Chapter 12 Chasing Pavements

Siam’s POV

I watch Serenity sleeping on the king sized bed we were all suppose to be sharing in our Vantare Platinum Plus RV- too luxurious for my liking, but mother wouldn’t actually let us travel in a car, especially not with Serenity’s condition.

I stared at her sleeping face, knowing exactly what could help her, yet, I can’t do anything.

I am as much as under my father’s hold, prince or not. Only until I mate and take over as alpha.

Mate… I looked up and saw Liam and Anna fixing our lunch while talking and exchanging laughter. Trying to calm themselves down, no doubt.

In normal circumstances, even siblings as close as Serenity and I would have a different set of friends. Unfortunately, normal isn’t one of our strong points. I can’t remember a day that I was never beside Serenity. She is my baby sister after all, deity or not, I’d still probably be protective of her.

I remember when we were younger, she’ll storm off mad at me for making her stop whatever crazy ideas she has. Like climbing trees, or running all over the city blind folded just to test our senses. The days that father caged her made her the free spirited Serenity she is now.

And as expected from her, she is smart and wise. Smart not to let anyone make a fool of her, and wise not to do anything she would regret. Of course, we were an exception to that. She’ll always start a fight to anyone who’ll piss us off.

They were a year younger than Jake, Aaron and I, but that didn’t make any difference to us. Especially when Anna joined our pack and Serenity was crazy about her, one of the human boys pushed Anna on puddle and called her names. Liam was usually the hero in this story, but that day Serenity learned to punch. She beat that little punk so bad that he had a broken nose, cut lip and swollen eye for two weeks; and don’t get me starting with the bruises and scars that until now, I don’t know how he got.

She got in trouble for that with mom, but dad and I couldn’t have been more proud. Even the male wolves wouldn’t dare fight with her, well, it’s either that or Liam and I will beat the crap out of them.

I remember how she’d run from one place to another making up stories and acting out scenes. I watched her closely, not wanting to ruin her little fantasy inside our imperfect world. Even as kids, my dad made it a point that we were to grow close. He trusted no one but me when it came to Serenity, me being the heir to the throne came second to Serenity’s divinity epitome.

That was no problem with me. I never grew jealous of the attention or the admiration that was supposed to be mine. If any, I often pity her, having so many perks as a princess yet tied down with princess responsibility and deity duties. I guess I could say she grew into getting use to this life of guards, almost anti social and monotonous life of hers. But worse became hell when she turned 16.

Don’t get me wrong, Serenity had always been beautiful. Her deep blue eyes that was filled with emotion that regularly reflected happiness, her smile that can lit up a room, her laughter that can soften even the coldest heart… she was almost like a goddess herself, but we all knew better than to think that.

But when she turned sixteen, it was as if the male population just recognized her being a girl. Boys would ask to date her, talk of how they’ll love to tap that, even go to as far as marrying her cause she is said to be the perfect catch. As much as I like hearing all these recognition of my sister’s beauty, the images that ran through their minds was enough reason for me to kill them.

Seriously, haven’t they learn a thing about blocking their minds especially if their thoughts are inappropriate?

I sighed and shook my head.

But then, I guess my ways weren’t any better. Being the soon to be alpha also had its perks, especially to the ladies, and my wingmen- Liam, Jake and Aaron- shared the same perks. Serenity hated how we use girls like play toys, but on our defence, they liked it as much as we did, probably more.

Serenity and Anna would often point out how disgusting it was, while we say not to diss until they’ve tried- which is a wrong argument of course.

Wrong for Serenity and painful to Anna.

I looked back at her and watch her as she tell Liam to grab a few things from the fridge while she continued finishing what she was preparing.

I smiled watching her reaction after tasting her cooking, when she smiled her whole face lit up, and that was enough for me to be blown away.

Anna had always been my sister’s partner in crime, along with Liam, they were the mischievous trio. Liam was my eyes on the two girls, as protective as I was of Serenity so was I to Anna.

It was me who found her after all. I was only seven when my dad started to teach me of how to read hidden signs in my surroundings. Like what animal left this kind of foot print, where they were heading, how to find a fresh drinking water, tracking. Stuff like that, almost like when a father teaches his son these things before going camping. The only difference is I was to rule over this lands some day and every pebble and bush counts.

That day he asked me to find the nearest drinking area, for a while I used the air, but as the sun was getting too hot the moist of the air was decreasing. So I moved to hearing, but my ears wasn’t quite sharp yet, so I was almost always losing the sound I was looking for. I finally decided to smell my way around and that’s when I caught a smell that I was just too familiar with.

I ran and followed the scent, there was too much blood, I can tell that much. With the smell of it, it was probably an adult wolf or human, so it was a surprise to me when I came across a little girl, almost half dead beside a creek, bleeding to death.

