Chapter 05

The Bond Awakens

Serena’s POV

“You’ve seriously made up your mind not to tell me anything, are you?” Kale asked but not raising his voice, very calmly that I never expected that. I have watched how his eyes soften each time I'm close to him.

I stood there, speechless. I couldn’t say a word to him. How could I bring myself to say something? How on earth was I supposed to open my mouth, and tell him that the reason my scent immediately drove him mad might possibly be because I was mated… no,no more mated but rejected and discarded like trash. Totally humiliated, and to worsen it, also pregnant with another man's child?

“I don’t actually mean to corner you the way it appears,” he added very gently, stepping closer now. “But since your arrival, the more you keep silent, the more I crave so much to know you, to understand you more.”

His nearness attracted me, it was the usual, though not with fear, but this time, with something unfamiliar. I could feel it within me, something warm.

“I’m just… really not ready,” I finally answered in a whisper, though my voice was barely audible for anyone to hear.

Kale didn't mind, instead, he held my gaze for a beat, then nodded. “Alright the. You don’t have to force yourself and tell me. But if you need me or need anything, don't hesitate to beckon on me "

I swallowed the invisible lump forming on my throat. “Thank you.”

The following morning, I decided to join the training grounds. I had resolved within me to do my best and blend in as fast as possible, to grow stronger, not just for myself, but for the sake of the tiny life that might be growing inside me.

“Don’t try to overdo it,” that was Kale’s voice from behind. He had developed the habit of always watching me, and right now, he was watching again. “I’m not made of glass as you always see me to be.”

He smirked at the mention of glass “Then prove it to me.”

Challenge accepted with full chest..

To his shock, I threw myself into the drills, totally blocking off whispers from Lycans who constantly stared and whispered about the “outsider.” Their eyes were very sharp, and their stares penetrated, but I cared less. I didn't let it bother me, not even for a second. They didn’t have the slightest idea of what I had survived. They didn’t know how much strength I had to invest in, to be able to walk away from a man who once swore to genuinely love and protect me with his all, only to turn around and build a tower of suffering and shame for me.

I continued the challenge, but suddenly,halfway through the fifth round, my eyes started turning me.

My knees buckled greatly. The pain was unbearable, shooting through my ribs. My vision became blurred.

“Serena!”

Kale was the first to notice,then rushed to my side. In seconds, his arms already scooped me up, like I was a leaf, weighing nothing. His scent was very fresh like that of pine.

“Breathe well. Serena, look at me and breathe,” he called out urgently, cupping my cheek with his right hand.

“I… I think…you should...” I struggled to form a proper sentence, but was unable to do that. The last thing I remembered was darkness taking over.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I woke up not knowing where I was. It took me seconds to notice that I was in a silver canopied room, a warm blanket carefully draped over me. The healer, which happens to be a small woman with gleaming golden eyes, hovered like a desperate cub near the bedside, and heard her whispering a chant. I didn't recognize the lyrics.

Kale was by the corner, pacing the room restlessly.

He noticed I was finally awake and conscious of my environment when I glanced at his direction. “You fainted during training. Don’t ever give me such a panic attack again.”

I blinked at him, totally dazed at how much he was worried. “How long exactly was I out?”

“For four hours,” the healer responded, then leaned in closer to me gently. “You’re seriously dehydrated, and I must tell you that your body is under stress. But the most important news is… you’re with child.”

The room started rotating again, but it wasn't actually from the news. I already knew before she announced it. 

But now, hearing her say it aloud was different. It came with its own meaning.

Kale didn’t as much as flinch. His eyes focused on me, searching my eyes for answers. I tried to figure things out my own way, but his expression was unreadable for a moment… then he opened his eyes bewildered.

“You knew about this?” he asked softly.

“I suspected it before coming here”

There was silence again, a deafening one.

“You are not obligated to tell me who the father is,” he said, carefully selecting his words, maybe not to get me angry. “But in all, I need you to understand something very important to me.”

