Chapter 47

Serena's POV

It felt like an eternity before I found my voice again. My chest was tight, and I could feel the weight of his stare.

“What do you mean?” I finally asked, my throat dry.

Hades glanced down at me, his gaze trailing briefly to my lips before meeting my eyes again. “What don’t you see in my eyes, Serena?”

I shrugged, my shoulders tense. “I’m not a sorceress.”

His expression remained serious, the teasing gone. “I’m falling for you. And that’s just it.”

Hearing those words hit me like a sudden gust of wind. My heart stuttered, and warmth flushed my entire body.

“You…” The word escaped me in a breathless whisper, my mind struggling to comprehend.

“But when I fall madly in love with you, I won’t be able to take your restraints,” he added, his breaths eluding. They fanned across my face, setting every nerve in me ablaze.

My heart raced uncontrollably, and then he stepped back. “Goodnight.”

My lips parted to respond, but nothing came out. His face leaned in just slightly, and for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. My body betrayed me—my lashes fluttered involuntarily, and my whole body steeled.

Instead, he pulled me into a hug. His embrace was firm yet gentle, sending my senses spiraling out of control.

“See you tomorrow, pumpkin,” he murmured before stepping away.

Pumpkin? The usual me would have snapped back at that nickname. But now, I was frozen, watching him walk to his car. He didn’t look back as he drove off, but my heart continued to pound unerratically in his absence.

What is wrong with me? My hand instinctively went to my face. It was hot—too hot. I shouldn’t be flushed for no reason. I gulped hard, trying to steady my breaths.

My hands curled at my sides, but when I turned around, I jumped. Aeson stood there, his gaze locked onto me.

He stepped forward, his eyes intense. “What are you doing out here?” His voice was low but direct.

“Me?” I swallowed hard. “N-Nothing.”

“Did your family entertain someone tonight?”

“No… I mean—”

“I saw Hades leave.”

His words struck me like a blow. I hadn’t meant to lie to Aeson, but somehow I just had. For the second time tonight.

“I guess you couldn’t spare me a moment because you were too busy bringing him over to have dinner with your family,” Aeson said, his tone laced with a bitterness he clearly didn’t want to reveal.

“Well, my mother invited him,” I said quickly, hoping that would smooth things over.

“But you bonded with him.” His voice dropped, but the underlying distaste was impossible to miss.

“I don’t understand,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

Aeson exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You didn’t get my text message earlier today?”

I froze, my mind racing. My pulse quickened all over again, but for entirely different reasons now.

“Message? No. Did you really send me a message?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

Aeson gave me a look that made my chest tighten. Without another word, I pulled out my phone from my pocket and checked my inbox. There it was—a text from Aeson I’d missed. Can we have dinner tonight? Just you and me.

I swallowed hard, gripping the phone tightly. “Oh. I didn’t see it earlier,” I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt.

He exhaled through his nose. “What about tomorrow then?”

“Huh?” My mind was still scrambling to catch up.

“Can we have dinner tomorrow?” he repeated, his gaze sharp but steady.

“Well… I need to come home early,” I said weakly.

“What about the next day?” he cut in impatiently.

“I’ll be going to eat with my friend,” I lied. Again. For the second time tonight.

His eyes darkened for a moment before his expression smoothed over. “I see,” he said slowly, studying me as if I were some difficult problem he couldn’t solve.

The way he looked at me made me feel exposed. Then he nodded briskly. “It’s cold. Go in.”

I nodded and watched as he turned on his heel, heading back to the packhouse. The weight of the night sat heavily on my chest, and I felt torn in too many directions.

By the time I retired to bed, I couldn’t stop my mind from replaying my brief encounter with Aeson. His gaze, the disappointment in his voice—everything stuck with me like a thorn I couldn’t pull out.

I sat on my bed, staring at the ceiling. “Anna, what do you think about Aeson earlier?” I asked aloud, hoping my wolf would help me make sense of the swirling emotions.

He was angry, Anna answered immediately.

“Angry?” I frowned. “But he didn’t seem so.”

Well, I could tell. He didn’t want to show it much.

“Whatever,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. Aeson’s face faded, and Hades’s filled my thoughts. “Wasn’t Hades just surprisingly cool today?” I whispered.

I don’t know. I think he really loves you, Anna said softly.

“No, Anna.” I shook my head firmly. “He barely knows me, and I’m not sure he even understands what love is.”

But your heart fluttered, and your cheeks turned red when he hugged you. Aren’t you liking him already?

“Liking him?” I repeated, my voice trembling.

My heart pounded at the thought, and I clenched the sheets in my hands. The question hung in the air, unanswered but undeniable.

I tossed and turned, replaying every moment of the night in my head. Hades’s presence was hard to shake. His intense eyes, the way his voice softened when he said he was falling for me—it stirred something in me I didn’t want to admit.

You had sparkles all evening, Serena. Don’t even deny it, Anna teased in my mind, her voice playful.

“Shut up, Anna! You don’t know anything,” I snapped, flopping back onto my bed with a groan.

Hades. He’s undeniably alluring, she added running in circles. Especially when he—

“Enough!” I barked, throwing my pillow over my face. But the warmth on my cheeks betrayed me.

Just then, my phone beeped. I sat up, heart thudding as I saw Aeson’s name on the screen. I opened the message with trembling fingers.

\[You refused me tonight, and I’m honestly not happy about that.\]

My brows creased. So Anna was right. He had been angry.

Another message followed.

\[You should wear something purple tomorrow to make it up to me. That’s my best color. Will you?\]

What? I stared at the phone, dazed. I wasn't expecting him to be this forward. What was I supposed to do now?