\[Serenity’s POV\]
My eyes widen as panic rushes through me over the question my father has just asked me. Dammit, I really did go and fuck up this time, and I was certain that if I didn’t give him a good enough answer, he would take Maverick away from me and put someone else in his place.
“Serenity,” my father huffs when I don’t respond. “Answer my question.”
“We,” I begin, trying to think of what the proper response here is. “We’re…”
Swallowing, I try to come up with a term that would describe what Maverick and I were. I couldn’t say that we were more than friends, but our connection was also something deeper.
Was he my charge because I was the reason he was how he is now? Was he my closest confidante? No. Even my heart told me that wasn’t the case.
‘You like him.’ Mahogany murmurs, causing my heart rate to kick up. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’
Like? Did I like Maverick? Up until recently, I didn’t think much about our connection, but I couldn’t deny that when he touched me or looked at me in a certain way, I got a strange feeling.
“Serenity,” my father repeats, his voice more stern. “If you don’t answer my question, then I will consider this conversation ov…”
“He’s my mate!”
The words are leaving my lips before I can even truly consider them, but once they’re out in the world, I find that it feels almost right. But by the look that begins to form on my father’s face, I know that he thinks the opposite.
“Mates,” he repeats, his voice cold. “Did you just use the word mates?”
“I did.” I respond slowly, knowing that I couldn’t take them back now that they were out there. “Maverick is my mate.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. Serenity what the hell are you doing?
I knew that my father wouldn’t take this easily, especially given the way Maverick came crashing into all our lives and his unknown background. Even I knew as an alpha heir, having someone like that beside me would make it harder for my pack to trust me, but I didn’t care. I trusted Maverick completely, and that was the thing that mattered the most.
“I was waiting until I graduated to tell you and mom.” I continue now, latching onto my lie. “But now it is out in the open.”
Growing quiet, I wait as my father examines me, clearly searching for a sign that I’m lying to him, and when he doesn’t find it, he leans back in his chair and lets out a long sigh.
“Fuck,” he growls, seeming defeated. “I don’t think I have to tell you what kind of trouble you’ll be facing in the future because of this.”
“I know.” I say softly. “But I’m willing to face it for him.”
What the hell was I saying? I would face trouble for a man who only thought of me as his savior and his charge. I was certain that when I told him the bullshit I was spewing to my father, he would be the first to insist that we tell the truth.
“But just because you’ve told me this doesn’t mean that I won’t bring you back to Emerald Moon to finish your final semester here.”
“What?” I gasp, my panic growing. “But…”
“You’re still a liability.” My father points out, leaning forward once more. “What if you accidentally got hurt and someone touched your blood? You could end up turning the child of a prominent family into a into a human. If that were to happen, I don’t think I would be able to save our family's reputation or name.”
“But there’s a way to suppress it!” I announce before I can think.
“A way to suppress it.” My father repeats slowly. “Did I just hear you correctly?”
Cursing myself internally, I send up a silent apology to Tristan, but I couldn’t be dragged back to Emerald Moon.
“That’s right.” I respond slowly. “Someone created a serum for me to take monthly that keeps the part of my blood that removes the werewolf gene from being present.”
I’m sorry, Tristan. I think again as understanding begins to form in my father’s eyes.
“Someone,” he repeats, a look of annoyance forming on his face. “Do I happen to know this someone?”
“Yeah.”
“Excuse me.” He announces, standing up and beginning to move.
Yelping in shock, I begin to move, following behind him as he storms out of Uncle William’s office and beelines straight for my dorm, where the one he is after is oblivious to his pursuit.
“Dad!” I yell when we reach our destination. “Please, don’t!”
Reaching out, I try to stop him from what he is about to do, but it’s already too late, and he is kicking open the door, then entering while all those present watch.
“TRISTAN RUN!” I call as my father’s gaze turns straight toward Tristan. “GET OUT OF HERE!”
“What?” Tristan manages before my father reaches out and grabs his shirt.
“You fucking knew and lied to me!” My father roars, lifting Tristan from his feet. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“Rosco!” My mother snaps as Tristan gives me a pleading look. “RELEASE HIM NOW!”
Wincing, I try to ignore the harshness in my mother’s voice as she tries to reign in my father’s rage.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She continues, moving forward and prying Tristan free. “Come with me this instant.”
My father doesn’t get the chance to say a word before my mother grabs him by the ear and pulls him away while the rest simply watch. It is only when they are out of view and I can hear the rise and fall of my mother’s voice that I find Maverick and rush toward him.
“What’s going on?” He asks before I can speak.
“Come with me.” I announce, grabbing his hand and starting to pull. “I need to discuss something with you.”
Maverick doesn’t argue as I lead him to his room and then close the door behind us. It is only when I turn to face him that he gives me a look that screams, Explain.
“First,” I begin, knowing that he isn’t going to be happy with what I’m going to say. “Know that I did this for you.”
“For me.” He repeats, raising a brow. “And what exactly did you do for me? And why?”
“My father was going to find me a different guard and drag me back to Emerald Moon.” I continue, praying that Maverick will help me make my lie look real. “And I panicked, so I told him that you were my mate.”
Growing quiet, I wait as Maverick processes what I’ve just told him, and when his normal stoic expression begins to shift to shock, I know that I’ve really gone and done it.
“You what?” He asks slowly, making it clear he didn’t quite believe what I told him. “Repeat that.”
“I told him that you’re my mate and...”
“SERENITY AND MAVERICK, GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE NOW!”