Chapter 26 You Are My Hope

Eric's POV

I walked into her room, carrying the book she asked me to get from the library. She was in bed, food in front of her, eating.

I smiled, seeing her choose among the food that the Cam prepared for her.

“You ok there, princess?” I teased.

She pouted and looked up at me, “I don’t know where I should start.”

I chuckled, “Why not start with the soup to heat your insides.”

I sat beside her as she reached for the bowl of soup and took a sip on the side. She sighed and rolled her eyes up to heaven. “God, your sister is good.”

I laughed, “You should tell her that, then she’ll cook you anything you want.”

“Really?” she asked, her eyes widening.

“Come to think of it. She’ll probably cook you whatever you want.” I said.

She smiled and drank more of her soup. “Is Cole doing ok?” she asked, a bit worried.

I nodded, “Mama Ellena made him sleep when she noticed that some of his wounds weren’t healing.” I said, leaning back on the headboard. An arm around lay behind her, my hand squeezing her on the side.

Then she set her bowl back down and leaned back, resting her head on my shoulder.

We sat there in peace for a good ten minutes before she broke the silence.

“Eric, I know you know what happened.” She said in such a low voice that I could barely hear her.

Somehow, I hope I didn’t.

“I felt it,” I said. There was no sense in lying if you were to be caught.

She then looked up at me. Her eyes were now filled with tears, “I’m sorry…” then she hid her face on my chest and started crying.

I quickly wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer to me. “Shh, it’s ok.” I whispered to her, “I will admit that I am not happy with it. it was painful for me not to be able to do anything to save you or as much as stop it from happening.” I closed my eyes, savoring every moment. “But it wasn’t your fault.”

She shook her head and looked up at me. She was all flushed and hysterical now.

“I should have told him to stop. I should have fought and not give up…” she says.

“Then he could have done worse, love.” I reached for her face, “He could have killed you.” she stared at me as I watch one tear after another roll down her face. “I will never be able to change what happened or take it back. If I could, I would, princess, without hesitation. But we can’t do anything about it.” I said, “We just need to accept it and move on. What’s important is that you are with me now, and I promise never to leave you or let you leave me.

She shook her head, “Eric, what he did….”

“Serenity, you are home,” I repeated as I pulled her toward me. “There is no reason to dwell in the past, don’t you think?”

“But…” she took my hand and put it over her stomach, “what about him?”

I frowned, remembering Mama Ellena’s news, saying how they were both safe.

But then, I did what I knew was the right thing to do. “Then there’ll be an addition to our family.” I said as I pull her closer and run my hand over her stomach, “That little person in you did nothing wrong Serenity, I will love him as much as I love you.”

“How can you say that, Eric? He isn’t your child or-“

“But he is yours.” I reminded her, “What is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine. I don’t care if you push out the loch ness monster or what. He is part of you, and I’m sure I will love him just as I love every person in your life.”

She looked at me in a way that I don’t know how to describe. Mostly, I think, she was just shocked.

“Now eat up before I force-feed you.” I said, kissing her on the forehead, “I’m not having my kid go hungry.”

She smiled as tears fill her eyes again, and she snuggled closer to me and wrapped her arms around me, “Thank you, Eric, thank you.”

“For what?” I asked, surprised.

“For understanding.” She said.

I chuckled, “Baby girl, you don’t need to say thank you for anything.” I reminded her, “After losing you and all that ordeal, I’ll probably do anything for you- well, except make you leave my side, or go anywhere without me, or split up with you, or-“

She starts to laugh and gave me a light slap on the arm, “I get it, I get it….”

“Good.” I said, “Now eat up cause you have a visitor.”

“I do?” she looked toward the door at the exact moment they knocked.

“C’mon in,” I called.

The door opened, and the next second was indescribable.

“Serenity!” Anna ran to her and almost tipped the table of food set on the bed if I wasn’t quick enough to pick it up and set it on the table by the window.

Anna threw her arms around her as Serenity hugged her back, and they began to cry.

