Chapter 5: Serena Setter

Serena Setter

“Where, in The Goddesses name, did you come from?” a male voice drawled.

I jumped at the sound of it. I was in the Craven family foyer, standing before their grand staircase. Darien Craven was right behind me, wearing an Armani suit, and looking exasperated. He looked a lot like his brother. Jet black hair, and grey eyes. There was no mistaking a Craven. Handsome, rich, and powerful. Sometimes charming, depending on which one you were talking too. Darien, I had yet to see be charming.

I blushed. I was still only in my pink robe from The Revealing. “My mom sent me here.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you supposed to be at your Revealing ceremony? My obnoxious brother wouldn’t shut up about it all week. I thought you two would f*ck on the floor of the forest once you found out.”

I frowned. “We’re…it…. he’s not…”

“Get the words out, Serena.”

“Damien’s not my mate.”

“Oh.” Darien looked alarmed. “Damien’s not going to like that. You know how he is when he doesn’t get his way. Are you sure that you want to be here now?”

I shrugged. “I know. And my mom sent me here, so…”

“Who is the lucky b*stard then?” Darien asked.

I bit my lip. “Macon Forrester.”

To my complete surprise, Darien walked over and squeezed my shoulder. It was the only sign of affection I’d ever seen him give anyone. “I’m sorry, kid,” he whispered.

I glanced up at him. “Does this have to do with you?”

Darien frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Eden. Eden’s Revealing was weird, everyone knows that. It happened before she was eighteen and you haven’t exactly made it a secret that you’re not happy about being with her.”

He sighed. “I don’t mean to come off that way…”

“Well, you could be nicer to her,” I said pointedly.

He grimaced. “I know. There are things going on, Serena, that I can’t tell anyone. If I did, I would ruin my whole family. Frankly, I’m glad my sh*t brother isn’t your soulmate. I don’t want to imagine what he’d do to you if you were his.”

“But----”

The doorbell rang then. I looked up at Darien. I didn’t even have to pretend I didn’t know who it was, and neither did he. I had sensed Macon before he’d even stepped foot on the property. A kind of ache that had started in my heart as soon as he neared.

“Please,” I begged him. “Don’t answer it.”

“Sorry, kid,” he said. “You know how this works.”

He went to the door, and opened it.

“Darien,” Macon growled. “I know she’s here. Imogen told me. Please don’t make this difficult.”

Darien ran a hand through his hair. “I wouldn’t dream of it. She’s all yours, Alpha Macon.”

Macon nodded. He pushed past my best friend’s mate, and into the foyer where I stood. “Serena.”

“Macon,” I whispered, so softly I wasn’t even sure he’d heard it. But then, he did have werewolf senses, so probably.

“I don’t want to cause a scene, but I need you to come with me. You know that.” He held out his hand to me. It was big, and rough, and scarred. Nothing at all like Damien’s, who I knew played piano with his, and used to hold mine as we would walk to school.

Reluctantly, I took it.

Macon locked eyes with me, and his normally brown eyes glowed a brilliant yellow that happened right before a werewolf shifted. He transformed into a silver wolf right before my eyes. He was so big; he nearly filled the foyer. He bent down, a gesture for me to climb on top of him.

I had seen werewolves do this with their mates before. It was a sign of respect. I gripped onto his fur, and then I pulled myself up on top of him. He stood, and then made his way through the mansion doors and we rode off into the forest.

While the witches and other creatures, like vampires and sirens and faeries lived in town, the wolves lived in the forest, on the outskirts. I had never been to the packs' home and had no idea what to expect. Witches were only called there if there was an emergency, and usually it was my mom that went.

As we made our way through the woods, we came to the top of a mountain after what seemed like hours. It overlooked the whole town. And there, on top of it, was a large hunting lodge, that seemed to go on forever.

Macon bent down, so that I could get off of him. He shifted into his human form again. “Welcome home, mate,” he said. “Follow me.”

And though I had every urge to run, for the good of my people, I followed him inside. The minute we went in, I could sense the werewolves that filled the place. They were all in what appeared to be a large living room, complete with a stone fireplace. Those that weren’t were on the second floor, peering down at us.

Macon looked at his pack. “I have a mate,” he said, and then he gestured to me.

Everyone was silent. I didn’t know what to expect. Was this the part where the wolves ripped me to shreds because they knew bad things were coming? After a moment though, a man with short, brown hair and brown eyes stepped forward. He patted Macon on the shoulder, and squeezed mine. Then he let out a cheer, and the others followed suit.

The pack approved. That was something, I supposed. Of course, the real question was, would my coven? And, did I even approve of it?

Macon glanced at me. Before I knew what happening, he picked me up, put me over his shoulder, and started carrying me to Goddess knows where.

“Macon---what----what are you----PUT ME DOWN!” I screeched and hit him as he carried me wherever he was taking me.

And I did get put down.

On a bed, with him towering over me.