Chapter 10 Love Don't Fade Like Photographs

Eric's POV

I watch her struggle out of her brother’s hold and walked up to her father, the king. Her eyes ignites with pure hate.

“I swear, if you hurt him or as much as glare at him I will condemn you to a place that no man had ever walked on.”

I frowned, it was starting to get complicated, and I don’t want it to get worse.

“Serenity…” I called to her, I needed her to calm down. I know the pain in his father’s eyes was painful for her as well and I hate seeing her like that. “Go, I’ll be fine.”

She barely looked away from her father.

Serenity. I called again in our link. Love, please…

She glanced my way with a frown. I knew what she was feeling; the pain of the idea alone of being separated to her is unbearable.

I’ll see you soon, cherry blossom. I assured her.

Then she gave her father one last glare, one that was more menacing than the last. “I hate you.”

I watch as she stormed out of the room, the others followed her leaving me with the king alone.

“I hope you are satisfied of what you have done, rogue.” The king says to me.

I frowned, I knew that that would be brought up.

“I don’t know what you are saying King Silver.” I said. “I did what was needed to be done, and asked nothing in return.”

“Good, cause you will not be getting anything from me!” King Silver snapped. “I will not allow her to be mated to a powerless wolf like you.”

“The same powerless wolf who saved your daughter’s life.” I reminded him. “You may be the king but you are in no position to change the fates, your highness.”

“But I can control who is worthy of my daughter-“

“And you think it’s those ass out there talking about her like a piece of horse that they can own and train?” I was filled with angry by now, remembering how the other young alpha spoke about her. “I will have to die first before any of them touches her!”

“Stand down, boy, you are talking to your king!”

“As you are talking to a man who you threaten to hand his mate to another man!” I snarled.

“Stand down!” he shouted again. This time I had to give in, but I kept my glare at him, daring to look him straight in the eyes.

“Love can only take you so far, young alpha.” He mocked, “It cannot protect you-“

“That is not what the prophecy says.” I cut him off.

“And your blood says you are not worthy to be her mate much less a suitor.” He snapped. “Only pure blooded shifter can protect my daughter, and you are not one.”

I stared at him in disgust. “The fate is never wrong, king Silver. As much as I hate to be away from my mate, I very much would like to see the day that you will eat your own words by questioning the fate.”

He gave me one last glare before turning to leave, “Rest up for tonight.” He says, “Tomorrow you will be leaving my house and never come back.”

“You can’t-“

“If I have to move you to the moon to squeeze out the idea from my daughter that you are her mate, I would.” He snarled and turned to leave.

I was tossing and turning throughout the night, the thought of not seeing Serenity again scares me. I can still feel her presence, and if I listen hard enough I can hear her heart, but then again, it was muffled by the sound of her crying.

It hurts me to hear her cries and feel her pain. What is hers is mine, and seeing that she had not shifted yet, I was feeling worse. The need to keep her near and comfort her, to touch her and tell her everything will be fine is driving me crazy. It was different when I first saw her though.

I was in the library of Grandma’s house when I caught her scent. It was a fragrance familiar but rare, the weak smell of it was sign that it was from a wolf that is nearing shifting stage, afterwards, the scent would change again. What made me curious was the mix of dirt.

Then again, in this house, dirt meant someone had been in fight and was now heavily wounded. But this scent had no hint of blood, just interesting, a weak scent that attracted me enough to follow it.

That’s when I first saw her. A grin crawled into my face, remembering how peaceful she looked as she rested in the tub, looking like the goddess that she represents. She radiated calm and satisfaction.

I stared at her, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t perving, in fact I couldn’t take my eyes away from her face. At that time I thought of her as an angel, fragile and beautiful.

Until she started to snap at me and the moment she used her alpha tone I knew who she was. The Daughter of The Moon, there was no other she wolf with the alpha blood in the city right now, only her. The princess, Serenity.

I chuckled remembering how she eyed me and I felt a little flattered at that time, but then again. I heard she was a witty lady, if I wanted to leave this city with dignity, I needed to be careful with her.

Then she tried to seduce me, making me catch my breath at the sight of skin, but like I said, her face was what took me in, especially her eyes, those deep blue eyes that held me captive without even speaking.

As I held her eyes with mine, that’s when my wolf went haywire. Calling out to her as our mate, I would not deny it, I felt pride surge through me. To be mated to the most powerful woman of our kind was such a turn on, but seeing her right now. The simplicity that she radiates and posses, I didn’t care if she was the princess or not, she was mine. That was all that mattered.

I sighed and rolled unto my back staring at the ceiling, remembering what tomorrow will bring.

“Tomorrow you will be leaving my house and never come back.” The king’s words were final and authoritative that even if I refuse to do so, I knew it would be my death.

I sighed again, this time I sat up and opened the lamp beside me. At the same moment someone knocked on my door and before I can let them in, Grandma Ellena poked her head inside.

