Chapter 3 Derek's Betrayal

Serena.

My heart thudded in my chest as I stared at Derek, my hands that cupped my cheek came away bloodstained.

My eyes were still wide in disbelief. Derek slapped me? I stared at him, shock washing over me. My eyes swept over him, his strong slender hands that once cupped my cheeks now the weapon he used to inflict pain.

But only the pain hadn't come from his hands, his words were much worse. My eyes blurred with tears as his words echoed in my head at that moment. I was useless, good for nothing... and naive.

"Take that back, Derek," I sobbed and I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand.

"Or what?" Derek scoffed, and he took a step forward. His threatening gaze pierced through me, "There's nothing you can do," a cold smile tugged at his lips.

"You..." Hot tears of pain and humiliation streamed down my face. This was all my fault! I had been such a fool to believe that anyone.. or worse, someone as handsome and talented as Derek could ever love someone like me. He'd used me.

I couldn't stand there any longer, I could feel the last threads of my sanity snapping.

"I hate you, Derek," my voice cracked, exposing the deep pain I felt. With one last look at his cold face, I turned to leave. I didn't want anything to ever do with him or love, ever again!

"Winds of change are going to blow Serena, and I'll be at the center of it," Derek's harsh voice filled the air as he stared at me with scorn in his eyes.

But I wasn't listening, I immediately rushed past him before he could stop me. I rushed toward the exit, ignoring the pitiful stares that shot my way. All I wanted to do was get home.

I'd just gotten out the door when I bumped into someone, I almost stumbled but a pair of hands held my shoulders, steadying me.

Two dark pools of grey stared at me. "Are you alright?" His hand traced the bruise Derek's slap had left and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Who did this to you?"

"Please," my voice hitched in my throat and I shook my head without answering him. There was nothing he could do to help me. I ran past him before he could try to stop me again.

The dam burst as I slipped into the car, my fingers shook as I hurriedly locked the doors, fearing Derek would come after me.

I rested my head on the steering and let the painful sobs tear out of my throat. My whole body shook with the force of my cries.

My chest felt heavy with the weight of my tears, but finally, my tear ducts dried up. I stared at my reflection in the rearview mirror, my eyes were swollen with dark circles underneath. I could already imagine Susan's cold gaze by the time I got home.

The thought had barely crossed my mind when my cell phone buzzed suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. My eyes widened as I stared at the screen.

20 missed calls from St. Louise hospital, and a text that'd just come in from Susan, my stepmother.

"Your Father's just been admitted to the hospital. He's in critical condition..."

My breath hitched in my throat and the cell phone fell. Daddy?

I switched the car on immediately, my heart thudding in my chest. "Nothing's going to happen, Father," I whispered, silently praying. Within moments I'd put the car in drive and I was on the way, heading towards the hospital. Susan had mentioned the name in the text.

My phone buzzed again, and Susan's name flashed across the screen. I picked up immediately and my hands tightened around the steering wheel. Susan never called me, seeing her call filled me with a sense of dread.

"Hello?" My heart lurched along with the movements of the car as I moved from side to side, overtaking cars on the way. I could get a speeding ticket but I couldn't care less at this moment.

"Serena. Where are you?" Susan snapped, her tone was murderous. "I've been calling."

"I'm on my way to the hospital. How's father?" I asked, my hands holding the steering were sweaty.

There was a slight pause on the line before she finally spoke, her voice was cold. "He suffered a sudden seizure. The doctors say he has a ten percent chance of surviving it."

"What!" I whispered as I felt a shiver run through me, I unconsciously pressed my foot harder on the gas, increasing my speed.

I and my father might have never been close, but he was still the only living family I had in the pack and I loved him despite everything. I didn't want anything bad to happen to him.

"What happened?" I asked, my mind racing with thoughts. How could a father suddenly have a seizure, werewolves were immune to most diseases. Something wasn't adding up.

"You even dare to ask? You're the cause of all this, don't play smart with me you damn little bitch." Susan burst into profanities as she cursed at me over the line. "Don't you know already? Haven't you heard the news?"

I frowned in confusion. "What news?" What was going on? My mind spun with questions and thoughts as I tried to wrap my mind around her words.

A loud car horn snapped me out of my daze and I hurriedly turned the steering, narrowly evading the car by inches. My heart lept to my throat and I broke out in cold sweat. I sat up, more watchful as I reduced my speed. The cell phone was still pressed to my ear with my free hand

Susan continued speaking, her voice becoming colder by the second. "This is all your fault, Serena, we warned you but you wouldn't listen. And now?" Her cold voice sent chills down my spine. " Now your father is going to die because of your foolishness." She hissed.

My heart stopped at that moment and thoughts rushed through my mind. What was she saying? She wasn't making any sense. Father had a heart attack? What was going on? I felt cold hands of fear wrap around my heart.

"Su– mother, I don't know what you're talki-"I began but she cut me off.

"Your father lost everything, Serena!" She snarled, her patience on the verge of collapse. "They've stripped him of his position."

"How..." I gaped, my eyes widening as the weight of the news hit me, I swiftly swerved to the curb, slowly grinding to a halt.

"He is no longer the Alpha," Susan's voice choked with emotion but she continued. "We are going bankrupt, we have over fifty million in debt, everything we have worked all our lives for is crashing down, and it's all your fault!"

Her hit me like a slap, the accusation clear in her tone. But what made matters worse, was that I didn't know what she was even talking about.

"I..." I began but the line went dead as Susan ended the call. My heart lurched in my chest as Susan's words echoed in my head.

This was bad.