CHAPTER 26
Serena’s. POV
The clinking sound of breakfast dishes being placed on trolleys filled the kitchen. This time, I insisted on joining the other maids to serve breakfast to the Alpha and… his household. My swollen cheek throbbed faintly, but I ignored it, focusing on the task at hand.
*Good luck, Serena* Lily said through the mindlink.
*Oh, thanks so much for the well wishes, Lily,* I replied with exaggerated sarcasm. I was still pissed about the fact that she almost disfigured my beautiful face. *especially since you’re the reason I’m marching in there looking like I’ve gone twelve rounds with a rogue.*
*You’ll survive* she giggled.
*Barely,* I shot back, cutting the link as we maneuvered the trolleys toward the dining hall.
We reached the double doors of the dining hall, pushing them open and entering with the trolleys. I looked around the grand dining hall, admiring the decor briefly before shifting my gaze to the table.
The insufferable Amelia was already seated. Beside her sat an older woman and a little girl who looked barely six, swinging her legs under the table.
But none of them mattered. Kaidon was my target.
He was there, at the head of the table, his presence commanding as he scanned the room. His dark eyes found me instantly, locking onto my face like I was the most interesting thing in the room.
I swallowed, goosebumps coursing all over my skin. The man could be very unnerving without even trying.
I willed myself to stay composed as I began arranging the dishes with the others. The faint prick of his gaze on my skin sent a shiver down my spine, but I ignored it, focusing on the plates and utensils in front of me.
Amelia seemed to have noticed Kaidon’s attention on me as her eyebrows twitched slightly in irritation. I could tell she was trying her best to maintain her composure, but her clenched jaw and tightened grip on her napkin gave her away.
Good.
I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves before deliberately moving toward Kaidon’s side. Amelia’s glare was searing as it burned into me, her jealousy practically radiating across the room like heat from a fire. It was almost comical how much effort she was putting into pretending she didn’t care.
How laughable.
Reaching Kaidon’s side, I carefully placed the tray in front of him, making sure to turn just enough that the light caught the swollen bruise on my cheek. It was subtle but effective—there was no way he wouldn’t see it.
*Please react,* I silently prayed to the goddess, biting back a smirk.* Do something, anything, come on!*
Just as expected, his eyes flicked to my cheek, darkening almost imperceptibly. His jaw tightened—a small movement, but it didn’t escape my notice.
*Alright! Come on, do something. Rage! Scream out!*
To my utter disappointment, his gaze flickered back to the food in front of him. Not a word left his lips.
I stepped back, holding my breath as I waited. Would he say something? Do something?
Kaidon remained silent, his expression unreadable.
*Come on,* I thought, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. *Don’t just sit there like a statue.*
Amelia finally broke the silence, her voice sharp. “Serena, shouldn’t you be helping the others instead of hovering around like a shadow?”
I met her gaze with a polite smile. “Of course, Miss Amelia.”
Amelia’s eyes narrowed. “And another thing,” she snapped, “never speak my name again. You will address me as Miss from now on. Do you understand?”
I inclined my head slightly, plastering on my most graceful smile. “As you wish, Miss.”
Inwardly, I was hurling every insult imaginable at her. *Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Amelia, the self-appointed queen of petty. How could I possibly have forgotten to bow down to your deluded sense of importance? You’re the embodiment of insecurity wrapped in overpriced silk.*
I turned to walk away, my expression still poised as though her ridiculous demand hadn’t annoyed me in the slightest. Glancing subtly toward Kaidon, I noticed he was still staring at me, his intense gaze practically drilling a hole into the side of my face.
*Oh, for crying out loud,* I thought, holding back a sigh. *Are you going to just keep staring, or are you planning on doing something? Anything? Come on, Alpha—growl, yell, throw your plate at a wall—just react!*
I joined the other maids as we began pushing the trolleys back out of the dining hall. With each step toward the door, I prayed—no, pleaded—to the goddess for some sort of divine intervention. *Alright, Moon Goddess, listen up. If he stops me before I leave this room, I’ll… I’ll… eat an entire pot of the kitchen’s chili stew. And you know how much I hate chili stew.*
The wooden doors loomed closer. *Or maybe I’ll trip Amelia on her way out later. That would be satisfying. But just—please make him do something!*
As we reached the exit, my hopes began to dwindle. My disappointment was palpable. Nothing? Really? All that glaring, and you’re just going to let me walk away?
But just as my foot crossed the threshold, Kaidon’s voice boomed through the hall like thunder.
“Wait.”
I froze mid-step, my hand tightening on the trolley. A slow smile spread across my face, too careful and calculated to be anything but victorious. Bingo.
Turning around, I met his gaze with feigned innocence, a subtle tilt to my head. “Yes, Alpha?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the way Amelia’s expression soured like she’d just bitten into a lemon. And oh, how it fueled the tiny flame of satisfaction burning in my chest.
Kaidon’s eyes lingered briefly on my cheek again before he spoke. “Come here.”
I walked forward, the faintest sway in my steps, enough to rile Amelia further without looking deliberate. Internally, I was screaming with glee. Oh, Moon Goddess, I take back every complaint. I’ll eat the chili stew and trip Amelia.
Stopping just a few feet from him, I looked up, letting my expression soften slightly. “Yes, Alpha?” I repeated, watching as his stormy gray eyes bore into me.