Serena didn't say another word to Dominic as she walked out of the council chamber. Her heels echoed against the hallway floors, but her thoughts were louder.
The fight with Rina had left a burn in her chest, but it was the council's silence that bothered her most. They still doubted her. And they seemed to be hiding something.
Her phone buzzed again. Rose had called three times and texted twice. Serena didn't pick up. She knew where she needed to be now.
Ada's house.
The night air was cool as Serena stepped out of the estate. She got into her car and drove through the quiet roads, the city slowly fading behind her. Trees thickened, the moonlight casting silver glows through the leaves.
When she pulled up to Ada's house, the porch light was on. Serena stepped out and walked up the steps. She didn't knock. She didn't have to.
Inside, the air smelled like cinnamon and old books. She shut the door behind her and called out softly, "Rosie?"
"In the sitting room, lord sentinel," came the warm voice.
Serena moved through the hallway and entered the cozy sitting room. Ada sat in her usual armchair, wrapped in a brown shawl. Rose on her own chair .But Serena wasn't the only one who just came.
There was someone else.
A young woman stood beside Ada. Tall, slender, with deep brown skin and long black braids. Her face lit up the moment she saw Serena.
"Who are you?" Serena blinked.
Ashley smiled. "Hey, Serena. Long time. Of course you won't recognize me. Remember Ashley? I went abroad when you were still about this little" Ashley demonstrated with her hand
Serena moved forward and hugged her tightly. "What are you doing here? You were in China the last time we talked."
"I came back when I heard what happened," Ashley said, pulling back slightly. "Your parents, oh my dear friends…You and Dominic. The council. The threats. I couldn't just stay away."
Serena turned to Ada. "You called her?"
"No," Ada said. "She came on her own. And she came with news."
Ashley nodded and took a deep breath. "The foreseers in the North. The ones who trained me. They sent me here. They say it's time."
Serena frowned. "Time for what?"
Ashley looked at Ada, then back at Serena. "The prophecy. The one about the Alpha Bond. The one that involves you and Dominic."
Serena felt her legs weaken. She sat on the sofa across from Ada. "I thought that was just an old tale. Something they used to scare young wolves."
"It's real," Ada said quietly. "And it's beginning."
Ashley sat beside Serena. "They've seen visions. Fire. Blood. Betrayal. And in the middle of it all, you and Dominic."
Serena felt her breath catch. "What do they want from us?"
"This is more on Ada. She needs to concentrate and get the visions. The prophecies are three in number." Ashley replied.
Ashley turned to Ada. "I know this is a lot. And you've not done this in a while. But you need to be brave and get it done."
Ada nodded slowly.
"What if Dominic doesn't agree with the prophecy.?"
Ada stood up. "He doesn't need to accept it anyway. It is fate. Whether he likes it or not."
Ashley smiled gently. "And for what it's worth, Serena... I'm proud of you. You're stronger than they know."
Serena stood. "I just want peace. But it seems everything is working against that."
Ada moved closer and hugged her. "Peace will come. But first, the truth. No more secrets. Not from us. Not from Dominic. Not from yourself."
Rose watched quietly and gently smiled from the chair she sat on.
Serena nodded. Her phone buzzed again. She glanced at it. It was a text from work.
"We have a new client. This seems serious."
She didn't pick up.
She turned to Ashley. "Get some rest. I need to deal with something"
Ashley nodded.
As Serena walked to the guest room that Ada had prepared for her months ago, her thoughts were a storm.
The prophecy.
Her marriage.
Rina.
The council.
Wasn't all this too much?
The next morning was slow. Serena woke early, showered, and sat in the garden behind Ada's house. The roses were blooming. The sky was soft.
Ashley joined her with two mugs of tea.
"You look better this morning," she said.
Serena took the mug and smiled faintly. "I'm just tired. But thanks."
Ashley sat beside her. "We never got to talk after your wedding. I wanted to be there."
"I know," Serena said. "But it all happened fast."
Ashley looked out at the trees. "Do you love him?"
Serena answered right away. "Hell no. I don't know a lot but I know he's not my type."
Ashley nodded. "Love in this world isn't simple."
"No," Serena agreed. "It's not."
She got ready, got in her car and left for work.
When she arrived an intern, Gina walked up to her with a file just as she was entering her office.
"Another case no one is ready to take on" Gina said.
"Like I thought," Serena said, taking the case file from her.
"Here's a quick summary," Gina started."
"So, a girl was adopted into a family and three weeks after, she lost all of them in a gas explosion. She says it was because she had classified information on a high ranking politician and they tri
ed to keep her mouth shut. Now this isn't only about the involvement of this politician, it's about lack of evidence."