CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Emily's car tore onto the Black property, sending the boys into action. They quickly ran over, their faces immediately falling as they observed the damage to the vehicle and Serena's absence.

Alarm and worry filled their expressions as they surveyed the scene, their worst fears confirmed.

Sam rushed to meet Emily, swiftly noticing the tears streaming down her face.

"Emily!" he called out, concern etched across his features.

"Serena-!" Emily choked on her words, visibly distressed and struggling to convey what had happened.

Meanwhile, Paul's loud voice filled the air as he heard Serena's name.

"Serena? What happened to her?!" he yelled, desperation evident in his voice.

Emily's voice trembled as she explained, "A vampire- it tore the car door off and snatched her from the car. Serena told me to drive off... I'm so sorry, Paul."

Paul's face dropped, shock and fear etched across his features, as the realization of what had happened to Serena sank in.

Sam turned to Emily, "Stay here with Billy and Rachel," he instructed, and she nodded in agreement.

As the pack transformed and prepared to track down Serena, it was Paul who took the lead, his heightened sense of smell quickly catching her scent. Despite being usually slower than Sam and Jacob, the adrenaline coursing through him made him move at an uncommon speed.

The wolves came to a standstill in the middle of the road, their eyes fixed on the fearsome sight of the vampire who held Serena captive. The vampire smirked, his amusement growing with each passing moment.

"I knew you would come," the vampire stated, his voice dripping with sickly pleasure. "But I didn't expect it to take this long."

The pressure around Serena's neck intensified, making it increasingly difficult for her to breathe. She understood the message he was conveying through the crushing hold - stay silent, or risk suffering even more.

With no other choice, she stifled her sounds of discomfort, unwilling to provoke the vampire further and invite more pain or injury.

In the midst of the danger and anxiety, Serena's eyes locked onto Paul's, and an intense connection between them was established. The anger seething from him was palpable, and she could feel it in every fiber of her being.

In that instant, a flicker of reassurance passed through her. Despite the perilous situation, she knew deep down that she would make it out of this alive. She had unwavering trust in the strength and determination of the boys, knowing they would do everything in their power to save her.

The vampire had evidently observed the connection between Serena and Paul, and he sneered as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "One of them is yours, huh?"

His voice sent a chill down her spine, and the powerful odor of blood clinging to him was a stark reminder of the dangerous situation she faced. She knew that he had been targeting both her and Emily as potential victims for his gruesome feast.

Despite being trapped in a terrifying situation, Serena's primary concern was for the safety of others, particularly Emily. Her own predicament was taking a backseat in her thoughts - all that mattered to her was the well-being of those around her.

In the face of such danger, she found solace in the knowledge that Emily had managed to escape unharmed. She cared far more about others than herself, even in the most perilous of circumstances.

As the group of wolves confronted the vampire, Leah's eyes narrowed in recognition. She identified the newborn as one of those who had run away during the battle.

The vampire couldn't help but taunt her, smirking as he remarked, "Ah, what a lovely wolf you are."

The other boys let out growls in response to his mocking words, their anger and tension growing.

Taking advantage of the fleeting moment when the vampire's attention was occupied, Paul made his move. Simultaneously, the other boys joined the assault, lunging at the undead creature.

The vampire, caught off guard, reacted by forcefully throwing Serena to the ground, the impact landing her hard on the pavement. The loud sound of her collision filled the air, causing the boys to wince at the painful impact.

The vampire's original focus had been on the females as potential victims, but the strong scent of wolves on them signaled that he had made a grave mistake. Despite this, he found a twisted sense of satisfaction in having inflicted harm on one of their own, seeking retribution for losing his own mate in the previous battle.

The wolves brutally assaulted the vampire, tearing him apart with ferocity. As Serena's vision grew hazy, she slipped into unconsciousness, and the last sound she heard was Paul's panicked voice calling out her name.

With what little strength she had left, Serena managed to murmur a single word - "Paul" - before she slipped into the abyss of unconsciousness.