Chapter 35 Guardian Angel

Eric's POV

I have never really liked fights, but it didn’t mean I never got into any when I was younger.

In fact, I think father considered me to be one of the dangerous one on the pack when I started to shift. I was quiet but easily angered.

Growing up, Cam had to deal with his boyfriends getting black eye or bruises from me, either intentionally or, well, a supposed accident.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Chris is a douche.” Cam announces as we watch Stewie being bullied by a bunch of older boys on his first official trick or treat.

“I told you so.” I said popping a handful of popcorn in my mouth.

“I should have known it was too good to be true.” She continued, I answered with a grunt with all the popcorn in my mouth. “I mean, I never really thought that I was a one-way ticket to popularity.”

“You are way more than that…” I said before taking a swig of my cola.

“I mean, seriously!” she stretched out her arms, emphasizing her frustration, “Hasn’t anyone told these idiots that I have a kick-ass brother who isn’t scared to dump a body a few miles outside the city?”

“They are dumber than they look.” I added.

She grabbed a pillow, hid her face and muffled her scream making me chuckle again. An angry, depressed and frustrated Cam would always be better than two seasons of Family Guy… well, almost always. As long as I’m not in the line of fire, I’m entertained by it.

Then she turned to me, looking all sad and defeated. “I should have listened to you Eric.”

“Glad you finally agree.” I said, my eyes still on the TV.

“But it won’t change anything.” She said.

I turned to her, “What?”

“Look Eric, I appreciate how you kick ass whenever I need you to, but really, you are just making it worse.”

“How am I making it worse?” I asked.

“You are turning me into a trophy.” She said.

“What?”

"It’s like this. With you beating up every guy who has guts to ask me out, you make every single male in our school or around us scared of you. But then there will always be that group of guys who would say- 'yeah, I think I can tap that and potty train the brother too'.”

“Potty train the brother?” I sat up and frowned at her choice of metaphor.

“And they’ll take it as a challenge.” She continued brushing me off. “They’ll start by courting me, then when you step in they’ll make a bold gesture to befriend or outstand you, eventually seeing that I will practically do anything to get you out of my neck. We’ll start a fight that will inflate the idiot’s ego cause he thinks I chose him over you. And that, big brother, is how it would be open field for him to tap me and how he would almost succeed in potty training you.”

“That’s ridiculous.” I sat back, shaking my head.

“It’s a proven fact.”

“No it’s not.” I said, "One, I would never try to befriend a guy you're dating. Two, I will give you enough space to date, but if he hurts you or even upset you, I will bring pain on him. Perfect example is that pervert today."

“That doesn’t count-“

“Yes it does.” I cut her off, “He was lucky he's human and I had to go easy on him.”

“Go easy?” Cam's voice raised, “you broke the guys nose, gave him two black eyes, broke four ribs and dislocated his elbow.”

My smile widened as I sat back, satisfied. “And don’t forget the teeth I knocked out.”

“I’d normally go wolf and tear him apart, then I’ll scatter his remains all over the country and burn them ten feet under the ground.” I said casually, “That is after I torture him for maybe half a year or so, or until I get bored.” I turned to her with a playful look, “Maybe I should collect all the a**holes that breaks your heart and then do just that all in one day, that would be fun.”

She stared at me with disbelief and shook her head again as she settle beside me, going back to watching TV.

“I still think it’s unnecessary and you are making it worse.” She said.

“I know.” I said, m ore serious now, “But that’s my job, princess. I don’t mind you dating or seeing guys, it’s the guys who actually comes up to you. Aren’t you curious why there are still ‘idiots’ who are brave enough to walk up to you?”

“For bragging rights?”

“No.” I shrugged, “Because I give space for them.” She looked up at me and I sighed and faced her, “Cam, I’m your adopted brother, the least I can do is protect you. But of course, I don’t want to be too manipulative or anything, so I’m still giving you space for you to be able to decide for yourself. We’re both just teenagers, we’re bound to make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean that you have to endure all that douche bags by yourself.” I smiled at her and ruffled her hair, “I’ll always have your back, baby sis. You hear me? And nothing will change that.”

“Even when you find your mate?” she raised a brow, a playful smile creep into her lips.

I chuckled, “If my mate is anything like me, I’m pretty sure that she’ll have a go with the douche first before I can even get to him, which, personally, I think that’s a worst case scenario for the guy.”

She laughed and stared at me.

“You know what else would never change?” she said.

“What?”

