Serena
I didn’t sleep at all last night.
I kept looking at the pictures, trying to remember who was around when they were taken. Most of them could have been taken from anyone, but the one from the clubhouse, there was no one there. It was dark, but I don”t remember seeing any cars or people around when we left.
When my alarm finally goes off in the morning, I groan and get up. I didn’t want to go to school today, but I promised Evie I would pick her up.
My curtain is still closed, but I swear I can see through it into Midas’s room.
I went back and forth all night wondering if one of them put those pictures in my locker, but it just doesn’t seem like them. I can’t imagine any of them trying to scare me like that.
I quickly shower and get dressed in jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. I put my hair in a messy bun and don’t bother with makeup today. I still feel so violated and disturbed. I don’t want to leave the house, but life goes on.
Mom has already left for work, so I quickly grab a cup of coffee, not feeling safe stopping at the café this morning. I walk out to my car, my hands shaking while holding my keys. I don’t see anyone around, but I feel eyes on me. I look at Midas’s house and don’t see anyone. Same with Odin and Zeus’s houses.
I stop in front of Evie’s house. I send a text to let her know I am outside. I lean my head back against the headrest and take a deep breath. I feel way too wound up right now. When the door opens, I scream. Evie stares at me. Confusion and concern in her eyes, but I wave it off as nothing. Being next to Evie is making me feel so much better already. She makes me smile and feel lighter. She brings up Dante, and I instantly start to blush.
“I think you should go to The Den and ask him out. He was totally smitten with you. Plus, he is way too hot.” She fans herself.
“I don’t know. What about the Kings?” The words leave my mouth before I even register what I am saying.
What about the Kings? As much as Odin says they want me and how they are around me, nothing is official. It’s not like they own me. I can make my own decisions. I don’t need their permission for anything. Dante was sweet and so hot. Maybe Evie is right. I should ask him out.
Evie looks over at me and gives me a what about them look, and I agree. I said I was finished letting guys rule my life. It”s time to put my big girl panties on and make some decisions for myself. I think I will go after school today and try to find him. Hopefully, he is there.
My phone starts ringing through the car speaker. It’s a number I don’t know, and I am instantly on red alert. I don’t want to answer. What if it’s the crazy stalker of mine? Before I can hit decline, Evie leans forward and accepts the call.
“Serena, darling?” A sultry voice I recognize fills the car. Evie’s eyes go wide. “It’s Dante.”
“Oh, hi. How did you get my number?”
“I have my ways.” His voice is so casual. “I was hoping we could get dinner on Friday.”
Evie enthusiastically nods her head. I stutter, trying to find the words. Yes, I want to go, but I can’t get the words out.
“Dante, it’s Evie. Serena would love to go out Friday night.” Evie screams out.
He chuckles down the line. The sound sends shivers through me, and my lonely libido picks up. “I’ll pick you up at eight.” He hangs up the phone before I can say anything.
I pull into the school parking lot with Evie screaming how excited she is for me. As we walk into the school, she rambles about what I should wear and how to do my hair. She is talking a mile a minute, and I can barely keep up.
I put my bag in my locker and grabbed the books I needed for first period. “Relax Evie, it’s just a first date. It’s not like I am going to marry the guy.” I say while slamming my locker shut. I jump when Odin’s face comes into view. How did I not notice him standing there?
“What date?” His voice is low, deadly.
“Serena has a date this weekend.” Evie pipes up, looking smug. I smile at her and laugh under my breath.
I link arms with her and turn to walk away from Odin. He doesn’t need to know my business unless I want to tell him. I take a step before Odin grabs my arm. His grip is tight and almost painful. I scowl at him and rip my arm from his grip.
He doesn’t say anything. Odin stares at me, looking almost jealous. That fills me with a weird sense of joy and pain. I don’t want to hurt them, but they have never clarified what is happening between us.
I shake my head at him and start walking toward Evie’s locker. She grabs her stuff for class, and we walk to it. Odin is already there when we enter, texting on his phone. He still looks pissed off. His eyes dart up and look at me. I expect to see anger directed at me, but it’s the opposite. I see desire and want.
The rest of the morning goes by quickly. I avoid the cafeteria at lunch, opting to sit in the library instead and catch up on some schoolwork. I find a seat in the back, far away from anyone. I still feel uneasy that someone might be watching, but I try to tell myself it’s nerves and paranoia.
I still think about the warning Melanie gave me. I don’t know what she meant by that. Maybe the people that Valerie knows are the ones who sent me those pictures. It’s the only thing that slightly makes sense to me. Or maybe Zane. He has been creepy with me since the first time I met him.
