8
1553 Words
Serena’s POV
There was blood everywhere clinging to everything I touched!
My feet were moving but they felt strange, small and clumsy like they didn’t belong to me. I looked down and saw chubby little legs, trembling under a white flower dress that was no longer white but soaked in red.
I was running.. running and stumbling, my breath coming in sharp bursts as screams came through the night behind me. The sound wasn’t far.. it was close.
“Stop!” someone screamed.
Another scream followed, high and desperate and I turned my head without meaning to.
A huge wolf stood behind me. Its fur was dark, its eyes glowing, its mouth stained with blood as it tore into a woman who was screaming and struggling in its grip. The sound of bones cracking made my stomach twist and my legs momentarily froze.
“Mama,” I whispered, my voice small and trembling.
The woman turned her head toward me. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with terror and love at the same time.
“Serena, go!” she screamed, her voice breaking. “Go! Serena!”
I took a step forward instead of backward.
The wolf lifted its head slowly. Its eyes locked on me. Blood dripped from its mouth and then...
“Serena!”
I jolted awake with my heart pounding like it wanted to break free. My body was drenched in cold sweat, my hands shaking as I sucked in air desperately trying to separate reality from the nightmare that still clung to my mind.
“Serena. You were restless and groaning.” Adrian said softly, his hand resting on my shoulder. “Hey. It’s just a dream. Really. It’s just a dream.”
I stared at him for a few seconds with my vision blurry and my thoughts scattered.
A dream. Yeah. Just a dream.
I swallowed hard and sat up slowly, my chest still rising and falling too fast.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, though I wasn’t sure if I was convincing him or myself.
Adrian watched me closely for a moment then nodded slightly.
I slid out of bed in my nightgown and walked toward the balcony, my feet touching the cold floor as I pushed the door open.
The night air immediately washed over my my face instantly as I stepped outside and leaned against the railing, staring at the pack house in the distance, my mind still filled with the strange images from that strange dream.
Behind me, I felt Adrian’s presence before I heard him. His arms wrapped around me gently from behind, his chest pressing lightly against my back as he rested his chin near my shoulder.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.”
I didn’t answer immediately and his tightened his arms slightly.
“I promise,” he continued, “I’ll keep my s**t bottled next time.”
I let out a small breath.
“You better,” I said softly.
He kissed my neck lightly, his lips warm against my skin.
“I didn’t mean what I said,” he added after a moment. “About Liam.”
I turned my head slightly.
“Whatever I had with Liam ended three years ago,” I said calmly. “It’s broken. Finished. So don’t bring him up again even when we argue.”
Adrian was quiet for a second.. then he said, almost casually, “So you remember the day I found you?”
My body stiffened slightly and I sighed.
“I really don’t like talking about that day,” I said firmly. “Drop it, Adrian. Please.”
He hesitated then nodded.
“Okay,” he said softly.
His lips brushed my neck again slower this time, his arms still around me and his warmth sinking into my skin. My body reacted right away and I was in the mood. I turned slightly toward him and pulled at his hand.
“Come on,” I said quietly, a faint smile touching my lips. “Let’s go back to bed.”
He smiled back and followed me but just before I stepped inside, something caught my eye.
Across the distance, on the balcony of the pack house, a figure stood in the shadows.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. I didn’t need to guess. It was Liam and he wasn’t moving. He was watching us.
For a second our gazes met across the night air and I felt a strange satisfaction rise inside me.
Seeing me back, seeing me strong and seeing me happy was driving him crazy.
I smiled faintly, then turned away and walked back into the room with Adrian but before closing the door, I paused and said lightly, “Keep the window open, will you.”
Adrian raised a brow.
“Why?” he asked.
I shrugged slightly.
“I like fresh air,” I said casually.
He didn’t question it.
But I knew the truth. I wanted Liam to hear us making love.
I wanted him to know, to feel what he had lost and yes, I knew I was torturing him slowly.
I slept peacefully that night but the next morning felt different like something was about to literally explode.
By the time I arrived at the pack’s medical facility, the place where they handled bodies and research, I could already feel eyes on me.
As soon as I stepped inside, a girl rushed toward me. She looked about my age, maybe a little younger with her eyes bright and her expression excited.
“You’re Serena, right?” she asked quickly.
I blinked.
“Yes.”
Her smile widened.
“I’m Lyra Van Dyke,” she said with excitement. “Head healer of the pack.”
I raised a brow slightly.
Head healer?
She looked too young for that title.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” she continued excitedly. “I can’t believe I’m actually working with you today. I’ve been reading your methods and theories and honestly, I want to learn from you so badly.”
I smiled faintly.
“We’ll talk later,” I said. “Let’s focus on the job first.”
As we walked deeper into the building, I noticed something strange.
There were soldiers everywhere.. not just a few guards.. a lot.
They stood at every corner, every door, every hallway with their expressions serious and their hands resting on weapons.
I frowned.
This felt less like a medical facility and more like a battlefield.
I spotted Beta Emmett near the main lab entrance and walked toward him.
“What’s with the army?” I asked quietly.
“Alpha Liam ordered it,” he said respectfully.
“Ordered what exactly?” I asked.
“That only the most loyal people should be around today,” he replied.
“So these are your people?” I asked.
He nodded.
“The most loyal to me,” he said.
I studied the soldiers again then nodded slowly.
“Fine,” I said. “I needed an audience anyway.”
Lyra stood beside me, looking around nervously.
“This feels intense,” she whispered.
Before I could could reply, Emmett suddenly stiffened and his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Do you smell that?” he asked.
I blinked.
“Smell what?” I asked.
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he inhaled slowly and his expression changed.
I sniffed the air too. At first, I smelled nothing then...
A sharp scent filled my nose. It was faint, but it was there.. a strange smell. My heart skipped suddenly.
“That’s gas,” I said slowly.
Emmett’s eyes widened.
“Everyone out!” he shouted suddenly, his voice echoing through the building. “Out! Out! Out now!”
For a second, no one moved then panic exploded as soldiers started shouting.. people began running.
Lyra grabbed my arm.
“Serena!” she cried.
We ran.
The hallway suddenly felt too long and too narrow. Behind us, I heard something crack and then...
Boom!
The explosion was deafening and the force threw us forward like dolls.
I felt my body hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air out of my lungs. Heat rushed past me, followed by smoke, dust and the smell of burning metal.
For a few seconds, I couldn’t move. My ears rang and my head spun.
“L.. Lady Serena!” someone shouted.
I blinked rapidly, trying to focus.
Emmett was on the ground nearby, coughing and Lyra was beside me, her face pale. We had barely made it out while behind us, the lab was in flames!
I pushed myself up slowly but before I could speak, someone ran toward me ignoring all the c*****e around.. It was a servant.
Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear.
“Miss Serena!” she cried, her voice trembling. “There’s… there’s a gentleman here to see you.”
I frowned.
“A gentleman?” I asked.
She swallowed hard.
“He said he’s from the Obsidian Circle.”
The world seemed to freeze around us and everyone went silent.. even the soldiers stopped moving as if the burning lab was no longer an issue.
The name of The Obsidian Circle had that much of any effect…!
- Writer
