The brisk morning air clung to Serena's skin as she walked through the sprawling gardens of the Vale estate. The familiar scent of roses mixed with the dampness of freshly watered earth, grounding her in a reality she had once thought lost. It had been weeks since her rebirth, and though she had mentally prepared herself for many challenges, this—returning to the place where so many of her nightmares had begun—was harder than she imagined.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced around, half-expecting to see the cold, distant eyes of Damian or the venomous smile of Elara. But the estate was quiet. Unnaturally quiet, as if it too was holding its breath, waiting for what would come next.
Serena inhaled deeply. She was here for one reason: to face her past, to confront the memories that had shackled her for so long. And yet, as her feet moved over the cobbled paths, she felt a strange sense of anticipation prickling at the back of her neck. Something was coming.
Suddenly, she stopped.
A figure stood at the end of the path, tall and imposing, leaning casually against one of the estate's stone columns. His head was bent, his hands in his pockets, and for a moment, Serena thought she must be imagining things. But then he looked up, and her breath hitched.
Alexander.
The world seemed to tilt around her. She hadn't seen him since her rebirth, hadn't dared to imagine what it would feel like to meet him again, knowing what she now knew.
"Serena?" His voice, deep and smooth, cut through the stillness, sending a shiver down her spine.
She stood frozen, her mind racing. It was Alexander, her Alexander, the man who had unknowingly held her heart long before she had died. The man who had tried to save her in her last moments, who had cradled her broken body and whispered words of regret and sorrow. And now he was here, alive, whole, and utterly unaware of the bond they shared.
Serena swallowed, forcing herself to move, to step forward despite the storm of emotions raging inside her. "Alexander," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
He straightened, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. The intensity of his gaze sent a jolt through her, a spark of something electric that crackled between them.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone neutral, but there was something beneath the surface—curiosity? Suspicion?
Serena fought to steady her breathing. She had prepared for this moment, rehearsed what she would say, how she would act. But standing in front of him now, she felt unprepared, vulnerable. The weight of her past—of their past—pressed down on her, making it hard to think straight.
"I... needed some air," she said lamely, hating how weak she sounded.
Alexander's brow furrowed, and he took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "Air?" he repeated, his tone skeptical. "Here, of all places?"
Serena's heart skipped a beat as he closed the distance between them. She could see the tension in his posture, the way his hands twitched at his sides as if he wasn't sure whether to stay distant or reach for her. She knew he had questions—questions she wasn't ready to answer. Not yet.
"I grew up here," she said quickly, her voice steadier now. "This place... it used to be my sanctuary."
It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. Once upon a time, the Vale estate had been her home—her prison. And now, it was the place where she intended to rebuild her strength.
Alexander studied her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "A sanctuary, huh?" He tilted his head, his dark hair catching the sunlight. "And now?"
Serena felt the weight of his question. Now? Now it was the battleground where she would reclaim her life. But she couldn't tell him that. Not yet.
"It's just... a place," she said softly, her gaze flickering to the familiar rose bushes, the same ones she had tended to before her life had fallen apart. "A reminder of things that I once lost."
She glanced back at Alexander, and for a moment, something passed between them—an unspoken understanding. He knew loss, too. She had seen it in his eyes the day he had found her, bleeding and broken. And though he had never spoken of it, Serena knew that he had carried a burden in his heart as well.
"You don't have to carry that alone, you know," he said suddenly, his voice soft, almost hesitant.
Serena blinked, her breath catching in her throat. The sincerity in his voice, the gentleness of his words, nearly undid her. For so long, she had been alone, fighting battles no one could see. But now, standing in front of Alexander, she realized that maybe—just maybe—she didn't have to be.
"I—" Serena hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Before she could find the words, Alexander stepped closer, his presence overwhelming her senses. The air between them crackled with tension, the kind that was impossible to ignore. His scent—clean and woodsy—filled her nostrils, sending her heart racing.
She looked up into his eyes, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was something there, something deep and unspoken, that made her chest tighten. Did he feel it too? The pull, the undeniable connection that bound them together, even though he didn't know the full truth?
"You don't have to explain anything, Serena," Alexander said softly, his gaze never leaving hers. "But know this... I'm here. If you need someone, I'm here."
His words struck her like a blow to the chest. She wanted to tell him everything—to pour out the truth, to tell him about the life she had lost, about the love she had never had the chance to return. But the words stuck in her throat, too heavy, too dangerous to say.
Instead, she nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you."
Alexander held her gaze for a moment longer, his eyes searching hers as if he could see the secrets she was trying so hard to hide. Then, slowly, he stepped back, giving her space to breathe.
"You should go," he said quietly, his voice tinged with something she couldn't quite place. "Damian... he's not someone to be underestimated."
At the mention of Damian, Serena's blood ran cold. She had almost forgotten the threat that still loomed over her—the man who had betrayed her, destroyed her. But Alexander's warning was clear: Damian was dangerous, and she couldn't let her guard down.
"I know," she whispered, her heart heavy with the weight of her new reality.
As she turned to leave, a thought flickered in her mind, one that she couldn't ignore.
"Why are you here, Alexander?" she asked, her voice soft but curious. "What brought you to the estate today?"
He hesitated for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, finally, he spoke.
"I came for you."
His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Serena's heart skipped a beat, her mind reeling. Had he come because of her? Because he had sensed something? Or was it just a coincidence, a cruel twist of fate?
She didn't know. But one thing was clear: the connection between them was undeniable, and it was only growing stronger.
Serena met his gaze one last time, her heart pounding in her chest. "We'll meet again," she said softly, her voice filled with a promise she wasn't sure she could keep.
Alexander's eyes darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. "We will."
As Serena turned and walked away, the tension between them still crackling in the air, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Their paths had crossed again, and fate had given her a second chance. But what would she do with it?
Only time would tell.
"This time," she whispered to herself, her heart racing, "I won't let anyone take control of my destiny."
The encounter had left her shaken, but more determined than ever. Alexander's presence in her life was no accident, and she would find a way to use it to her advantage. The road ahead was long, but Serena was ready.
And this time, she wouldn't face it alone.