\[Elise’s POV\]
I lay on Serenity’s bed, taking in the room around me while the twins and Maverick stared at me. The place is pretty spacious compared to the room they gave me, but I was certain it was due to hierarchy. Of course, the children of Alpha’s would get better spaces, and that was fine with me. On the contrary, the thing that bothered me was the fact that just on the other side of the hallway was where Maverick was staying.
Narrowing my gaze, I take in the bored-looking man who is watching me like I’m a predator, ready to attack his queen.
‘He’s so obvious.’ Anna giggles, mirroring exactly what I’m thinking. ‘I wonder how the big lug would feel knowing that his precious daughter was being courted by a wolfless being.’
Cocking my head to the side, I watch as Maverick’s gaze snaps to Serenity as she comes out of the closet that she was searching inside of. Just by the way his eyes followed her every move, it was so damn obvious that he wanted a piece, but were his feelings for Serenity superficial or were they much deeper? Or maybe they were simply a servant and his queen; either way, I would do some digging, and if he wasn’t absolutely sincere, I wouldn’t allow him near my niece.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” I ask, deciding to break the awkward silence that is lingering around us. “That took some time. I fear that your guard dog would have gone and found you if you took much longer.”
At my words, Maverick’s gaze snaps to me, and I see hatred burning inside of it.
Oh. I giggle inwardly, so he really was serious about Serenity. I was sure if I were a man, he would be on his guard with me.
“What is it anyway?” I ask, lifting myself off the bed and heading to Serenity. When I reach her, I intentionally wrap my arm around hers, earning myself a growl from the gentle giant that screams stay away. “Don’t worry,” I huff, giving him a smile. “I don’t intend to hurt your queen.”
“Eleanor,” Serenity warns, reminding me once again of Denali when she would scold me. “He is only worried about me.”
“Worried,” I repeat, feigning innocence. “I don’t think that would be the word I would use.”
He was jealous. It was so damn obvious to everyone except Serenity. Goddess, the girl was either oblivious or refused to acknowledge the sexual tension that could be cut with a damn knife if it was a physical thing.
“Can we get this over with so that she leaves?” Maverick huffs, further confirming my feelings. “I still don’t necessarily think this is a good idea.”
“Why?” I ask. “Are you worried that if she becomes close with me, she will leave you all alone?”
As I speak, I jut out my bottom lip, mimicking pouting.
“Poor thing.” I continue. “But I intend to be besties with your queen.”
At my words, Trinity laughs while Tyrone flops down and closes his eyes. Clearly, the man didn’t want anything to do with what was happening here, but since he was involved, he needed to be present.
“Anyway,” Serenity sighs, clearly trying to bring the subject back to the rogues and me. “This is what I was looking for.”
Shaking her arm free of mine, she heads over to her bed and sits down the box she is holding. Once it is in place, she opens it so that I can see a few vials filled with a clear liquid. They are accompanied by a few that are empty, and I feel my curiosity piquing.
“What are those?” I ask, eyeing them. “Are you going to attempt to drug me?”
Although I trusted Serenity not to do anything to hurt me since she was raised by my dear sister and grumpy brother-in-law, I still wasn’t sure what was being kept from me.
“They’re for me.” Serenity explains. “Since you’ve been bitten by a rogue, I think it is best that you know about me. Just in case..."
As she trails off, I understand that whatever she has to say isn't going to be something I like.
“About you.” I repeat. “Are you going to say that you are the queen of the rogues?”
I mean, it wasn’t necessarily too farfetched to believe after everything I witnessed in my dreams about the curse that revolved around my family and Serenity. Could this be part of her curse? That she was to become the queen of these strange rogue wolves who seemed to turn human after finding their way to her?
“Maverick, Trinity, and Tyrone didn’t turn to humans by chance.” Serenity says slowly, clearly gauging my reaction. “It was because Maverick bit me, and I fed my blood to Trinity and Tyrone.”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I process what she is telling me.
“Well, that’s... interesting." I squeak. “You’re saying if I drank your blood, I wouldn’t be a wolf anymore?”
