Chapter 13 Hello, Hello

Serenity's POV

It has been three days since I had been locked in my room, hardly seeing Rham or even Gene. Rham was in as much shock as I was after his father’s threat was, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he escaped that very night. But all the hustle and bustle outside my window says so differently.

The household help had been preparing for Rham’s birthday party- which was tomorrow night- the whole day, and from the looks of it, Frank wasn’t lying when he said he wanted a big party and it was to be held here in their home.

I guess they didn’t want to give me a chance to escape. I thought. That girly prick sure thinks of everything.

I shrugged and walked back to the bed, sitting by the foot.

I frowned, remembering the wolf that we have taken back with us. It was weird how he came. He was looking lost and in panic as if he has no control of his wolf.

And when he set his eyes on me, he growled and got mad.

Also, his scent, it wasn’t like that of a normal shifter. It was of gas and flames. A bit of metallic rust and dirt, too, making me wonder if he had been held captive himself. He showed no signs of he was. In fact, he’s probably one of the biggest shifters I’ve seen.

Not as big as the boys’ back home, but almost.

He must have some alpha or beta blood in him. That would make matters worse for the hunter- especially if he were an alpha’s son.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, centering my attention to his scent. There were no signs of it. He was probably in the basement.

Then, my door opened, and Rham stepped inside, and I caught the surprise in his eyes seeing me up and about.

“You seem to look better.” He said.

“Thank you,” I said, crossing my arms.

“That’s good. The party’s tomorrow tonight-“

“I’m not going,” I said and turned to walk toward the bookshelf.

“You really don’t have a choice Serenity.” Rham sighed, “Father would be furious-“

“I don’t care if he dies without me there,” I said, nonchalant. “I will not watch one of my people be killed for enjoyment.”

“Serenity-“

“If that is all you have to say, Rham, you can go and prepare for your party.”

“Serenity, stop being hard-headed,” he snaps, “that shifter will be killed, whether you are there or not, and father will show you its corpse just to torment you!”

“It torments me enough that I know I’m the reason he’s here!” I glared at him, “I refuse to watch him be killed.”

He walked up to me and grabbed me by the arm, “This is no longer just about you, Serenity. Your family, mate, me… we’re all somehow, disturbingly part of this, and seeing how inconsiderate and selfish you are, need to see that I don’t really care what you say or think. It’s every man for himself from now on.”

I never looked away for even a second. “Then tell your father to get this over with and kill me now cause I have had enough of this.”

“You know what, Serenity?” he says, tightening his hold on my arm, “If you want to die so much, you would have done it before.”

I frowned and stared at him, surprised.

He was the reason I couldn’t do that. He kept telling me everything will be fine and all that trash. Is this him saying that it was all false hopes? That I probably would die here along with my guilt?

“You will come to the party whether you like it or not.” He sneered, “Gene will come to help you prepare, and if you still refuse, I will drag you to the party in whatever state you are in, so might as well let Gene do her job.”

“If you think you’re scaring me with this bipolar thing you have going, Rham. You better think twice.” I said, “You said it yourself. You aren’t like your father. Empty threats are useless.”

I feel him tighten his hold on me grow tighter, and if I was a normal human girl, I’m pretty sure he would have broken my arm.

“Empty, huh?” he smirked, “Let’s see what you think of being after I’m done with you.”

He then pulled me toward him, wrapping his arms around my waist and holding me in place as he forced a kiss on me. He then walked me backward and pinned me between him and the wall, his legs positioned between my legs, making it impossible to kick his supposedly most sensitive spot.

I struggled to push him away, but his hold was strong. So I did what any girl would do, bite his lip.

He moved back and smirked at me. His eyes shined with lust.

“Stop it, Rham!” I snapped at him.

“Feisty,” he laughs, “I can’t say I don’t like it cause it is a turn on Serenity, probably the reason I like you,” he says, still pinning me on the wall as I squirm in his hold.

He then grabbed a fistful of my hair and made me face him.

“But I can be as rough on you,” he says as he traces his lips up and down my neck.

