Chapter 32 Reckless and Relentless

Eric's POV

I stepped into Serenity’s room and saw that she was already asleep.

Yeah, technically it was still her room and I was just crashing in. I’m pretty sure Siam won’t mind. I think?

I took off my jeans and shirt and crept under the covers and pulled her toward me, breathing in her scent.

I know Siam said she had already agreed for us to leave, but personally, I would prefer to stay behind and be part of their guards. But like I said, I needed and wanted to repay Cole and Tasha and this was the only way.

“Hm, your back earlier than I expected.” She said in almost a whisper and snuggled closer to me.

“Siam wants us to get some rest before we leave tomorrow.”

She was quiet for a second, then she turned around, not leaving my arms and putting her hands on my chest.

“I know I agreed to do this and I know there’s no changing your mind Eric.” she said, “But please, please… I can’t lose you.”

“And you won’t, love.” I said. “I promise, I will come home for you and for our baby.” I reached down to her stomach. “We’ve been away far too long for me to even think of staying away too long now that I have you with me.”

“And you will always have me.” she said.

“Are you sure about that?” I asked.

“Of course I’m sure.” She said.

“Well, how about if I make that more official?” I asked.

“What?”

I grinned and slowly set her down the bed and reached to the side table, glad that she hadn’t been going through things in her own room.

I opened the lamp on my side and she did the same to hers as she sat up.

“What are you on about Eric?” she asked.

I turned to him holding up my most prized possession since I bought it months ago.

“I promised myself that I will do this the moment I saw you, but that didn’t go into plan… just like a lot of things between us.” I said, “But the thing is, we’re good with going through things unplanned. A little reckless most of the time, but we pull it off, don’t we? But one thing I know that I am not reckless about is this,” I opened the jewelry box and saw Serenity’s eyes widened.

“From the very first time I saw you in that tub, surrounded by those cherry blossoms… I told myself that I will make you fall in love with me whether I am your mate or not. I didn’t care. I wanted you then and I want you more now, and it’s more than just physical, Serenity. I don’t just want you to be the first thing I see in the morning, I want you to be the reason that I open my eyes in the morning. You aren’t just the air I breathe, you are the reason that I want to live. I don’t want you just to be beside me, I want you to want to be beside me. I’m not asking you to give me your full attention, nor can I promise the world or the stars, all I can give you is my love and a promise that that will never change nor falter, it will never be lost nor do you need to ask for it, cause I am more than willing to love you Serenity; you and our children to be, our family and our future. I promise that I will be with you every step, argument and laughter, brawls and even PTA meetings.” She laughs and stared at me, I pulled out the ring from the box and took her hand and slipped it on her forefinger. “I’ll give you everything that I could, and all I ask is for you to say yes to marry me.”

She stared at me for another second before I caught a tear on the corner of her eyes and she nodded, “Yes… yes Eric!”

I laughed and hugged her.

“Yes, I will marry you.” she whispered again and again.

I hugged her closer to me as if never wanting to let go.

I can feel Josephine and my own wolf howling with happiness.

I pulled away and looked at her, resting my head on her forehead. “I love you so much Serenity.” I whispered to her.

“I love you to Eric.” she whispered back and closed the gap between us with a kiss, which was too short for my liking. “This isn’t a bribe for me to agree to you to leave tomorrow, right?”

I laughed, “No, if you want you can use that as a reason so I won’t leave. God knows I don’t want to leave you now more than ever.”

“I can’t do that.” she said, “This is your responsibility and my brothers needs you.”

“Brothers?” I raised a brow.

“Well, they are like brothers to me, don’t they? I guess all those years of having them protect me help you close the deal with me.”

I laughed, “Was there even a deal to start with?”

“No.” she says, biting her lower lip, “I would have signed a contract of marriage with you anytime anywhere.”

I laughed and laid her down and wrapped my arms around her, not wanting space between us, even as I closed the lamps on each side of us.

I covered us with the comforter, she rested her head underneath my chin and sighed.

“I promise to come home Serenity.” I said.

