{Serena's P.O.V}
Gabriel and Mia finally emerged from the bedroom. Mia clung to Gabriel's arm, her eyes wide and filled with fear. She looked fragile and vulnerable, a stark contrast to her usual sweet and bubbly demeanor. She hid behind Gabriel, using his body as a shield, her face pale and her lips trembling. Her gaze darted around the room, avoiding mine, and she seemed unsure whether to apologize or flee. Her usual innocent facade was gone, replaced by the nervous energy of someone caught redhanded.
Gabriel, on the other hand, quickly regained his composure. The momentary flicker of guilt or hesitation was gone, replaced by the familiar mask of arrogance and indifference. He stood tall and relaxed, exuding a casual confidence that bordered on arrogance. His smirk was infuriatingly smug, as if he were above reproach and any consequence of his actions was merely a trivial inconvenience. It was clear that Gabriel believed he could charm his way out of any situation, a belief born from years of women fawning over his good looks and smooth talking.
It was then that he seemed to notice Liam standing next to me. Gabriel's expression darkened with annoyance, and he dangerously narrowed his eyes. "Why is he here with you?" he demanded, his voice dripping with condescension."This is our home, Serena."
I couldn't help it—I laughed. I was so sorry but I couldn't help it.The sound was loud and genuine, filled with the absurdity of the situation. Gabriel's face flushed with anger at my reaction.
"Why are you laughing?" he snapped, his eyes blazing with fury.
I laughed so hard that tears began to form. Wiping them away, I straightened up and said sarcastically, "Do you really think everyone is as ruled by their baser instincts as you are?"
It was then that Liam stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of me. "Serena doesn't owe you any explanations, Gabriel," he said firmly, his voice steady and commanding. "You lost the right to demand anything when you betrayed her trust."
Gabriel's anger only intensified at Liam's words. "Stay out of this, Liam. This is between me and Serena."
Liam frowned, as if suddenly remembering something, and turned to look at Mia. Her face was a mix of guilt and defiance, her eyes avoiding his.
"Mia," he asked, his voice tinged with hurt and confusion, "do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Mia, as if frightened, shrank back and hid behind Gabriel, clutching at his shirt. She mumbled something incomprehensible, her eyes wide with fear. Gabriel, his demeanor suddenly more domineering, glared at Liam.
"Enough," he growled, "don't take it out on Mia. If you have a problem, deal with me."
I couldn't help but laugh, the absurdity of the situation overwhelming my anger. I patted Liam's shoulder reassuringly. "Our Beta is still too inexperienced," I said, my voice tinged with irony. "You got dragged into this mess with just a few words."
"Well," Gabriel said, finally deigning to look at me, his voice smooth and unbothered, "I suppose this is as good a time as any to discuss the state of things." He gave a small, almost careless shrug, as if to say that these things happen. His demeanor was infuriatingly dismissive, as though he was above the drama unfolding. He radiated an air of entitlement, as if everything and everyone around him were mere accessories to his life, existing solely for his pleasure and convenience.
I turned my gaze back to Gabriel, a smirk playing on my lips. "Gabriel, you always were good for a laugh," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "You think you can just brush this off like it's nothing? You think your charm will get you out of this mess?"
Gabriel's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing. "You always were too sentimental," he sneered. "But let's not pretend this is about loyalty or trust. You're upset because you think you've caught me in some grand betrayal. How dramatic."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Liam's frown deepen, his brows knitting together so tightly they could crush a fly.
"This isn't about drama, Gabriel. It's about the reality of our situation. You can pretend all you want, but we both know the truth," I replied, my voice steady and unyielding, forcing my attention away from fly,oh no,Liam's fly-crushing frown.
As Gabriel continued to speak, he seemed oblivious to the growing tension. "I didn't intend for you to find out like this, Serena," he said, though his tone lacked any genuine apology. "But then, does it really matter? You know how things are." He spoke as if this were a minor misunderstanding, something to be brushed aside with his usual charm and wit.