I picked up her little body and ran back to the city. I ran to Mama Ellena’s house and demanded that the girl be treated at once.

Since I didn’t return to father at the designated hour, he had search parties all over the woods and the grounds. I was in so much trouble with him that night, well, that is until Serenity came barging in crying to me about a nightmare.

She was shouting and asking if I saved her. I was surprised of how she knew and my father voiced out my question. Serenity quickly said that she saw me carrying a little girl by a creek, she dreamed about it when she had her afternoon nap.

Thank the gods for afternoon naps.

By afternoon, mother had a room prepared for the girl I found. It took her a week and a half before she woke up, and Serenity never left her side, she was excited and curious of her. I wish I can say the same for Anna. When she woke up and saw Serenity grinning and hugging her, she practically jumped out of her skin in fear. Until mom used her motherly powers on her and she told us her story.

How her family was murdered by hunters and that she was just able to runaway.

Father had her story checked of course, how a man can doubt a little girl I really didn’t know, but that was how my father was. Especially seeing Serenity has no plans of getting tired of her.

A few years later, tables turned and Serenity would often whine about Anna nagging her out of bed or to do homework.

I stifled a laugh when I once found her in my bedroom’s bathroom floor, reading a book because she was hiding from Anna who wanted to go out for a walk as they can’t go for runs yet. Serenity hates anything athletic but was surprisingly good in sports during PE. I guess it bores her seeing that it isn’t a challenge to her. While Anna, well, she was as good as Serenity, but very competitive.

That’s probably one of the few things that she and Serenity has in common, they’re competitive. Once Jake and Aaron challenged them to a game of rugby, along with some other boys in the pack, the rule was simple- no one else can touch Serenity and Anna except for Jake and Aaron. To make the story short, the boys lost and had to bear the humiliation and the girls bragging rights of it.

Liam and I laughed; we were smart enough not to join them.

But as we all grew up, and starting to recognize more of each other, I guess somewhere along the way I knew that Anna was brought here for a reason. And my eighteenth birthday proved that.

During balls at home the girls would only dance with me, Liam, Jake or Aaron. They’ll give up a limb and a leg for us not to hand them over to some random wolf boy, were Serenity’s exact words.

And I couldn’t have agreed more, especially that night. Serenity and I were laughing at some of the shifters around us trying our best not to get caught of course, from afar I can see Liam dancing with Anna who was laughing at something Liam had said. I stared at her for a moment and that’s when I understood the look on my parents eyes when they stared at each other.

Anna to me, is what my mom is to father. She is my mate, she was mine.

There was just one problem. Serenity.

I have vowed that I will protect her at all cost, especially after what happened to Jane. And seeing the predicament we were in, I can’t mate until Serenity does, until her mate takes the responsibility of protecting her.

These were the exact words I told Liam a year ago.

“Are you sure?” Liam asks again.

“For the hundredth time Liam, yes!” I snapped, “What will make you stop asking?”

“Until I know that you hear what you are saying.” He says as infuriated as I am. “This is Anna we are talking about here, she isn’t just some random girl who we choose to play with. This is Anna Sofia Carlton, my and Serenity’s best friend. The girl you saved more than a decade ago.”

Her name alone sent tingles down my body.

It had been three days since I found out, and I was stupid enough to confirm it when I threw an arm over her and Serenity that morning, a gesture we all are use to. But like I said, it was stupid. Since I touched her that morning I have nothing but the urge to do it again and forever. I could no longer concentrate in class as my mind would slowly drift to find where she was and listen to her voice, that sounded like glass bells in my ears.

“Yes Liam am sure of it!” I snapped, “Shit, this is so wrong.”

“What’s so wrong about it?” Liam asked, “Aunt Clarisse and Serenity would be ecstatic about it. For all I know, Serenity had been rooting for Anna to be your mate since she heard about mates.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Anna, idiot, she’s perfect…” I rolled my eyes, not knowing why I had to add the last part made Liam chuckle. I gave him a look, he stops and holds anymore laughter that was threatening to come out of him.

“So if she’s perfect, what’s wrong?” he asks.

Liam may be a year younger than I am, but he is my beta, and almost like my best friend as well. If he wasn’t acting crazy with my sister, that is. That’s another thing, him being always with Serenity made him think maturely, almost wise as Serenity. So I knew he was the perfect one for the job.

“I can’t just have a mate yet Liam, you know that.” I said. “Not with Serenity still unmated.”

He frowned finally realizing what I meant.

I was protective of Serenity, and once I mated my attention would be moved to my mate, or she could get use to me putting Serenity first, which I’m sure my sister would not agree on. Not that Anna would need to get use to it, she grew up seeing me prioritizing Serenity.

“Siam, you can’t let Anna wait.”

“She still doesn’t know,” I cut him off, “all I have to do is keep a little more longer-“

“You can’t keep it when she turns 18.”

