Chapter 31 Reckless and Relentless
Siam's POV
“Are you sure?” Jake asked.
Liam rolled his eyes, “Yes I’m sure.”
“How sure?” Aaron asked.
“Very sure, now can we-“
“Liam, you just woke up, are you even suppose to be here?” Eric asked, “Serenity’s gonna kill us-“
Liam raised one finger, “One, I doubt that she’ll kill you. Two, yes, I’m supposed to be here. Serenity thought so. That’s why she woke me up in the first place didn’t she?”
“She woke you up cause you’ve been slacking way too long.” Aaron said.
This got us to laugh, well except for Liam who rolled his eyes again, frustrated.
“Liam, calm down.” I said, “We’re glad to have you back, really, but we don’t want you to tire yourself too much.”
“C’mon, like you guys, I’ve been asleep way too long to even think of getting tired for the next few weeks.”
“Well, I surely hope it was the right decision to wake you up.”
We turned and saw the girls standing at the door.
“We heard that you have been out of your bed since the break of dawn.” Anna says, carrying Ximm with her.
I grinned and walked up to them, giving her a kiss on the forehead and one on Ximm as well.
“Yeah, well, I was getting too well acquainted with the bed already. I need to get up.” Liam says, “Now as I was saying-“
“Planning on Tasha’s escape?” Jean asked.
“Yeah,” Aaron shrugged, “Liam won’t shut up about it.”
“Good, cause I do want her home soon.” Serenity said walking up to Eric who wrapped her in his arms.
“And she will be once we finish planning and getting the cogs turning.” Liam says, “So if you ladies would please step out.”
“No.” Serenity says, “I’m staying right here.”
“I don’t remember Aunt Clarisse staying during meeting like this.” Liam says.
“Well, I’m not mom.” Serenity says, “If you are kicking out the queen, talk to Anna.”
“Don’t even think about it.” Anna said. “It’s been a while since we all got to hang out, and I don’t care if we are planning an abduction or a killing spree we are hanging out today.”
Liam groaned and slapped his hand over his face.
“Calm down Liam.” Jake says, putting an around Cam’s waist. “You’ll get use to the fact that these ladies doesn’t listen to us.”
“U-huh, I don’t think the elders would like that.” I said.
“Hey…” Serenity says, “what’s this?”
“A map?” Aaron says.
“No duh, genius.” Serenity says, “I meant this.”
She pointed the spot which Liam marked.
“Liam says that’s where Tasha is.” Jake says, “Supposedly.”
“How do you know that?” Jean asked.
“I just do.” Liam says for the nth time that morning.
“That’s where the hunters hid me.” Serenity said making us all turn to her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” She looks over the map again, “It was near the forest and here… that’s where we met the pack when we escaped.”
She pointed at the opening of a forest.
“She’s right.” Jake says. “South, exactly the same spot where Uncle Peter found Serenity.”
“It will be better if we ask them to go with us, they know the area better-“ Aaron says.
“Wait, we?” Serenity asked.
We exchanged look, this was why Liam wanted this meeting early in the morning. Not even Cole was asked to come.
“Serenity, listen…” Eric starts the damage control.
“No.” Serenity shook her head, “No, you are not going there Eric, none of you are.”
Her eyes widened as she looked at us one by one.
“Princess, we can’t just tell the guards to go there and save Tasha, can we?” Jake asked.
“Yes you can!” she snapped, “You did it with me!”
“Serenity, we had too much to lose that time. They could have killed one of us then killed you too.” Aaron says.
“So it’s ok that you get killed now or get Tasha killed?” she argues. “No, none of you are going there-“
“That isn’t for you to decide Serenity.” Liam says.
“Yes it is!” she shouted, “If I knew that by waking you up meant I will be leading you all to a war between us and hunters and vampires, I shouldn’t have woken you up.”
“We spoke about this, Serenity.” Liam said more stern this time. “We will go there and put a stop to this and save Tasha.”
“NO!” she shouted and hit her fist on her side, “It’s a trap! I know it is! Frank and Yuri will not stop until all of us are dead! Every single one of the shifter!”
Her screaming woke Ximm up and his crying filled up the room.
“Serenity calm down…” Eric says reaching for her.
“No. Not until you promise.” She said, crying now.
“We can’t promise that, love.” Eric says, “We owe Tasha and Cole that much when they saved you and brought you home.”
“But we can promise to come back home.” I said, “We never broke a promise, have we?”
She stared at me, disappointed. “That wouldn’t be enough.”
