My Ex’s Father is the Alpha Who Wants Me

Serena knew something was wrong the moment Damon stopped answering her calls. He always answered. Even when he was busy. Even when he was annoyed with her. Even when he was halfway through training with the pack warriors. Damon always answered. So when Serena stood outside his bedroom door with her phone pressed against her ear for the sixth time, she already knew this wasn’t normal. She knocked. “Damon?” Nothing. She knocked again. “Damon, open the door.” Still nothing. Serena frowned. The hallway of the Blackwood estate was unusually quiet. Most of the pack was gathered downstairs for the Alpha’s birthday celebration, but Damon had disappeared almost an hour ago. Serena had followed because she’d wanted to surprise him. Instead, she was beginning to feel like she was the one about to be surprised. She reached for the doorknob. It turned. The door wasn’t locked. “Damon?” She pushed it open. At first, she didn’t understand what she was seeing. Then she smelled another woman. Serena froze. Her phone slipped from her hand. It hit the floor with a soft crack. Damon was standing beside the bed. A woman was wrapped in his shirt. And neither of them looked surprised to see Serena. For several seconds, nobody moved. Serena stared at Damon. “No.” It came out as a whisper. Damon’s face drained of color,as he reached out to grab her. “Serena wait!!!” “Don’t touch me with your filthy hands “ She held up a trembling hand. The woman behind him quickly pulled the shirt tighter around herself. Serena’s stomach twisted. She knew her. Everyone did. She was one of the most beautiful she-wolves in Blackwood Pack. And she was also Damon’s childhood friend. The realization hit harder than the sight itself. “You’ve been cheating on me.” Damon stepped toward her. “Let me explain.” Serena laughed. It was a horrible sound. “What exactly are you going to explain?” “It isn’t what you think.” She looked at the bed. Then at him. “Really?” Damon ran a hand through his hair. “I was drunk.” Serena stared at him. “You’re drunk every time you betray me?” His expression tightened. “That’s not fair.” “Fair? Nothing is fair in this world “ Her voice cracked. “You brought another woman into your bedroom.” “Serena, lower your voice.” She looked at him in disbelief. That was what he cared about? Not her. Not what he’d done. The possibility that someone might hear. She took a step backward. “How long?” Damon didn’t answer. Her heart sank. “How long, Damon?” He looked away. That was answer enough. Serena felt something inside her break. She had loved him for three years. She had defended him when people called him reckless and immature. She had stood beside him when his father questioned his ability to become Alpha. She had believed every promise he’d made. And apparently, while she was building a future with him, he’d been building another one behind her back. She reached for the necklace around her neck. The silver pendant Damon had given her on their second anniversary. Her fingers shook. “I thought you loved me.” Damon’s expression softened. “I do.” “No.” Serena shook her head. “You don’t.” “I do, Serena.” “Then you wouldn’t have done this.” He had no answer. She removed the necklace. Damon’s eyes followed the movement. “Serena…” She placed it on the table beside the door. “I’m done.” He stepped toward her once again. “Wait.” She moved away. “Don’t touch me.” Her voice was quiet now. Somehow, that made it worse. Damon stopped. Serena walked out. She didn’t run. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fall apart in front of him. But the moment she reached the staircase, her legs nearly gave out. She grabbed the railing. Her wolf whimpered inside her. He betrayed us. Serena closed her eyes. “I know.” Leave. A tear slipped down her cheek. “I will.” She had no idea where she’d go. She only knew she couldn’t stay. Not here. Not with him. Not in a place where every hallway held a memory of the man who had just shattered her heart. She turned toward the front entrance. Then she stopped. Someone was standing there. Lucian Blackwood. Damon’s father. Serena had known him for years, but she’d never been alone with him. Nobody was. Lucian was the kind of Alpha who didn’t need to raise his voice to command a room. At forty-two, he carried himself with a quiet authority that made people instinctively straighten when he walked past. He was dressed in a black suit, his expression unreadable. But his eyes weren’t. They were fixed on Serena’s face. More specifically, on the tear she hadn’t managed to wipe away. His jaw tightened. “What happened?” Serena quickly turned her face away. “Nothing.” Lucian didn’t move. “Serena.” Something about the way he said her name made her look at him. His gaze softened. “You’ve been crying.” She swallowed. “I’m fine.” “No, you’re not.” She didn’t know why those four words nearly made her cry again. Maybe because Damon hadn’t asked. Maybe because Lucian had noticed without being told. Serena looked toward the door. “I need to leave.” Lucian’s expression changed. “Why?” She hesitated. Then she whispered, “Your son cheated on me.” Silence. Lucian’s face became completely still. “Where is Damon?” “Upstairs.” Lucian looked toward the staircase. For one frightening second, Serena thought he was going to explode. Instead, he looked back at her. “Did he hurt you?” “No.” “Did he threaten you?” “No.” Lucian nodded slowly. Then his gaze settled on her again. There was something strange in his eyes. Something Serena couldn’t understand. Something that made her wolf suddenly lift her head. Serena. She frowned. What? Her wolf stared toward Lucian. Then whispered one word. Mate. Serena’s breath stopped. No. Absolutely not. She looked at Lucian again. He had gone pale. He’d heard it too. His wolf had recognized her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Lucian took one careful step toward her. His voice was barely above a whisper. “Serena…” She backed away. Because suddenly the man standing in front of her wasn’t just Damon’s father. He was something far more dangerous. He was the man fate, the Moon Goddess had chosen for her. And she had no idea how she was supposed to live with the fact that her ex-boyfriend’s father was her mate.