“Stop it, Rham!” I said, my hands pushing him away. I had no idea he was so strong. But then again, he never manhandled me before. How was I to know?

“Too lively,” he says. He let goes of my hair and reached for his pocket, and pulled out a syringe, taking the safety cap off with a push of his thumb.

“R-Rha, w-what are you doing?”

“Just a little downer...” He says with an evil grin on him, “to relax, you princess.”

“Please, Rham…” I said.

“Don’t worry, love. You’d be awake the whole time. You’d feel every moment.” He says, “Only difference is you’d be immobile.”

With that said, I felt him stab the syringe on my neck, and I felt my knee weaken. He then threw the syringe aside and picked me up, dumping me on the bed.

I try to raise my arms to stop him, to push him away as he hovers over me, kissing me from my neck down, but I couldn’t. It was as if my body refused to follow any orders from my brain.

I feel his hand cover my neck, then run down and stopped over my pendant. He wrapped his arm around it and roughly tore it off m. II cringe as I felt the burn around my neck.

“We wouldn’t want you to feel guilty now would we?” he said, raising my necklace up and threw it on the floor , I heard it fell with a thud.

From that point on the only thing I had in control were my tears as they came rushing out of me, fired with pain, anger, and fear.

The a** had the decency to sleep over and held me in my sleep. I woke up still feeling weak and groggy. My body was shouting out of pain and exhaustion. I would have to applaud Rham's stamina. He made use of every moment of the drug’s effect.

When he finally fell asleep, with me still immobile, I lied there and cried quietly. Thinking and calling out for Eric.

Eric.

As always, he was the first thing in my mind. But unlike the other days, I wasn’t as excited to think of him and see if he was radiating some sort of emotion.

In fact, I was afraid to check on our link.

I know I love him as much as I did yesterday, but does he feel the same after what Rham did?

Would he understand once he notices the change in my scent?

Would he even look at me?

I felt another tear trickle down my cheek, and a low sob escaped.

But I guess it wasn’t as low as I thought it was cause I felt Rham stir. By instinct, I pulled the covers nearer to my body, my arms in front of me.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He whispered and kissed me on the shoulder.

I shuddered and tried to move away. At least I knew that that part of the connection is still there.

Eric, please… I thought, begging that he hears me.

“Thank you for the early and best birthday gift.” He says.

The memory of last night flooded my mind and I had to hide my face in the pillow to stop the tears from coming.

“Hey, hey, there’s no need to cry about it princess.” I hear him say as he reaches for my shoulder and rolled me on my back so he can hover me again, but I raised my arms in front of me to put some distance between us.

He then reached for my face and wiped the tears away.

“I guess I understand why you are crying.” He says in a whisper, “Last night was beautiful, wasn’t it?”

I stared at him, trying to find the old Rham I knew, the one who cared for me. Was all of that an act? Or did I drive him to this point? Then I remembered what Liam said in that dream.

Is this what you meant, Liam? I thought.

Then like a child on Christmas morning, he pushed himself out of bed and picked up his clothes.

“As much as I want a continuation of last night’s private party, I’d have to see into things for tonight.” He says putting on his clothes, “So you can stay here. I’ll have food sent up, so you might want to dress now, love.”

Then he ran back to the bed and reached for my face planting another kiss, and pulled away.

“And just think,” he says in a whisper, “three months before my next birthday could be the birth of our child too.”

I felt my eyes widen which he just brushed off as he jumped out of bed and almost hopped out of the room.

The moment the door closed, I rolled myself into fetus position and cried.

A little later, I stood up and looked for my necklace. I picked it up and saw the chain was broken, but the pendant was intact.

I can’t break it, not now. if Liam was really in coma, then I’m the only one who can get him out of it.

Everything will be fine, Serenity. I said to myself, cry it out and then fight back.

I stood beside Rham as we walked around the house, introducing me to his visitors. Each of them had something to sneer about my kind.

