✓ | DESOLATE, paul lahote ¹

chapter three

CHAPTER THREE

Recognizing the missed opportunity to see her brother, Serena made a decision on the spot — she could no longer afford to delay and waste time. Instead, she resolved to pay a visit to the Clearwaters.

As she drove along, Serena took in the familiar surroundings of La Push, her eyes taking in the sight of the trees that surrounded them and the close-knit houses that stood side by side. Although she had been apprehensive about considering this place her home, there was a sense of comfort and familiarity in the small, tight-knit community.

When she finally pulled up in front of the Clearwater residence, Serena felt a wave of emotions wash over her. Memories from her childhood flooded her mind, both nostalgic and bittersweet. It was a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite shake off, a mix of joy and melancholy, as she sat there in the driver's seat, taking in the sight of the Clearwater home before her.

As the sound of the car pulling up on the rocky pavement reached her ears, Sue raced to the door, eager to see who it could be. The smile on her face widened when she laid eyes on Serena, her voice filled with genuine happiness.

"Serena," Sue exclaimed, her tone warm and welcoming. "Is that truly you?"

Serena chuckled warmly, a genuine smile on her face, "The real me, indeed."

Serena chuckled warmly as Sue, with her characteristic tight hug, pulled her into the familiar embrace. She was well aware of Sue's reputation for giving some of the most deadly grips, and she found herself enjoying the feeling of being squeezed in her strong arms.

"That I am!" Serena replied with a chuckle, as Sue eagerly pulled her inside the Clearwater home.

"The children will be thrilled to see you return," Sue announced, her smile mirroring hers. "And you're fortunate—Harry's home from his fishing trip. He'll be ecstatic to see you."

As she stepped into the family room, Serena couldn't help but notice that Seth was casually lounging on the couch, watching TV with Harry, who seemed lost in some kind of conversation. However, neither of them had noticed their arrival until Leah burst onto the scene, her voice ringing out across the room.

"Oh my god, Serena!" Leah practically shouted, rushing over and enveloping her in a tight hug.

Harry just chuckled from his spot on the couch, while Seth got up abruptly, joining in on the embrace.

Serena found herself being bombarded with a flurry of questions from the Clearwater siblings, the interrogation lasting for several moments. At some point, Sue excused herself to start preparing dinner, which Serena agreed to wait around for rather than head back out into the cold.

"When you moved to London," Seth began, their attention now focused on Serena. "What kind of jobs did you have?" Harry, too, joined in on the conversation, sitting down with them at the yard patio.

As Serena shared about her experience in helping foreign exchange students feel at home, she observed that Leah had suddenly gone silent. However, neither Harry nor Seth seemed to notice her change in demeanor.

"It's amazing, Serena," Harry voiced, his tone laced with genuine admiration. "So, how long are you going to stay?" Leah remained silent, listening to the conversation intently, but through the silence, a pang of hope welled up in her chest as she secretly hoped Serena wouldn't leave again.

"Well, I came back to help take care of Dad, I'll probably be here for a few months," Serena said carefully, not sure if it was appropriate to talk about the whole Legends in front of Seth and Leah, they probably knew something along the lines-but Serena wasn't sure herself.

Serena decided to choose her words carefully, not wanting to disclose too much about the Legends and supernatural elements around them, especially in front of Seth and Leah.

"I'm back to take care of Dad," she explained delicately. "So, I'll likely be here for a few months."

As she spoke, Serena couldn't help but observe the reactions of the siblings, particularly Leah, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the conversation.

Seth's face instantly fell upon hearing Serena's response that she would be staying a few months.

"A few months?" he questioned, his voice betraying a hint of disappointment.

Without missing a beat, Serena reached over and affectionately ruffled his hair. "Hey, kiddo," she reassured him. "I'll make sure to always come visit."

Meanwhile, Leah's expression morphed into one of pain, her face contorting in discomfort.

Serena stared at Leah carefully, but just as she was about to place a hand on her arm, Leah slapped it away, abruptly standing and fleeing from the patio. Serena felt a heat radiating off of Leah, and the entire family froze in shock at the sound of her scream.

Harry quickly grabbed a hold of Seth to prevent him from running after his sister, while Serena stood frozen in place, watching as Leah began to transform into a large wolf.

Seth's eyes widened in horror as he watched his older sibling shapeshift into a wolf.

Seth almost fell off his chair, but then for Harry, he had been so shocked, he fell off his chair holding his chest," Oh my god! Harry!" Serena rushed over past Seth and knelt down," Sue!!" Serena shouted, immediately making Sue ran out

As the scene unfolded before their eyes, Seth stumbled and almost fell off the patio. Before he could fall, Harry, too, was overcome by shock, his chair crashing to the ground and his hand moving to his chest as he gasped for breath.

As the events continued, Seth managed to jump off the patio, his screams echoing through the air. Before anyone had time to react, Serena's attention was suddenly drawn to the sight of Seth too, just like his sister, transforming into a wolf.

"Shit" she cursed, as the shock of Seth's transformation set in.

The sight of Seth in his transformed state, whimpering and in distress, along with Leah racing off into the woods, left Serena feeling utterly overwhelmed. She felt like her mind was on the verge of exploding due to the sudden whirlwind of events.