The Alpha Who Never Loved Me (Serena and Kieran) novel Chapter 31

< The Alpha Who Never Loved Me

Chapter 31

Kieran

I saw Serena open her mouth to defend herself and I spoke before she could.

“I allowed her to take the job.”

My father’s finger dropped. He turned to me, nostrils flaring.

I didn’t sit. I stood between my wife and my father. This family loved control. They bred it, breathed it, passed it down through bloodlines like an heirloom nobody asked

for.

Years ago, my grandfather had ripped Sophie from me and shoved Serena into the gap. He’d arranged the marriage, leveraged Blackthorn’s fall, and positioned me as a merciful Alpha — all without asking me what I wanted. Ever since, I’d been at war with him over everything. My decisions. My pack. My wife.

—

My grandfather, stepped forward. He was old but he qarried himself like a man who’d never lost a figl and1:20

didn’t intend to start

< Chapter 31

“She quits the job,” Crowley said. “Today. If she insists on working, she’ll come to the company. We’ll find a position.”

“She’s a medical graduate.” I kept my voice flat. “What would she do at the company?”

“She doesn’t have to do anything.” He waved his hand like he was swatting a fly. “She can sit.”

This control was what I was against. He had done more than enough. I gritted my teeth. “Stay out of our marriage.”

Grandfather’s eyes narrowed. He despised being challenged by anyone and for any reason. He’d ruled Crimson for forty years before handing my father the title, and the handoff had been a formality. He still believed every decision in this family ran through him first.

Not anymore. Not after what he’d done to my life. He could issue orders until his jaw locked. I wasn’t obeying.

My mother swept in from the kitchen, a servant at her

side carrying a tray of wine glasses.

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“Everyone needs to calm down.” She nodded at the servant, who began handing out glasses. “Drink, sit. We are not doing this tonight.”

Serena held up her hand. “I don’t want any.”

My mother paused. “What’s wrong?”

She gave my mother a small smile. “I just don’t feel like drinking.”

My mother studied her for a beat, then turned to the servant. “Bring her the apple juice from the kitchen.”

I took my glass and drained it in one swallow. The wine was sharp going down.

Serena accepted the juice when it arrived. She took a sip and held the glass with both hands.

My father and grandfather weren’t finished.

“Where did you find the nerve?” My father leaned back in his chair. “Speaking to us like that in our own house.”

I don’t care what either of you think.” I set my empty 1:20

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Serena’s answer was immediate. “Because I don’t want to

be his wife anymore.”

The room went dead quiet.

“What did you say?” Grandfather asked.

My head was pounding. My vision swam. I gripped the armrest of my chair and forced myself to focus.

“I want a divorce,” Serena said.

“Serena.” Her name ripped out of me loud enough to get

her to shut her mouth.

Grandfather looked between us. I could feel his gaze dissecting the exchange.

“You want a divorce.” He spoke directly to Serena. “And does my grandson agree?”

“No,” I said.

Grandfather turned back to her. “Then here is what will happen. You have one week to quit your job. If you don’t, ‘ll have you fired myself.”

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< Chapter 31

Serena’s answer was immediate. “Because I don’t want to

be his wife anymore.”

The room went dead quiet.

“What did you say?” Grandfather asked.

My head was pounding. My vision swam. I gripped the armrest of my chair and forced myself to focus.

“I want a divorce,” Serena said.

“Serena.” Her name ripped out of me loud enough to get her to shut her mouth.

Grandfather looked between us. I could feel his gaze dissecting the exchange.

“You want a divorce.” He spoke directly to Serena. “And does my grandson agree?”

“No,” I said.

Grandfather turned back to her. “Then here is what will happen. You have one week to quit your job. If you don’t, I’ll have you fired myself.” 5/10

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Serena’s chin lifted. “I married into this family. I didn’t sell myself.”

He laughed. “Your family lost everything. Their territory, their pack, their pride. We came to the rescue. You think that was charity?” He shook his head. “That was a transaction, girl. You were the price.”

Serena did not like the sound of that. “The person I owe is Kieran. Not you.”

“Whether you like it or not,” Grandfather said, “Kieran is a part of this family.”

I stood.

And the room tilted. The floor felt uneven beneath

my feet and I had to widen my stance to keep from staggering.

My mother grabbed my arm. She turned to Serena, and this time, there was no asking,

“Take him upstairs. Please.” She pleaded.

Serena hesitated but she crossed the room, ducked under

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my arm, and took my weight against her shoulder.

We made it up the stairs and into the guest bedroom. I dropped onto the mattress and the ceiling spun above

Serena

He slurred when he spoke. “Say whatever you want. But not in front of them.”

I stood at the foot of the bed and watched him rub his temples, his eyes half-closed, his body sinking into the sheets like gravity had doubled.

He sat up after a minute. Whatever had hit him was already loosening its grip.

Mine were getting worse.

“Why did you bring up the divorce?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I want you and Sophie and your son to be a happy family. That’s all.”

He got to his feet. No stagger this time. He looked down21

at me and his jaw set.

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“Think whatever you want. Suit yourself. But divorce is not up to you.”

I nodded. Of course it wasn’t. Not when my freedom came with a price tag I couldn’t afford.

He sat back on the edge of the bed and pressed his knuckles against his forehead.

I watched him.

He’d defended me tonight. Against his father and his grandfather, in a house where challenging either of them carried consequences. He’d stepped in before I could speak, taken the hit so I wouldn’t have to.

It reminded me of before. Of the wedding his grandfather had tried to stop. Crowley hadn’t wanted the marriage anymore. He’d considered Blackthorn a failure, and had wanted Kieran paired with someone from a stronger bloodline. But Kieran had pushed back. He’d gone against his family and married me anyway.

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