“Mydy, bare /byou sure you don’t want to beat /bdinnerb? /bYou haven’t beaten /banything all day,” Serena asked worriedly bas /bshe watched me.

I frowned and shook my head, my thoughts ba /bjumbled mess bas /bbI /bbsat /bon the bed, trying to think straight.

Today bhad /bbeen nothing but chaos. Apparently, Kieran and Aria were chased out of the packhouse the moment Darius threw me over his shoulder like a rag doll and ran. They were warned never to bsee /bme again and if they did, they’d face the

consequencesb. /b

Which only made my chances of framing them seem even more out of reach.

And after what happened with Darius, bI /bstayed inside my room the entire day, refusing to step out. I had even shut my window tight since the man seemed to enjoying through there and asked Serena to always keep the door locked whether she was inside or out. I’d given her a spare key and told her I wanted only her toe in.

That’s how it had been. I ignored my father, Calen, and Benjamin, who had all tried their best to talk to me. Even Cassian and Drake had attempted to speak to me through the door, but I’d refused to see anyone, at least for today.

I needed to be alone. I needed to think.

“Mydy, how about I bring the meal up here? You don’t have to go downstairs to eat. I can bring it—”

“I’m not hungry, Serena. I promise, I’m really not. You don’t have to bring me anything. I just want to be alone right now and think… I have a lot on my mind,” I muttered, and I heard her quiet sigh of disappointment.

She’d been trying to get me to eat something all day, and while I appreciated the effort, I just wasn’t in the mood.

“Thank you,” I said, forcing a small smile as I reached out and held her hand. “And I’m sorry for what happened today. I really am… I didn’t mean to speak to you that way. You know you’re more than a servant to me, and I’m grateful that you

care.b” /b

Her eyes widened at my words, and I watched the way they trembled before she smiled softly, gently sping my hand as she lowered her head.

“I am but your humble servant, someone who should follow herdy’s orders. Please do not apologize. You are right, mydy, I have no right to question your decisions. My life is yours. If you asked me to give it up right now, I would.”

Her expression was serious, and it made me smile and shake my head. I knew she wasn’t joking. She meant every word but I didn’t want her to think that way anymore.

“Serena, your life is yours. It’s not mine, and it never will be,” I said as I stood from the bed. She looked up at me. “Your life bis /bprecious, and you should treasure it. Never give it up easily for anyone,not even me. Know that I value your life just as much as you value mine. So don’t ever make it easy to throw away. Do you understand?”

My voice bwas /bcalm as I watched her frown. But instead of protesting, like I expected, she gave a small nod and smiled.

“I understand, mydy,” she said.

I immediately rolled my eyes. I knew the only reason she agreed so easily was because she wanted me to drop the topic.

Sighing, I let bgo /bof her hand and returned to the bed, lying down and waving her off.

Chapter i57 /i

“You should go. Lock the bdoor /bon your way out and don’t bgive /bthe key to anyone. Goodnightb, /bbSerena/b,b” /bbI /bsaidb, /bturning to the other side bof /bthe bed bbefore /bshe could bring up food again.

Realizing bI /bwouldn’t beat /bno matter bwhat /bbshe /bbsaid/bb, /bbshe /bblet /bout a sigh and replied,

b“/bGoodnight, my bdy/b. Have a good brest/bb./b”

I heard her bfootsteps /bfade away momentster.

As soon bas /bthe sound of the door clicking shut reached my bears/b, my eyes snapped open and I rolled bover/b, wrapping my arms around my growling stomach as I stared up at the ceiling.

Damn it. I was really hungry.

“If you bwere/bb, /bthen why didn’t you eat when Serena asked?” She questioned, confused. “She even offered to bring the food bto /byour room.”

I scoffed and sat up straight on the bed.

b“/bThat’s bbecause /bwe deserve to starve for failing to kill Kieran and Aria. We were so close but we failed. So, we don’t deserve to eat,” I said in frustration.

She responded with a deadpan tone, “Who’s ‘we‘? Do you think I wanted to die with you in the first ce? We should be grateful we’re still alive especially since the Lycan King hasn’t rejected us!”

The moment I heard her words, I wanted nothing more than for her to materialize in front of me so I could smack the shit out of her. I wasn’t sure if she was just that dumb, or if she actually understood what was going on and chose to ignore it.

“Don’t be delusional,” I spat. “You know the only reason he hasn’t rejected us is because we’re a white wolf. So stop fooling yourself.”

I flopped back onto the bed.

Even though I knew Serena was keeping something from me, especially with how she didn’t want Darius to know who we really were, I hadn’t asked. I knew she wouldn’t tell me if I did, and honestly… I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

“I wonder if being a white wolf is really such a blessing,” I murmured under my breath, lost in thought. “That the only reason he hasn’t rejected me… is because of that.”

“But does it matter what the reason is?” She’s voice broke through my thoughts. “I mean, we’re still alive. Doesn’t that mean you still have time to get revenge on Kieran and Aria, without killing yourself?”

bI /blifted a brow but then closed my eyes, muttering under my breath as I slowly drifted to sleep.

“I guess you’re right… but being that man’s mate isn’t any better than being dead.”