Chapter 13 My best friend
Sera's Pov
The moment Caden stepped into my room, the air snapped tight like the world had just chosen sides. Damien was calm and watchful, while Caden looked like he’d run here, eyes glowing, chest rising too fast, shoulders tense like he’d been holding something in for days.
I backed up from both of them. “Why are you here, Caden?”
His gaze flicked from Damien to me. “I came to make sure you’re okay.”
I laughed, sharp and humorless. “Now you care?”
Damien didn’t move, didn’t speak. He only watched me with those dark, steady eyes. A silent anchor.
I crossed my arms. “Where were you when everyone at school attacked me? When Brielle spread rumors? When they pushed me, tripped me, destroyed my things? When they said I seduced you? You didn’t say a word.”
“Sera, I—”
“No,” I snapped. “You don’t get to show up now and pretend you didn’t see it.”
Caden stepped forward. “If I defended you in front of them, it would have made everything worse. You don’t understand how this pack works. Brielle’s father is—"
“I don’t care who her father is,” I cut in. “I needed one person to stand up for me. One. And you didn’t.”
His jaw tightened. “I was protecting you.”
“By doing nothing?” My voice broke despite my best effort to keep it steady. “By watching them tear me apart?”
He looked tortured, torn in a way that made the bond between us twist painfully. “If I said one word, Brielle would have doubled down. The pack would have gone after you harder. I had to stay quiet. It was the only way to keep things from exploding.”
I stared at him. “You still abandoned me.”
Caden closed his eyes for a second. “I didn’t want to. I hated every second of it.”
My throat tightened. “Then why didn’t you come to me after? Why didn’t you check on me?”
His voice cracked. “Because… I didn’t trust myself.”
I blinked. “What does that even mean?”
His eyes flickered gold. “Every time I’m near you, my wolf… reacts. I don’t understand why yet. And last night, Damien—”
Damien’s low voice cut through the room mockingly. “You’re losing her, young Alpha.”
Caden shot him a glare. “Stay out of this.”
Damien smirked. “I didn’t come to fight. I came because she was hurting. Something you should have sensed.”
Caden stiffened.
I looked between them, exhausted. “Please stop.”
Damien’s voice softened instantly. “Little moon.”
Caden’s breath hitched.
I shook my head. “I don’t want this. Either of you are fighting over me. Not right now.”
Caden looked like he wanted to reach for me but forced himself still. “I came to tell you that you’re not alone. Even if it looked like I wasn’t there… I was watching. If anything truly dangerous happened, I would have stepped in.”
A bitter part of me whispered, But it wasn’t enough.
My eyes burned. “I can’t keep doing this. I can’t be the punching bag of your entire school while you pretend not to know me.”
Caden stepped closer. “Sera—please.”
I shook my head again. “You broke something.” He froze.
Damien’s expression changed, not pleased, not victorious, just…sad for me.
Caden swallowed hard. “Tell me how to fix it.”
“I don’t know.”
He took one step toward me, then stopped himself. His voice fell to a whisper. “I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t enough. I didn’t say anything.
Damien finally spoke. “Go home, Alpha. Tonight is not yours.”
Caden let out a shaky breath, opened his mouth, closed it again, then walked out of my room with slow, defeated steps.
Damien approached gently, like I was something fragile. “Come here.”
Something in me cracked. For the first time in days, I let myself lean into someone. Damien sat beside me on the bed, his presence warm and steady. He didn’t try to hold me. He didn’t push. He just existed beside me in silence that didn’t feel heavy.
“You’re stronger than they make you believe,” he murmured.
I stared at my hands. “It didn’t feel like it this week.”
“You were hurt, isolated, and exhausted. And still you stood.” His voice lowered. “Most wolves would break under half of that.”
I swallowed. “It’s not enough. They won.”
He tilted his head. “Did they? You’re still here.”
I didn’t have an answer.
Damien gently lifted my chin so I met his eyes. “Tomorrow, you go back.”
My stomach twisted. “I can’t.”
“You can.” His thumb brushed away a tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “You are Selene reborn. Remember who you were. Remember what you survived.”
A shiver ran through me.
“Tomorrow,” he repeated, “you walk back into that school with your head high. Not for them. For you.”
I breathed out shakily.
He stood. “Rest. I’ll be near.”
“Damien… why do you care?”
His smile was slow. “Because the moon chose you long before anyone else did.”
Then he disappeared into the night.
The next morning, I woke up with something new in my chest, not confidence, not strength… just a steady, simmering refusal to be broken again.
I dressed simply. Braided my hair back. I looked at myself in the mirror until my hands stopped shaking.
I wasn’t going to fight them.
I was going to shut them up.
When I walked into school, the whispers started immediately, but this time, I didn’t shrink.
I didn’t bow my head.
I walked straight through the halls like the noise didn’t touch me. People noticed. The stares changed from mocking to confused.
At lunch, the cafeteria fell silent when I entered. Brielle sat at her usual table, surrounded by friends, looking smug.
“Back again?” she said loudly. “Here to seduce Caden some more?”
I didn’t respond.
I walked right up to their table.
Zara snorted. “What, cat got your tongue?”
I set my tray down on their table—slow enough to make everyone lean in.
Then I looked Brielle dead in the eyes. “If you’re so desperate to keep Caden’s attention, you should try having a personality.”
The cafeteria gasped, Brielle’s mouth fell open.
I continued calmly, “And if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. Why would I seduce someone who can barely look at me without panicking?”
A few students choked on their food.
Someone whispered, “Holy—damn.”
Brielle reddened. “You—”
“You spent a week attacking me,” I said softly, “and I still walk in stronger than you.”
She stood too fast, knocking her chair over. “You think you can talk to me like—”
“Yes,” I said simply.
The cafeteria fell silent again.
I turned to leave—then paused.
“Oh, and Brielle?” I added without looking back. “Tell your little rumor crew to find new hobbies. I’m bored.”
The room exploded into murmurs. I walked out without a single tremble in my step.
Halfway down the hall, someone grabbed my arm.
I spun, ready to fight, but then froze.
Mia.
Her eyes were red, guilty, trembling. “Sera? I’m so sorry that happened to you, it made me remember my best friend.”
I stared at her, stunned. “It's fine,”
She swallowed. “I never believed them. I never should have listened. I shouldn’t have walked away. Please… can we talk?”
My anger softened. “Mia…”
She shook her head. “I want to be your friend. If you’ll let me.”
My chest loosened. I missed you, I missed our friendship, I had hoped you would approach me.
She almost cried. “Then you’re stuck with me.”
We hugged, and for the first time in a while, I hugged my best friend again.
I looked at the corner of my eyes and I saw Damien watching, nodding in approval and I smiled back.