I contemplate this all day, barely paying attention in the rest of my classes. Whenever I think I have an answer, I find a way to talk myself out of it. There are many people that it could be, but none make enough sense to me.
The final bell rings. I slowly grab my books to leave the class. I”m too caught in my thoughts to hear Valerie storm up behind me. She pushes into me, causing me to trip and almost fall. I turn around, ready to fight back. It’s so tempting to punch her in the face. Midas barks at her to leave me alone before he storms out of class. Valerie tosses her newly dyed fake blonde hair over her shoulder, smirking down at me, and chases after him.
Odin and Zeus look torn about who to go to. They look at me, then Midas, but eventually follow after him. I dust myself off and walk out of the class. Keeping my head held high. I won’t let them see how much that hurt. I don’t owe them anything anymore.
I wave goodbye to Evie before driving home.
I have the whole house to myself tonight. Mom texted earlier, saying she was spending the night in the city. As much as I wanted to beg her to come home, not feeling entirely safe by myself in the house, I told her to have fun.
I check all the doors and windows, double-checking they are locked, before plopping on the couch and turning on my favorite movie. I guess I will order a pizza tonight and have a night to myself. I grab a fuzzy blanket to wrap myself in and start my movie marathon.
A couple of movies later and half a pizza, I decide it’s time for bed. I clean up the mess I made, turn the lights off, and walk to my room. I switch the light on and scream. Lying on my bed is a red rose surrounded by more rose petals. I crumble to the floor, shaking, tears streaming down my face.
I need to get out of the house.
I don’t think. I just run. I bang on Midas’s door, praying he is home. I don’t stop banging until the door is ripped open, Midas standing there looking so confused. I fall into his arms, still crying. He cradles me against his chest, holding me until the tears slow down.
“Angel, what’s going on?” He sounds so worried. His eyes scan my body, looking for any injuries.
“Can I stay here tonight?” My words are shaky.
He doesn’t say anything as he ushers me inside and down to his room. He closes the door behind us and carefully walks me to his bed. I sit down, my body still shaking. How did someone get into my house without me knowing? It doesn’t make sense. I made sure everything was locked. There wasn’t anything on my bed when I got home. My window and curtains were closed. How is it possible?
Midas pulls back the blankets on his bed. He picks me up and lays me down on his bed. He strips down to his boxers, my eyes never leaving him. I need him right now. That’s not something I thought I would ever say, but I do. I need his strength and protection. He crawls into bed beside me and holds me close to him. I lay my head on his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around me.
My eyes start to feel heavier the more I relax in his arms. My breathing starts to even out, and right before I fall asleep, I feel Midas kiss the top of my head and whisper in my ear. “Mine.”
I wake up so warm and cozy. My bed smells different, and I feel way too hot. I try to move, but something is holding me down. I scream, thinking of the roses on my bed. He has me. I start thrashing, trying to get away from his hold.
“Enough, angel. Relax.” I stop, recognizing his voice. Midas.
I completely forgot that I came to him last night. He shushes me, trying to calm down my racing heart. His warmth soothed my body. His strong hands held me close to him. I feel his erection against my ass and arch it back into it. He groans in my ear, and I can feel myself getting wet from that single noise.
Valerie.
It’s like ice water thrown on my libido when I remember he is with her. I pull myself away from him and scramble out of his bed. I look down at the nearly naked god in front of me. His extremely impressive erection is straining against his boxers. I see the crowned skull tattoo over his heart, the MC symbol. I want to reach out and touch it, but I refrain. My shoulder tattoo suddenly burning, like it’s calling me to him.
I thank him for last night before exiting his room and rushing out of his house. I think I saw Zane in the kitchen. I didn’t stay long enough to know. I reluctantly make my way back home and into my room. The rose and petals are still where they were last night. I shudder just looking at it, feeling violated once again.
I jump when I hear the knocking at my door. I walk back to the front of the house and open the door to Midas, Odin, and Zeus. They each look like they are ready to murder someone. I walk away, leaving the door open for them to come in. I don’t want to deal with my room yet, so I make a pot of coffee. I lean against the counter, impatiently waiting for it to brew. All three are standing before me, waiting to see what I say.
I’m guessing they want an explanation about last night. I don’t know what to tell them. Hey, I have this super creepy stalker who has broken into my house, left weird pictures in my locker, and has called and texted me multiple times. Yeah, that sounds believable. I suddenly wish I cleaned up the bed before letting them in. For all I know, one of them is the creeper. That still doesn’t feel right, though.