“Which is still next year, I have a year to plan.” I said. “I’ll just have to lessen the classes that we are together, maybe try to have a new set of friends-“

“Can you hear yourself Siam?” Liam asked, his voice oozing with disgust, “you are willing to change your whole life just to keep fate do its job? And you only have one class with her, Advance History.”

“It’s not as if I’m doing it to hurt her.” I said, “It’s for her safety.”

“And if she finds out?”

“I’ll explain to her.”

“You’ll explain to her why you can’t mate with her?”

“Well, it’s not as if I’m not going to mate with her ever.” I said, the thought itself was plain painful. “Just until Serenity is settled.”

Liam stared at me with disbelief. “How can you speak like that Siam?” he asks. “This is Anna, our Anna-“

“My Anna.” I corrected him with a low growl.

“See?” he pointed out, “You could barely keep your temper now, what more when she starts to respond to the bond? What will you do? Bite off every guys’ head who goes near her without reason at all?”

“I told you I will tell her-“

“Then tell her now.” Liam snaps back. The only reason Liam can speak to me like this because he was like a brother to me, and because he knew he was right. Christ, even I knew he was right.

He sighed and walked up to me, “Tell her now Siam, please. I don’t think I can bear the sight of Anna and you hurting just because of a situation than none of us can escape.”

“I don’t think I could.” I said.

“You do know that Serenity will totally kick your ass to the next life when she finds out you hurt Anna.” He teased.

I groaned and ran my hand over my face. “You really just have to bring that up, didn’t you?”

He laughed and tapped me on the back. “I just want you to know what the possibilities are.” Then he smiled a genuine smile, “I’m happy that you found your mate, I’m happy that it is Anna.”

I smiled and shook my head, “Fate sure has some funny way of making itself known.”

He laughed and nodded. “I have to admit that I didn’t saw that coming.”

“It would be funny if you and Serenity end up as mates.” I said.

Then we exchanged looks and scrunched our faces.

“Sorry man.” I said.

“Just don’t go there.” Liam says. “No offense, you know I love Serenity and I think she is beautiful, but she’s more of a sister, you know?”

I stifled a laugh, “I wished I saw Anna that way.”

“But you never did.” Liam pointed out as we made our way back to the city after our two hours run. “She was always baby sister’s best friend.” then he chuckled, “You know, that could have easily been me.”

I laughed, “And I’m so glad that the fates didn’t get mixed up.”

We both laughed again as we reached the gates of the city and he faced me. “Just tell her, believe me, she’ll understand. She’ll practically do anything for Serenity.”

And he was right, I sighed as I continue to watch them at the kitchen, Anna took it calmly and quietly. Like a perfect lady that she is. Well, after a little shouting and weak attempt of punches.

I would say that I was more of a wreck by the time that I had the courage to tell her. I guess Liam biting down my neck and practically wringing my arm forced me to do it.

It was one of those days where Anna would have probably spent with Serenity if she wasn’t called by mother regarding her 18th birthday.

Anna just celebrated hers a couple months before. Serenity, Liam and I had planned her ball in so much secrecy that not even the three of us knows what was going on anymore. Anna, though verbally reminded us how unnecessary it was, we all knew deep down, she liked it. Well, at least I knew. I felt it.

We were by the cliff that our small little group loved to hang out in. Serenity and I use to come up here when were younger almost everyday, well, until a news of hunters crossing borders came. It was years after we were able to come back, now that we are all grown up. But since she and Anna couldn’t shift yet, we would drive up here with food and drinks and spend half the day talking and fooling around. And for those few hours we were normal.

Today was different though. Aside from the fact that Anna and I ran as wolves coming here, it was the first time that we came alone.

I stood at the edge of the cliff, staring at the view of the land that my pack owned. The borders stretched to the mountains and beyond that. It was the land of the Royal family after all.

“Is there something wrong Siam?” Anna broke the silence, at the same moment, as if mocking me, the wind blew sending her sweet scent my way. Her scent has now turned to that of a lilac. Calming and refreshing.

“Siam?”

I sighed, it’s now or never.

I turned to her and I instantly knew I shouldn’t have. She was sat on top of a rock, resting her long legs stretching it out in front of her, while she was propped backwards, her arms supporting her.

I groaned internally, this girl is going to be the death of me.

“Hey you ok?” she asked, sitting up, “You don’t look so good.”

“I’m fine.” I finally said.

“You sure?”

I smiled at her, “I’m more than fine Anna, believe me.”

“Ok…” she said, doubtful. “Well, why are we here? And why couldn’t we invite the others?”

“Cause I need to speak with you in private.” I said. Great, I sounded like my dad.

“Oh, what is it about?” she asked, curiosity flashed on her face.