“Is everything ok Eric?” she asked. “Are you in pain?”

I frowned and looked down my lap, “Yes.”

I guess she saw through that and sat beside me, “She’ll be fine, you will see her soon-“

“The king said I need to leave tomorrow and never come back.”

“What?”

“He doesn’t approve of her mating to a rogue.” I rolled my eyes at the word.

“You are no rogue, Eric.” She argued.

“My blood says so differently.” I said. “If only I can change the past, change everything that happened and remember-“

“You will.” She sits beside me in bed. “Fate brought you to us, to my son, you are our soon to be Alpha and a damn good one you will be.” I chuckled hearing her curse, “Blood does not make the man; it’s the man’s heart and deeds that makes him what kind of man he is.”

I shook my head, “I hope the king sees the same, grandma. But like Serenity, he’s stubborn. I guess being powerful and mighty makes you think you can take control of everything.”

“Well, I’m glad our prince and princess don’t think like that.” She says, “Serenity will not allow this Eric, she will fight for this- for you, don’t give up on her.”

“I don’t plan to…” I frowned and looked away, “But I would be lying if I say that it didn’t cross my mind.”

“Eric…”

“What if the king is right?” I say, voicing out half of my worries. “What if I am not the one in the prophecy? What if I’m not strong or powerful enough to protect her?”

“There is no use questioning the future Eric,” she says, “but it would be such a waste to look back knowing you didn’t try.”

I looked up at her and let her wrap me in her arms. I felt tears form in the corners of my eyes, not trying to fight it back, I let it fall.

“It hurts so much, grandma…” I whispered, “I feel cold and empty. If this is death, then I think I have more respect to it now.”

“Well, I hope that teaches you to be more careful and less recklessness now.” she teases before she cup my face, “Your mate needs you, she may not have shifted yet, but she is feeling all these pain as well. Your death will not make it easier for her, especially seeing she’s still weak without her wolf. You need to be strong for her.”

I forced a nod and wiped away the tears and chuckled, “I’m pretty sure she’ll be teasing me like crazy if she sees me now.”

Grandma stifled a laugh, “She wouldn’t, she’d probably be crying and saying sorry for hurting you too.”

I stared at her, she was right, I was hurting her as well. Though not intentional but the gap between us causes her pain and it has got to stop.

I need a plan.

Next day I sat in my room after breakfast, staring outside my window. It was almost 9 in the morning, and I was listening to Serenity’s heart and steady breathing as she had finally found sleep a few hours after I gave up sleeping myself.

I wanted to reach her through our link but it was too weak, and I didn’t want to tell her of the bad news of my departure either. She didn’t need any more reason to be mad at her father, not now anyways. She will know soon enough that’s for sure.

But my moment with her was disturbed when another familiar scent came into the room.

“Eric…” I didn’t answer and just bowed. “How are you?”

“Better, thank you for asking, your highness.” I turned facing him.

“Eric, you know you-“

“Let us not forget where I stand, Prince Siam.” I said, “As your father had so happily pointed out.”

“Eric, I’m not him.” he reminded, “I am sorry if he made you feel unwelcomed, I will talk to him and I know mother will-“

“There’s no need for that.” I shook my head, “He gave me orders to leave the Grey mansion today.”

“What?”

“He told me that I was to go home and never to come back.” I said, “I am not wanted nor needed here, highness-“

“Serenity would disagree-“

“Your father knows that but your doesn’t seem to care.”

“He is just thinking of her safety Eric, you know that!” he snapped.

“But he could not see through your sister,” I said. “Have you seen through her Siam?”

“What do you mean?”

I stared at him for a moment and forced a smile, “I should apologize now for whatever inconvenience it will bring you after I leave.”

“What are you saying Eric?” he asks again.

Then I feel her stir, her heart skip an extra beat. I frowned, staying so near her but not be able to see her was getting harder every second, so I grabbed my coat and walked toward the door.

“Take care of her,” I said, “she’ll need you.”

I rushed pass him and out the door. I half ran toward the main hall where grandma and the queen were talking. As I walk up to them I caught grandma’s worried look. She knew that I was going to be in much more pain with every step I take moving away from Serenity.

“Eric,” the queen walked up to me and wrapped me in her arms, like yesterday. “I am so sorry. I don’t know what my husband’s problem is, but I promise that I will talk to him, you will have to stay at your grandmother’s house for now, once I have cleared it with him, I will send someone to pick you up.”

“Thank you, Queen Clarisse.” I bowed my head in respect.

She smiled at me, “I know it would be going against my husband’s wishes, but would you like to see her? Maybe say good bye-“

I shook my head; the gods know I won’t be able to leave if I see her now. “There’s no need for goodbyes, your majesty, I will be back, like you said.”

Lie.