“The fact that I want a son just like you.” She said. “I know having a little sister is a pain in the back, but I’d like my little girl to feel as safe and cared for and loved as I do with you.” She said.

“Well, in case you don’t, I’m pretty sure my son would love to do the job.” He said.

“Yeah, I’m betting that it will be his mom who’ll put him up for it too.” She said.

“you got that right.” I stifled a laugh with her, then she sat back and rested her head on my shoulder as we continue to watch in silence.

“Potty train me? Seriously?” I broke the silence and heard her groan. “You don’t have any more better metaphors but potty train the brother?”

“It’s a spur of the moment-“

“Well, you could have said put a leash on, that would be more appropriate when I try to maul him.” I said, “Or put him in place, for my human half.”

She laughed and nudged me playfully “I did say almost.”

“Almost is right.” I said, “They wouldn’t even come near to dragging me in the house to potty train me.”

She laughed some more hid her face on my shoulder.

“I’d probably piss all over them and mark them as a territory and then they’ll be my b*tch so they can do everything I tell them to. Jump off the bridge, run in circles, play dead…”

She continued to laugh and soon she was shaking in bed laughing as I continue to enumerate everything that I will make those boys do.

Potty train my a**.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flash.back~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Luckily after that, I didn’t have any more problems as Cam had set up boundaries around her herself. Not only will she ask my opinion of guys who asks her out, but also dig around the dirt about the guy. She was actually beginning to be a little snoop. But it made everything easy for us.

No douche meant no heartbreaks for Cam and no fights for me. And Cam was, probably still is on top of the list of Female trophies in school.

After that, I began my training as a wolf.

Dad would put me in training mode the moment I arrive home from school. And when he has issues to deal with outside of our territory I was put in charge of the whole place and pack. Something I didn’t really look forward to.

The fact that I was adopted didn’t really make things better either, and I didn’t really expect it to.

The elders of the pack even voted that I go to the brutal formality of the old ways of sparring with my father until death to see if I do deserve the position.

And with that I said hell to being an alpha, I had the best dad in the world and to exchange him for some worldly position that would probably cause my death isn’t worth it.

Well, until I found out what else I would be getting from being an alpha to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flash.back~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“No.” I said.

“But they are coming close to our boundaries.” Keith says.

“I know.” I said, “But we aren’t even sure if they are just passerby or”

“They’re rogues Eric, rogues!”

“Who may just want to pass by.” I step up, and looked down at him. “Look here, Keith, we are not doing anything without investigating on this. We don’t want to start something with these rogues.”

He glared at me, his eyes reflected disgust as he took my full height.

“You know, the elders of the pack might just be right about you.” He sneered, “The adopted son taking over as alpha? The same boy who’s family was murdered right in front of him-“

“This has nothing to do with that!” I snapped. “We don’t know anything about these wolves. We aren’t even sure if they are rogues. What if they aren’t? What if we go there and challenge them only to get killed? What will the pack do without their alpha and beta to be?”

Unfortunately he stood his ground and shook his head, “And as the beta to be I have the responsibility to protect this pack, especially, if the alpha to be is incapable.”

With that said he stormed off and ran off to where the unknown wolves were said to be found.

“Keith come back here!” I called out, but he didn’t listen. At that time I was still doubting my position and place in the pack and my alpha tone was kept way hidden in me.

I looked around for someone who I can send to talk some sense to Keith, but I knew that would be impossible. No one can talk him out of things when he had already made his decision, all there was for me to do was to keep him out of trouble.

As always, I went after him.

For some reason, it was beginning to look like I was his beta and he was my alpha with me having to clean up all his mess.

But then again, he was going to be the beta if I didn’t came into the picture. Seeing that my adopted dad had a daughter, well, the chances of her marrying a pure alpha was low since mother was human. So when I came and was legally adopted, I also taken the position of soon to be alpha from Keith, the son of the Beta.

Ketih! I called though our mind link as I ran through the forest and after Keith.

I then heard a feral growl a few meters away and pushed myself harder to get to Keith before anything goes wrong.

I finally reach a very small clearing beside a creek where Keith was growling at the intruders.

Keith calm down! I said.

Shut up! You are not my alpha, not yet. He snarled at me and then glared back at the wolves across the creek.

I shook my head and morphed to my human form, facing the wolves.

“You are intruders in the land of the Crescent Pack Territory.” I said, “Who are you and state your business.”

The three wolves stared at me for a moment and exchanged looks, then one of them step up and morphed.