“God, why are we crying?” Serenity laughed, and so did Anna, who now sat on the bed beside Serenity, legs tucked under her.

“I missed you so much, Serenity.” She said.

“So did I, Anna,” she said as she moved back to her previous position. I watch her as she searches for a comfortable position, but she seemed restless, so I sat back beside her as she continues to talk with Anna about random things. I don’t know if she noticed, but she shifted from her position and faced her back at me, then she reached for my hand and pulled me on my side, so my stomach was in contact with her lower back, and she leaned back. My fingers intertwined with hers were set on her lap, half wrap around her.

I smiled. I’m not going anywhere. I reminded her.

I know, she answered, I just need to be sure.

I chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her closer to me.

“Aw, that is so cute,” Anna said, staring at us.

Serenity rolled her eyes, “What’s cute is you and my brother.” She says, “Where is that brother of mine anyway? I was expecting him to be here.”

“He’s on his way,” Anna said, “Pack duties.”

They both shrugged.

“Well, where’s my other boy?”

Anna frowned, “Other boy?”

“Yeah…” Serenity said.

I moved up a little, making sure that I can see her face, “Serenity, Liam is-“

“Not Liam…” she grinned, “I know where he is, trust me.” then she turned to Anna, “Where’s the little prince?”

“Oh…” Anna says, “he’s-“

“Right here.”

We looked up and saw Siam walk in, with Ximm in his arms.

Anna moved toward the foot of the bed as Siam walked and sat beside Serenity.

“Big brother…” she whispered as she reached for him, Siam wrapped her with his free arm and gave her a one-sided hug, but it was long and tight. One that would say everything he wanted to say without uttering a word.

“You ok?” he asked her, and she nodded as she wiped away a tear before turning to the baby.

“Hey there, little guy…” she cooed, “I’m you, Aunt Serenity.” She reached the baby with one of her fingers and started to tickle its tummy, making him laugh. Then she looked up at her brother, hopeful. “Could I?”

Siam smiled and held Ximm close to Serenity as she took the baby in her arms expertly. Then she sat back and cooed over him again and again. We laughed at how silly she was acting, but I didn’t care, she was home, and there was nothing more I can ask for.

Well, there is something. But that would have to wait.

“Serenity…” Siam says, worried, “I heard about you being pregnant.”

“Yeah, what about it?” she asked nonchalantly as she continues to coo over the young prince.

“What are you planning to do?” Siam asked.

Serenity looked up at him, questioned. “I’m keeping it, of course.” She said with a duh, “Eric is right. He is not at fault here. If any, he is as much as a victim as I am.”

“What do you plan to do after you give birth?” Anna asked.

“Go back to school.” She said, “I want to finish high school at least, and then I’ll be taking a couple of years off to look after my kid before I go to college.”

“You plan to raise this child?” Siam asked, surprised.

“Yes,” she said, “with Eric.”

Siam turned to me and raised a brow. I simply shrugged and gave him back a look, “I told you my thoughts of this Siam. You knew what I was going to do even before we knew if it was true or not.”

“Are you sure about this?” Siam asked the both of us. “You know how shifters are to humans.”

“He’s my child, and I’ll be dead first before anyone can talk crap about my kid.” Serenity said, “And the same goes for you, Lil prince, if someone is bullying you, tell me, and I’ll give him a piece of my mind.”

“After she bites their head off.” I heard Jake say they were standing by the door.

“And take note that these are toddlers and kids we’re talking about,” Aaron added.

“Well, maybe I’ll start with you two just for the fun of it.” Serenity said, making us laugh.

Then Ximm giggled and reached for her face. Taking her attention back to him, she smiled and set her forehead with his.

“You’ll be a strong man, Ximm, just like your dad.” She whispered, “And be as loving as your mother.”

We all stared at her, watching her every move and listening to every word.

Maybe I wasn’t the only one who felt like this was just a dream.

“By the way,” Aaron said, “Cole is doing ok. We just got him settled on one of the guest rooms.”

