Chapter 3: The Other Woman

The forest was deathly quiet. Serena pressed her back against a tree, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breath. The growl had stopped, but she knew whatever creature stalked her was still out there — watching. She could feel it. She could feel the weight of its presence like cold fingers tracing her spine. A twig snapped. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She gripped a jagged stone, her only weapon, and waited. The darkness between the trees thickened, and a shadow moved. But it wasn’t a creature. It was Lucien. Serena’s stomach twisted. He looked feral, shirt torn, blood smeared across his skin, and his silver eyes locked onto her like she was prey. "I told you not to follow me," she hissed, stepping back. Lucien didn’t stop. “You left.” His voice was hoarse, broken. “I had to find you.” Serena clenched her fists, the jagged rock biting into her palm. “Why? So you can drag me back to that hell? Back to Evelyn?” Lucien flinched at the name. “It’s not like that.” Her laugh was sharp, bitter. “Then explain. Explain why she was wearing your shirt. Explain why her necklace was under our bed. Explain why you let her sink her claws into our life like she belongs there.” Lucien raked a hand through his hair. “It’s complicated.” “No, it’s not!” Serena’s voice cracked, tears burning her eyes. “You chose her. Every single time, you chose her over me.” Lucien stepped closer, and she raised the stone like a dagger. “Stay back,” she warned. He froze, chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. “I never wanted her. I only — I only wanted you.” “Then why?” she whispered, her voice splintering. “Why did you let her ruin us?” Lucien’s gaze dropped to the ground. “Because I’m a coward,” he admitted. “I thought... I thought if you hated me, it would be easier for you to leave. To escape the curse of this place.” Serena shook her head, disbelief crashing over her. “You destroyed me to protect me?” “Yes,” he whispered. A branch cracked in the distance, but neither of them looked away from each other. Serena’s heart thudded painfully. “I don’t believe you.” Lucien’s jaw clenched. “Then let me prove it. Let me help you.” “I don’t want your help,” she snapped, voice sharp as knives. “I want my life back. I want to stop feeling you in my bones. I want to forget I ever loved you.” Lucien stepped into her space, towering over her. “I’ll never let you forget me.” Serena’s hand trembled around the stone. “I hate you.” “I know.” She shoved him, and he didn’t resist, stumbling back. “I’m going to break the bond,” she spat. “I’m going to tear it out of my soul, even if it kills me. And when I do, you’ll feel it. Every......Second...... Of........It.” Lucien’s eyes gleamed with something twisted — something desperate. “Then let me feel it.” Serena’s throat tightened, and she turned, running deeper into the forest. Lucien didn’t chase her this time. He just stood there, watching, as the darkness swallowed her whole. --- Back at the manor, Evelyn lounged in Lucien’s chair, sipping wine as she stared into the fire. “She’s not coming back,” she said, voice syrupy sweet. Lucien stood by the window, blood dripping from his hand where his claws had pierced his own palm. He didn’t look at Evelyn. “She’ll come back,” he muttered, voice hollow. Evelyn smiled. “And if she doesn’t?” Lucien turned to her, eyes burning like molten silver. “Then I’ll drag her back myself.” Evelyn’s smile sharpened. She leaned back, stretching like a cat. “Good. That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.” --- Serena collapsed in a small clearing, chest heaving. The forest pulsed around her, magic curling through the air like smoke. She pressed her hand to her heart, feeling the bond still thrumming there. “I’ll break you,” she whispered to the night. The forest whispered back. “I’d like to see you try.”