With that she left the room.
Eric sighed and turned to us, “I should calm her down.”
“I’ll go with you.” Jean said, “I need to check on the baby.”
“Will she be ok?” Anna asked, worried as she sway Ximm to stop crying.
“I think so.” Jean says walking toward the door, “I’ll see you after I check on her.”
I nodded and let Eric and Jean leave.
Liam looked back on the map.
“We’re up against the vampire king, that’s why she’s worried.” Jake says.
“After what she’s been through with the hunters, I don’t think she can belittle them either.” Aaron says.
“I can’t…” I turned to Liam who was shaking his head, “I can’t give her this.”
“What?”
“I can’t not go.” Liam says, “I need to… I don’t know why, but I just know that I need to be there.”
“And Serenity won’t let you go.” Jake says, “I’m going.”
I caught Cam frowned but didn’t say anything.
“Don’t be stupid Jake.” Aaron says, “You’re staying here with Cam, I’ll go with Liam.”
“No.” I said, “We’re all going.” I glanced at Anna, apologizing. “I want this to end now. The longer we hold it up, the longer that we are all in danger, the longer Serenity would not have peace of mind. And she has been through enough. We all have.”
We all exchanged looks, I reached for Liam’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. “I’ll talk with Serenity, we’ll make this work and we’ll get through this with not less than a scratch.”
He smiled and gave a nod.
“Where should we start then?” Aaron asked.
“A breakfast.” Cam says, “Big breakfast before you boys go running around in your war zone.”
I chuckled and nodded.
“Cam is right.” Anna says. “What ever were you thinking of going to work with empty stomach?”
We all laughed as I reached for Anna.
“Everything will be alright.” She said, then she turned to Liam. “Got that Liam?”
“Yes ma’am.” He says with a grin.
“Good, now c’mon.”
We all moved to the kitchen and watched Anna and Cam cook, while I played with Ximm.
A few minutes later Jean walked into the room with Uncle Luke, Cole, Ken and Kendra with her.
“Good morning.” Cam says, “Grab a sit and start eating before these boys finish it all up.”
I had Ximm on one arm and was eating with the other one. He had his hands up in the air grabbing for anything he could.
Jean then walked up to me and reached for him.
“We don’t want you all dirty with Daddy’s crumbs do we?” Jean coos.
“Hey…” I acted offended.
“Oh, is the king offended and want to have me imprisoned?” Jean teases.
“Maybe.” I said, “But after the war.”
“War?” Uncle Luke asked, sitting across Jake.
“We’ve decided,” I said, “it would be better to end this now, before any more of us or our kind is hurt.”
“I’m guessing that’s why I heard a whole lot of shouting and crying and slamming of doors earlier?” Uncle Luke asked.
“Yeah, well, Serenity didn’t actually take the news really good.”
“You can’t blame her.” he says, “The last time she was in a fight with us, your parents died, she was abducted and you almost died.” She pointed a fork at Liam.
Liam shrugged, “Dad, not you too.”
“I’m not going to stop this, but do think about where Serenity is coming from. The least you could have done is tell her before you went of planning.”
“Are you also gonna pull a Serenity on us Uncle?” Aaron teased.
“No.” he says, not the least bit amused, “But I do ask you boys to be careful. You have more to lose now. Your mates, your families, your child…” he turned to me. “It’s not like the crazy alphas aren’t greedy enough to grab that position from you Siam.” He held up a hand before I could answer, “I know that you aren’t as enthusiastic about being put into the thrown as early as now, your father received it when you were at least two years old. But still, like you said, this is the only thing that he had left you, and along with that is the responsibility to each and every shifter in the world, not to put pressure on you, but that’s the truth.”
“I know that uncle, but I can’t work on that when I’m always worried if we’re surrounded by hunters or vampires who are about to attack and kill us.”
“You will always be watched and in danger, even when you are surrounded by our kind.” He pointed out, “It’s just the matter of using respect and fear on them.”
I shook my head, “I am not doing what father did. I will lead with respect, yes, but I refuse to use fear over our people.”
“Then maybe you are a better ruler, but do not be reckless.” He said. “That’s what you and your father have in common.”
The day passed by with us planning and doing arrangements.
“We’re to leave tomorrow.” I said.
“So soon.” Eric says.
“The sooner the better.” Liam says. “How’s Serenity?”
Eric shrugged and tossed his head back.
“I seriously don’t’ know if it’s the hormones or if she’s seriously angry.”