“I know you will.” She said. “And I’ll wait.”

I smiled, “I know you will.”

Then I sat up again and moved down to her stomach, I lifted her shirt up and kissed her there.

“Hey little buddy…” I whispered.

Serenity turned to her side, watching me, an amused smile on her face.

“I hope you don’t mind, I know I should have asked for your permission first, but, I just asked your mom’s hand to marry me. Is that cool?” Serenity giggled but I brushed her off. “I hope so, cause I don’t think I can stay away from your mom or you. I promise if you agree I’ll give you a little brother or would you want a sister? Maybe both?”

I felt Serenity hit me on the head making me laugh.

“Listen buddy, I’ll be leaving tomorrow and wouldn’t be around for a while, so I’ll be putting you in charge of your mom, ok? You know how she always seems to get in trouble, right? So yeah, you have to remind her who’s the boss and keep her straight, can you do that for me?”

Serenity laughs again, but this time she pulled me up to her and gave me a kiss.

“You’re too cute, do you know that?” she asked.

“Yeah, well, our kids suppose to get that somewhere, better they get it from me.” I said. “I don’t think the world can be prep for a mini you.”

She laughs again, and this time I pulled her close to me and gave her a much proper kiss.

Next day we stood at the main hall where the girls were to see us off.

“You sure you girls will be fine here?” Siam asked, “I swear we can still get you to a safe house-“

“Siam, if we’ll let you go to this damn war, at least let us choose where we want to stay in.” Serenity says, still not moving away from me, and tightening her hold of my arms which was wrapped around her. I can’t say I didn’t like it, who was I to argue?

The same goes for Anna and Cam.

I smiled watching Cam and Jake whispering a few meters away from us.

Jake finally just give in to fate, not that he hasn’t. I guess he jus took his time, even courted Cam for a while. He did say he wanted her to be with the better version of him, didn’t he?

“You know we’ll be less worried if you are in hiding or something.” Liam says.

“I can say the same for you boys if I ask you not to go.” She retorted.

We exchanged looks.

“Just keep your promise and come home, alive.” She continued, “I can only do so much.”

“Don’t worry princess, I’ll keep them from being too critical.” Jean says, breaking the tension.

“And kick their butt when they start fighting and biting each other’s heads off, ok?” Anna says, “Lord knows that you boys forget that you are family and not just buddies when you’re stressed out.”

“I will Anna.” Jean says.

“Anyway, you should go.” Cam says, reaching for Jake’s face. “And be careful.”

“Yes ma’am.” We all said.

I faced Serenity and gave her one long kiss before letting her go. I looked around and saw Siam and Jake doing the same.

“You sure you don’t want to tell them?” I whispered to Serenity.

She gave a weak nod, “They’ll just go crazy and let you stay here.”

“I told you, I wouldn’t mind that.” I reached for her hand where her ring rested, and intertwined our fingers.

“I would.” She said, running her hand up and down my chest, “I want you guys to be on your best form, and that’s when you are together. I’ll be able to sleep better at night.”

“And you should,” I reminded her, “and don’t miss meals as well. I asked the girls to look after you so please listen to them and follow what they say.”

She rolled her eyes and dropped her head on my chest, “Do I have to?”

“Yes.” I said grinning, but keeping my voice strict. “I need you and the little nudger here to be in perfect health.”

“Fine…” she says and I reached for her chin and made her face me and gave her another kiss.

Like I said, who was I to argue?

“Can you guys get a room?” Aaron groaned, I felt Serenity smile along with me and pulled away, wrapping her arms around my waist andi put an arm around her shoulder.

“Whatever baby boy.” Anna says.

“Whatever.” Aaron says.

“C’mon baby boy, before you poop on your diaper.” Jean teased him some more.

“Really, let’s see if a Ximm can do this.” He says and picked up Jean tossing him over his shoulder and ran out of the house and to the cars waiting outside.

We watched as Jean laughed and hit him telling him to put her down. Instead he twirls around.

“We should go.” Siam says to the boys and gave Anna a kiss on the forehead before letting her go.

