The Alpha's Embrace

Poked a Bear

"That's right, I'm changing the subject because I don't want to discuss it." Serenity gave Serena a pointed look. The sisters stared into each other's eyes without another word.

Serena couldn't understand Serenity's train of thought. She could see that Serenity wasn't against mates, even encouraging her, Serena, to be with her mate even before meeting her mate. But this firm belief that she doesn't want a mate herself, where did this belief stem from?

While Jorah and she spoke about themselves, he told her what it was like growing up with Jared. Maybe Jorah looked at Jared through a rose-tinted glass, but from what he told her, Jared was a simple-minded person. Protective and straightforward. And in Jorah's own words, the smartest person he knew. Serena wanted to speak up for Jared, at least for Jorah's sake. But when she thought about it, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed. After all, a few hours ago, she was dead set on rejecting Jorah.

It felt hypocritical of her to try to convince her sister otherwise, but Serena couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with Serenity. Serenity was never a talkative person, but her silence bothered Serena. After giving it some thought, she decided to try to talk to Serenity in the morning.

"I'm going to get dinner started," Serena stood up while informing Serenity. "Steak and potatoes?"

Serenity nodded, "Mary's here. I'll talk to her. Go get dinner started." Serena looked down the driveway, and there was her aunt in Wolf form, casually walking up to the house. Serenity stood up and went to meet Mary halfway. The two mind linked each other, and Serenity took off her clothes and shifted.

'We'll be right back, Mary is staying for dinner.' Serenity informed Serena, who was still on the porch before the two walked into the forest together. They didn't go far from the house just further away from any ears. Serenity shifted into human form, and Mary followed.

Leaning up on a tree trunk, Serenity asked, "What is it that you want to tell me?"

"I came to tell you and Serena that when she leaves for the royal pack, Jack and I will be going along with her," Mary told Serenity about her purpose for coming.

"So why'd you pull me aside to tell me that?" Serenity asked, puzzled by why this warranted a private conversation.

"Ren, did you know that you have the same expression on your face as you did the day Asha died?" Mary licked her lips as she ran her hand through her hair. "That dull expressionless face and eyes. You rejected your mate already?"

"If you know, then why ask?" Serenity's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Look, I'm not in the mood for this shit."

"Do you know why I'm going with Serena, Ren?" Without waiting for Serenity to answer, Mary continued. "It's because she's a runt. You and I know why she's one. If any other doctor checks her body, especially her blood, then the truth will come out."

"You must've known this isn't a secret we must hold much longer. It puts us in a precarious situation. I think it's time you stopped running from the past. We need to face it head-on. Like the real reason you don't want a mate." Mary was purposely trying to rile Serenity up. After Thomas left, she thought about it. About how much she failed Serenity. After seeing the expression or lack of expression on Serenity's face, Mary had to try. Maybe if Serenity snapped now, the damage would be minimized.

What Mary didn't expect was Serenity attacking her. Serenity rushed forward and took Mary by her throat, lifting her off the ground and slamming her into the damp forest floor. Panicked, Mary grabbed the arm of the hand Serenity had wrapped around her throat in an attempt to tug her off.

"Listen to me and listen well. You, Thomas, and I will go to our graves with the secrets we share. There's no secret sharing or problems here. Do your f*****g job, That is all you need to think about." Serenity sneered as she leered over Mary's body. "I will rip your f*****g throat out if you ever try this s**t again."

"You can't possibly believe this is the best choice!" Mary choked out and Serenity laughed coldly.

"Sometimes it's okay to keep the truth hidden. Sometimes the truth gets people killed." Serenity leaned down, staring at Mary with glowing eyes. "There is no other reason besides the obvious reason. Sean and Asha made sure of that."

"Not all mates are like that! Your parents were the exception. Your mate isn't Sean and you aren't Asha either! Serenity please." Mary cried out.

"Nothing will affect my choice. Not you, not him, not even Serena. No mates ever." Serenity choked Mary harder. "Understand?"

"Serenity!" Mary gasped for breath as Serenity tightened her hold on her neck. "What happens after I die? Who takes over nothing can stay hidden forever." Mary told her between her gasps.

Serenity was tempted, so tempted to break Mary's neck right now. Because she knew what Mary was telling her was the truth. Nothing can be hidden forever. Gritting her teeth, she let Mary go and stood up. Mary turned to her side and began coughing as she greedily sucked up air into her lungs while massaging her neck.

She stared at her niece's back and regretted doing this. She even warned Thomas against this and yet here she was doing the very thing she told him not to do. Mary knew that despite Serenity strong-willed nature, there was a broken little girl encased in rock hard cement at the center.

A girl she failed to protect. Mary really regretted it. Not fight harder to protect Serenity from Asha and Sean. She comforted herself with the delusion that she at least protected Serena. But did she really protect Serena?

It was in Serena's best interest that no secrets were leaked, but Mary knew she wouldn't live forever. Even if a werewolf life span was a hundred and twenty years. Mary couldn't be a doctor forever, and the secret would be learned the moment Serena's body was checked.

"What am I supposed to do, Mary?" Serenity tilted her head upwards to look at the sky. as her back was turned. Mary couldn't see Serenity's expression, and if she could, her heart would ache uncontrollably. "We can't expose the truth. I don't care about what happens to me. But the moment the truth is learned. if someone isn't careful, it could be used as a deadly weapon against not only Serena but the king. Her mate."

"So your solution is to keep it hidden until it can't be hidden anymore?" Mary rubbed her throat as her voice came out hoarse. "At least we should tell Serena and her mate."

"No." Serenity rejected firmly. "We cannot."

"And why can't we? You do realize that Serena is expected to have the heir someday. This is important. It's not like you can do it for her!" Mary got agitated when she heard Serenity's refusal.

"If we tell them the truth. He'll know the truth." Serenity calmly turned her head and looked at Mary. "He must never know the truth."

"Serenity, we just agreed that the truth can't be hidden forever." Mary frowned.

"I need to think about a solution first. Maybe we can lie. It better if we lie." Sernity pondered out loud. But Mary wasn't having it.

"You need to face reality. Our reality!" Mary almost went crazy. She was this close into convincing Serenity to talk, but she backed out.

"To tell a good lie, the truth must be mixed in it." Serenity looked Mary in the eyes. "You need not worry anymore. If push comes to shove and the truth is going to exposed. I'll fix it."

"No, Serenity, it's one thing to hide things like this but it's a whole other ball game if we f*****g lie." Mary scrambled to stand up and rush toward Serenity. She grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a good shake. "You must think about this! Do you really want to risk it all?"

"I have thought about it, over and over. Do I tell the truth or tell some lies. For me, it's better if we lie." Serenity shrugged off Mary.

"This is not just about you. Serenity, if you do this, you'll regret it." Mary warned her, but Serenity already made up her mind.

"Regret? I've yet to do something I regret. This discussion is over." Serenity flashed Mary a smile and began walking in the direction of the house. Leaving Mary standing there dumbfounded.

Nobody understood better than Mary that Serenity was digging a deeper pit. And in that pit was filled with trauma. Unresolved trauma. Trauma, she was going to pass on to Serena, but not only Serena would be affected. this might just be the decision that breaks Serenity.

"f**k," Mary whispered softly, her eyebrows scrunched together and her face filled with sadness.

She really poked a bear.