Chapter 248

Serena’s POV

The color in Caiden's eyes changed again, bright, glowing, dangerous. The fury rolling off him was palpable, hot enough to make the air sting.

And in that exact moment, as I stared into those wild, shifting eyes, I knew something in him had finally broken.

His voice ripped through the silence, raw and furious. “Am I so hard to choose, huh?!” he bellowed, his face just inches from mine, his breath hot and ragged.

My pulse kicked up, and for a moment, I couldn’t even breathe. His eyes burned like molten amber, the wolf in him dangerously close to breaking loose.

Before I could step back, a low growl echoed across the room, deep, warning, lethal.

Hades.

In a blur, he darted forward, seizing Caiden by the collar and shoving him away from me so roughly that Caiden skidded backward, hitting the far end of the room with a loud thud. The chair he had knocked over clattered loudly on the tiles, splitting the tension like glass shattering.

“Touch her again,” Hades growled, his voice vibrating with restrained rage, “and I’ll send you to your grave myself.”

“Stop!” I gasped, reaching for his arm before he lunged again. My fingers wrapped around his wrist, his skin hot, his pulse racing. “Hades, stop, please.”

He froze at my touch, muscles still trembling with fury, his eyes glowing faintly crimson. For a heartbeat, it felt like the air itself was alive, tense, crackling.

Caiden stood slowly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Then he gave a small, bitter laugh that sent a chill down my spine. “You’ve really changed, Serena.”

He cracked his neck and straightened his shirt like he hadn’t just been thrown across the room. “You know what?” He pointed at me, his smirk twisting into something sharp and cold. “It’s fine. I accept your rejection, Serena!”

He raised his voice until it boomed through the room. “And I wish you and Hades to burn in hell!”

My heart lurched. I gasped as the bond between us shattered like glass beneath a hammer. Pain rippled through my chest, but not as sharply as I had feared. Instead, it felt like something loosening, a tight chain finally breaking free.

Caiden, though… his face contorted in agony. The veins in his neck strained, his jaw tightening as he clenched his fists. He was hurting more than I was. That realization twisted inside me like guilt.

He grabbed the nearest chair and hurled it across the table. It hit the wall with a violent crash. “Damn it!” he yelled, voice breaking with fury and pain.

Then he stormed out, his heavy footsteps echoing down the hall until the sound disappeared entirely.

I exhaled shakily, realizing I’d been holding my breath. When I turned, Aeson was still there, quiet, unreadable. He didn’t say a word, just looked at me with eyes that hid too much and nothing at all.

For a moment, I thought he’d speak. But instead, he just glanced between Hades and me, his lips pressed into a thin line. Then he turned and walked out too, silent as a ghost.

And just like that, it was over.

The air felt hollow, thick with the echoes of what had just happened. Hades reached for my hand gently, his touch grounding me.

“Come,” he said quietly. “Let’s get out of here.”

We didn’t speak for the entire drive. My thoughts were a blur of chaos—Caiden’s face, Aeson’s silence, the words that couldn’t be taken back.

When the car stopped, I blinked and realized we weren’t anywhere near home. Instead, we were at the top of a cliff in Hades’ pack territory. The view stretched endlessly before us, rolling hills, the forest canopy painted with gold by the afternoon sun, and a river glimmering like silver beneath.

Hades sat beside me on a flat boulder, silent, watching the horizon.

For a long time, I didn’t speak either. I just listened to the wind, the distant calls of birds, and the faint pounding of my heart.

Finally, he broke the silence. “Let it out, Serena.” His voice was soft but firm. “I didn’t bring you here to boast about the lovely view in my pack.”

The lump in my throat tightened. I lowered my head, and the tears came—quiet at first, then uncontrollable. Hot, blinding tears that blurred everything.

I buried my face in my palms, embarrassed by how weak I sounded. My shoulders trembled as the sobs came harder.

“It’s okay, Serena.” His voice was a balm, low and steady. “It’s fine.”

Then he pulled me into his side, his arm warm around me, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back. I leaned into him, letting the comfort seep in.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, Hades,” I said between shaky breaths. “I thought they’d just accept the rejection and things could go back to how they were before… before all this.”

“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “Give it time.”

I pulled away slowly, wiping my face. Hades’ eyes met mine, deep and full of understanding.

“Caiden was mad and… hurt,” I whispered. “I know that.”

He nodded. “Yeah. He’s not used to being the one left behind.” His gaze drifted toward the view, to where the horizon kissed the sky. “He’s the kind of guy who’d never care about a girl’s rejection. He’s more used to breaking hearts. But with you…” His voice softened. “You changed him, Serena. You made him feel something real. That’s why he’s hurting.”

I nodded, staring down at my hands. “Aeson didn’t say anything, though. He didn’t even acknowledge the rejection. That scares me more.”

“Don’t worry,” Hades replied, a hint of reassurance in his tone. “He’ll come around soon. He’s got Aurora waiting for him anyway.”

At that, I couldn’t help but huff a small, sad laugh. “Right. Aurora.”

Hades went quiet again, just studying me with that same quiet intensity that always made me feel seen.

“What?” I asked, catching his gaze.

He smiled faintly, shaking his head. “I still can’t believe you’re here. With me. And above that…” His voice dropped lower, rougher. “I can’t believe you chose me. I’m undeserving of your love, Serena.”

Before he could finish, I leaned in and kissed him, softly but firmly, silencing his doubt.

When I pulled back, I whispered against his lips, “You’re not undeserving, Hades. You’re special.”

He stared at me for a long moment, his thumb brushing the side of my jaw, and then a slow smile curved his lips.

“So,” he said teasingly, his voice dipping to that husky tone that always made my heart stutter, “now I guess I get to grab you and…” He paused, letting his eyes wander down to my lips.

“And what?” I asked, breath catching.

He chuckled. “Kiss you whenever I wish. Because you’re…” His fingers pinched my jaw gently, drawing me closer. “…mine.”

And before I could answer, his lips captured mine again, warm, tender, and claiming.

The world faded. The cliff, the view, the chaos we’d left behind, all of it dissolved into that single kiss that told me everything I needed to know.

This time, it wasn’t confusion or chance. It was a choice.

My choice.

Best choice of my entire life.