He moved forward to my bed side, his voice lowering. “That child in your stomach... it doesn’t change anything, or how I look at you.”

My eyes flew wide in shock. “Kale, you...”

“No, just listen to me.” His voice shook slightly. “Your presence was unexpected, you had walked into my life like a storm, and ever since your arrival, I haven’t been able to breathe the same. I have never been my normal self again. I don’t care and won't mind the blood running through the veins of that baby, all I want is to make you happy."

He sat on the edge of the bed. “I know you’re scared of everything happening right now. I know for sure something might have broken you. But if you let me in, I’ll not cause you pain, but rather help you rebuild.”

I turned away in shock, tears welling up my eyes. “You don’t even know anything about me.”

“Then let me know because I'm dying to.” His tone was totally strange, very raw and soothing. “Let me get to know you, perhaps there might be a version of you still willing to learn how to smile again.”

“I am broken and don’t know how to trust again,” I whispered.

He took my hand into his. “Then, I'm ready to walk the steps with you while we learn together.”

My tight walls… were beginning to drift apart once more with promises even juicer than the first one. This is too good to be real. Ronan started in this sweet and caring way, but turned overnight. History is about to repeat itself, will Kale change, especially with my pregnancy with another man's child?

“You have been given the chance to provide an heir. But right now, no heir, neither is there a Luna. And judging from your public rejection of Serena Valen, it has come to our notice that the pack’s faith in your leadership is… becoming fragile.”

“She couldn’t do the simple responsibility of giving me a child either,” I snapped at him. “At least, on this angle, Sapphire tried.”

“Yet now, after everything, you still have neither,” Elder Bram said in a very cold manner. “And it would interest you to know that the pack grows restless.”

“She did right by me, instead, she betrayed me,” I growled. “She tried to poison me...”

“We remember seeing no proof to that effect,” Bram interrupted. “Your Luna whom you were supposed to rule the pack with was accused based on Sapphire’s testimony, and you accepted everything without a filter. No physical evidence was shown, neither were there witnesses.”

“She ran away from this pack, didn’t she? That explains something!”

“Or maybe,” Elder Merin began softly, “she ran from you, running to stay far away from you.”

My fists balled at the insults howled at me. “What do you suggest?”

“That you do everything possible to fix this,” Bram said firmly. “Before it would be too late, and you would lose more than your child. The Alpha title as you know very well isn’t eternal, Ronan. If after the lady's chance, the council finds you unfit....”

“You’ll do what? Strip me of my title?”

“If need be, then yes,” Bram said gravely with finality.

I stormed out, boiling out in rage at the thought of not retaining my position. This must be the handwork of my brother Darius.

Fix this? How on earth could I possibly fix something so broken as this?

>>>>>>>>>

Later that night, I had entered my chambers to cool off after the stress of the day, but something unexpectedly happened. I noticed the scent of Sapphire was very faint, meaning she hadn't returned to the chamber after our little chat. 

“Gone,” I muttered to myself, unable to believe a word from that.

I heard a soft footstep at the door, only to turn and behold Thorn behind me. 

“She left immediately. You went to see the elders” he said quietly.

I stared at him like

 He had grown horns. 

“Did any of you try stopping her?”

Thorn hesitated for a few seconds. “No one dared do that."

“And as for Serena?” I whispered, and for no reason, the name tasted like sin on my tongue.

My thoughts flashed back to old good times. Serena. The girl that caught my fancy, I pulled from nothing. Turned into royalty, only to throw back and trash her like garbage. 

I knew she was never all that she was accused of being. 

I needed to find her, she might be the solution I've been watching for. 

“Find her for me” I ordered the guard.

Thorn blinked in confusion. “Alpha?”

“I want you to put every tracker out

there. Ensure to dig up every tunnel, don't leave any tree without sniffing through every tree. Find Serena Valen, and bring her to me!”