But quite frankly, I was still in no condition to start fighting back. So I allowed my self to sink into the pain and anger, might as well, seeing that I will be forced to watch another death of a shifter, which always depresses and angers me.

“The princess of the shifters, amazing.” One hunter say. “I heard so much about you… your ability… our heart…..”

I frowned, remembering the death of Josephine. Then he turns to Rham, “She’s quite a keeper though, you’ve tapped that already?”

Rham smirked, “It’s nice to see you, Harold.” Then he pulled my hand to the crook of his arm and led me into the bar.

“You thirsty?” he asked. I gave a weak nod and he called to the bartender. “Can I have a bottled water, please?”

“’ Yes, sir.” The waiter took off.

Rham then turned to me and winked, “We don’t want to be careless with our baby now, would we?” he then reached for my midsection, rubbing his hand there.

I pushed his hand away, “Stop it. I’m not pregnant.”

Hr chuckled, “The last time I checked, I was the doctor.” He says and then he glanced around as if making sure that no one can hear, “And with how many times I came inside you last night, chances are more than fifty percent princess.”

I raised my hand to slap him, but he caught it and kissed my knuckles, “You wouldn’t want to do that princess, or you’d be killed along with your friend over there.”

I glanced at the corner of the room and saw the wolf we caught caged inside what looks like a huge plastic box, no wonder I can’t catch a scent.

Then Rham put an arm around my waist, making me flinch from the cold again, “Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?” he brushed his nose on the side of my neck, making me shiver as I felt his breath there. “But it would look so much better on the floor…..”

He then kissed me on the side, and felt him suck unto my neck.

Typical, a man marking what he thinks he owns, so I turned around when the waiter returned with my water.

“Thank you,” I said as I take it from him.

I felt Rham loosen his hold of me and made me face him.

“I have something for you.” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace. A diamond studded necklace, he raised it to my neck, but I stepped back.

He raised a brow, “Do I have to threaten you again princess?”

“You already got what you want, Rham.” I hissed, “What else do you want from me?”

For a quick second, his face softened, almost back to the old Rham I knew.

“You, Serenity…” he whispered, “it’s you I want. And I can’t do that if you are constantly thinking of your good for nothing mate.”

“He is not-“

“He still isn’t here to save you.” he reminded me. “It's been months, princess. He could have found someone new. It's time you did too…”

I shook my head, “No, Rham.” I said, “That is not how it works. He is not like you who claims what is not yours by force.” He frowned, “You keep telling me that he isn’t here saving me, well, you aren’t doing any better, are you?”

That made him glare at me again, “You will put on the necklace and continue to act happy, or I’ll have the others deal with you too. I’m not that selfish if it means that your bond with your mate will wear out.”

I frowned, one scent was enough, I felt disgusted as it is, what more if Rham does what he says. I gripped the pendant which I made a bracelet, tucked under the gloves that reached up to my elbows- hey, it came along with the gown, who was I to question?

Again, I stepped up to him in defeat and let him put the necklace on me.

He then stared at it and smiled, “Beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I said, glad I haven’t lost my manners.

Then he reached for m hand and entwined his fingers with mine.

“Let’s dance.” He said.

“I’m tired Rham.” I whined.

“I don’t care.” He hissed. “I won’t hesitate to take you back in your room and drug you again.”

I frowned and took swig from my water bottle and let him pull me to the dance floor.

And the whole time I had my eyes on the shifter in the box.

Rham was whispering something to me, but I blocked him.

And then, to my surprise, the wolf stopped jumping inside the box and stared at me, calming down.

I kept my eyes on him, and he did the same, suddenly he tilted his head back and I caught a low muffled howl coming from him.

Then the guards around him slammed his hand at the wall of his cage, but he just growled at the human.

“Well, it looks like he’s all riled up for the next part of the party, doesn’t everyone agree?” I hear Frank say over the noise.

The guests laughed along with him.

Heartless a**holes. I thought.

“If everyone could please join us outside, I have prepared an entertainment for us that I’m sure you’d love,” Frank announced.

