Damon
I looked at the girl in front of me, a sense of unease creeping up my spine. It was strange, almost like a distant memory clawing at the edge of my thoughts. My lips twitched, itching to tell them that I felt nothing for this girl in front of me, but I held back. I couldn't forget the way the woman's presence had felt that night, even though her face had been hidden by a mask.
This wasn't her – I could feel it in my bones. And yet, I wasn’t sure 100% and I need to be certain.
“Something wrong, your grace?” Matilde's voice cut through the silence, her question hanging in the air. I didn't answer right away. Instead, I reached out to trace the contours of the woman they presented as my Serena.
I closed my eyes, hoping to recapture that same inexplicable connection I had felt when I touched her that night. But it wasn't there. For some reason, the spark I felt that night had faded away.
Ashford, as perceptive as always, stepped forward. His words were directed at the servants surrounding us: "Is there any unmated she-wolf here, aside from Lady Serena?"
The servants lowered their heads and murmured in unison, "No one, Sir. Lady Serena is the only maiden here."
Delta Johnson, my father's loyal man, took an impatient breath. He stepped closer, his gaze seeking mine. "Is there a problem, my Lord?”
I kept my eyes on the woman, subtly shifting her hair to reveal her neck. It was a discreet inspection, a search for something I remembered leaving as a souvenir to her that night.
“Hear me, my Lord,” Delta Johnson uttered again. His face was a mixture of uncertainty and impatience. Meanwhile, everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the big reveal. “Did we find the right girl?"
A smile tugged at my lips as the tension surrounding us got thicker. Then, I finally said, "Yes, Delta Johnson,” I declared. “She’s the one.” The relief in the air was palpable as I gave my answer.
Hearing that, Matilde's grin widened, while the rest of them heaved a sigh of relief. The woman’s head remained bowed, but I could sense her satisfaction with what I had declared. I grinned secretly, observing their reactions. Because the truth is, I knew that this girl was lying, but I needed to conceal it from them.
As Serena had given me her virginity that night, I had marked her as mine. That mark wasn't present on this woman’s neck, so I instantly understood her intentions. Judging by her mother's reaction, it seemed like they were in on this scheme together.
The goddess knew how much I wanted to punish them for playing a trick on me, but I restrained myself. This was my last chance to appease my father, who was anticipating good news upon my return. If I were to tell him that the real Serena was missing, he might not give me another opportunity. I knew my father too well; he wouldn't accept my reasoning, no matter how valid.
Therefore, I was compelled to do one thing: go along with this scheme until I found my real Serena.
Then, I turned to her father, intending to give him my instructions. “My Serena will be brought to the Blood Rose Pack in three days. Make all the preparations needed for this transition. When the time comes, I will send my men to accompany her to ensure her safety.”
“Yes, my Lord,” the Beta stated. Mathilde clung to his arm. Both of them were a picture of joy and happiness.
With a nod, I turned to the fake Serena. “I will see you again in three days, my Lady.”
“I am already counting the hours, my Lord,” she answered.
Afterward, I turned to my men and gestured for them to leave. I heard Delta Johnson bid his goodbye to the scheming family before I got inside my car. Ashford followed shortly and with a sway of his head, he instructed the driver to move out as he positioned himself in the front. He started the engine and as we drove away, the fake Serena and her equally cunning mother waved at us. I smirked seeing that.
I noticed Ashford stealing glances from the rearview mirror, and I pretended not to see it. Ashford was a keen observer, and I knew that the smirk didn't escape his sharp eyes. Finally, he could no longer bear the silence.
“I knew that something happened in there, Damon,” he declared, looking at me through the rearview mirror.
I adjusted my seat and closed my eyes to avoid his gaze. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don't try to deny it,” he scoffed. “I saw how the fire burning in you died down the moment you set eyes on that girl. Did we get the wrong woman?”
I heaved a sigh. There's no point in hiding the truth from my intelligent Beta-to-be. “Yeah, apparently.”
“Then why didn’t you say something?” he queried, worried. “Also, what happened to the real Serena?”
“That’s exactly the reason why I decided to keep my mouth shut,” I declared. “Until I figure out what they did to the real Serena, I have to play along with their deception. You know my father well, and you understand his potential reaction if I were to disclose the truth, don't you?”
"Indeed," he muttered. "The alpha wouldn't take kindly to it."
A cloud of silence hovered above us as I thought about what had happened. My heart ached thinking about where my Serena was, and I vowed to do everything I could to find her.