Serena’s POV
"Gorgeous," I muttered to myself as I smoothed the lace of my wedding dress. The soft, ivory fabric clung to my skin like a second layer. Not that I was complaining. The beadwork sparkled in the afternoon light, and I silently praised the dressmaker. It was a work of art!
Today should have been the happiest day of my life because today, I would finally become a wife and an official mate to a very special someone — something I had feared might never happen. But it was happening. I was practically squirming with happiness.
As I gazed at my reflection in the mirror, memories of my life before this moment flooded my mind. I was the daughter of the Alpha of one of the biggest packs in Vylonia — the Tharros Pack. Now, you'd think that my life was all rosy and perfect, but I assure you, it was far from that.
I had no wolf.
Being wofless was enough to confine me to a life of misery. Without a wolf, there was no mate and no place in our world. Unlike the other daughters of Alphas, I had never felt what it was like to shift into my wolf form. I waited for years, doing everything I could to awaken my wolf, but nothing happened. To make things worse, everyone else was finding their mates while I was left alone. I became known as a failure — a wolfless, mateless failure who had no place in the pack.
But then, there was him. Draven.
He came into my life in the most unexpected way. An outsider. A rogue, of sorts. His parents had been slaughtered by rogues, leaving him alone, wandering without a pack. He roamed for a long time before stumbling into ours. Even after being accepted into the pack, he still faced discrimination. And I, the daughter of the Alpha with no wolf, was the only one who truly understood what it felt like to be on the outside, looking in.
Draven saw me. Truly saw me, in a way no one else ever had. We became inseparable, and his kindness filled the empty spaces within me. Before I knew it, we were in love. He was willing to marry me, even though I wasn’t his fated mate, even though he didn’t have to marry the wolfless girl everyone despised. It felt like a dream — a beautiful dream I never wanted to wake from.
Today was the culmination of that dream.
With a deep breath, I twirled in front of the mirror, imagining the look on his face when he saw me. I couldn’t wait for the actual ceremony — I wanted him to see me in this dress, to see the woman who was about to become his wife. In a rush, I lifted the hem of my gown and made my way towards his chambers.
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My smile widened as I practically ran towards his chambers. I could already picture the moment — Draven’s eyes lighting up when he saw me, his praise, his lips on mine. I was almost at his door when I heard something that made me freeze.
A giggle. Then a soft moan.
My heart skipped a beat. The door was slightly ajar, just enough for me to hear low, hushed voices inside. Curiosity and a sense of dread tugged at me, and I pressed closer, peeking through the crack.
There, in the dim light of the room, on the bed, lay Draven — my Draven — with his hands tangled in the hair of someone who wasn’t me.
It was Astrid.
My best friend.
“What?” I gasped, my breath caught in my throat as I watched them kissing passionately. Draven’s hands roamed over her body as if he had never touched mine, and Astrid responded with equal fervor. My entire world came crashing down around me, so hard I could barely breathe. This had to be a dream, right?
“Draven?” I choked out as I pushed the door open with trembling hands.
They jumped apart, their eyes wide with shock. Astrid’s face flushed pink, her hair disheveled. But when she stared at me, tears were already forming in her eyes. Now she felt guilty?
Draven, however, straightened, wiping his mouth as if he had just finished eating a meal, not betraying me on the day of our wedding. What the hell was he thinking?
“Serena,” he said in a calm voice, perhaps too calm.
“What the hell is going on?” I demanded. The tears I had tried so hard to hold back broke free and fell like a torrent.
“Serena,” Astrid’s lips quivered as she rushed toward me. “Serena, please! I didn’t mean for this to happen! I swear!”
“Didn’t mean for it to happen?” I pushed her so hard she fell to the floor. “You’re sleeping with my fiancé on our wedding day!”
More tears spilled from Astrid’s eyes as she clasped her hands together. “I love him, Serena. I’m so sorry, but I love him.”
“You love him?” Her words felt like a hot knife slicing through my chest. I blocked her out and turned my gaze to Draven. “Explain yourself! Was this all a lie, then? Was everything we shared a lie? The love you promised me? Answer me, Draven!”
Draven’s expression was cold and indifferent as he shrugged like he hadn’t just been with another woman.
“I never lied, Serena. But you have to understand, I couldn’t marry you for love.”
“What are you talking about?” I screamed, my whole body trembling.
“I’m marrying you for your father’s inheritance.” His lips twisted into a cruel smile. “The pack. The lands. The wealth. Did you really think I’d settle for the wolfless daughter of an Alpha just out of love? You must be joking!”
I stumbled back as the room spun around me. Every feeling I had for Draven turned to ash, and my heart clenched at the damning realization.
“Serena, please forgive me. I didn’t mean for you to find out like this. I just… I love him too much!” Astrid sobbed behind him.
Just as I was about to yell, to scream out my pain, a loud howl echoed through the packhouse, followed by the panicked shouts of pack members.
"Rogues! Rogues are attacking!"