The Past [1]

Sienna’s POV

For three years, I had lived with one rule: never let anyone from the Moon Pack find me.

My gaze drifted toward the table where my three-year-old daughter sat.

“Sera, don't do this. Your dress will be ruined, sweetheart," I said, gently taking the crayon from her hand.

Sera pouted, her little lips forming the cutest frown. She loved coloring in her drawing books, but right now, she had decided to use her white dress as her canvas.

"Later, we have to go to the hospital, remember? So, can you please be Mommy's good girl and not make a mess?" I murmured, taking her small hand in mine.

Her smile disappeared. “Do I have to?”

“Yes.”

“But I don't like doctors.”

“I know.” I crouched in front of her and fixed the collar of her dress. 

“We'll get something sweet afterward. Deal?”

Her eyes immediately brightened. As I looked into her wide eyes, my hand went completely still. Those vivid green eyes were an exact replica of a man I had spent three years trying to erase from my memory. The rejection, the betrayal even after all this time, it still burned deep inside my chest.

"One iced coffee, please.”

The customer's voice pulled me out of my unwanted thoughts. I stood up and walked toward the counter to take the order.

"I'll get it for you right away," I said to the girl before turning toward the coffee machine.

As I prepared the coffee, my gaze drifted back to Sera.

Now, she was looking around the café curiously, her wide eyes taking in everything around her. I didn't usually bring her here, but today I had no choice. I needed to take her to the doctor afterward.

Three years ago, I left my pack and walked into the human world to save my child.

If anyone had discovered my pregnancy, I knew there would have been a war between packs.

Life here was never easy. Nothing changed magically for me; I had to work for every single stability we had.

After finishing the order, I quickly prepared two more. As soon as I was done, I checked the time. My shift had ended.

After changing out of my uniform, I walked over to her.

"Are you ready?" I murmured, putting her coat on. The weather outside was cold.

"Yes..." she answered before looking up at me. "We are going to have sweets after that," she reminded me.

I smiled as I helped her stand. "Yes, we are."

I placed her little feet on the ground and took her small hand in mine before walking towards the café door.

The moment I stepped outside, my gaze met something that made every sense in me go numb. My whole body went still, frozen on the spot as if it had forgotten how to move. My mind was screaming, No, it can't be true...

This isn't possible. He was standing a little farther down the street all, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark clothes. And those eyes.

There was no way I could mistake them.

But then his gaze met mine, and I knew.

Zev, worst of all, his eyes were locked straight onto mine.

I quickly take a step back and pull Sera behind me, hiding her with my body.

“Mommy?”

“Stay close to me.”

For three years, I had imagined what I would do if I ever saw him again.

I had told myself I would be strong. That I would look him in the eyes and show him that I was no longer the person who cried over him. But right now, when he was standing here in front of me, I couldn't move. I couldn't even breathe.

Because no matter how much I wanted to deny it, I knew exactly who he was, the ruthless, selfish man who had shattered me.

The one I had run from.

Zev Valerius.

Three years had passed, but I could never forget those eyes, the ones I had foolishly fallen in love with.

And now, they were staring directly at me.

As if he had finally found what he had been searching for, His eyes moved over me, and there was something in his eyes that I couldn't understand.

He swallowed hard, his jaw tight as he stepped toward me.

"Sienna…”

My heart hammered against my ribs so violently that I thought I would faint. The moment his gaze flicked down toward the small shape hidden behind my legs, panic seized me.

My fingers curled tightly around Sera's hand.

I turned on my heel and almost ran.

"Sienna!" His voice tore through the air.

"Mommy, slow!" Sera said as I quickly scooped her into my arms.

"Mommy, that uncle is calling you."

"Don't look, Sera." I knew my voice was sharp. I hated sounding harsh, but I couldn't let him see her.

I made my way toward the back of the building, my heart racing wildly as I heard heavy footsteps behind me.

He was following me.

Why?

What could he possibly want from me after three years? That doesn't matter now.

I held her tight as I hurried toward the street. I could feel him getting closer.

The first cab I spotted pulled up near the curb. I rushed towards it without thinking and yanked the door open before climbing into it.

"Hey, where are you-"

"Drive," I said, my voice breaking and shaky as I looked over my shoulder, my breath nearly stopping when I saw him only two steps away from the cab.

"Please, just drive. Now."

The driver looked at me in confusion.

"I'll pay you double."

As soon as the words left my mouth, he started the car.

My heart raced as Sera looked at me in confusion, expecting an explanation for everything that had happened.

Instead, I only pulled her into my arms, hugging her tightly. I couldn't say anything.

I would not let his shadow fall on my child

What if he takes my child away? The thought burns in my mind, making my hold tight on Sera.

I kissed the top of her head as the cab took us away from him, far away. I gave the driver my address. I couldn't go to the hospital now.

I couldn't take the risk of running into him again. He was running after me. He had found me, and then he would do anything to get me where he wanted me. The fear inside me refused to go away.

We walked into the house, my hands still shaking. The moment we stepped inside, Sera turned toward me.

“Mom, weren't we going to the hospital?" she asked. "Why did we come home? And who was that man?”

I gulped, my throat tightening with everything I was feeling.

I sat down to her level after closing the door.

"We'll go tomorrow with Uncle Tristan," I told her softly. "And that man..." I paused, forcing myself to stay calm. "You just need to know that he's a bad man. If you ever see him again, don't go near him, okay?"

I explained it to her. The words tasted bitter in my mouth.

I knew I was lying to her about her father, the one man she had always wanted in her life, but I couldn't let it happen.

She looked at me. "Okay," she whispered.

I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. For my child, I had given up so much, and I would do it all again if I had to. I would never let any harm reach her.

After putting Sera to bed, I sat alone at the dining table. It was a small apartment with two bedrooms, but big enough to make a home for us. I had seen my Sera grow up within these walls her first words, her first steps. Every little memory of hers was tied to this place.

I had called Tristan earlier. I needed to tell him about Zev, and most importantly, we needed to move from here. We couldn't stay here for much longer. As much as I knew Zev, he would find us.

Tristan was the only person I trusted in the human world, a friend who had stood by me for the past two years when I was too traumatized to let anyone in.

My mind drifted back to the night everything changed.

Zev Valerius was the famous hockey player of the Moon Pack. My brother, Vane, was his best friend, so Zev had always been around me. And, like every stupid girl, I had a crush on him too until that night when I discovered that, on my eighteenth birthday, Zev was my mate.

I gave him my heart and my body. Only for him to reject me, leaving me broken on the floor.

Later, I found out I was pregnant with his child. After learning about the dangerous secrets that would lead to blood shed, I made the hardest choice of my life.

The doorbell rang, breaking me out of my thoughts, It must be Tristan.

I stood up from the chair and walked to the door.

Not thinking much, I unlocked it, and as I looked up, my breath hitched. The blood drained from my veins, and my fingers trembled.

No! How?

How had he found us?

Zev stood in front of me.