Chapter 23 Reason For Breathing

Cole's POV

I didn’t want to hear any of it. I needed to run away from her. From Tasha, the only girl- no, the only person I trusted.

I can hear her call for me, telling me that we weren’t supposed to separate.

To hell with it! I thought. I didn’t ask for this.

I knew what it was like to be failed by the person I trusted.

My dad failed me enough times to last me multiple lives, Tasha knows that. So how can she do this to me?

But then again, I should have expected it. She greatly believes in fate seeing that she sees the future. Who was I to question that?

But shouldn’t she understand as well that the future is evitable?

That it is an outcome of what is done at present? That if she accepts me now- if I keep my promise to myself to never be part of any pack or even give up being a shifter just for me to be able to be with her- then the future that she had supposedly saw when we first met will change drastically.

A change that I would accept with no doubt- probably would leap with her- my eyes closed and blindfolded.

I love her that much.

I can’t say that she feels the same for me though.

She sees me as her best friend. Probably like an irritating big brother.

One which I never was to my real sister.

I frowned, in memory of my sister. She was everything a big brother would want. She keeps my secrets when I was supposed to be doing my responsibilities as my dad’s…

Urgh! I wanted to pull my hair out. Can’t people in the past remain there?!

Who was I kidding? I was already a rebel at the age of seven. I must have gotten that from somewhere and even in his death he was ruining my life.

I hate him and that will never change. With that said, or come into mind, I will never be like him.

I will never let the supposed love of my life take control of me. To make her loss be the cause of pain to the people around me.

I shook my head as I stop at the edge of the cliff over looking half of a town and half of a forest.

Great, now I’m just blabbering in my mind. I rolled my eyes- I think. I’m probably going crazy.

I needed to calm down. I don’t want to go crazy on Tasha now. Especially not when I was so near in returning Serenity.

Once she is home, then I can continue with my life before her.

A peaceful life in the circus. A life with Tasha. Whether she feels the same way for me or not, I know I will prefer a life near her.

I never wanted my life to be this complicated. Since I was a kid, I have been treated differently because the daughter of the moon was born at this age. Yes, I was a son of an alpha. I didn’t careless about the status much more a snotty little girl that time. And I still don’t, she was a thorn in my life whether I was still an alpha to be or not.

Then there was the fact that I was an heir to lord knows what. My father was too busy to even tell me what he does for a living. When my mother died all had gotten worse, then the hunters came.

For some reason, when I ran away from them my life had became better.

No responsibilities. No rules. No dad.

But I would have loved to have my sister with me. Belle.

I took a deep breath remembering her smile and her laugh. How she always stood between me and dad when I was in trouble.

But I lost her in the crowd. I let her hand slip. She called for me, but I was pushed away.

Since then, my guilt of losing her had eaten me to this day, and probably until the day I die.

And now, as if it wasn’t bad as it is, it just have to turn for the worse, don’t it?

If only I never met Serenity. If only she was an ordinary shifter, or maybe if the hunters just killed me when they found me.

My random thoughts was disturbed by my wolf’s growling- probably snapping at my thoughts.

I can’t really blame him, seeing that I am questioning his goddess.

God, I groaned, can’t the past stay where it’s supposed to be- in the past. Or maybe to keep bad luck away.

Bad luck in the form of Serenity.

This time, my wolf almost roared, if it was possible for wolves.

Ok, ok, sheesh!

I stood up and turned around. I’m supposed to be with her and Tasha, I was sure that they are both mentally tired, they won’t be able to protect themselves after that fight earlier.

I followed my scent back to our clearing.

My mind still ranting about what hell of a week I have been in, and having Tasha feel the need to stay away didn’t make me feel any better.

Suddenly, a familiar scent hit me, a scent that was way too soon to come across again.

My wolf pushed harder, running to his deity. I couldn’t careless, maybe if she was with them then her mate would be brave enough to find her and save her himself.

I was sick and tired of it, I wouldn’t want to be part of this again.

My mind was made up.

Well, that was until the scent of the blood suckers’ scent was mixed with a scent that I have grown to be protective of.

Tasha! I pushed my wolf to go faster and he did. I give full control to him.

I can see the light of the fire from where we were. I listened for shouting and screaming, but the silence was deafening.

Faster! I shouted, hoping deep in my mind that I would see Tasha in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by vamps and fighting them off.

But when I stepped into the light and shifted back to my human form, it was empty, except for the howling of the wind that blew through the trees.

I looked around and sniffed for Tasha’s scent that pointed back to the forest. I hear a groan at the other side and saw Serenity tossing and turning. I ran to her side and saw her covered with perspiration.

She was burning up, too hot even for shifters.

“Serenity, Serenity wake up!” I shook her. My wolf snarled at me, and I had to let go of Serenity feeling my hand burn against her skin. I shook my head frantic, “Serenity, where’s Tasha?”

She groaned, her brows burrowed and her head shifting from side to side, as if she was having a nightmare.

“Serenity! Where’s Tasha?” I half shouted at her.

I saw her flinch before her eyes flutter half open, “C-Cole…” she stuttered, shaking from the cold as well.

“Serenity…” I said, calmer this time. “Where. Is. Tasha?”

“E-e-herb…” she stammered. “F-fire…”

I looked around again seeing that I’ve used all the wood and the fire was barely surviving the wind.

“I need to find her-“ I pushed myself to my feet, but then my wolf snarled again.

What? I snapped at him.

Then the scent of the vampire overwhelmed me. There were more than a dozen of them.

I wouldn’t be able to save her alone. I thought, remembering how many vamps were in the Romanov castle.

I looked back at Serenity and she was staring at me.

“Serenity…”

She forced a smile and a nod.

I shook my head, “No, Tasha would want me to take you home.”

She shook her head, her brow burrowed deeper. “N-no…”

I knelt beside her, “Serenity, we need to keep going.” I said, “We need to get you to your family.”

“B-but-“

“I can’t save her myself Serenity.” I said, “I need your help.”

She stared at me for a few seconds and then finally gave a nod.

So I grabbed a couple of more blankets from the bag and wrapped Serenity with it.

Soon, we were back into running to her mate’s home.

Maybe I don’t want to be in this anymore, but this was for Tasha.

The reason I continue to go with this crazy ride.

My reason for breathing is to keep her safe, and that is something from the past that I will keep in my heart, now and in the future.