Chapter 7

　　Serena's POV. 　　He held my face, his touch firm yet gentle, and asked again, "Serena... are we mates?" 　　I shoved Richard away, my senses snapping back into focus 　　"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," I chanted, frantically gathering my scattered clothes. 　　Richard's voice cut through my panic. 　　"What happened? Did I say something wrong?" 　　But I ignored him, my hands shaking as I dressed. I turned to flee, but Richard's voice stopped me. 　　"Serena!" he yelled, but I didn't look back. I ran towards my truck, my heart racing. 　　I yanked open the door and leapt inside, but the engine refused to start. "Seriously? Now?" I hissed, frustration boiling over. 　　I tried again, my hands trembling with urgency. As I turned the key, Richard emerged from his apartment, clad only in his boxers. 　　"Serena!" he shouted, racing towards me. 　　But I didn't wait. The engine roared to life, 　　I let out a shaky sigh of relief and I sped away, leaving Richard in a cloud of dust. 　　I pulled into my driveway, but instead of getting out, I sat in the truck, eyes closed, my head resting on the steering wheel. 　　I let out a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. 　　How could I have let my emotions get the better of me? I had almost thrown myself at Richard, and he had nearly rejected me on the spot. 　　I should have known better. I should have considered that he might feel the mate bond too. 　　I opened my eyes, the darkness of the night staring back at me. I knew I had to be more careful. 　　I stepped out of the truck and trudged towards the house, the weight of my grief settling heavier with each step. 　　As I entered the house, memories of my mom bombarded me. Every room, every piece of furniture, every smell reminded me of her. 　　I bit my lip hard, fighting back tears. 　　Staying in this house would be torture, but I had nowhere else to go. And besides, I had given up on life. 　　I was ready to wait for the killer to come and finish me off. I had nothing left to lose. 　　But then, what of a child am I to my mum? 　　How could I let the killer take her life without fighting back? How could I face my mom's memory without seeking justice? 　　I let out a scream, my voice echoing through the empty house. "Goddess, are you happy?!" I yelled, my fists clenched in frustration. 　　I collapsed onto the floor, my mind racing with thoughts of how to catch the killer. But every lead ended in a dead-end. I had no friends, no allies, no one to turn to. 　　My phone beeped, breaking the silence. I pulled it out, and my eyes widened as I saw a message on my Facebook page. 　　I let out a hiss, about to shove the phone aside, when suddenly, an idea popped into my head. 　　I sat up, my heart racing with excitement. Maybe, just maybe, I could use social media to my advantage. 　　Maybe I could post about my situation and see if anyone came forward with information. It was a long shot, but it was worth a try. 　　I picked up my phone, my fingers hovering over the screen as I hesitated. I wanted to ask for help, but a bitter laugh caught in my throat. Who would help me? I was the outcast, the girl everyone avoided. 　　A weary sigh escaped my lips as I thought about my isolation. But then, a spark of determination flared within me. 　　I could create an anonymous account, a secret identity that would allow me to reach out for help without fear of rejection or ridicule. 　　With newfound resolve, I quickly opened a new account, my fingers flying across the keyboard as I created a pseudonym and profile. 　　Finally, I could speak out without fear of judgment, hopefully make new friends. 　　************ 　　I reluctantly dragged myself to school, still reeling from the events of the past few days. 　　I pulled on my black hoodie, the cap shading half my face as I sought anonymity. 　　All I wanted was to blend into the background and be left alone. 　　As I stepped into the classroom, a bucket of sand poured down on my head, and I jerked up, my eyes scanning the room. 　　The class erupted into laughter, but one person stood out - Richard. His expression was, as always, unreadable, his eyes fixed intently on me. 　　My gaze locked onto Penny, and I wasn't surprised to see her smirking at me. She was the mastermind behind this humiliation. 　　I swallowed hard, my face burning with embarrassment, as I dusted off my cap. The sand stung my eyes, but it was nothing compared to the sting of Penny's malice. 　　I slumped into my seat, my eyes drifting around the room until they landed on Ross. 　　He caught my gaze and, with a smirk, pulled his girlfriend into a sloppy kiss. I rolled my eyes, disgust washing over me. If only he knew how ridiculous he looked. 　　The teacher's voice cut through the room, but I couldn't focus. My mind kept wandering back to my social media page, and I couldn't help but sneak a peek. 　　But, just like before, I was met with disappointment. Not a single friend request. Not a single message. 　　A pang of doubt crept in, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was the problem. 　　Was I really that unlikable? That unwanted? I felt a sting of tears, but I blinked them back, refusing to let my emotions get the better of me. 　　As the class finally drew to a close, I gathered my things and headed to the bathroom to use the restroom. 　　After finishing up, I stepped out of the bathroom stall. Just when I was about to climb the staircase, a hand suddenly grabbed me from behind and pinned me against the wall. 　　I was startled at first but felt my entire body shiver on seeing Richard before me, staring deep into my eyes.