Chapter 4 This Is Me

Serenity's POV

I stood by the window as I looked at the garden behind the house where some of the hunters had been playing around with a football.

I sighed as I remembered what happened last night and more than a dozen of wolves. Their disappearance wouldn’t’ go unnoticed, that’s for sure.

One of them was the son of father’s fourth in command. I’m sure by nightfall they’ll be looking for him.

“Hey, you’re up.”

I turned around and saw Rham standing by the door carrying a tray of food. I looked away and went back to watching the hunters playing.

“Do you feeling any better?” he asks as he set the tray on the coffee table. I didn’t answer. “Serenity?”

I still didn’t respond, hearing him shrug.

“Don’t do this, princess, please….” I feel him put a hand over my shoulder. I felt cold all over in an instant, and I had to move away, remembering my dream last night.

“Don’t…” I whispered.

“Serenity-“

I forced a smile and faced him, “It isn’t you Rham, it's the connection.” I explained, “I’ve been gone too long. Eric seems to be calling for me since last night.”

Probably feeling the pain of the death of the wolves as well. I thought as I push away the memory of last night again.

“Is there anything you can do about it?” Rham asked.

I shook my head, “Quite frankly, I don’t want to do anything about it,” I paused and looked away, “it’s the only thing that’s keeping me sane right now.”

“Serenity, you know father won’t let you go-“

“A girl can still hope, couldn’t she?” I said in almost a whisper.

“Serenity, as much as I want to take you away….” I turn to him, hopeful. “I don’t think it would be wise to bring you back to your kind.”

“What are you saying, Rham?”

He looked up to me, straight in the eyes, looking as desperate as I was. “Runaway with me, away from all this craziness, this fictitious life and-“

“This fictitious life is me, Rham.” I said, “There is no running away from who I am.”

“Think about it, Serenity!” he reached for my arm, “You’ll be away from here, no more killing the wolves, and your kind will be safe when the hunters find out that you aren’t with them.”

“And put you in danger?” I said, “No, Rham, that’s the stupidest thing to do right now.”

“It isn’t stupid.” He said.

I pulled away from his hold, “You have a dream of being a doctor. You already put it on hold to keep me safe. Taking away your life is something I will not tolerate.”

“You aren’t.” he says, reaching for my hand this time, “I’m giving it up for you, Serenity can’t you see that? I lo-“

“No.” I moved away from him, this time distancing from him. “You have done enough, Rham, and I am forever in your debt for that. I will not return that with disappointment and pain.”

“You-“

“I’d like to be alone now,” I said and turned my back at him.

“Serenity-“

“Please, Rham.” I pleaded, still not facing him.

I hear him walk away toward the door. I didn’t move from where I stood until I hear the door closed.

I sighed and sat back on my bed. I should have seen that coming.

Rham was a good guy. I knew that. And I meant what I said. I owe him a great deal. But I love Eric, and I always will, even if the bind grows weaker every day. I know I love him with every strand of my life.

And right now, what Rham was about to say didn’t make me feel any better. In fact, it might just be an additional problem for me.

I stayed in the room alone for most of the days. The only one I saw was Kim, the maid, taking away the tray that held the untouched food.

“Miss Serenity?” she called, I looked up from the book I was reading, and she stepped up slowly- almost careful. “Master Frank says that you are to go down and join them for dinner tonight.”

“Tell them I would have to decline.” I said, “I’m not feeling well.”

“He says-” I raised a brow. She has never answered back. “He said that if you don’t, he’ll drag you out of here himself, and that’s after I feel his wrath.”

I sighed as a sob escape from her—typical Frank. I thought.

“What time?” I asked.

She lit up and quickly fought away the tears, “An hour.”

“Tell him I’m only going if you escort me yourself and that you join us for dinner.”

She frowned, “But-“

“I need to make sure that he doesn’t have his men take care of you by telling me that he threatened you,” I said, stepping down from my bed.

“T- thank you, miss.” She said and left.

I sighed and walked into the bathroom, ensuring that I locked the door before going into the shower.

