left to the storm
1524 Words
Serena
Staring blankly at Dorian's stern face, a cold dread washed over me as I imagined being cast out into the wilderness with nowhere to go. My pulse slowed to a heavy, sluggish thrum. Time was slipping away, leaving me with a stark ultimatum: I could either humiliate myself by dropping to my knees to beg for his mercy, or I could remain silent and let fate unravel whatever destiny had in store.
Before making a choice, I desperately wanted to understand why they were making such a monumental scandal out of a simple misunderstanding. I had committed an error, yes, and I would have willingly offered an apology—had they not wrongly assumed that I had intentionally intruded into his private quarters. Offering a confession now would only validate their false narrative, making it seem like I entered on my own accord rather than being deceitfully guided inside by Nora’s manipulation.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Dorian questioned, a sharp brow arching as his gaze locked onto me with cold intensity.
He exuded absolute authority, standing with effortless composure, his hands resting casually inside his slacks pockets while his tailored suit remained completely unwrinkled. I struggled to find any words that could sway him.
"No. I will leave," I answered quietly, forcing a steady confidence into my voice. I had no desire to stay where my presence was treated as a burden.
The underlying threat in his cold stare made it clear that if I put up any resistance, he wouldn't hesitate to remove me by force. Since homelessness was inevitable either way, I refused to squander my remaining dignity pleading with him.
I had previously begged Caden to stand by me and shield me from ruin, yet he had turned a deaf ear to my cries. Why would a total stranger like Dorian extend any kindness to me?
"Is that your final answer?" Dorian paced across the room once.
I tilted my head upward, observing him through a hazy veil of unshed tears, as the suffocating memories of that fateful night began to creep back into my mind.
"A simple apology is all it takes to resolve this," he muttered flatly.
But I refused to be misled by his words. He had just come downstairs following a fierce confrontation with his brothers; a mere apology from me wasn't going to magically alter his decision.
"I would gladly apologize if you actually bothered to believe my side of the story. I only went up to that room because Nora led me there, and she was the one who threw the door open without even knocking. I have no idea why she wanted to frame me, but this was entirely her doing," I explained, watching as he rolled his neck with an air of complete indifference.
A sudden, deafening crack of thunder shook the mansion, and the sheer force of the gale shattered an ornamental vase stationed near the front entrance corridor.
Dorian cast a brief glance over my shoulder at the shards before turning back to me.
"The moment this storm passes, you're out."
Without offering another word, he turned on his heel and strode away.
I stood frozen in the quiet space until the house staff began frantically moving through the halls. Darkness had settled over the estate with alarming speed. Everyone was scrambling from one end of the mansion to the other to secure the property.
Taking a measured breath, I walked out of the main living area to locate my mother.
"Dorian told me I have to leave as soon as the weather clears. You can finally be at peace—you won't have to look at me ever again," I said, squeezing my hands together tightly.
A hollow calmness enveloped me for the moment, though I knew the true weight of despair would hit me once I was cast outside.
She let out an anxious sigh, her expression worn with worry.
"Come along, we must offer our prayers to the Moon Goddess so this tempest passes without tearing the estate apart."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the rest of the household migrating down toward the sanctuary room located in the basement.
"Hurry up, let's go," Nora and Ivy suddenly appeared right behind my mother, both bundled up and making their way down to the shelter.
I firmly shook my head in refusal.
"I've already said my prayers," I lied smoothly.
The Moon Goddess had abandoned me long ago. I saw no reason to worship a deity that refused to answer my pleas.
"Serena! Everyone is gathering in the basement. Do not stay up here," my mother insisted, her hand gripping my forearm tightly enough to make me flinch.
It felt as though every touch from these people left a bruise.
"Stop, that hurts! Not everyone is down there. Look at the staff," I countered, gesturing toward the maids who were still desperately attempting to clear glass decor away from the windows.
It was evident they hadn't properly anticipated the severity of the gale.
"They are only up here because they have duties to finish," my mother snapped impatiently.
"Then I'll join them. I can make myself useful," I replied.
Even though the raging winds terrified me, I refused to bow before a goddess who had turned her back on me.
"Leave her if she wants to be stubborn. Come, everyone is waiting down below for you to lead the invocation," Nora interjected, grabbing my mother's arm and pulling her toward the stairs.
I watched my mother look back at me one last time before her figure vanished down the dark corridor.
Left alone amidst the raging storm, I resolved to assist the maids with the remaining chores.
Hurrying up toward the secondary floor with a list of tasks in mind, I suddenly crossed paths with the brothers as they emerged from a room alongside Lord Aldric, who swept past me in a hurry, completely averting his gaze.
It seemed he had ultimately yielded to the demands of his sons.
"What the hell are you still doing up here? Get down to the basement immediately," Dorian barked, his volatile temper flaring instantly at the sight of me.
Knox brushed past next, intentionally shoving his shoulder into mine as he hurried down the staircase.
Riven followed right behind him, nearly sending me crashing to the floor with his aggressive stride.
Perhaps their massive Lycan frames made them completely oblivious to their own strength, but to someone of my stature, their careless bumps felt like a physical assault.
"I am securing the decorations near the glass windows," I shot back at Dorian, quickly stepping past his towering frame.
"Who authorized you to touch anything in this house?" I heard him bellow down the hallway, but I accelerated my steps, slipping away into the dimly lit corridors of the grand estate.
To my relief, he didn't bother to pursue me. The endless maze of hallways in this mansion made it feel large enough to house an entirely separate rogue faction.
Needing a distraction to keep my racing thoughts at bay, I reached the far end of the first hallway, where a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the chaotic storm outside.
The view was terrifying.
Acting quickly, I gathered the heavy drapes and knotted them tightly together, hoping to catch any flying shards if the glass gave way.
Next, I began pulling a heavy wooden accent table away from the glass line.
As I finished up, I caught sight of an adjacent room with its door thrown wide open.
While I had no desire to intrude and cause another incident, I noticed the window inside was wide open, letting the elements pour in.
I rushed inside to shut it—or at least, that was my intention.
The gale-force winds were so intense that they immediately whipped my skirt up over my head, forcing me to use one hand to constantly hold down my clothes while desperately reaching for the latch with the other.
Scrambling onto the deep windowsill, I stretched my arm out as far as it would go to secure the frame.
The very instant my fingers clamped around it, I realized I had made a catastrophic error.
The vacuum created by the wind nearly pulled me straight out.
Before I could even register what was happening, the atmospheric pressure threw the upper half of my body clean out of the open window, leaving my hand frantically gripping the locking mechanism for dear life.
I braced myself for the worst, fully expecting to plummet to the ground or be swept away into the dark sky, when suddenly, a powerful force gripped me.
Two immensely strong, incredibly large hands clamped onto me and hauled me back across the threshold.
With effortless strength, he wrapped one massive arm around my waist to anchor me against his broad chest, while using his free hand to slam the window shut in one swift, decisive motion.
The sharp, intoxicating scent of his cologne filled my senses, his hold remarkably gentle despite the sheer size and veiny strength of his hands.
- Writer