I was wondering what those tents outside were for. Rham pulled me toward the garden along with the other guests. Then, I gave one final glance at the wolf as he shook his cage after ramming into it.

Save your energy for the fight. I thought, wishing hard that he heard it.

But the wolf continued banging on the walls until he glanced my way. He stopped for a second until one of the hunters stepped into the cage and poked him with a rod that made him whine and jump into a defensive stance.

“Let’s go.” Rham pulled my arm cutting my view of the wolf and pushed me outside.

He set me between him and his father, we were sitting in what looked like a private box. Rham held my hand, rested on his lap while I sat up, worried.

“Don’t worry princess.” Frank said. “You don’t know this one. I made sure that he won’t be lost to you or the shifters. He’s a rogue there for useless and unwanted.”

“He’s a living being.” I snapped at him.

“And like every living being, death is normal.” He said casually.

I felt Rham squeeze my hand before I had the chance to retaliate. I glanced at him and he shook his head telling me to stop.

But I looked back at Frank, “And I wish yours comes soon.”

With that, I relaxed beside him. Finally, I caught his scent and saw him step out into the open area in the middle of the arena.

“A shifter vs. a hunter!” Frank announces. “Let’s see how smart the shifters really are. You can place your bets….”

Bets? Seriously? I thought.

And as if to answer, I caught some of the waiters from inside taking the money and noting their bets.

“This is stupid….” I said under my breath, “everyone knows the shifter would win.”

Rham and Frank turned to me, “Don’t be so sure about that princess.” Frank says, “That hunter right there has something that your dog friend don’t know.”

“What’s that exactly?” I sneered.

“Your blood.”

My blood? I thought.

“I’ve heard stories of old hunters drinking shifter’s blood, gaining their ability.” Frank says, “Or at least some. And I guess it’s true, my scar no longer throbs as much after drinking your blood when you arrived.”

I frowned, I was out for three weeks and I was in IV. I was weak and pale, shivering.

They took it by force but left me alive. Then I remembered the last time that happened, it was also in a ball a few months back, and if I’m not mistaking, it all ended in my favor.

I remained quiet as I observe the hunter walking up to the shifter.

“Now, let’s see if what they say about your blood is true,” Frank says.

He then glanced at Harry, who was standing across the arena from us. Frank gave the nod.

The shifter was released, and he instantly was in defense against the hunter who supposed had my blood.

“Now, the real party begins,” Rham says beside me.

My thoughts exactly.

The hunter grinned like an idiot in the middle of the arena, taunting the hunter.

The wolf looked him over and glanced at me.

What are you waiting for? I thought. Save yourself.

With those thoughts, the wolf then lunged at the hunter, the fight began.

The hunter used his arm to toss the wolf over his head, but the shifter landed perfectly on his legs.

Strength, check.

The wolf then began to circle him, keeping a distance this time, calculating his next move. But to his surprise, the hunter moved in and grabbed him on the neck, and slammed him down the ground, making him yelp.

He snaps his teeth at the hunter, who instantly moved back.

Speed, check.

The shifter jumps back to his feet, and as quickly as he did, he rammed into the hunter and bit him on the shoulder. The hunter gave out a large cold scream that raised goosebumps in my bare arms. I looked away, not wanting to see the blood or any ripping body parts.

The breaking of bones was gross enough, thank you.

“Don’t look away, princess,” Rham says, “we’ll see the ultimate power of a shifter now. The princess at that.”

I looked back and saw the wolf move back and watch as the man in front of him drop on his knees, in pain. His wounds weren’t healing.

Well, it would be unfair if he was healing himself while I wait for every full moon.

“What’s going on?” Frank says.

I smirked, “I guess your son forgot to tell you that I don’t have the ability to heal myself.” I turned to him, mocking him, “Tell me, Frank, how many of your men drank my blood?”

“What?”

“I’m thinking three weeks of being knocked out cold, and you’ve let a lot of your men drink my blood?” I smirked, “Maybe even you?”

“Why would you want to know?” he frowned.

