Mate of the Enemy Alpha

Chapter Two

Jessie grinned up at her, blue eyes sparkling with concern more than mischief now. As they crossed the clearing toward the school, Jessie kept glancing sideways at Serenity, catching every flinch, every shadow that crossed her friend’s face.

“You sure you’re okay, Ren?” Jessie asked quietly, but Serenity just shrugged, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Jessie didn’t buy it. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “You always get weird when Brad and Adam are around. "You know you can talk to me, right?”

Serenity opened her mouth, but the words stuck like thorns in her throat. Before she could answer, a sharp whistle cut through the air, calling their class together at the edge of the training grounds.

The instructor, one of the senior warriors, clapped his hands for attention. “Today, you’ll be paired with experienced pack members. Learn, observe, and don’t hold back.”

He started calling out names. Serenity’s stomach sank when she heard them: “Jessie Mond with Brad Darciana. Serenity Darciana with Adam Carlson.”

Jessie shot Serenity a worried look as Brad swaggered over, a smirk on his lips. Adam lingered at the edge of the group, his eyes cold as steel as he locked gazes with Serenity. The world shrank to a tunnel, her pulse pounding in her ears. Jessie, paired with Brad, looked back at her helplessly as the lesson began.

Serenity squared her shoulders, steeling herself for whatever came next. This was just another day—just another test of how much she could endure before the bell finally rang.

Serenity's long, curly white hair trailed past her waist, shimmering in the weak morning light. Her light blue eyes, wide and wary, stood out against her pale olive skin. At five-foot-five, she was willowy but held herself smaller, trying to take up as little space as possible.

She watched Jessie, confident, sturdy, and clever, stride across the field to face Brad, her brother. Serenity knew Jessie could handle herself; she’d never let anyone push her around, not even Brad. But Serenity? She’d learned to freeze, to shrink, to obey. The times she’d tried to fight back had only ended with wolfsbane burning in her veins, her wolf’s furious howls muted and helpless.

As she moved to stand opposite Adam Carlson, dread coiled in her stomach. She kept her head down, hands curled tight at her sides. In her mind, the wolf inside her—Shalara—stirred.

We can do this, Shalara’s voice whispered, fierce and wild. Let’s get him back for all the horrible things he’s done to us.

Serenity’s heart beat faster. But what if he comes over tonight? What if he and Brad do those things again? she thought bleakly.

"We will fight," Shalara vowed, her voice like steel.

Serenity drew a shaky breath, trying to let her wolf’s courage bolster her own. She squared her shoulders and finally looked up to meet Adam’s cold gaze across the training ground, determined not to flinch this time.

Adam’s eyes narrowed as Serenity took her place across from him, the sun catching in the waves of her long, white hair. He could see the flicker of fear she tried to hide, but there was a new determination in her stance—a stubborn tilt of her chin, a spark he hadn’t seen before.

He leaned in, his voice a dark whisper meant for her alone. “You’re just mine and your brother’s little pet,” he hissed, lips curving in a devilish smirk.

Serenity stiffened, his words scraping raw against her insides. For a moment, she almost shrank back. But Shalara’s voice surged in her mind, bracing and fierce. You are strong. You are more than what he says. You are not his pet. We are not prey.

The instructor barked for them to begin. Adam prowled forward, confidence oozing from every movement. Serenity’s heart pounded, but this time she let her wolf’s courage flood her veins. She met Adam’s eyes, refusing to look away.

Adam’s smirk faltered as Serenity held her ground. He lunged at her, fast and aggressive, trying to remind her of her place. But Serenity sidestepped, the memory of every bruise fueling her resolve. She swung hard, and her fist connected with his jaw. The crack echoed across the field.

For a beat, everyone froze—even Jessie, who had been watching out of the corner of her eye while squaring up to Brad. Adam’s head snapped to the side, shock and fury warring in his expression. Red blotches on his cheek where she’d hit him. His eyes went black with rage.

“You’re going to regret that,” he growled, voice low and dangerous.

Serenity’s breath came fast, but she stood tall. For the first time, she’d landed a blow. For the first time, she hadn’t let him win.