What the hell? I don’t know what I was expecting, but this certainly wasn’t it. And now that I knew what was going on with her, I couldn’t quite understand why that dumbass Rosco would even allow Serenity to be here. Unless…
Oh ho. It seemed that she must be keeping this secret from Daddy.
“So who all knows exactly?” I ask, enjoying the fact that I know something that asshole Rosco doesn’t, but if he didn’t know, then I was certain that Denali probably didn’t either. “I would guess your family doesn’t if they have allowed you to come here.”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” Maverick growls, showing me that I was crossing the line. “She didn’t even have to tell you this. So why should she…”
“Maverick,” Serenity says gently, giving him a look that screams that it is okay. “Only my friend from back home and everyone present in this room know.” She continues, turning her gaze back to me. “My friend is actually the one who created this serum for me.”
Nodding, I examine the vials once more and understand why some are missing. She must have taken some in order to suppress whatever it was in her blood that was causing wolves to turn human.
Shit. That surely was some fucking curse. I could only imagine what would happen if this information got into the wrong hands.
“Who is this friend?” I demand, feeling the need to protect my niece spiking. “Can he actually be trusted? Bring him to me right now!”
Eyes widening, I realize too late that someone who was only meant to be a friend shouldn’t be so damn concerned, but since I already spoke, there was no taking it back.
“Didn’t I tell you before?” I continue as Maverick’s untrusting gaze comes to rest on me. “I want us to be besties and friends protect each other.”
Dammit, Elise, you and your big mouth. I huff inwardly. I really did need to stop and think before I spoke.
“Actually,” Serenity begins as a knock reaches us. “Hold that thought.”
Frowning, I watch while she heads out of the room so that I’m alone with the angry Maverick and the bored twins.
“What?” I ask, heading over to Serenity’s bed and plopping back down. “Angry that more people know your queen's secret?”
I was certain that he was probably seething over the fact that more and more people were now in the know, and it wasn’t just something between him, Serenity, and whoever this mysterious friend is.
Smirking, I get comfortable and wait until Serenity comes back in with a blonde bombshell with fly-away hair and a slightly mad look in his golden eyes following behind.
“Tristan,” she announces, causing shock to rush through me. “This is the friend I told you about.”
‘Tristan,’ Anna gasps, mirroring my shock. ‘Did she just say Tristan? Is she referring to that kid?’
Not responding, I continue to take Tristan in as he rushes over to me, grabs my arm, and lifts it.
“May I?” He asks, pulling at the sleeve of my shirt. “Serenity says that you were bitten by one of the rogues, but your wound doesn’t seem to be healing.”
As he speaks, a feeling of familiarity begins to seep into me, and I know in that instant that this is the kid that was attached to Maria’s hip. Shit, how long has it been since I died? All these kids are grown now.
“Tristan,” Serenity sighs, taking my silence as hesitance. “You’re being a bit...”
“It’s fine.” I say, shaking off the shock that I’m feeling. “It’s fine; go ahead and look away. My wound is pretty dope, isn’t it?”
“That’s to be determined.” Tristan chuckles, lifting my sleeve so that he can examine the wound, which looks like it may be spreading. “Wow, Serenity,” he continues, turning his gaze to Serenity. “You said that she was bit yesterday?”
“That’s right.” Serenity confirms, frowning. “Is something wrong?”
“Well,” Tristan responds, turning his attention back to my wound. “I wouldn’t say that it was right.”
"Oh, goodie,” I sigh, understanding what he was getting at. “So, should I maybe expect to turn into one of those gross wolfies?”
Although I was speaking lightly, a slight chill was beginning to seep into me as I tried to imagine what it would be like to be a mindless killer. How could I possibly protect Serenity like that?
“I’m not sure.” Tristan says, pulling a pair of tweezers from his pocket. “Do you mind if I maybe take a piece of your scab?”
Eyes widening, I try to determine why the hell he would even need such a thing, but before I can come to a conclusion, the door to Serenity’s room bursts open, revealing a very angry Rosco and Denali.
“Uh oh.” I whisper, realizing that things were taking a turn. “It seems that someone tipped off Daddy.”