“Young alpha, we were sent here to speak with your father.” He said.

I raised a brow, “And who are you?”

“Messengers of the kings.”

I frowned, “King?”

He grinned, “I guess it will be cool to tell you,” he says, “all pure blood alphas are asked to come to the city for the princess’ birthday.”

“The princess?” I asked.

“You’re wasting your time.” I turned and saw Keith back in his human form. “He is far from pure much more an alpha.”

The man across us stared turned to him, “I don’t think I asked for your opinion, boy.”

“Boy? Who are you calling-“

“Stop it Keith.” I said, and he turned to me surprised.

I brushed this off and turned to the three across us, “I’m sorry about my friend, but unfortunately he is right.” I said, “I am not pure nor a true alpha.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I was adopted.”

“And?”

“What do you mean and?” Keith snapped, “His blood isn’t pure or from alpha and-“

“That isn’t for you to decide.” The man snapped back, then he looked back at me. “You are actually an interesting case, to be quite frank, young Johansen. And I think you will make a good candidate to be the mate for the princess and the daughter of the moon.”

“What?”

“We will see you at the City in a week.” He said. “And your grandmother says hello.”

With a tip of his head he turned back to his wolf and they ran off.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flash.back~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After a month, the supposed messenger turned out to be the elders of the werewolves. And the one who spoke to me was the wise and, according to Siam, silly Felix. The elder who was killed along with a pack of rogues.

Hm, a pack of rogues… sound like non sense, but at the same time, it makes sense.

Just like that night with Felix. He didn’t make any sense, but then again, I still did go.

Of course, father and Cam practically had to push me out of the door to make me go, but somehow, deep inside I did want to go. I just wasn’t sure if I was open for another disappointment.

I remember how dad would always brag to everyone how I would be the mate for the mortal deity of the shifters. Of course, like everything in this world, there are credentials and requirements.

One was being a pure blood, coming from a long line of alpha and all that crap. And seeing that none of us know my past, well, it was more of a fail at this point.

Then the fact of being pure blood meant that I was an alpha to be, nothing but the best for the princess, right? But then again, I’ll just be inheriting the position from my adopted father. That’s another fail right there.

Then there’s the little fact that I have never met her.

I have turned down all the invitation of the royal family when I was a kid. I always thought that to be around alpha boys would be worse than what I was already dealing with Keith and the other kids our pack. But then again. My dad always had my back here at home, but at the City of the shifters, it’s every pup for himself.

But not even all these signs of not to go was enough to make me not go.

It was like my wolf had taken over and made the decision that I was going.

Well, that and to shut up my sister of making the fates see how better I was than any guy in the world and how wrong it will be if they don’t mate me with the princess.

But still, that incessant pull was there, I just keep on tugging it back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flash.back~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I was packing my things for my trip to the Wolf City when my dad came and checked on me, with a grin on his face.

“Hey…” he greeted.

“Hey.” I grinned and continued to pack.

“You all ready for tomorrow?” he asked.

“Almost.” I gestured to my duffel bag that was suppose to last me a month, which I was doubting.

“You excited?” he asked.

I gave him a look, “Would it make you happy if I said yes?”

He chuckled, “Well, I’m pretty sure your mom and sister will be.”

I rolled my eyes, “Fine, then yes I am excited.”

He laugh again and then he walked up to me, “Son, I need to talk to you.”

I frowned as he gestured for me to sit at the edge of my bed and he sat beside me.

“Listen Eric.” He said, “I know you have been putting out this invitation since you were a kid, and I know that this isn’t any different. That you are probably just doing this to make me stop nagging you to go and shut your sister up.” I grinned hearing him say those things. “But the thing is, I’m actually really proud of you for doing this, not just because you are practically doing this for us, but because you are trying to face this, it is inevitable and I guess it’s time that it caught up on you.”

He shrugged and looked down his lap, thinking. “I know that I have put you in a very difficult situation, making you take over the pack pushing you to people that clearly doesn’t want an outsider leading them. But the thing is, this is where you belong Eric. You were born to lead and I will be damned if I take that away from you. You grew up here, this is your home, we’re your family and I know deep inside those idiots out there thinks so too. You’re a good kid and I’m pretty sure you’ll be a great man. Its just a matter of time before they see that.” He then gave me a look, “Especially when you have taken your place beside the princess.”

I sighed, somehow, I knew it was going to lead to me mating with the princess.

