Only her sniffling could be heard in the quiet room. Serena stood on her tiptoes, praying the stacked furniture wouldn't give out beneath her. The table beneath her creaked and her breath hitched as she wobbled.
She gripped the rough wall, but it did nothing to steady her. Deep down, she knew she was going to fall. With a final push, she jumped from the stool, reaching for the iron bars of the window.
She missed the bars by about an arm's length. Even if she had reached them, she would have been surprised. Serena landed awkwardly on her side, a sharp pain shooting through her.
She groaned but quickly bit down on her lip, stifling any sound. Pain wasn't the real problem, the real problem was the noise she caused. The stool, chair, and bucket tumbled from the table, clattering loudly to the floor.
She scrambled to her feet, her left hip screaming in protest. Ignoring it, Serena hurriedly returned the chair, her shaking fingers fumbling as she placed it back by the table. She limped to the bathroom to put the bucket back in place.
Placing her ear to the door, Serena closed her eyes, praying no one had heard the commotion. Her heart pounded in her chest. Suddenly, a voice called out, "What's going on in there?"
Serena swallowed, her throat dry. "Oh, it's nothing," she replied quickly, hoping they wouldn't hear her heart beating like a hare's. The doorknob twisted, and a female guard poked her head in, scanning the room.
Their eyes met, and Serena straightened her posture. The guard didn't seem impressed, shooting her a warning look before locking the door again.
Serena let out a sigh of relief, sinking onto the bed burying her face in her hands. Her mind was a storm of confusion and unanswered questions.
Ever since the man had stormed out earlier, her wolf had stirred for the first time in what felt like an eternity, whispering her name before falling silent again.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded angrily in her head. Silence. "You can't do this to me."
Abruptly, Serena stood, pointing at no one in particular. "I thought you had passed, Feyra!" Yet again, she was shouting into the void, just as she had in the early months after being cast out of her pack. Back then, she had frantically called out to Feyra, desperate for any reply, anything at all. She believed her wolf to be stronger than this, despite being fatally injured by the destruction of a mate bond.
"Please."
She paced the small room, disbelief gnawing at her. She couldn't deny it, the feeling was the same as when Cullen had helped her out of that fountain.
But stronger, better. Serena paused, shaking her head as if to banish those thoughts. She knew better. No matter how many times she replayed the scene, she couldn't find a way to deny it.
Why did he jump back like that? she wondered, biting the inside of her cheek. Gripping her pendant tightly, she questioned herself. Were rogues truly such vile creatures that he reacted as though he had touched poison?
–
Serena wasn't sure when the sun set or rose anymore. She shifted uncomfortably on the bed, the passage of time blending together in the confines of the small room. Judging by the meals they brought, she guessed it had been three days, maybe four.
Now, she sat cross-legged on the cold floor, her eyes locked on the doorway where two guards stood. These weren't the ones who usually brought her meals. One of them had his hand firmly on the hilt of his sword, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than she intended. The weight of their scrutiny pressed down on her, familiar and suffocating.
It didn't matter where she went, she was always treated like a criminal. At least, here, no one knew of her past.
—
If life were fair, Serena would be in this hall as an honored guest. She would have been welcomed with polite bows, marveling at the beautiful artwork that adorned the walls. Perhaps she would have even suggested an art showcase to the Luna, to celebrate their pack's gifted creators.
But instead, she stood before a group of strangers seated behind a crescent-shaped table, their opinions of her hidden behind unreadable expressions. Serena clasped her hands behind her back, her gaze fixed somewhere above their heads, careful not to meet the piercing eyes that studied her.
"Alpha," a voice called from behind. She turned slightly to see the bald man she had saved not long ago. Emmett no longer looked like the desperate man she had encountered in the forest.
She watched him nod, her throat tightening. The man who had tenderly wiped away her tears just days ago was now the Alpha who would judge her, the werewolf who was her fated mate.
"I am Scoutmaster Emmett Briar," he began. "Over three weeks ago, I departed from Ironshade with my daughter, Scout Annamarie Briar, and my mentee, Jack Langley, to update our maps and explore potential areas for expansion to the east."
Serena's eyes flicked to a man seated in the far corner, diligently scribbling down every word Emmett spoke. The proceedings here were far more formal and polished than those of Silverstone.
"On our return journey, I made the decision to take the old route through Lupine Hollow. It was a mistake, and we were ambushed by rogue wolves."
"Rash decision-making, as always," interjected an elderly woman with hair as white as snow and a face deeply etched with wrinkles. She looked older than anyone else at the table.
Emmett chose to ignore the comment and pressed on. "This woman, Serena, graciously offered us hospitality-"
The man who had rushed toward Serena in the forest raised his hand, cutting Emmett off. "That's enough. We've heard the story." His gaze turned toward Serena, making her shift uncomfortably. His eyes held a dangerous glint, as though he would gladly drive a spear through her heart if given the chance. "Who are you?"