The Alpha Who Never Loved Me (Serena and Kieran) novel Chapter 6

6

Serena

I was discharged from the hospital two days later.

The doctor had been reluctant to let me go, citing my blood pressure and the need for rest, but I couldn't stand another minute in that sterile room.

Every time a nurse walked in, I flinched, expecting Kieran to appear with excuses.

He never came.

Not once.

Jenna had been my only visitor. She'd brought me clothes, food to eat and books to read.

"He's been busy with pack meetings," she'd said on one of the days. "You know how he gets when the elders are involved."

I'd nodded and changed the subject. There was no point in making her lie for him anymore.

Now, as I signed the discharge papers, Jenna hovered beside me with that determined look on her face.

"We're going shopping," she announced, plucking the pen from my hand the moment I finished. "You need the fresh air and retail therapy."

"I don't need—"

"You've been staring at hospital walls for two days." She grabbed my bag before I could protest. "You're pale, you're grumpy, and you look like you haven't slept. We're fixing at least one of those things."

Grumpy was an understatement.

I'd spent the past forty-eight hours trapped in my own head, turning the same questions over and over.

Was I making the right decision?

Was divorce really the answer?

Maybe Jenna was right, I should talk to him first, give him a chance to explain.

But explain what?

Why he had been treating me so badly since his first love came back?

And now there was a baby to consider. Our baby.

Did I want my child to grow up watching their father treat their mother like an afterthought?

No.

But knowing that didn't stop the doubt from gnawing at me.

So here I was, wandering through the outdoor mall pretending to care about window displays while my mood grew darker by the minute.

"What about this one?" Jenna held up a silk scarf. "It would look gorgeous with your complexion."

"It's nice."

She put it back with a sigh. "You've said 'it's nice' to everything I've shown you. Including that hideous leopard print monstrosity three stores ago."

"That was nice too."

"Serena." She grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop. "Talk to me. Please. You're scaring me."

I opened my mouth to deflect, when my wolf suddenly went rigid inside my chest.

A familiar scent drifted toward us. The same perfume that had clung to Kieran's collar at the hospital.

I turned before I could stop myself.

Sophie stood fifteen feet away, browsing a rack of summer dresses.

My stomach lurched.

Jenna followed my gaze, and I watched her expression transform from confusion to recognition to fury in the span of two seconds.

"That shameless witch," she hissed.

"Jenna, don't—"

But she was already moving, her heels clicking against the pavement.

"Hey!" Jenna's voice rang out. "Sophie!"

Sophie looked up, her eyes widening as she registered who was barreling toward her. "Jenna? I—"

"Don't you dare say my name." Jenna stopped inches from her face. "You have some nerve showing your face in public after what you've done."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sophie's voice trembled. "I haven't done anything wrong."

"Nothing wrong?" Jenna laughed. "You've been sleeping with my brother behind his wife's back. You had his child and hid it for five years. And now you're parading around like you're the victim?"

Sophie's gaze darted to me. "Kieran and I have history,"

Jenna slapped her.

Sophie stumbled backward, her hand flying to her cheek, and several shoppers turned to stare.

"Jenna!" I rushed forward, grabbing her arm. "Stop, this isn't—"

"She deserves worse," Jenna spat. "She destroyed your marriage. She stole your husband. And she's standing here acting like she's done nothing wrong."

"Please." Sophie's eyes welled with tears. "Someone help me. She's attacking me—"

A black SUV screeched to a halt at the curb.

My heart stopped.

Kieran emerged from the car, his face thunderous as he took in the scene. His eyes swept over Sophie's reddened cheek, Jenna's aggressive stance, and finally landed on me.

"What the hell is going on here?"

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