“Just wondering.” I said, “It would just be interesting what I can make them do now that they have a shifter’s blood in them.”

I stood up and backed away from them.

“What you can do?” Rham asked.

“Yeah,” I shrugged, “Like, stay-“several guards around us stopped, I grinned- “sit-“ they again did as told, in fact, almost all the guards did. “now….” I gave Frank and Rham my coldest smile, “die.”

My voice resonated with pure deity and alpha note that the guards began to cringe, even Harry. The wolf on the arena looked around, surprised.

I hopped over the division that they propped up between the arena and the audience and ran toward the wolf.

If I can reach him, then he can reach my pack. He ran up to me as well. The tent was in pure chaos now, and hunters had pulled out their guns and knives. The women were screaming and running around to the next exit.

I reached him, knelt in front of the wolf, and laid my hand in between his eyes.

“Make me known and make you true. Let the bond of brothers connect to you.” I whispered. Supposedly, it was only alphas who can do this, but hey! Being an alpha princess and the deity has its perks.

-at the hell? I caught him to say.

We need to get out of here. I thought as I hear a warning shot behind me. I turned around and saw Frank followed by some of the guests making their way to the chaos of people shoving and pulling each other.

Get on. He answered and nudged me behind him. I expertly pulled myself upon his back and looked around. He then ran to where he came from. Weird enough, no one seems to be coming out of there.

Soon we were out in the garden between the wall and a path that would lead back to a gate that I’ve been eyeing since this wall had been built.

There. I pointed to him, are you strong enough to break a door?

I hear him chuckle. I do that for a living little girl.

I frowned, not appreciating being called a little girl by some stranger who I haven’t even seen as a human.

Well, you weren’t doing such a nice job in your box earlier, were you? I snap back.

He growled. I work with wood, not plastic. He said. A hard one too.

Whatever just ram into that door, and it would lead us to a field beyond that to a forest.

Got it. He said, then he gained speed and rammed into the door that broke instantly, and he continued to run across the field. I sighed and smiled, finally escaping my personal hell.

But I spoke too soon. At the edge of the trees were hunters, aiming guns and bows at us.

But to my surprise, the shifter didn’t stop. He was meeting them head-on.

What the hell are you doing?! I screamed in my head.

Escaping. His voice oozed with amusement.

You’ll get yourself killed! I scolded him as we pass by an arrow and then a bullet. I must admit he was extremely fast, moving side to side, taking his time to reach our destination. I’m very sure that he is an alpha.

For you little girl? I’d be careful. I had a feeling that if he were in human form, he would have said that with a wink. Thank goodness he couldn’t. Can you hear that?

I try to listen and soon hear the familiar padding of feet.

Are they your pack? I asked.

Pack? He thought. I don’t have one.

I frowned but didn’t bother with it.

Please hear me. We need your help! I sent out a message to the shifters who were passing by. Soon their scent filled the air as they jump on behind the attackers that were blocking the trees.

The shifter I was riding on stopped at the sight of the shifters.

Princess? I hear someone call out, I didn’t know him, but somehow, his wolf looked familiar, almost like Eric.

Who are you?

Serenity, it is you! he howled while the shifter he was with disarming the hunters. I am George Marx, Alpha of Crystal Falls. I am Eric’s uncle.

Eric! I thought to myself. How is he?

He misses you, milady. Very much.

I smiled, imagining Eric throwing tantrums like a kid. Our small moment was disrupted by shooting from afar. We turned around and saw Frank leading hunters toward us.

There are too many of them. I said we need to go!

Take her to a safe place, shifter. In a week, make your trip to the Crescent Moon pack’s lands. We will await your arrival there.

What? No! I argued. We need o leave-

It’s ok, princess. Back up is on the way, and it seems you’ve weakened their numbers. We can take them down.

But-

We need to assure you that you get away from there safely. Now go!

He said the last part more at the shifter beneath me, and as if he was given the choice of his life, he made a run for it before I can argue more.

He made his way through the trees as he runs further away to a place where I never want to see again.