I looked down at Serenity again, as if trying to memorize every inch of her; then she looked up at me, worried.

“Let Josephine protect you, ok? All of you if she could.” She reminded me.

No need to ask princess. I hear Josephine respond.

“I know she will.” I said and then knelt down in front of her. “Hey there buddy, you remember everything I told you last night? Good. Keep your mom out of trouble.” Serenity laughed and gave her stomach a kiss, before I stood up and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“Be careful.” I reminded her as well.

“We will.” Serenity says slipping away from me and walked toward Siam. “Take care ok? Stay safe.”

“We will.” I heard him promise her and gave her a kiss on the forehead, like he always does whenever she was upset.

I turned to Cam who just stepped away from Jake and ran up to me giving me a hug.

“Stay safe, ok? Call me if anything happens. Anything.” I repeated. “The same goes for you young mom.”

Anna laughed and walked up to me, I gave her a hug with my free arm.

“Please keep them safe for us, Eric.” Anna whispered.

“You know I will.” I said. “Promise to keep my bride to be sane and safe?”

“Bride to be?” Cam asked, pulling away from me.

I grinned, “I asked her last night.”

“Seriously?” Anna asked and I nodded. “And she’s letting you go?”

“It’s just really to calm her down.” I said. “And to make myself work thrice as hard, I need to fuel the want to come home, and what’s more effective than having her marry me?”

“Oh, Eric, that’s wonderful!” Anna says and hugged me again.

“Congratulations big brother!” Cam says.

“Shh, you can’t just mention it right now.” I said, “She wants to keep it a secret from the guys, she thinks they’ll let me stay behind if they found out.”

“And you should.”

“I can’t, like she said, we’re stronger when we’re together, I can’t let them down now.”

“I doubt they’ll feel like that, but I do understand Serenity wanting you to have their back.” Anna said.

“Just get home safe and in one piece.” Cam reminded me. “I want cute nephews and nieces running around soon too.”

I laughed and nodded. “Nephews and nieces huh?” I chuckled, “I should ask for the same from you.”

Cam says and laughs as well.

“Don’t look at me, cause I’m way ahead of you.” Anna says making us laugh again.

“Hey you three.” I hear Serenity shout by the door, “You think you can leave without giving me some love? That goes for you too little lady!”

The boys and Jean laughed and ran up to Serenity, each giving her a hug and a kiss. Aaron picked her up as well and twirled her around. I walked up and made sure she doesn’t get dizzy. She did just have a wave of morning sickness earlier.

“Damn, you boy are getting too strong.” she said with a laugh. “Now, go kick ass ok?”

“Yes ma’am.” They said in unison before turning toward the car. “Liam?” Liam turned to her. “Go get her home ok?”

He smiled and nodded. “I will.” He says then ran to the car where Aaron and Jake were. “Bye dad! Love you guys!”

“Love you too!” Serenity shouted back then start to look around.

“Cole left with Uncle Peter.” Siam says catching her looking around.

“Oh…”

“Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure he knows what you have to say.” Anna says.

For some reason, Anna and Cole had been spending a lot of time together, Cole even missed half of the day of planning for Tasha’s rescue to bond with Anna.

“I’m leaving Uncle Luke in charge of you girls, ok? So please listen to him.” Siam says.

“We always listen to him.” they said in unison.

“Yeah right.” Siam, Uncle Luke and I said in unison.

“You should go boys or else you won’t make it at the meeting point, I’ll take care of the girls.” Uncle Luke says. “Good luck.”

“Thank you Uncle.” Siam says and gave him a hug, like the one Uncle gave Liam and the other boys earlier.

“We’ll see you soon.” He says. Then he reached for me and also gave me a hug. “You prove them wrong, Alpha Johansen.”

I chuckled and pat him on the back, “thanks Uncle Luke.”

“You look after yourselves ok?” he says as we were jogging toward the car.

“We will.” Siam says.

I glanced one last look to them and smiled at Serenity.

And I swear she was looking more like a deity everyday.