Chapter 4 The Lowly Substitute
A sharp slap cracked through the living room. Leanna's head snapped to the side. She screamed, clutching her instantly swollen cheek.
"What the hell are you doing!" Kieran roared.
He stormed forward, grabbed Serena by the shoulders, and shoved her hard.
Serena lost her balance. Crashed to the floor. Her elbow slammed against the coffee table edge. A dull thud.
Kieran paid her no attention. He turned and pulled Leanna into his arms. Gently stroked her reddened cheek.
Then he looked back at Serena on the floor. Eyes like ice.
"You'd better know your place, Lena." Kieran ground out the words through his teeth. "Don't forget who pulled you out of those rogues' claws."
"I gave you your life. I've kept you around for five years—even if you were nothing but a toy to me. I could snap your neck right now and you should still be grateful."
He let out a short, cold laugh. "Listen up. If Leanna gets so much as a scratch because of you—if she loses a single hair—I'll throw you out of the pack and dump you in the back hills. Where the Omegas can have their way with you."
The Omegas in the back hills were the lowest-ranking wolves in the pack. Most had never been near the opposite sex. Being thrown to that pack would be a fate worse than death for Serena.
Serena pushed herself slowly off the floor. Stood up. Silently watched the man she had loved for five whole years.
She had once believed Kieran saved her out of kindness. Now she saw him clearly. Just a selfish, brutal abuser.
"Kieran... don't be like this..." Leanna pressed herself weakly against him. Her voice a deliberate whimper. "I'm sure Lena didn't mean it... my leg really hurts... I don't think I can stand..."
Serena ignored her poor acting.
She reached down. Carefully picked up the broken pieces of the pocket watch. The shattered glass. The bent face. One by one.
Sharp fragments sliced into her fingertips. Blood dripped to the floor. She didn't flinch. She collected every last piece and slipped them into her coat pocket.
She stood. Brushed the dust from her knees.
"Since your precious girlfriend's leg hurts so much she can't stand, you should carry her to the car. Get to the hospital." Serena's voice was flat. "As for me—don't trouble yourself, your highness."
All she wanted right now was to get them both out. Escape this suffocating place. She couldn't stand another second.
Leanna started to say something. But Kieran had already swept her up in his arms. He shot Serena one last look—a warning—then carried Leanna down the stairs. Without another word.
Seconds later, the car sped off. Disappeared from sight.
Serena stood alone in the wrecked living room. Outside, two bright headlights suddenly flared in the street.
Then her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Derek.
She answered. A low, steady voice came through.
"Get your things. Get in the black car outside. Leave now."
Serena hung up. Grabbed the bag she'd already packed. Walked out without looking back. Climbed into the back seat of the SUV.
"Take me to the watch repair shop downtown," she told the driver.
Thirty minutes later, an old watchmaker studied the broken pieces under a magnifying glass.
Serena held her breath. To her relief, he nodded. He could restore it. Good as new.
She paid the deposit and walked out.
The watch could be fixed. But what happened today wasn't something a single slap could settle.
The following afternoon.
Serena returned to the shop as agreed. Picked up the fully restored pocket watch.
She tucked it into her pocket and turned the corner—and walked straight into Kieran and his group.
Kieran was in front. Leanna holding his arm. Beside them was Kieran's mother, Samantha Thorne. Several bodyguards trailed behind with an air of arrogance.
Samantha spotted Serena immediately. She stepped forward. Chin raised. Blocked her path.
"Look what we have here—lurking around like a stray wolf." Samantha looked Serena up and down. Made no effort to hide her contempt. "Were you following my son?"
"You're a homeless orphan who can't survive without clinging to a man. You have no business setting foot in Sawyer Pack territory. You're disgusting."
Kieran stood to the side. Hands in his pockets. Saying nothing. Silently letting his mother tear Serena apart.
He curved his lips slightly. Waiting for Serena to bow her head. Apologize. Back down. Like she always had.
Leanna stepped in with a carefully sweet tone. "Mrs. Sawyer, don't be too hard on her. She's already pitiful enough."
Then she turned to Serena with a theatrical sigh. "But Lena, you hit me in front of everyone yesterday. Kieran was generous enough not to make an issue of it—and you just walked out in a huff?"
"If Kieran were my savior, I'd spend my whole life serving him in this pack out of gratitude. The way you're acting is honestly heartbreaking."
Serena met all of them with a steady gaze. Spine straight. Not giving an inch.
"I'll admit it—Kieran did save my life." She looked directly into his eyes. Voice clear and calm. "But I didn't stay in Mistfir Vale for five years out of gratitude."
She took a slow breath. "I stayed because I loved him. But five years was enough time to see exactly what he is—a liar. He doesn't deserve any more of my heart."
She turned to Leanna with a cold smile. "The trash I threw away myself—only someone like you would pick it up and treat it like treasure."
Then her eyes moved to Samantha. "And you, Mrs. Sawyer—you accuse me of clinging to a man. But aren't you the one using your son's Alpha status to push people around?"
"If you're so capable, try leaving the Sawyer Pack and living on your own for a single day."
"Enough!"
Kieran's voice cut through sharply. The way Serena stood there—sharp and fearless—made his skin crawl.
She used to be quiet. Compliant. Barely raised her voice. Now every word she said was a jab. She refused to give any ground.
"You look pathetic right now, Lena." He pointed at her. Voice dripping with scorn. "What is this? Some kind of act to get my attention? Are you jealous?"
"You were nothing but a stand-in—replaceable at any moment. You have no right to be jealous of Leanna."
A small, satisfied smile crossed Leanna's lips.
She rose onto her toes. Leaned close to Kieran's ear. Murmured something only he could hear.
The sneer on Kieran's face went rigid.
He turned his head slowly. Fixed his gaze on Serena—heavy, crushing, like he was looking down at something beneath him entirely.