“Well…”

“Is it about Serenity?” she quickly asked. “Is she alright? Has there been sighting of hunters again?”

“No, no…”I shook my head.

She breathed out a sigh of relief, “I thought for a second we will be asked to leave.”

With that I had an idea and walked up to her. “If that does happen, will you come with us?” I asked.

“What do you mean will I come with you?”

“Will you be joining us to wherever we would move.” I asked.

Then she frowned and looked down her lap. “Well, you are the only family I know Siam, and I don’t think I have the heart to leave. Even now that I am 18, I know I should be responsible of myself and leave-“

“You can’t!” I cut her off, not wanting to get mental images of her leaving.

“What?”

I rolled my eyes, real smooth doofus.

“Why do you ask anyway?” she was looking annoyed. “Is the royal family going anywhere or-“

“No, no…”

“Then why are you asking?” she snapped.

“Cause I don’t want you to think that you are any different than us or Liam.” I said.

“But I am different Siam.” She pointed out, “I am a rogue-“

“Was a rogue.”

She rolled her eyes, “Was a rogue, my existence isn’t as important as yours-“

“But it is.” I said, “Your life is as important as any of us, especially to me.”

She gave me a questioned look, “What are you on about Siam?”

I sighed and took her hand, the effects of the touch was instantaneous. There wasn’t fireworks, but there was definitely a spark. A connection that I couldn’t explain.

“Anna you are part of this family,” I said, “Now more than ever…”

“Siam…”

“You’re my mate Anna,” I blurted before I ran out of courage to do so.

“What?” she asked, not the reaction I wanted.

“I’ve known for quite some time now.” I added.

“You have?” she asked.

“Actually, I knew since my 18th birthday.” I said, guilty.

For Serenity’s protection, we were all placed in the same year in school, that meant Serenity, Anna and Liam went to school a year early. It was just a year anyway, no biggie. Besides, Serenity and I looks like twins, so there was no problem with it.

“You knew for almost a year and you’re only telling me now?” she pulled her hand away from mine, making me frown. I could no longer bare the distance, but if it was the only way that I will not scare her off I will have to hold up a little more.

“Listen to me first Anna-“

Then she jumped down from the rock she was sitting in and accidentally scratched her self. “Shit…” I hear her say as she checked on her wound.

“Are you ok?” I quickly asked and pulled a handkerchief from my pocket.

“Let me go Siam, I’m fine.”

“No you aren’t this is pretty long and deep-“

“Just let it be Siam!” she snapped.

I looked up at her and saw her eyes were now filled with tears, and I knew it wasn’t because of the wound.

“Anna-“

“A year Siam! A year!” she shouted. “You knew for a year and you didn’t even tell me?! Why?!”

“I have my reason, Anna, if you’ll just listen-“

“All those girls, are they your reason?” she snapped.

“What?” I asked, surprised that she can think of such a thing. “Of course not! I didn’t-“

“What is so different in telling me now and then Siam?” she snapped again, “What? Cause this time you feel guilty that I would feel the bond?!”

“No!” I shouted, “I can’t tell you because I can’t bear the thought that I’ll have to ask you to wait!”

She stopped and stared at me. I took a deep breath, which was another bad move as I was now filled with her scent, making my wolf and myself go crazy with need and want.

“W- what do… what do you mean wait?” she asked.

I looked down at her and took her hand again.

“Anna, believe me when I say that if it was up to me, I will take you as my mate right here and now…” I said, this time I was trying to be careful with my words. “But our situation seems to disagree.”

“Situation?” she asked, more confused than before.

“Serenity needs me, she needs all the protection she can get and-“

“I’ll be a distraction.” She finished.

“No.” I said. “You are never a distraction Anna, I have always protected you and Serenity and I will never stop doing that. But you have to understand, if the news of me mating reaches the hunters, they can use you against me, against us… and I will never put you in that situation, nor will I be put in the situation where I would have to choose between you two.”

She stared at me, as if in shock. So I took this opportunity to wrap my arms around her and held her tight. The connection between us warmed both of us.

“You are my life Anna,” I whispered to her, “losing you will be my death.”

“Siam…” I felt her hug me back now, while she hid her face on my chest, and cried.

“I know it’s painful, I know it’s unfair…”

“But it’s the only way.” She finished. “It’s the right thing Siam.”

“I’m so sorry for this Anna, but I promise you…” I said, “The moment that Serenity finds him, I will come for you. I will tell the whole world that you are mine as I am yours. You are my beautiful mate, Anna, the one that makes me whole. And I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.”

She smiled at me as I rested my forehead on hers and gazed into her light brown eyes, eyes that seemed to have wrapped me in a spell as I was finding it hard to look away.

“I love you Anna, and I will come for you, I promise.”

“I’ll wait Siam… I’ll wait as long as I have to.” Anna says.