“Thank you.” Serenity says.

“Cole?” Anna asked.

“The rogue who rescued me from the hunters.” Serenity says, “The funny thing was, he’s all like you, rolled into one.”

“That doesn’t sound funny.” Anna says, “I bet he’s a pain in the butt.”

Serenity laughed. “Oh, believe me, he is. All the time we fought and argued? If it weren’t for Tasha, we would have probably killed each other.”

“Anyway, get some rest,” Siam says as Anna reaches for Ximm and takes him in his arms after Serenity kissed him. “I know you’re tired.”

“Plus, someone wants you all to himself.” Jake teased.

“This is just for tonight that we’ll let you have her,” Aaron says to me, “tomorrow, prepare to share.”

“Yeah, yeah…” I sat up and leaned over Serenity, resting my chin on her shoulder, “I’ll tell you the same thing once you find your mate, and let’s see how you react.”

They all laughed as Siam helped Anna down the bed.

“Good night, princess,” Jake says before kissing her on top of her head and moved to the door.

“Night, Jake.” She said back.

“Night, cry baby.” Aaron teased and kissed her as well.

Serenity chuckled, “Night, dork.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Anna says, sending her a flying kiss making Serenity laugh.

“As long as my nephew’s there, I’m in,” she said as she blew her a kiss as well.

Siam chuckled, “You girls haven’t done that since you were in middle school.”

“Yeah, well…” Serenity says, “I guess you can’t grow out of everything.”

Siam laughed and leaned in to kiss her on the forehead and hugged her. “I’m glad to have you finally home, Lil sis.”

“And I’m glad to be a home big brother.”

Siam held her longer than the others did. And we all exactly knew why. When he pulled away, he glanced at me and grinned.

“You ok there, buddy?” he asked.

I grinned, remembering all the times they asked me that question, “I think I am….” I nodded and glanced at Serenity, “More than better even.”

“Well, we’ll leave you two to catch up,” Anna said.

“Do we have to?” Aaron whined, “I don’t think I like leaving Serenity in a room with a bed with a boy.”

Jake and Siam laugh, “That boy is her mate, and I swear I’ll kick you out of the room myself, Aaron.” Anna says.

“Meanie.” He says at Anna, “G’night, Serenity!”

Serenity and I laughed as we watch them leave, “G’night dork.”

“Hey!” he whined again, but Jake pushed him out of the room before he can argue.

Soon the room was quiet again, and she leaned back on me with a sigh.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She smiled up at me, “I just never thought that I’d see you soon, that it would be that easy to get back.”

“It wasn’t easy at all, love,” I said, leaning back on the pillows, with her in my arms. “But I will go through it over again if needed if it meant that it would keep you near me.”

She snuggled closer to me and turned to her side so she can look up to me, and reached for my face, “I’m not planning to go anywhere, Eric, not without you.”

“Good.” I smiled at her, then to my surprise, she pulled me toward her and gave me a long deep kiss.

I snapped out of my shock and kissed her back.

Then she pulled back and looked at me straight in my eyes, “I love you, Eric, I love you with my whole life, and it was stupid of me not to tell you that the moment I knew.”

I smiled and leaned my forehead on hers. “Words are just words, love.” I said, “I knew you love me cause I can feel it.”

“And how do you know that it was love?” she asked as if daring me.

I smiled more and kissed her on the tip of her nose, “Cause it's exactly how I feel.” I laid a hand over her stomach, “For you both.”

With that said, she closed the gap between us. This time, the kiss was different. It was demanding and almost possessive. I smiled at her lips as I kissed her back with all the pent-up emotion I had for her.

I pulled her up to me, making her lie on her stomach, above my body. I wrapped an arm around her, one hand on her nape, holding her in place.

I felt her hand run through my hair, tugging at it, making me groan and deepen the kiss and pull her closer. I felt another reaction somewhere below, which I didn’t need right now, so I rolled us over.