Across the field, Jessie’s heart leaped with pride and worry. She saw the way Adam’s face twisted, the storm brewing behind his eyes. Jessie shot a warning glare at Brad, ready to jump in if things got worse. But for now, she silently cheered her best friend on, willing Serenity to keep fighting, to believe she was more than any of them had ever let her be.

A strange, electric power surged through Serenity—hot and wild, pulsing from the core of her being. For a moment, she felt unstoppable, every instinct sharpened, her movements guided by Shalara’s fierce energy. Was it a dream? Her birthday is approaching? She didn’t know, but she rode the wave, ducking Adam’s grasp and landing a sharp kick to his thigh.

He snarled, livid. “You little freak,” he spat, but she barely heard him.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the power fizzled out. Her breaths grew shallow, her limbs heavy and weak. She sensed the danger too late—Adam’s hand clamped hard around her arm, yanking it behind her back. Pain shot up her shoulder as he twisted, intent on breaking her.

Serenity’s scream caught in her throat, but before the sound could escape, Jessie slammed into Adam from the side. “Get away from her!” Jessie shouted, fury blazing in her eyes.

The instructor’s whistle split the air, sharp and commanding. He stormed across the field, his face thunderous. “Enough! Adam, step away. Now.” His voice brooked no argument.

Adam released Serenity with a shove, his eyes smoldering with hate. The instructor positioned himself between Adam and the girls, glaring. “We do not use training as an excuse for violence. You’ll answer for this with the Alpha.”

Jessie wrapped an arm protectively around Serenity, steadying her trembling friend. Serenity sagged against her, breathless and dizzy, the world spinning just a little. She barely heard the teacher barking orders or Adam’s muttered curses as he stalked away.

All Serenity could feel was the aftershock—that fleeting, powerful hope, and then the gnawing terror that Adam’s promise of regret was far from over.

Jessie squeezed her shoulder. “You did it, Ren. You fought back. "I’m so proud of you.” Her voice was fierce and gentle all at once.

Serenity blinked, fighting tears. For the first time, she wondered if maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t as helpless as they wanted her to believe.

As Adam stalked away, Serenity caught the low hiss of his voice, meant only for her. “I’ll be over later. Be ready,” he muttered, just loud enough for the words to crawl under her skin and burrow deep. He glanced back, eyes burning with malice, and flashed a slow, chilling smirk.

A tremor ran through Serenity’s body, the world tilting as dread coiled in her gut. Did anyone else hear that? She looked around desperately, but the rest of the class had already splintered off into smaller groups, the instructor’s attention fixed on Adam’s retreating form. Serenity’s hands shook so badly she had to clench them into fists, willing herself not to break down right there in the open. After what just happened, she didn’t know if she could survive another night of his cruelty. She could still feel the echo of her power, but it was gone now, leaving her ragged, exposed, and more vulnerable than ever. And after the blow she’d landed, maybe this time Adam wouldn’t just hurt her—maybe he’d finally go too far.

“Ren? Ren!” Jessie’s voice pierced through the fog of panic. Suddenly, Jessie was kneeling in front of her, hands warm on Serenity’s shoulders, worry etched deep into her face. “Hey, look at me. Are you okay?”

Serenity blinked, struggling to focus as tears stung her eyes. She wanted to disappear, to run, but her voice came out as a whisper. “Jess… can I come over tonight? Please?” Each word trembled with desperation, but she didn’t care who heard her anymore.

Jessie hesitated, remembering every past time her parents had said no. But seeing Serenity now—ashen, shaking, barely holding it together—something changed in her. “I’ll ask again,” Jessie said fiercely, her grip tightening. “I’ll make them say yes this time. I promise.”

For a heartbeat, Serenity could only stare, overwhelmed by both shame and relief. She managed a shaky smile, hope flickering to life beneath the weight of her fear. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Jessie helped her to her feet, keeping an arm wrapped protectively around her. “Let’s get through the day first,” Jessie murmured, glancing over her shoulder at Adam’s silhouette in the distance. “Then you’re coming home with me. No one’s going to touch you tonight. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

As they walked back toward the school, Serenity leaned into her friend’s strength, clinging to the fragile sense of safety Jessie offered. For the first time all day, the possibility of escape—of even one night free from fear—feels real.