Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance-Chapter 84 - EIGHTY THREE - SURPRISE VISIT

Serena sat perched on the window sill, brushing through her hair with slow, thoughtful strokes. The bristles tugged gently at the ends, smoothing away sleep from her eyes. She sighed and looked at the early morning sun rising in the sky. A few people paraded the grounds, she assumed they were guards of the castle.

She pressed the wooden brush beneath her chin, eyes narrowing slightly. There were too few people for a place this grand. The castle puzzled her. It seemed like overkill for werewolves, and Darius was always cooped up in here.

It was so high and massive, almost impenetrable. For a pack that seemed to hold the arts in high esteem, it was very closed off, as if bound by iron chains.

A breeze swept in through the window, tugging playfully at her nightgown and lifting the hem to her knee. She shivered, then gave her hair one last pass before hopping down from the sill. The stone floor was cold beneath her bare feet.

Her clothes had been tidily arranged in the wardrobe while she was away. A knock on the door, and Serena crossed the room to answer it, half-expecting it to be Darius.

"Serena," said the voice.

Serena’s lips curled down immediately. It was Livia. She pulled the door open and stood behind it.

Livia wordlessly walked in, and Serena pushed the door back in its place, purposefully leaving a crack open. If there was an argument, then she hoped someone would walk in.

"Livia," Serena said, returning the greeting.

Livia walked to the middle of the room and looked around, as though she was searching for something to criticise. Serena stood awkwardly by the door; every meeting with this woman had always left her in a worse mood.

She wished she had come later in the afternoon, not so early in the morning. Serena waited until she spoke before she would say anything.

"Have you been with Darius... he smells different," Livia began.

Serena’s upper lip twitched slightly. She blinked slowly and then spoke.

"He has been by my side for a while now, yes," she replied, tone even. "We just returned from Fincus."

Livia eyed Serena, slightly angling her neck to the side. A beat of silence passed, and Livia shook her head. "I see."

That was it? "I see"? Serena remained rooted to her spot, looking over the woman like she was seeing her for the first time. It must have bothered Livia to this point to have to see her so early on.

"Silas did not eat you alive, or Alexander did not leave you to stumble?" Livia asked, more to herself than to Serena.

Serena ignored what she said about Silas...but Alexander? He was nothing but polite and eager, except for when she asked about the former Alpha and Luna. Serena pressed her lips into a thin line. What an odd place...

"I didn’t quite get that," Serena said, watching Livia’s face.

The woman flicked her hand in the air like she was brushing away a gnat. "Never mind about that."

Livia’s gaze drifted upward. Her lips pressed together in a grimace, as if the very idea of what she was about to say offended her palate.

"I would like to speak to you."

Serena released her hands slowly and then bit her lip, thinking over Livia’s words. It was random, but she was willing to talk to Livia.

"That is fine... about what?" Serena asked.

Livia clenched and unclenched her fists, nails digging into her palms before releasing. Her chest rose and fell sharply with a breath she hadn’t meant to take so loudly.

"Could you step closer," she said, her voice quieter now, "so you can hear me better?"

Serena hesitated, then nodded. "I’m sorry." She moved forward, keeping a deliberate distance between them.

The interaction unnerved Serena, but she steeled her resolve and looked into her eyes, never breaking eye contact.

Livia looked at her feet, then looked at Serena. "The delegate from Dawnbreak will be arriving any day now. I know you have been hanging around Darius to get accustomed to the pack and act like you are not a rogue."

Serena frowned. It was getting tiring at this point. "Yes, I am aware of the delegate."

Livia closed her eyes briefly and exhaled, like she was trying her hardest not to speak about something.

"I am sure you know Dawnbreak is a cardinal pack, and from common sense and deduction, you would know that the delegate is coming in to do trade talks."

Serena crossed her arms. She never got to ask Darius why the talks could not wait until next year or at least until after the storm. Ah, it would mean that there were other paths for the delegate to take if they were to come to Ironshade. ƒreewebɳovel.com

She remembered Emmett telling her they were only taking a shortcut through Lupine Hollow and then got ambushed.

"I understand, but what are you driving at?" Serena asked.

"I am asking you to leave, please."

The room tilted, just slightly. Serena’s lips parted as though the breath had been knocked from her lungs. Her vision swam for a heartbeat, then steadied. Her mouth curled into something between a smile and a sneer.

What a curse to have something called hope. What was she expecting from none other than Livia?

Serena swiped her palm across her thumb like she was wiping dirt off.

"No."

Livia did a double take, and the look of shock nearly made Serena laugh. Her confidence had been building slowly. She felt important again, although the perceived importance was built on lies, it still felt real to Serena.

"What did you say?" Livia asked.

"No," Serena repeated, sharper this time. "I’m sorry. I can’t make that kind of decision without the input of your Alpha."

Livia threw her head back and laughed. It was the first real one Serena had heard from the woman, and it scared her.

"Apologies," Livia said mockingly. "How can I ask the ambassador of Crimsonclaw to get out of Ironshade without my Alpha’s permission?"

Livia shook her head and took a step closer to Serena and sighed. "You must leave."