“So we’re going with or without her permission?” Aaron asked, “I don’t think I like that.”
“I’ll try to talk to her again, maybe at least to get her to understand.” Eric said, “She doesn’t have to agree, right?”
“I’ll give it a try.” I said. “You boys go through the plan again, in case we missed something.”
They nodded and I left for Serenity’s room.
I knocked into her room and peeked inside. She was sitting on her bed, leaning back on the head rest, staring at nothing in particular. A bowl of soup set on her bed side table.
“Serenity?” I walked up to her bed, she didn’t move. “Serenity, look at me.”
She still doesn’t move.
“Serenity, I know your mad.” I started, “But you have to understand, we need to do this, not only for Tasha. But for everyone, I can’t let this go on longer. You said so yourself they wouldn’t stop until they kill our kind, and that will not stop unless we stop them and fight back.”
Her eyes were beginning to fill up with fresh tears.
“I know you are worried, but we’ll always be scared and worried if we don’t stop them now.” I continued. “Remember when we use to run through our forest? Go to school? We can have our freedom back. Not only for us but for Ximm and you baby.”
She looked up at me.
“They don’t have to fear the outside, they can run around all they want.” I smiled, “Think about it.”
“I’d rather be locked up than have you boys be hurt or killed.”
“Think about our kind then.” I said, “No one can live normally, we’ll always be in hiding and running away.”
She looked away and stayed quiet.
“You know we will go through this with or without your consent.” She nodded. “But we don’t want to leave with you angry.”
“I’m not.” She said, “I’m just really really scared, Siam.” She began to cry again. “I know what they’re capable of Siam. I’ve seen how heartless the hunters are and the vampires…” she shook her head not knowing what to say. “Just, please, don’t just promise that you’ll come home. I need you to promise that you’ll stay safe. I need you to live, and not come home as a corpse.”
I smiled at her and reached for her and wrapped her in my arms. “We will come home alive. And I promise that we’ll be in our best behavior during the war.”
I heard her chuckled and nudged me on the rib.
“What?”
“You can’t kick ass while being on your best behavior.”
“Are you forgetting how bad ass we are?” I teased making her laugh again. “You ok now?”
She nodded, “I’d probably change my mind with the hormone short circuiting, but this ones the real one.” she said, “I’m proud of you boys how you are taking your responsibility, that not even my brat moment stopped you. You have my blessing.”
“As you have mine to mate Eric.”
She rolled her eyes and blushed. “I didn’t exactly ask for something in return, but thanks.”
This time, it was my turn to laugh, “Don’t be stupid, do you really think that I’ll let him leave you without any kind of protection?”
She shook her head, “No, I need Josephine to go with you, I know she’ll protect you boys for me. I can protect myself now…” I raised a brow, “I can, well, somehow. But please, don’t give Eric the idea that he needs to mate me before leaving, I’d be more at peace knowing a part of me is with you.”
I sighed and nodded, “But you seriously need to take her back now. it’s almost your 19th birthday, you should know how to shift and all that by now.”
“And I’m sure that you guys would still be teaching me how to do that when I’m thirty five or fifty five or a hundred.” She says.
I joked and looked up at the ceiling, “Thanks the goddess for not ripping our clothes.”
She laughed and hit me on the chest again.
“So we’re good?” I asked.
She gave me one of her childish smiles and nodded. “Yeah.”
I gave a smile back, but mine was a bit careful. “We’ll be leaving tomorrow…”
I waited for her to whack me or something but she just sat there, still smiling.
“The earlier you’ll be home then.”
Later that night I stayed in the war room last, checking on the plan and was about to leave when a knock broke the silence.
“Come in.” I turned to look and saw Jean step inside, “Hey, you ok?”
“Yeah…” she said, slipping her hands in her jeans’ pocket. “Wow, I never thought I’d see this room almost empty.”
I chuckled and looked around, she was right, this room was almost always full of people.
“Yeah, well, normal people sleep by this time of the day.”
“And why aren’t you?” she asked.
“Why aren’t you?” I asked back.
She laughs and nods, “Touche.”
“What’s up?” I sat back giving her my full attention.
“Well,” she says biting her lower lip, “you know about Cole and I right?”
I raised a brow, “By any chance you aren’t asking me to have him killed during the war, right?”
She laughs again, “Of course not. It’s quite the opposite actually.” I gave her a look making her continue. “Mama Ellena told me about mates. How they are found and what happens when they find each other.”
“Yeah… what about it?”
