara’s mouth twisted. “You don’t your legs opened doors?”

“Excuse me!,” Serena said, stepping closer. “I’m struggling myself with everything. Every money I make here goes to my family. Unlike you who came from a rich background and is only here because your parents helped you. My parents have no name to theirs and we tried everything we could to get here. The next time you say something so sabotaging. I swear to you Mara I won't hold back .”

Silence stretched between them.

Then Mara laughed—a brittle sound. “God, Serena, do you ever get tired of pretending you’re perfect? I said what I said. And there she goes. You need to work on that temper of yours. You definitely do.?”

Serena didn’t answer right away. She looked at her old friend—really looked at her. Mara’s beauty had always been her armor, her intelligence her dagger. But lately, Serena saw cracks in the facade. The hunger behind the smile. The bitterness in her ambition.

“I don’t have time for you,” Serena said at last. “If there’s something you want , say it. If not, get out.”

Mara tilted her head. “All right then.”

Then she turned and walked out of the office, her perfume lingering behind her like a warning. 

The next case was brought to her against a Billionaire. A man: Dominic Reign.

She had heard of him. The richest

Pharmaceutical company CEO in town. What brought a man of his type to the court, she thought.