Kim and I reached the dining room and found Frank and Rham waiting for us.

“About time you got here,” Frank says, the door to the dining room closed, and behind me stood his men, Harry and Neil. “Have a seat, Serenity. You may go, Kim-“

“She’s staying,” I said.

He raised a brow, “The last time I checked, I’m the master of this house.”

“And the last time I checked, you’re the one who needs me for your evil plans.” I snapped.

He smirked and tipped his head sideward, “Fine.” He says, “You may join us, Kim.”

He signals to another maid to bring another plate for Kim as she sat beside me. I sat across Rham, who was observing me.

Then I looked up to Harry and Neil, “Are you invited, or will you be standing there looking like the idiots that you are?”

Harry and Neil glared at me, while I caught Rham hid a smile.

When I woke up this morning, I made up my mind that I will have to play my cards right, and being weak in front of them will not help me in any way. And hearing Rham’s answer from last night, I doubt that he’ll help out either.

Besides, I don’t want him in this mess, so it’s a good thing as well, I guess.

“Actually, they have something for you, princess,” Frank says.

I smirked, “Is it that time of the month again?” I asked.

“What time is that?” Frank asked, questioned.

“Of you boys giving me news about my family,” I said, keeping my cool. “You always pull this kind of stunt, Frank, whenever I disobey you.” I rolled my eyes, and my voice oozed with sarcasm, “Seriously, it’s getting old.”

He chuckled, “I guess the silent treatment is over then?”

“There’s no more reason for me to do so, don’t you think?” I said, frowning as I remember my stupidity from last night.

“Glad to know that you are thinking well now.” he says, “Maybe you’d like to tell me what I-“

I glared at him, “You are already using my powers against my kind and my will. Do you really think I will give you the satisfaction to add more oil in the flames that you have started?”

“Well, there wouldn’t be any difference, would there?”

I leaned forward and gave him the coldest look I can master, “Not if I can stop you.”

He stared back at me, and for a second, the worry was in his eyes. I smiled and sat back. That’s when he broke the silence with a loud, boisterous laugh.

“It’s cute that you still think you can escape me,” he says.

“That’s because I can,” I said, acting cool, though I didn’t have any idea of how to do that.

“Oh, really?” he says.

“Really.” I rolled my eyes and mocked him.

“Even if I tell you that this time it can cost you your nephew’s life?” I looked up at him and raised a brow. He nods toward Harry, who tossed me an envelope. I quickly opened it and went through the photos inside.

It was photos of what looked like a celebration in Eric’s home. Soon it was just normal days at the same house. Anna is surrounded by the boys, Cam and a girl I’ve never seen. As I flip through the photos, I can see her baby bump growing.

It has been two months since I found out about Anna’s pregnancy and doing the math. The baby will be coming in three months. I smiled, crept to my face, and flipped through the photos again and again.

“A nephew you can lose if you dare to escape again.”

I snorted and tossed the photos back on the table, “A nephew who just fueled my want to escape.” I stood up, “Now, if you’ll excuse me-“

This time Frank stood up and grabbed me by the arm.

“Don’t try my patience, Serenity.” He hissed.

I smiled at him, “I’m not. I’m just saying what I am capable of doing when motivated.”

I reached for his wrist and pulled his hand off me, I may have weakened the past few months by depression and the silver, but the thought of my family growing and wanting to be there with them was just maybe the missing ingredient for me to get back on the right track.

“Remember Frank,” I said, “A shifter can only be caged and kept from his kind for too long, it's either I will kill myself and leave you in the dark, or you kill me out of your pathetic anger. Either way, you are not getting anything from me.”

“I can kill your whole family…” he snaps, “I’ll start with that best friend of yours, the one who you tried to make me believe was your mate.”

“I just like to see you try Frank.” I said, keeping the mocking smile on my face, “Cause from the way I see it, uncle would love to see you after what you did to Liam.”

With that, I left the dining room feeling more confident than I have ever been since I have been in the hands of the hunters.

And I swear things will be changing from then on.