She smiles, “I’ll see you soon then.”

I forced a smile and grandma and I left.

When I reached grandma’s house, I felt a tug in me, as pain and cold of the night before rush through me again. I reached for my heart and squeezed it hard, as if expecting that that would help with the pain.

“Eric!” I felt someone reach for me and soon as they touched me the pain doubled, making me fall on my knees. I bit my lower lip, fighting off the need to scream out for her.

Hours later I was sitting beside the window, staring at the Grey mansion. The link between us was not that strong yet, not while she hasn’t shifted. Our mind link would only work if we were in the same room.

But I can’t say the same for her emotions, I can sense every drop of it. She had a rush of anger a few hours ago and that caused grandmother a good set of chairs.

Right now, she was calm. She was in pain, depressed and aching, but at least she was calm.

She will be fine for a few days, Eric. I hear Josephine speak.

“I know.” I said, “I just don’t want her to get use to being fine without me.”

She is still looking for you, isn’t she? You can still feel her pull for you?

“Yes.”

Then hold unto that, we’ll be with her soon.

“Easy for you.” I said. “You have to go to her on her birthday.”

I can’t be united to her without you there, Eric. It’s says so on the prophecy. She says, in the discovery of her mate, her wolf shall find her.

“But what about the part that only a pure blood can be mated to her?”

Then I guess you are a pure blood.

“What?”

Your grandmother can help you see the past. She reminded me. She is as wise as she is old, after all.

I grinned, “Don’t let her hear you say that, she’ll probably exorcise you out of me.

Laughter that sounded like bells rang through my head, my wolf did some twirl at the sound of her laughter. Well, I guess at least they’re happy. They are mated and together.

But our physical and human counter parts aren’t whole yet. Josephine says, as if reading my mind. We will never be happy when we are incomplete. Nor would I ever be able to move to Serenity without you there.

I sighed, tired and frustrated. Then I glanced back at the mansion, then quickly turned and grabbed my jacket.

Where are we going? Josephine asked.

“I need to see her.” I said.

It was almost dark, I stood behind one of the trees outside the windows of the dining hall. I watch her having dinner with the other alpha boys, who was obviously pissing her off. The feeling was mutual, good thing she sat between Liam and Siam, or I wouldn’t know what I’ll do if one of those boys as much as touched her.

They were giving them the rundown of what their lands were like, how huge and majestic it was.

I grinned as I watch her roll her eyes, tired of the cocky talk.

Then to my surprise she looked straight at me, I know she can’t see me, she was probably trying to drown out the voices of the alpha boys. I stared at her with a smile.

“In my home, there’s a bridge that will lead you to the forest.” I whispered. “No foot path, just the forest, if you run through it for hours, you will hear nothing but peace and calm. And if you run hard enough, by mid day you will reach a lagoon, one that is unknown to anyone. It’s a haven and there you can dream and plan… you can be whoever you want to be…”

Then I heard Liam cut them off reminding them of his father’s want to have Serenity near.

“Yeah, near…” I repeated, “No.”

The others agreed with me but only because they wanted to make sure that as their luna, she was to live with them; princess or not, deity or not.

I wanted her away from this hell hole; I want her to know that she isn’t just the deity that they all see her. She is Serenity.

My Serenity. I thought.

Then I hear her take control of the alpha boys saying that she would prefer to stay here as she is still in school. I grinned, well, I’d rather have her here than with one of those pricks.

“I can have you home schooled.” One says, “That would be safer, especially when you get pregnant.”

I tighten my hold of the brick wall and I’m pretty sure it crumbled into pebbles while I glared at the alpha boy who spoke up. Luke of Crystal Waters, according to my informant he’s a little day dreamer. Been bragging to everyone that he’s the chosen alpha, practically bragging how he’ll be taking her heart and her purity.

I grimaced, I hope Serenity will let me tell him that I was her mate. Then I’ll punch the life out of him for speaking crap about my mate.

Liam hands Serenity a glass of water as she seemed to have been taken by surprise of the ideas of her getting pregnant. A small part of me was jealous of having Liam so near her, but then again, he is her best friend. I am not one to question that.

I don’t think I’d like that one alpha. I hear Josephine say. I grinned.

You and me both.

“They’re scaring my wolf away.” I hear Serenity say, I chuckled and stared at her as she stared at the boys with disbelief and disgust.

I guess that makes three of us. I said, then my wolf howled. Fine, four of us.

Unlike Josephine, my wolf can’t speak. He is after all the representation of my animal side and I am his human side. We are one and whole. Josephine is an exception as she is part deity, isn’t she?

Then I heard my wolf growl, I look around and saw guards walking to where we are.

Get down and hold your breath. Josephine says.

I did as told, and the guards past by us as if they smelled no one.

It’s safe. Josephine says.

What did you do? I asked.