I needed to stop before I lose control. So I pulled away from her lips and started to kiss her neck.

“Calm down, love,” I whispered in her ear as I plant a kiss underneath. “I would love to do this, but not now.” I hear give a low moan as I continue to kiss her neck to her collarbone.

“Eric…”

“Calm down, Serenity…” I whispered again, then I hovered over her and looked at her deep grey eyes. “I will have you, Serenity, but not tonight. I will claim you at the right time, not like this.”

“What do you mean not like this?” she asked as she continued to run her hand all over my torso, which wasn’t helping my little issue on the lower region.

“You thought I wouldn’t accept you and your child.” I pointed out to her, “I know that you think you need to repay me for what you did with our bond, but I wouldn’t have any of it.” I leaned back to her and kissed her forehead, “I-“ I moved to kiss her eye, “will-“ I move to her other eye, “make-“ kisses her cheek, “love-“ I move to her other cheek, “to you-“ I kissed the top of his nose, “because-“ I bent to her ears and gave it a lick making her gasp, “I need you-“ I whisper as I give her other ear a kiss and a lick, then I hovered over her again, looking into her eyes, “and….” I kissed her on the lips, almost a feather-like kiss, and pulled away and stared at her flushed face, “I love you.”

And all she did was smile, and I knew that she understood. At the same time, I knew that she did feel the same.

“Are you still hungry?” I asked as I move back to bed, lying on my side.

She shook her head and faced me, pushing herself up my body and brushed her face on my chest, looking like a cat. “I just want to sleep, Eric….”

I nodded and stood up.

“Where are you going?” she asked, almost in a panic.

“I’m just closing the lights, love,” I said, but that didn’t seem to relieve her. So I quickly closed the light and took off my jeans and shirt, leaving me in my boxers before I joined her in bed.

The moment I pulled her close to me, I heard her groan and caught her hand smacks her face.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” I asked, worried, “Does something hurt?”

She nodded, and I sat up and opened the lamp beside me, “What is it? Where?” She looked up at me and groaned again, turning her back at me. Making me worry again, “Serenity, tell me where it hurts.”

I hear her mumble something in her pillow but can’t make it out.

“What?” I asked.

Then she looked up at me, blushing and all.

“I said you’re hurting my self-control.” She said as she ran her eyes over my torso and turned her back at me again.

I laughed and closed the lights again and pulled her back to me.

“Well, I should say the same to you when you tried to seduce me on the bathtub.” I reminded her.

Then she groaned again, and a laugh escaped her lips. Then she twisted in my arms and faced me, entangling her legs with mine. One hand ran up my torso, while the other she was running it up and down my arm.

“Was it something like this?” she whispered, running her legs up to my leg and brushing it over my shaft, waking it again.

This time it was my turn to groan, and I pulled her closer to me. I leaned forward and hid my face in the crook of her neck, and started kissing her.

“Two can play that game, love,” I whispered to her, moving on top of her, pinning her down the bed. I pinned both of her arms over her head.

She then gave me the most seductive smile I’ve seen on any femme wolf. She was driving me insane right now. But it would take more than that before I give into her.

She was probably in heat now, even with the child in her. That human broke her and caused her to have these longing.

And I was glad that I was the one she came for to relieve her.

I felt her brush herself on me, making me close my eyes and moan, “Serenity….”

“Please, Eric…” she begged.

“Serenity, I can’t….” I said.

“Why not?” she asked, her voice held every desire and need.

“Cause I want to make you my wife first.” I admitted, “You’ve been hurt so much, Serenity. The hunters took everything away from you. Even your body….” I said, “And the only thing I can give you is the respect that I will wait for you when you are mine, and I am yours.”

“Eric, God knows that you were meant to have me,” she said, “and I couldn’t ask for a better mate than you. But I do want this.” I stared at her, not moving away from her, her hands hooked around my neck, “you may not have the first claim on my body, but you had always had my heart, and you always.”

With that, she pushed me down and kissed me again. This time I was nowhere near in my right mind to stop her.