No Past, No Pain, No Return Chapter 08

No Past, No Pain, No Return Chapter 08

Theo and I went back to Silvercrest Pack.

I knocked on my mother’s door.

She opened it. She stared at me. Like she didn’t recognize me.

I’d cut my hair. My skin was tanned.

She raised her hand to hit me. Then stopped. It dropped weakly to my shoulder.

“Serena. You came back. Why didn’t you just die out there?”

She cried.

I felt nothing. I wanted to laugh.

“Sorry to disappoint you. I’m still alive.”

She came to her senses. She turned around and called Caleb.

“Serena is back!”

Half an hour later, Caleb burst through the door.

He stared at me for a few seconds. Then he grabbed me in a hug.

“Serena. You’re okay. Thank the Moon Goddess.”

He choked up. His whole body shook.

I pushed him away.

“Caleb. I came back to sever the bond.”

He froze.

“No. Serena…”

I looked at him. Then at my mother.

They both looked remorseful. Disapproval flashed in their eyes.

I was confused. “Isn’t this what you wanted? You both love Vanessa. Do you want that pup to stay a bastard forever?”

Caleb grabbed my arm. He rushed to explain.

“Serena. I know now. The post wasn’t you. It was Vanessa. She set it up. She posted it herself. She pretended to be bullied. She pretended to have postpartum depression. It was all fake. She lied to everyone.”

“I’m sorry. I was so angry. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

I nodded.

“Okay. But what does that have to do with our bond? You betrayed your fated mate. You had a pup with her. That’s the truth.”

“Come to Pack Registry tomorrow. Or I’ll take you to Pack Court.”

I turned to leave.

My mother grabbed me.

“Serena. Where are you going? This is your home. What do you want to eat? I’ll cook for you.”

I glared at her.

She wiped her tears.

“Serena. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have favored Vanessa. I never knew how scheming she was. She’s been lying.”

I laughed.

“And you haven’t lied?”

“I died when I was twelve. You only have your adopted daughter. Isn’t that right?”

My mother’s hands shook. She kept mumbling. “No. That’s not true.”

I shook her off and walked out. “As you wished. Serena is dead.”

Caleb chased after me.

“Serena. Mom was diagnosed with cervical cancer last week.”

I stopped.

He continued. “She said it was karma. She won’t get treatment if she can’t find you. Can you please convince her to go to the hospital?”

I laughed softly.

“Let Serena do it. She always listened to her real daughter. Or maybe you, her son-in-law, have more weight with her than I do.”

I didn’t look back.

I got into Theo’s car.

Suddenly, tears blurred my eyes.

Why did they all act so regretful now? So pitiful?

Had they forgotten how much they hated me half a year ago? How deeply they hurt me?

Theo handed me two tissues.

I laughed bitterly.

“Want to bet? Do you think he’ll show up at Pack Registry tomorrow?”

Theo said, “If he doesn’t, I’ll have someone drag him there.”

I laughed.