“Dad, listen, I know it would mean the world to you and the pack for me to mate the princess, and in case the fates disagree of us being together, then I would try my best to change that. But dad…” I paused, trying to take the perfect words for him to understand what I want. “If she is going to be my mate, I don’t want you to see her as the princess or as the daughter of the moon. I want you to see her as the femme that the universe had chosen for me, the one that the wolf spirits created to be my equal, a woman that is worth the wait and pain and maybe even the rejection. I want her to be welcomed to our pack just like any femme wolf we’ve welcome before, give her the respect and acceptance that she deserve…” I frowned and looked away, “which I don’t think will happen.”

There was a brief silence in my room as I thought of the possibility of what would happen to my mate, whether she was the princess or not.

“I know how shifters think, I am one of them. Our pride and need to protect what is rightfully ours often leads us to hell breaking lose. This town will always be my home, Crescent pack will always be my family, and it will be an honor to lead such a great pack… but do understand that I am willing to turn my back on all of that, even to being an alpha, the moment that they disrespect my mate or my children.”

“Well if it is the princess-“

“What if it isn’t the princess?” I cut in. “What if its just some random girl who I met on my journey to the city? Or maybe a lady at the King’s court? What if she isn’t even in a pack or worse a rogue? Will that be ok with the pack? Dad, they’ve been finding reasons to have me kicked out of the pack since you announced that I will take over you as alpha once I’m ready.”

“And you are ready,” he said. “you can take over me then they’ll have to think twice to question you and your mate-“

“What if I don’t feel like I am ready? What if they don’t agree and use my mate to get what they want?” I shook my head, “I can’t lose this opportunity dad. This is the only thing that I am assured of in my life. I don’t have a past that I can share with her, at least give me the future.”

I looked up at him and was surprised to see the smile and proud look on his face.

“Your mother would be very proud of you right now.” he said, I gave him a questioned look. Then he set a box in front of me, “And she’d probably want you to have this.”

I stared at the box.

“It was from her mother’s mother.” He said, “Well, that was what I was told. “It’s given to the wife of the son, for her to be welcomed to the family.”

I picked it up and opened the box, and inside I saw a ring set with a big black crystal on it.

“According to your grandmother, it’s a black onyx, a crystal that can protect the one wearing it both physical and psychic, can help to heal, and to cleanse chakras and stuff like that.” He rolled his eyes, “You know I never listen to those kinds of crap.”

I grinned and stared at the ring again.

“Your grandma will tell you more about it and its, uhm, origin when you arrive at the city.”

I nodded.

“You should give it to her,” he said, “I know you think your chance of being mated to the princess is small, but you’ll never know, even the most powerful wizards or witches makes mistakes.” He stared at the ring, “Whether the princess is your mate or not, I’m sure that the one who will wear this deserves you and everything you can give her.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flash.back~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I guess the fates and even the universe was being nice to me, cause the moment I set my eyes on Serenity, I knew that she was the one. The girl who I was already fighting for without even knowing who she is, and the one who my dad thought would deserve me and everything that I can give.

Unfortunately, protection seemed to be a thing that I was unable to give her.

If it was, then we would have never separated just because the King sanctioned it. She would have never been stabbed by that hunter, that made me run back to her only to find out that she left to look for me- well, for grandma, but I was with her, and I like the sound of her looking for me better, but that’s not point- then I would have never been captured by the same hunters who wanted to exchange me for Serenity, which she did do after we were attacked by hunters at home at the same night killed our parents and put Liam in coma.

And now this.

The moment we heard of the attack at home, I ran back as fast as I could to find Serenity sound asleep in her bed, her face tear stained.

She had an arm wrapped around her stomach, still protecting the life that was use to be in there.

I shook my head and shrugged.

The boys were right, I was supposed to be here. I was supposed to protect her, not out hunting hunters just to get even and revenge for the pain that they cause me, Serenity and my family.

I had completely forgotten my principles of being there for my mate before being an alpha.

I have put pride first and it caused pain to my mate and lost us a child.

This was all my fault.

And knowing she cried herself to sleep, alone and in pain, that was just pushing me to my limit.

I was supposed to be the one comforting her. Telling her everything was going to be alright.

But with the looks of things, I don’t even know how it would be alright.

All I know was that I needed her to understand how important she is, not only to me but to all of us. And that we will always be with her no matter what.

It was all I have right now and I’m not even sure if it would work.

I stared at her longer, finally my eyes landed on the ring. Remembering what it represented.

Protection… healing… peace…

She was healing.

