The Alpha Who Never Loved Me (Serena and Kieran) novel Chapter 156

Chapter 156

Kieran

hadn’t found her.

I hadn’t slept. I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling and called her at midnight and at two and at four and the calls rang out and went nowhere. By morning I stopped counting.

I called her one more time, sitting on the edge of the bed in the evening after work.

She didn’t pick up.

I got dressed and went to the gala.

The Whitmore estate sat back from the road behind lit trees. Cars lined the full length of the drive. The sound of a string quartet reached the entrance before the doors opened. Inside, every significant family in the territory was present, formal dress, formal faces, formal conversations running in clusters through rooms that smelled of flowers and old money.

Every single person who recognized me looked past my shoulder for Serena.

Mrs. Archer reached me before anyone else. 1/8

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“Kieran. It’s been too long.” She looked past me briefly. “Where is your wife? I’ve been looking forward to seeing my dear

Serena.”

My heart clenched.

“Serena sends her deepest apologies,” I said. I kept my voice even. “The pregnancy has been hard on her lately – she wasn’t well enough to come tonight. She asked me to extend her warmest regards.”

Mrs. Archer’s brow drew down and her mouth opened slightly. “The poor thing. How far along is she?”

“Coming along well, all things considered.”

“You must take care of her. Pregnancy asks everything.” She squeezed my hands. “Wait, I have something. A tonic my grandmother used. I’ll have it sent over for her tonight.”

“That’s incredibly kind of you,” I said. “Thank you.”

She patted my hands and moved back into the crowd,

My father appeared at my elbow in under a minute,

“Where is Serena?” he said under his breath,

Handled,” I said.

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“Handled how?” she said.

“She wasn’t well. Pregnancy difficulty. I spoke to Mrs. Archer.”

My mother pressed her lips together and said nothing.

I spent the next hour circling the room and giving the same answer to several different people who asked about her.

I was mid-conversation with a representative from the Harrow pack when the room suddenly changed. Someone gasped and that alone called for the attention of everyone present.

Every head in the room turned to a specific direction. And of course, I followed.

At the entrance was at the far end of the room, Serena stood

there.

She was in a blue-silver dress that held every light in the room. Her hair was up, her shoulders were bare, and her chin was level. She was pushing a wheelchair which carried Elan who was also formally dressed. On his thigh was a wrapped gift.

Cora slammed forward in my chest so hard I pressed my hand flat against my ribs.

“That’s not someone who’s been sick.”

3/8

“Cheles

“”

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“She came with the Cartridge Alpha.”

I immediately moved through the crowd.

I quickly went to her side staring at her but not once did her attention move to me.

“Serena.” I whispered her name. “Where have you been?” I reached for her hand but she shifted instantly making my hand land nowhere.

I looked at my empty hand for one second.

Elan’s eyes found me next to Serena.

“Kieran,” he said. “Have you no greeting for your elder?”

I looked at him. Elan was some years older than me but nothing that should carry much weight. He sat in the chair with his hands folded and a slow smirk on his face that he was making no effort to suppress.

I said it through my back teeth. “Uncle.”

Elan smiled. “There we are,”

The murmurs of the crowd continued louder than before.

Was he not aware of his wife’s whereabouts?”

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then.”

My mother appeared at my side that instant.

“Serena.” She took Serena’s arm with both hands and held it. “You look extraordinary. We’re so glad you made it.” She pulled Serena in for a hug and Serena hugged her happily.

My mother turned to the room directly, her voice carrying without effort. “My son’s wife is the physician assigned to Elan Cartridge. She takes her work seriously, we’re all very proud of her dedication.”

Serena smiled at my mother but she still didn’t look at me.

She pushed Elan forward and I fell into step whether she wanted me there or not. They moved through the crowd toward Mrs. Archer, who lit up when she saw Elan and Serena, she quickly reached for him with both arms.

“My dear boy.” She held his face. “You look better than the last time I saw you.”

“Happy birthday.” He handed her the gift. “I’m sorry I can’t stay long. My health still has its own schedule.” He paused. “But I couldn’t miss it.”

“Of course not.” Mrs. Archer’s face brightened as her eyes moged to Serena. “Oh Serena, you look incredible.” I

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I stood two steps behind watching simply. Serena was loved by the public for her manners, her beauty, her kindness. She was amazing, and could relate with the crowd easily.

Elan’s butler appeared at the edge of the room and moved toward us.

Serena reached for the wheelchair handles but I caught her hand quickly. “I’m sure Elan can manage from here,” I said.

Serena looked at me for the first time all evening.

The butler stepped forward, took the handles, and steered Elan

toward the exit. Elan looked back at me over his shoulder as he

went, and the smile on his face didn’t change.

I turned to Serena while slowly intertwining our fingers. She tried to pull back but nothing would make me let go of her hand. Nothing.

“Let go.” Her voice was low.

“No.”

Trevor appeared on her other side, grinning and making no effort to hide it, Andrew close behind him. Their sudden friendship was annoying,

You found her,” Trevor said.

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