The coffee maker beeps. I turn around and make myself a cup of coffee before I sit down at the kitchen table. Zeus makes coffee for himself and the others before they all join me at the table. My hands are shaking as I take my first sip. Each of them notices, and I try to play it off.
“Do you want to tell us what happened last night?” Midas barks out, making me jump in my seat.
Odin places his hand on my arm, trying to reassure me. I give him a small smile. I take another sip before putting my mug on the table. I debate what to say. I could lie and make up some bullshit reason why I ran over there crying, but nothing I can think of is believable enough. So, I tell the truth or at least part of it.
“Someone broke in last night while I was home alone. I was freaked out and ran over to Midas’s house. It doesn’t look like they stole anything. Everything is fine.” It’s the truth, sort of. I don’t feel like I can tell them everything yet.
Odin’s hand tightens on my arm. Zeus starts looking around the kitchen, trying to imagine what happened last night. Midas is the scariest one of the three. His face is blank, calculating, determined. He gets up and starts roaming through the house. I try to get up and run after him, stopping him from seeing my room, but Odin keeps me in my chair.
It’s not long after that, I hear a roar of anger coming from my room. Odin and Zeus instantly get up and run off to Midas. I stay seated, wondering if I could run out of the house and to my car before they return.
Before I can decide if that’s doable, they storm back in.
“What the fuck, Serena?” Odin murmurs.
I duck my head, feeling like I did something wrong. The tears threatened to fall. I suddenly feel like I did with Evan. Everything is my fault. I should have been better. I should have done better. I am the reason this is all happening to me.
I can’t breathe. I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen into my lungs. Zeus runs over and holds me close. He is whispering words that I can’t hear over the fog in my head. His hand starts rubbing my back in soothing circles, his words becoming clearer.
“Relax, breathe. There. That’s it.” His voice is so gentle like he is talking to a wounded animal. I guess I am wounded.
I look between them as they silently communicating something to each other. They nod their heads when they come to some conclusion. Zeus helps me stand and walks me to my room. The rose is gone. If I didn’t know any better, it was all a bad dream. I look up at him, wondering if he got rid of them for me. The shy smile he gives me lets me know that he did.
He walks me into the bathroom and turns the shower on for me. He slowly strips my clothes off, keeping his eyes on my face. I’m thankful for that because I don’t know how I would feel if he was looking at my body right now. He helps me get in before closing the shower curtain and slowly backing out of the bathroom.
I take my time in the shower, letting the hot water soak in my body. I scrub my skin until it feels like I have scrubbed as many layers off as possible. It’s raw and red when I finally get out of the shower. I wrap a towel around my body and walk back into my room. I expect to find Zeus or all three of them sitting on my bed. Instead, I see an outfit picked out for me and lying on my bed.
I quickly dressed, brushed my hair, and tied it in a ponytail. I take a few deep breaths, look at myself in the mirror, and remind myself that I am not the same girl. I am a bad bitch. I am a queen. Just keep telling yourself that, and maybe you will believe it.
I silently walk down the hall and hear the kings arguing in the kitchen.
“I am going to fucking murder whoever did that.”
“I agree, but we got to figure out who it is first.”
“I still think we should stick to the original plan.”
They all murmur their agreements, and I feel furiously confused. What plan are they talking about? I swear, every time I take a step forward, I stumble three back. Nothing has made sense in my life since I moved here.
I walk into the kitchen, and they all become silent and look at me. Odin smiles before walking over and wrapping his arm around my waist. As much as I want to stay in his arms, I pull out and give myself space. He frowns at me, looking like I just kicked his puppy.
I grab my stuff off the counter and try to walk to the door. Midas grabs my car keys before I can reach them and walks off with them. What the hell? I stormed after him, calling his name. He rips open the door and walks out to my car. He opens the passenger door. No way in hell am I driving him to school.
I stomp over to him and prepare to yell at him, but he grabs my bag, tosses it in the back, and points at the seat, expecting me to sit. I loudly laugh in his face and stick my hand out, waiting for him to return my keys.
It quickly becomes a battle of wills. Neither of us wanted to budge. We stare each other down until Zeus pipes up and tells him to give me my keys back. He scowls at Zeus over my head but eventually gives in and gives them back to me. I smugly smile at him before slamming the passenger door closed and walking over to the driver”s side.
The guys all walk off to Midas’s laneway and get on their bikes.
They wait for me to start my car before they start their bikes. I guess I have three bodyguards today.