Chapter 55

Serena's POV

I swallowed. The moment flashed in my mind—the silent tension, the weight of an unspoken truth pressing against my ribs. I met Caiden’s gaze. For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then, in the most insufferably casual way possible, he said, “Nothing you should be worried about, buddy.”

Aeson’s eyes darkened, his fingers twitching at his side, and then—

Hades appeared.

His presence was cool and calculated. His gaze flickered between them, barely sparing me a glance.

Aeson turned to him. “Caiden took her out. Alone.” The way he emphasized the word ‘alone’ made it sound like a felony.

Hades shrugged. “I know about that.”

Aeson’s brow furrowed. “You knew he was taking her somewhere? Alone?”

Hades nodded. “Yeah. So?”

Aeson’s shoulders tensed. He cut a glare at Caiden. “You could have stopped him. She’s our mate. She shouldn’t be with him alone.”

Hades chuckled, tilting his head. “What if it was me who went out with her?” He finally looked at me, expression unreadable. “Alone?”

Aeson’s jaw ticked. “You’re not Caiden.”

Caiden chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as if he understood the unspoken implication.

Hades smirked. “It’s not like I wouldn’t have done something worse to her if the tables were turned,” he mused, his gaze locking onto me. “Right?”

I eyed him, refusing to let him get a rise out of me.

He turned back to Aeson. “She’s our mate, but not a baby.” With that, he walked off, leaving behind the sharp sting of his words.

I exhaled, glancing between Aeson and Caiden. This was too much. “I need to get back to work,” I muttered before slipping away.

After office hours, I was just about to step out of the building when Caiden appeared in front of me, blocking my path with a knowing smirk.

“I’ll take you home.”

Before I could respond, Aeson’s voice cut through. “No, you won’t. I don't want to see you in my pack.”

Caiden’s expression remained unfazed. “I’ve got no business with your pack, Aeson. I just want to take her home.”

Aeson took a step forward, his presence towering. “And I said no.”

Tension sparked between them like a live wire.

I sighed. “I’ll go with Aeson.”

Caiden opened his mouth to argue, but I shot him a look. He went silent. Interesting. Maybe I did have that kind of influence.

Aeson turned to me. “Let’s go.”

I followed him toward the entrance.

“Goodnight, Serena!” Caiden called after me.

I stopped, turning to find him waving. A soft smile touched my lips before I resumed walking. Aeson stood by the door, his expression unreadable.

“Dream about us,” Caiden added, his voice laced with mischief.

I shook my head, suppressing a smile.

Walking alongside Aeson to his car, I suddenly stopped, my heart kicking against my ribs. There. Parked across the lot. That car. The one I had seen earlier.

Aeson noticed my hesitation. “What is it?”

I met his gaze, then pointed. “Whose car is that?”

He followed my line of sight. “Hades’. One he drives randomly.”

Hades? So it really was him.

Aeson reached his car, opening the door for me. I hesitated for a fraction of a second before sliding in. He got in after me, started the engine, and pulled out onto the road.

The drive was quiet, the city lights blurring past. For the first time today, I felt some semblance of peace.

And then it disappeared.

“What do you think about me?”

I turned my head, catching the flicker of something in Aeson’s gaze. Something that made my breath hitch.

“I know you barely know me,” he continued, fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “But I… found you amazing, Serena.”

My heartbeat stuttered. The air inside the car suddenly felt heavier, charged with something unspoken.

Aeson’s question still lingered, floating between us like a feather refusing to land. But he still pressed on when I gave no response.

“What do you think about me?”

I looked at him, unsure how to respond. It wasn’t a question I had prepared for. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes… they held something else. Curiosity? Expectation? Maybe something deeper.

“You don’t have an answer, Serena?” His voice was steady, but I could hear the slight edge in it, like he was hoping for something more than just silence.

I parted my lips, about to say something—anything—but then he pulled the car to a stop.

His gaze shifted away, looking out the window before turning back to me. “We should do something fun.”

Fun? That was unexpected.

Before I could question him, he was already stepping out of the car and rounding to my side. He opened the door for me, and as I stepped out, a cool breeze wrapped around me, carrying the scent of warm pastries and street food. My gaze followed the direction of his nod, landing on a familiar setup—a transparent arcade claw machine, the kind you’d find in busy city squares.

A group of people stood around it, mostly couples. The men were taking turns, concentrating hard as they maneuvered the claw inside, trying to grab plushies, jewelry boxes, or small gadgets for their partners. The women watched with hopeful anticipation, eyes gleaming under the neon lights of the machine.

Aeson’s hand found mine, his palm warm against my skin, and he led me closer.

“What would you like?” His voice was low, but it held the kind of certainty that made me feel like, whatever I chose, he would make sure I got it.

I looked at the glass case, scanning its contents until my gaze landed on something—a delicate silver bracelet with a wolf-shaped charm. Something about it drew me in.

Before I could even say a word, Aeson smirked. “That one. That’s what I’ll get for you.”

He stepped forward, speaking to the bald man overseeing the machine. The man’s face lit up in recognition.

“Alpha Aeson,” he greeted, his tone laced with respect.

Aeson gestured to the bracelet. “I want that one.”

The man scratched his chin. “Ah, the specialty for today. Anyone wanting it must go through a challenge.”