But its power isn’t enough to give her protection, and I’m pretty sure that she’s far from at peace right now.

Neither was I.

I closed my eyes and thought of what happened earlier.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flash.back~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“What did you do to her?” Liam screamed at the vampire king.

He jumped at him and to our surprise he shifted mid air and tackled the immortal in his human form.

“Third kill, how is that hard to understand?” the vampire says with a laugh as he held off Liam from him.

But Liam was putting on a good fight, I knew he wasn’t just angry that he saw his mom killed just after reuniting with her, then there was the fact that he seemed to have given up his mate to be taken care of Cole. And now saying that he killed was adding unnecessary oil in the flaming fire.

But hearing the happiness in his voice made all of us angrier.

Siam gave out a howl that called out to all the shifter, demanding revenge for Serenity.

And just at the very second I turned back to Frank and quicken his pain. I slashed his throat open to make sure he was dead. But with the amount of blood he was losing, it was just a matter of time.

And like I was taught by all the fighters in my pack, I ripped off his head, and his arms. Just like how a wolf would be killed.

He smeared Serenity’s blood on his wounds, unlike his men who drank her blood, he was somewhat smart in a cowardly way. When Serenity used her power over those who drank her blood and killed them, Frank only got unbearable pain and his scars looked like acid was poured on him.

His death was instantaneous, but all in all rewarding for me. He deserved it, but his son was a whole different issue, unfortunately he wasn’t there.

Then I heard a thud from behind and saw Liam hit the wall and slide down the floor as the vampire stood up and glared at us.

“I think it’s safe to say that I won this war.” He said and then he disappeared.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flash.back~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I didn’t even stayed to listen to what Siam had to say, I ran out of that room and into the war, running past the wolves and vampires and humans who were rolling on the ground killing each other.

I went straight home and to Serenity’s room where I am at the moment. It has been an hour since I arrived, Anna came to tell me that grandma arrived and gave Serenity some medicine to help her sleep. That she needed to rest for a day, to calm herself, be at peace at least even in sleep. That she’d probably be out cold for the next day.

“She said she’s sorry.”

“It wasn’t her fault.” I said.

“I know.” She said, “She doesn’t.” I frowned and hear her walk into the room. “She isn’t even sorry for losing the child. She’s sorry cause she thinks she failed you again.”

“She didn’t.” I said, “If any, I was the one who failed her.”

“That’s exactly what she said.” Cam says, making me look up. “Eric, she lost her child, and yet her fear is that you’ll leave her cause she knows how much she hurts you whenever she gets harmed or something of the same thing.” She knelt in front of me and reached for my hand, “It’s no one’s fault. You needed to be with the guys, you had Siam’s back, do you think Anna and Serenity would want to lose him? Do you think Serenity will forgive herself if something happened to Siam if you weren’t there just because she didn’t want you to leave?” I stared at her for a second before looking away. “Do you think you would have stopped Yuri from hurting Serenity? It was his goal to hurt her, and he will use anything- anyone to do that. Serenity will die if anything happened to you, especially if it was her fault.”

I shook my head, not wanting to hear any of it.

It was all sugar-coated lies, that was it was. But somehow, it held truth.

“Siam, look at me.” She said, her voice now quivering. A sign that she is holding back her tears. “Look at me, dammit!”

I looked up at her, my eyes just like hers. Pained and housing unwanted tears.

“This is not your fault, nor is it Serenity’s,” she repeated. “What happened may have been avoided, we could have planned and expected it, but things will remain the same, this isn’t over. And that’s what we need to focus on.” She paused and reached for my face, “When she wakes up, she will apologize, she will cry, she will be devastated and weak. But none of that is your fault, nor is it hers. It’s hard to explain now, but it was for the best. We know who we need to hide her from, that what the hunters had started is far from over. We can work out things we missed and protect her better.”

I just at her, not knowing what to say, quite frankly, disagreeing with her would just devastate me more. And she did had a point, knowing about Yuri’s intentions lost him the element of surprise, and we can plan better.

“Make her understand that we need her, and that she isn’t putting any of us in danger.” Cam continued. “That it will hurt us more to lose her in any way, that it will hurt you.”

Thinking of where things went wrong and what would have been avoided if certain things didn’t occur.

But then again, if I was to do it all over again, I will never change a thing.

Simply because this angel, lying asleep in front of me, will never disappear or leave; that everything that had happened had actually strengthened us, we were beyond the bond of the shifters. We had our own bond, one that can never be shattered or broken.

Not unless we will it to be.