\[Serenity’s POV\]
My eyes widen with shock as I watch my parents make their way into my room, but what’s more shocking than their sudden appearance was what I just heard Eleanor say.
Someone tipped off daddy.
Frowning, I tear my gaze from my parents and take in the tiny girl sitting on my bed. To my surprise, she is ill-at-ease, and if I dared to say, I would say that she was even amused by what she was seeing.
‘How?’ I whisper, wondering how she was certain that those were my parents. ‘How did she know?’
‘She has been strange since the first day she approached you.’ Mahogany responds, showing little interest in Eleanor. ‘And she isn’t the person you should be worried about.’
“Serenity.”
My father’s voice is harsh, and I know that he definitely knows the secret I was keeping from him, but who was the one who told him?
Feeling my anger spike, I turn my gaze to Tristan, who is standing with his tweezers mid-air while taking in the scene. Was he the one who told them, or was it...
“Sorry.”
I don’t need to wonder too hard, as Uncle William appears from behind my parents with a look that screams he isn’t sorry.
“Why?” I demand, my anger spiking. “Why did you tell them when I trusted you?”
“Because keeping secrets isn’t the right way to handle things.” Uncle William responds easily. “Do you know what could come from doing that?”
I don’t respond immediately, as I know that he wasn’t looking for an answer to his question.
“I’m sorry.” I murmur, feeling a wave of defeat. “I know I should have told all of you, but...”
“BUT NOTHING!” My father roars, his eyes flashing a dangerous gold. “DO YOU KNOW HOW FUCKING STUPID WHAT YOU DID WAS?”
“Rosco!” My mother scolds, grabbing his arm.
“No, Denali,” my father snaps. “She needs to know what danger she puts not only herself but all these children in. What if someone figured things out?”
Shivering, I try not to think of what could happen. Looking down, I let my gaze rest on the serpent mark that races from the top of my hand to my mid forearm.
“I’m sorry.” I repeat, having nothing else to say.
“Sorry won’t make up for this, Serenity.” My father snaps before turning his gaze toward Tristan. “And you,” he continues, causing Tristan to jump and begin to deflate. “Why the hell are you here? Were you in on this too?”
For a moment, Tristan doesn’t respond as he begins to become finicky, making it clear that he wants to flee my father’s anger, but that much is more than enough to make it clear he knows.
“Fuck,” my father growls, running a hand through his hair. “And you,” he snarls, fixing his rage filled gaze on Maverick. “You wanted to desperately be her guard because you knew too.”
“Yes.” Maverick responds unapologetically. “What about it?”
At his words, a growl of warning escapes my father, but before anyone can say anything further, Uncle William steps between us, taking the place of the mediator.
“I think,” he begins, looking from Maverick to my father. “Instead of blowing up on everyone here, you should listen to Serenity’s reasoning.”
Remaining silent, I wait as my father works to reign in the anger that he is feeling. When he finally lets out a frustrated huff and nods, I feel a wave of relief rush through me.
“Come with me.” He says, turning and beginning to make his way out of the room. “This doesn’t need to be discussed in front of so many outsiders.”
Flinching, I turn my gaze to the others who remain in place, looking shocked, except Eleanor. Instead of being shocked, she looks annoyed and even amused, and when our gazes meet, I can almost hear her voice saying it’s going to be okay in my head.
Nodding, I begin to follow my father out of the room and toward the hall, where a few of the students are standing in their doorways, hoping to get some good gossip.
“Stared enough?” My father snaps, not giving two shits if they were just teens. “Get back inside.”
Ignoring the stares and snickers that follow, I continue to follow my father until we reach my Uncle William’s office. Once we are inside, I wait as he takes a seat and then motions for me to do the same.
“Now,” he announces when I’m in place. “What the hell were you thinking, Serenity?”
“I wasn’t.” I respond immediately. “I was just…”
Goddess, this was hard. I already knew that he wouldn’t give a damn about my reasons for not telling him or Mom about my blood. Even I knew that I was being selfish, and because of that, Eleanor was now involved along with three other rogues.
“I was already being ostracized because I’m a female alpha heir.” I continue lamely. “I didn’t want to be shunned even more because you locked me away in the packhouse and kept me from the world.”
“So you thought not telling us was the best way to go about this?” My father aks, letting out a sigh. “We wouldn’t have done that.”
“You would!” I counter. “You’ve already treated me like a porcelain doll because of the curse on our family, and if you knew that my blood would turn wolves into humans, you really would have kept a tight leash on me.”
All I wanted since the day I learned of the curse that surrounded me and my family and what others went through to protect me was to be normal. I wanted to be able to walk around freely with no worries and then take over as alpha. I didn’t want to continue to be treated like I was some walking and talking disease that everyone was afraid of touching.
“For good reason.” My father says, drawing me back to reality. “Do you know what could happen if the wrong person figured out about you?”
“I know!” I huff. “But you wouldn’t have to worry about that.”
“And why wouldn’t I?” He demands.
“Because…” I begin, but stop as I realize this would bring Tristan into things. “Because you should trust me to be able to properly keep this secret.”
“Properly keep it.” He chuckles. “How has that been working out for you?”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue as my anger spikes due to what my father has just said to me, but I knew that he had a point.
“I’ll be more careful.” I say. “Just please let me finish my final term here.”
I would be graduating come spring, and then I could begin to learn the ins and outs of being an alpha for Emerald Moon. How could I possibly let my parents drag me home when I already made it this far?
“I don’t know.” My father murmurs, looking slightly defeated. “Others have already found out about you, and it is only a matter of time before they spread things.”
“They wouldn’t.” I say, though I still had my doubts about Eleanor. Something about her was odd, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was bugging me about her. “And Uncle William is here to help with things.” I push. “Or do you not trust him to help protect me?”
I knew it was a low blow to use my uncle against my father, but I was desperate. I was so close to graduating. I didn’t want to be yanked back to Emerald Moon; it wouldn’t look good on me or even my family.
“Serenity,” my father says, causing me to flinch. “I can't, in good faith, let you stay here any longer.”
Eyes widening, I slowly watch my greatest fear come to life. No! If I let my parents take me home now, I was certain that I would never be able to go out freely.
“Please don’t do this to me!” I gasp, feeling like a caged animal. “I’m sorry I kept it from you, but I’ve got things under control, and Maverick is with me!”
“He won’t be any longer.” My father says, his gaze narrowing. “He also has been lying to me this whole time, and because of that, I don't plan to keep him beside you.”
Gasping, I jump up before I even know what I’m doing and realize too late that I acted too rashly, alerting my dad to how I felt.
Cursing myself, I try to calm down, but the thought of not having Maverick beside me after his being my constant companion for the last three years leaves me feeling empty.
“Serenity,” my father says slowly, his voice cold.
“Yes, sir?” I squeak already knowing what is coming next.
“Is there something going on between the two of you?”