“Well, seeing that we just found each other, and whether he does accept me or not, things remains the same…” she says, “the moment we part, he would weaken.”
I frowned, remembering Serenity and Eric.
“Are you asking me if you can go with us?” I asked.
“No.” she said, relief ran through me. “I’m telling you that I am going.”
“What?”
She looked down on the floor, “I’m pretty sure none of us can talk Cole out of going, this is to save Tasha, and I won’t let him go if he’s weakening.”
“Are you sure about this Jean?” I asked, leaning forward, “Jake can have his back and-“
“No.” she says, “I need to be there. I need to know and make sure that he is ok. That he’ll be fine.”
“And what will I say to the others why you are going? I’m pretty sure the girls and Aaron won’t agree.”
“I think the girls would agree, I mean, I’ll be their eyes.” She says making me grin, “And Aaron, well, you can just say that I’m coming as your doctor or something, and I will. I can go and heal the wounded shifters, even cook for you guys and stuff like that. I just need you to let me go.”
“Set aside the fact that you need to go with Cole or to heal other shifters.” I said, “Will you be ok?”
She frowned, obviously picking up on what I meant.
She will be meeting Tasha, the girl that Cole chose to be with.
“Yes.” She said after a deep breath, “Yes, I need to be, don’t I?”
“I know he’s Anna’s brother and all that but seriously Jean, if I have to kick and beat him up for you I will.”
“I know, Siam, just don’t.” she said. “We’ve talked about it. I’m ok with it.”
I sighed, “Ok, if you really want this and I do agree that it would be stupid to send Cole there all weak and all.”
“Thank you Siam, this means a lot.”
“I know.” I said, “I just hope that you know what you are doing.”
“I do, I promise.” She said.
I gave a weak nod, “Get some sleep then, we’ll leave by dawn.”
“Thank you Siam.” She left without another word or a look.
Leaving me with another thing to worry about.
When I arrived in my room, Anna was still up, sitting at the edge of the bed, staring at Ximm.
“Hey, why are you still up?” I asked.
“I was waiting for you.” she said with a smile, “He hasn’t stop giggling since dinner.”
I grinned and walked toward the crib and saw that Ximm was still up, playing with his stuff bear giggling.
“You fed him sugar or something?” I asked picking him up, he then moved his attention at me, putting his hands on both my cheeks.
“I just hope that he’ll keep this smile while your gone.” Anna says.
I turned to her and saw the worried look on her.
“Anna…”
“Siam, I know I can’t change your mind, nor am I going to change your mind.” She said, “But you heard Uncle Luke, we all have more to lose now.”
I shook my head and reached for her. “You are not losing anyone.” I said. “Besides, do you really think I’ll leave you and Ximm just like that?” she frowned and looked away, “Anna look at me.” I reached for her chin and made her face me, and I looked deep in her eyes, “I am not going to miss the best years of my life with you and our son, do you hear me? I will come home to you and Ximm, we’ll be able to live a better and safer life by then.”
She smiled and nodded. “I’m sorry.”
I pulled her toward me and hugged her, “No, I’m sorry, I should have asked you what you felt about this earlier.”
“You know I would agree with you.” she said, “You’re right, we’ve let them control us way too far.” She shrugged, “Besides, I miss going to the mall and trying out clothes instead of buying clothes that I’m not even sure if it would fit me.”
I grinned, “But you haven’t added a pound.”
“Are you kidding me Siam?” she asked, bewildered, “I’m a hippo!”
“No you are not.” I said and silenced her ranting with a kiss. “You are beautiful, always had been and always would be.”
She shook her head, “You’re supposed to say that, I’m your mate.”
“Well, let’s ask other’s opinion, what do you think buddy? Does mommy look like a hippo?”
Ximm stared at me then laughed.
“See? He thinks the idea is laughable.” I said making Anna laugh as well. “Seriously Anna, you haven’t changed a bit physically since I asked you to marry me, so please don’t go into any diet while I’m gone.”
“I won’t.” she agreed.
“Besides, I like the idea of me squeezing you for a change.” I teased.
As expected, Anna blushed in an instant and hit me on the face playfully.
“Not in front of Ximm.” She said.
“What? He’s a baby, he wouldn’t understand.” I said, “Besides, I think its time for him to understand things about mates and where he came from.”
“No!” Anna laughed, “You’re supposed to leave early.”
“I can manage,” I said, setting Ximm back to his crib and pulling Anna toward me and silencing her laughter with a kiss.