I masked your scent. She said. It’s one ways of protecting the chosen daughter. I look back inside and saw Serenity roll her eyes at the alpha boys again.

For now she only has half the power that is bestowed to the human side, once we are together, then we’ll both be more powerful.

But she can protect herself?

Yes, but only so much. Josephine sighed, she’ll be invincible when we’re together… she paused when you two are together.

You should go to her Josephine-

No! At the same time my wolf growled.

She needs you-

We’ll die if we are taken away from you. She reminded me. If Serenity dies she’ll resurrect, but if I die… both of us will never be able to come back.

I frowned, more confuse of what to do now.

There was still no assurance of me coming back soon, and if she dies it will be my death. But if Josephine dies… it will be death to all my kind.

I know this is hard for you Eric, she says, but we need to be strong. This is the reason why only one daughter is chosen and resurrected; the pain of bearing the responsibility of protecting our kind cannot be understood by many.

I nodded. I promise that we’ll find some way to get to her, Josephine. I promise.

I looked back at Serenity who now stood up and was leaving the dining hall with Siam and their friends.

“Good night, love.”

The next day, I crept back into the mansion and watch as she go for walks and eat with the other alpha boys. Anna barely left her side, and if she needs to, Liam or Siam would be with her.

I laughed at the fact that they don’t trust any of them.

Josephine kept me out of trouble, as I have tried many times to move closer, to at least be able to smell her. But that was a failure. She was too closely guarded. In fact, even the alpha boys were asked to keep her away from me- away from her mate.

I sat at the dining table, waiting for breakfast, it was the third day. Tomorrow was her birthday, the night that I can finally see her.

I was beginning to feel the weakening of being too far from her. Any longer, my wolf would have to take over until we cut ties with her, then I don’t know what I’ll do, or what will happen to Josephine or to Serenity.

Even Serenity was taking a toll on this separation. Every minute she grew weaker and after princess duties she would stay inside the mansion to sleep, cutting my private visits short, but like I said, it was an advantage as I can feel the weakness too.

I looked up as mama Ellena stepped inside and stared at me with surprise.

“Well, it’s been a while, grandson.” She says as she took her sit beside me. “Not off sneaking around?”

I looked up at her, surprised.

“I’ll be a fool to stop you.” she said. “For all I know, this sneaking around of yours is the only reason that both of you can still stand.”

“What do you mean?”

“Siam sent word,” she said. “He’s worried of Serenity, she’s losing her appetite more every day, barely goes out unless commanded by their father, she’s as pale as a ghost…”

I frowned and stared at my plate. She was losing more than I thought. She didn’t just parted with me, she doesn’t have her wolf with her. She was going through this alone.

Thinking back that I thought I would be feeling worse than she would, I was wrong. Her wolf wasn’t with her to warm her up and assure her that everything will be fine.

She was alone.

The love and assurance from her brother and friends wouldn’t be enough, I know that much. It was the reason that I put my life at stake to see her, to feed my own need of being near her.

“Has the queen sent word?” I ask.

That was the only thing that keeps me sane, her word that I will be able to see Serenity without sneaking around. I swear, if it wasn’t for that, I would have taken Serenity away the first time I succeeded to get through all the security of the mansion.

“None yet.” She frowned. “And though you are invited at the party, the orders remain-“

“I’ve fought his orders and had come back so many times. I’ve seen how miserable she is, only a fool would miss it.”

“Then he must be a fool.” She says. I shook my head, pulled my table napkin off my lap and stood up. “Where are you going, Eric?”

“I need to see her.” I said. “I can’t stand it any longer, grandma. I need to be with her.”

“But they’ll kill you-“ she hurriedly follows me.

“I don’t care.” I snapped, “I’m not gonna wait here anymore and do nothing while that fool turn a blind eye on the pain that his daughter is in, a pain that I’m causing!”

“Eric, think about this-“

“No!” I snapped again, this time my voice ringing with a tone that I was not familiar with.

We both look at each other.

We both knew why father want so much for me to be mated to Serenity. It was not a secret to anyone in the pack that I was adopted, that I was the chosen one to be the next Alpha for my pack. Pure blood or not. Adopted or not.

“Eric…”

“I have to go-“

“Wait Eric.” She called. “You need to know something.”

I stopped and turned to her, questioned. You know the saying curiosity killed the cat? Well, it’s applicable to wolves too.

“The reason your father sent you ahead of time, is to see me.” she said.

“And I am here, grandma… I have-“

“No… no…” she sighed, “you have to see me for the truth.”

“Truth?”

“Your past.” She said.

Then I remembered Josephine telling me that grandmother can help me with my past. But what help can that do now? I need to see Serenity first, then she can tell me.

“This will not help Serenity now, grandma-“

“Yes it will Eric.” She said. “It’s the only way that you can take her away from here.”

I walked back to her, “Tell me.”