Chapter 3 The Coming-of-Age Gift from Mother

Serena pulled her hand from her pocket. A receipt pinched between her fingers. The logo of a high-end boutique printed at the top.

She slapped it down on the bar. Right in front of Kieran.

"Read the cardholder's name. And the amount. Carefully, Kieran."

"Fifty thousand dollars. Paid in full. By me."

The people around them naturally leaned in. Their smiles froze.

The necklace was real. And it cost a fortune.

Leanna's expression flickered. But she recovered fast. Painted on her innocent look again.

"Oh my God, Kieran. How could Lena possibly have fifty thousand dollars? For a necklace?"

"Do you think she's been... doing something behind your back? You know how it is. Plenty of rich older men go for girls like her."

"You sold yourself behind my back?" Kieran's voice exploded. "Just to show off in front of me? Just to buy some expensive necklace? You went and hooked up with another man? That's disgusting."

Nearby, Colin let out a low whistle. Kieran's Beta. "Knew it. She's just an Omega. This is exactly the kind of cheap trick they pull. For attention. Pathetic."

"Exactly. She's nothing compared to Leanna."

The flattery pleased Leanna. She kept her face neutral though. She reached out. Touched Kieran's sleeve.

"Kieran, don't be too hard on her. Lena probably just needed the money. Or she was desperate for your attention. For my sake—can everyone just let it go?"

"You're so kind, Leanna."

Kieran took her hand in his. Then turned to Serena. Contempt in his eyes. "Lena, get out. Now. You've completely humiliated me."

Smack.

A sharp slap. Out of nowhere. Snapped Kieran's head to the side.

He was the Alpha of the Sawyer Pack. In this territory, no one had ever dared lay a hand on him. Least of all Serena. She'd always been quiet. Obedient.

Kieran turned his head slowly. Disbelief on his face. "Lena... you hit me?"

"Yes, you idiot. I did."

"Listen to me, Kieran. I'm not getting dumped. I'm walking away. You're arrogant. You're vain. And you make me sick."

Kieran grabbed her arm. "You crazy woman, take that back! You think you can openly defy your own mate?"

"You were never my mate."

Serena swung again. Hit the other side of his face. Just as hard.

While Kieran stood there stunned, she wrenched herself free. Walked straight out. Didn't look back.

Thirty minutes later, Serena was back at the house. The one she'd shared with Kieran for five years.

She dragged out her suitcase. Started throwing her clothes in.

She couldn't stand being in this suffocating place. Not for another second.

When she pulled open the bottom drawer of the wardrobe to grab her passport, something caught her eye.

A storage box. Kieran had told her once that it held confidential pack documents. Strictly off-limits to everyone. But the latch was open. He must have forgotten to close it.

Serena lifted the lid.

No pack secrets inside. The box was packed with photos of Leanna. Along with the photos: a stack of handwritten love letters. A half-used lipstick. A set of black lace lingerie. Leanna's size.

"I really was such a fool." Serena muttered to herself. Moved faster now.

But when she checked the nightstand. And her jewelry box. She froze.

It was gone.

The Lunarglow Heirloom. The gift her mother had given her the year her wolf awakened. She was fourteen then. The one piece she still had left of her parents. The thing she had clutched to her chest even when a rogue wolf attacked her. Nearly killed her.

Gone.

She searched every corner of the house. Nothing.

Maybe I left it at the restaurant yesterday. Or somewhere else.

Serena forced herself to stay calm. There was nothing here but pain. She had to leave first. She could look for the watch later.

Late that night.

Kieran walked in. Leanna on his arm. Fresh bite marks still visible on his neck.

"Once I'm officially the Luna of the Sawyer Pack, I want to gut this whole place and redecorate." Leanna nestled against him. "I want every trace of that woman gone."

"Whatever you want, baby."

Kieran pushed open the door. Stopped. The house felt hollow. He walked into the bedroom. His brow tightened.

The wardrobe was half-empty. Every skincare product Serena kept on the vanity was gone.

She had actually left.

He paced the room. Restless. Then something came back to him.

Yesterday, Leanna had been bored. To keep her entertained, he'd snuck the pocket watch out. While Serena was asleep. Let Leanna play with it.

Kieran took out his phone. Called Serena.

It rang for a long time before she picked up.

"What do you want?" Her voice was cold.

"Getting a little bold, aren't you, Lena."

"Looking for that watch of yours? I've got it."

"Kieran, you bastard." Fury in her voice. Unmistakable.

"You've got twenty minutes. Come get it now. Every second after that, I move closer to throwing it in the fireplace."

Fifteen minutes later, Serena burst through the front door. Out of breath.

Kieran was sprawled on the sofa. Leanna curled up in his lap.

The pocket watch. The one Serena would have died to protect. Dangling carelessly from Leanna's fingers.

"Give it back." Serena crossed the room. Held out her hand. "Give it back to me."

"Relax." Leanna tossed it up. Caught it. Smiling. "Kieran, this thing is ancient. Looks like something dug out of a trash heap. She actually treats this junk like it's precious?"

"Leanna. I'm warning you. Don't mess with it."

Terrified Leanna might drop it, Serena heard her own voice go soft. Despite herself.

"Want it back?" Leanna glanced at Kieran. Sighed with exaggerated reluctance. "Fine. I'll give it back. But you're not even going to ask nicely?"

She held the watch out by its chain. Extended it toward Serena.

Serena reached for it immediately. Her fingertips were almost there.

Leanna let go.

The watch hit the floor hard. The glass face shattered.

Serena dropped to her knees. No second thought. Reached for the pieces.

But Leanna was faster. She raised her foot. Still in her heels. Brought it down directly onto the watch. Ground it into the floor.

"Oops. So sorry." She looked down at Serena kneeling on the ground. Her smile wide. Shameless. "My hands are just so slippery."

Serena stared at the wreckage scattered across the floor. The broken glass. The scattered parts. This was the last thing she had of her mother. The thing that had carried her through every dark moment she'd ever survived.

It was gone.

This hurt worse than being killed. Far worse.

She was done pretending to be someone who just took it.

Serena stood up slowly. Raised her hand. No hesitation. Slapped Leanna across that vicious face. As hard as she could.