Finding our Serenity (Stryders # 0.5) HOLD

Chapter 5

The Hidden Alpha and this update in a span of a day? Who would've thought.

Short chapter but better than releasing it like a month later, right?

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"Serenity."

She expected Damien to say it out loud. Repeat her name back to her so she can maybe see how his deep voice sounds with her name.

Instead, he goes over to the couch to make himself comfortable. Why did she feel disappointed?

 Straightening at that thought, she went to where Lance was sleeping soundly. Checking on his small breaths.

Relief swept through her. As long as Lance was okay, nothing else mattered. Not even the mysterious handsome stranger in the living room.

"I'll need to wash this all off," Damien said. "There's only one bathroom which is in your room, so if it's fine with you, I'll get all this and change into some new clothes."

Serenity looked around the place. Her eyes drifting to the kitchen. It was like a safe house.

"I was on my way here before I..." Damien grumbled out the last part, "fell."

"Strange place to have a remote cabin," Serenity commented breezily, surprised to see the kitchen fully stocked with supplies. Damien was already in the shower because she heard the sound of the shower on.

Grabbing a water bottle, she took a deep gulp. The more she thought about it, the more she realized it was borderline creepy. Her mate couldn't be some serial killer psychopath, could he?

Nerves, she thought. Just nerves.

Were there any dead bodies of his victims outside this abandoned place?

Her heartbeat picked up, and she took a shaky step to the room, to grab Lance and go. This was her mate, she needed to trust him. But this place was weirding her out.

Would she ever trust anyone again?

The last thought made her momentarily sad before someone barged into the door.

"That's it!" a tall man with cropped brown hair and tattoos all over his arms barged into the cabin, two swords unsheathed, ready to attack.

His entire demeanor shifted when he saw her. Suspicion. 

Serenity had her dagger out too, but stayed very still. Was this man here to kill Damien?

"You think you can do something with that small thing?" the man asked, tilting his head at her. Not in a conceited way, but confident of his own ability.

Serenity gave him a smile. "I can kill you with a blink of an eye."

"Uhhh....Dami! I'm scared!" the man yelled out. "Where is he? Have you killed him, you vixen?"

"I'm right here, Iggy."

Damien, in a fresh pair of clothes, fully unbuttoned white shirt that showed off his injury and sculpted body. Hopefully not for her benefit, carried Lance who seemed like he woke up.

Usually when Lance woke up from his naps, he would cry, but Lance was calm in Damien's arms.

He couldn't be a serial killer, Serenity thought. Lance wouldn't like him otherwise and would feel the negative vibes.

The man, Iggy, gasped out loud. "No way! A baby! You didn't tell me you knocked someone up." Iggy came closer to Damien. "Cute kid. Always knew your Stryder genes were going to be strong."

Serenity took a step forward, warning this stranger off. He was too close to Lance, and she didn't know him.

Damien noticed her wary gaze, and he shot her an assured smile. "It's alright, Iggy is with me."

"She's the mother of your child?" Iggy exclaimed.

"No," Serenity found her voice. Wishing she had enough courage to look at Damien's face when she said it. Did he judge her for it?

"She's my mate," Damien answered.

Iggy's jaw dropped. Serenity was sure it would've dropped to the floor if it could by the way he was looking at the both of them.

"You mean- this- you- mate- her?" Iggy sputtered. He took a step forward to her, bowing a little as he held his hand to his chest. The gesture was respectful. Something Serenity wasn't used to. "I am Ignacio, but my friends call me Iggy if I had any friends beside Dami here."

"Serenity," she said, still not trusting them fully. And Damien had Lance in his arms.

"You didn't tell her," Iggy stated matter of fact. Damien shot Iggy a look. "Dami."  Iggy cast a gaze at Serenity before he continued on. "You're not just some random weirdo on the street."

"Seemed that way to me," Serenity chimed nervously. 

Iggy stared at her for a moment. "Oh, I like you."

"Tell me what?" Serenity demanded. Damien was hiding a secret.

"I was going to." Damien turned to her, raking a hand through his wet hair. "I just didn't know when would be the right time."

"I'm not your herald, so I won't tell her." Iggy grinned at her. "This is good. I wish I had grabbed popcorn."

Serenity stood there, ready to face whatever would come her way.

"I'm Damien Stryder, King of Vampires."