Mia looked up at him, her expression a mixture of adoration and anxiety. She had always played the role of the sweet, innocent girl within the pack, using her charm and doe-eyed looks to gain favor. But beneath that facade, there was a calculating edge, a willingness to play any role necessary to get what she wanted. Her act of innocence was a thin veneer, barely covering her true nature as a manipulative opportunist.
She glanced at me with a subtle, almost imperceptible smirk playing at the corners of her lips—a silent challenge, as if to say she had won something from me. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about her confidence in her manipulation.
I realized more clearly than ever that Mia was a two-faced schemer. She was the quintessential "green tea" girl—a woman who outwardly appeared sweet and innocent but used her charms to manipulate those around her. She had always been overly affectionate with me, calling me "sister" and acting like she was endlessly grateful for any kindness. But it was clear now that her intentions were far from innocent. Her relationship with Gabriel was not born of love or even genuine affection; it was a calculated move to secure a higher status within the pack, leveraging Gabriel's attraction to her to elevate herself.
I shook my head, a small smile playing on my lips, amused by Gabriel's cluelessness. He had always believed that I loved him deeply, that I was so infatuated with him that I would tolerate anything, even this blatant betrayal.
It was almost laughable how arrogant and deluded he was. What made him think he had such irresistible charm? He never truly understood me, never realized that I was using him as a standin for someone else, someone I truly cared about. If I had loved Gabriel, I would never have tolerated this kind of insult.
To keep him from feeling utterly humiliated, I decided to humor him, to play the role of the jealous lover for just a moment. It felt almost comical, but I didn't want to damage his fragile male ego more than necessary.
With a sigh, I forced a slight pout, casting my eyes down briefly before looking back at him. "It's nothing, Gabriel," I said, feigning a touch of disappointment. "I just thought... well, I suppose I thought we had something a bit more exclusive. But I guess I was wrong." I tried to sound a little hurt, just enough to satisfy his need to feel desired and important.
Mia, noticing my demeanor, seemed to misinterpret it as a sign of submission or defeat. She leaned slightly closer to Gabriel, her hand resting on his arm with a practiced ease that spoke of her confidence in her position. Her eyes flickered to mine, a flash of triumph evident in their depths. It was almost as if she were silently gloating, believing she had won some unspoken competition between us. The irony of the situation was almost too much—she thought she had bested me, not realizing that Gabriel had never truly mattered to me in the first place.
Gabriel seemed to relax slightly, a small, smug smile curling his lips. "Serena," he began, his voice taking on a more patronizing tone, "you know how things are. Our relationship is... unique. But you don't have to worry. You still mean a lot to me."
He paused, glancing down at Mia who was still clinging to his arm. "Mia, she's... different from you. She's light and fun, and people find her easy to be around. She's charming and brings a kind of joy that's hard to find."
He said it as if it were an obvious compliment, but his tone was detached, almost clinical.
"But you're the one who truly matters in the end. Mia knows her place." His words were meant to soothe, to assure me of my importance, but they only highlighted his condescension.
As I looked at Mia, I couldn't help but notice the momentary twist in her expression. It was a fleeting moment, but her face briefly contorted in frustration and hurt before she forced it back into a mask of sweetness and vulnerability.
Watching her struggle to maintain that demure, fragile facade, while clearly seething underneath, was oddly satisfying. The irony wasn't lost on me; here she was, trying so hard to maintain her image, when her true nature was slipping through the cracks.
Good, I thought, hiding my amusement. One of the perks of being Luna was the power to keep everyone in their places, to see through their pretenses and manipulate the situation to my advantage. Gabriel and his conquests might think they were the ones in control, but they had no idea what I was truly capable of. As much as this farce annoyed me, it also provided endless opportunities to assert my dominance and keep the upper hand.
The absurdity of the situation was almost too much. Here he was, trying to console me with hollow reassurances, completely unaware of the truth. I felt another bubble of laughter rising in my chest, but I suppressed it, maintaining my role for just a little longer.