Chapter 18 Awake and Alive I

Serenity’s POV

I woke up jostled.

“Hey… hey… you ok?”

I sat up and realized I was in the car, sitting shot gun with Liam on the wheel. Obviously, I lost the argument with my dad about driving to Eric’s. I was looking around still questioned.

“Serenity? Are you ok?”

I glanced over my shoulder toward Anna who was sitting at the back, “Y- yeah…” I whispered, “I think so.”

“What’s wrong?” Liam asked reaching for me.

I shook my head, “I don’t know…”

Liam looked around, no doubt counting the wolves, checking on Siam, Jake and Aaron no doubt. “Everyone’s accounted for.“

I looked outside as well, checking for myself, Siam was beside our car running with Aaron and Jake on his side. Our parents’ car is in front of us, surrounded by more wolves. Everyone was safe, so why was there this sudden worry in me?

“Serenity?” I turned to Liam who took my hand and gave it a light squeeze. “We’re almost there, Eric will be there waiting for you.”

I took a deep breath and calmed myself, repeating Liam’s words over and over in my mind. I gave him a smile and nodded. “Thank you.”

Liam was right, we were getting near Eric’s home, that must be why I was nervous all of a sudden. I sat back and thought of Eric and seeing him again, I smiled at the thought. I kept my attention in the vast land ahead of us, out of any human’s sight, but the short peace I made was cut off by a blinding pain through my hip causing me to scream.

Liam swerved the car and hit the break. As another surge of pain rush through me, making me scream again. I felt my sit being reclined as I squirm around.

“Serenity!” I hear Siam call, “Serenity look at me! Serenity…” I turned to where his voice was, as I gasp for breath. His eyes were frantic just staring at me, I closed my eyes, fighting away the pain.

“Serenity what’s wrong, honey?” I hear my mom say.

“It hurts…” I groaned, grabbing my hip. I felt her reached for the top of my jeans, unbuttoned and unzipped it. I didn’t care that the boys was there, I just want the pain to go away.

“What’s going on mom?” Siam asked.

“There’s nothing-“

Suddenly we all were cut off by a howl breaking through the night.

“We need to get moving.” I heard dad say. “We’ll be there in an hour. If we go faster we’ll cut down 20 minutes.”

“Will you be fine Serenity?” Siam asks, I gave a weak nod still holding unto my hip. “Watch over her, Anna. Liam keep up with dad.”

“Got it.” Liam says.

Then Siam wiped away the sweat on my forehead and I turned to him. “Just hold on a little longer, baby sis.”

I gave another weak nod and closed my eyes, feeling the pain subside.

At the back of my mind was Eric.

Just as dad said we were at Eric’s home in less than an hour, but it was already late into the night, the town was practically deserted. We drove through the private path leading to the Crescent Moon’s pack house.

Siam shifted outside the door and opened the door for me and then for Anna.

“You ok?” he asked as he reached for Anna’s hand helping her out while he checks on me. I smiled seeing the small gestures two mates, wondering what it would feel like having Eric’s hand in mine.

“Feeling better…” I lied, he smiled and helped me out of the car. We both looked up the Johansen house and saw a man and mama Ellena standing at the top of the great front stairs of their home, surrounded by a few shifters.

“Mama Ellena…” I ran up to her, well as fast as a limping person can, and let her wrap me into a hug. “I missed you so much Mama Ellena…”

“Princess, it’s so good to see you again.” She says.

“It’s good to see you.” I stepped out of her arms and looked around. Eric was nowhere to be found, or even be sensed. Cold ran through me, but made sure that no one noticed.

My family walked up the stairs, the man beside Mama Ellena walked up to dad and Siam.

“Your Highness, welcome to Crescent Pack.” He says with a low bow along with the other shifters.

“Thank You Alpha Johansen.” My dad says.

“I hope your trip was safe and uneventful.” He says.

“We hoped so too, unfortunately it wasn’t the case.” He frowned, “Forgive me if we meet in this circumstance.”

“I am more than honoured to be graced by your presence at whatever circumstance.”

“Thank you Alpha Johansen.” My mother smiled. “You have a very lovely home and town.”

“Thank you, your highness.” He says again, “But you have the ladies of our pack to thank for that.” he chuckled, “A house full of men doesn’t really equal to a clean and organized home.”

“Then remind me to congratulate them for a job well done.” We all laughed and my mother gestures for me to come and join them. I stood beside her while Siam kept his place beside my dad.

“Alpha Johansen, these are my children.” Father says. He puts an arm over Siam, “And the new Alpha, my son.”

“Oh,” Alpha Johansen bowed again, “I have not received word that there had been a handing down.”

“It was,” Siam paused and glanced at my dad, “unexpected for everyone, Alpha Johansen.” Then he lent out his hand, “I am Siam Knight and this is my sister.”

I smiled, “Serenity Knight of the Bluemoon Pack.”

He raised a brow, “Don’t you mean princess of the wolf shifters and the Daughter of the Moon?”

“There’s no need to state the obvious.” I grinned, remembering a similar conversation with Eric.

He stifled a laugh as he lent his hand to me, “True… I am Harold Johansen, Alpha of Crescent Pack,” then he grinned, “or at least currently the alpha.”

“And where is young Johansen?” mom asks.

Mama Ellena and Alpha Johansen exchanged looks.

“Mama Ellena?” I asked.

“He went back to the Alpha House.” She says, worried. “We have not heard from him since he ran off.”

I frowned and turned to Siam, while my mom held unto me.

“He had not contacted you?” father asks.

“No.” Alpha frowned and shook his head. “It is very unlike him not to either.”

“Have you sent out guards to search for him?” Siam asked.

“Yes,” he says, “my beta is currently out looking for him as well.”

“Maybe we can talk inside.” Father says.

“Of course.” Alpha Johansen says. “We can get acquainted in my office.”

“If you don’t mind Alpha Johansen, but I would like my mother, sister and mate to go rest for the night.”

“Of course.” He says.

“I’ll take them to their rooms Harold.” Mama Ellena says, gesturing for us to go inside.

I turned to Siam who gave me a smile, “Everything will be fine Serenity, ok?” This time I couldn’t even figure a respond. My mind was full of doubt and my heart was beating with fear.

Siam had never let me down, I know he won’t start now, not when it’s my mate’s safety on the line. Then he turned to Liam, “Liam go with them-”

“No.” I gave Liam the same weak smile, “Siam needs you right now Liam, you are his beta.”

“But-“

“I’ll be fine.” I assured them and turned to Mama Ellena, “I just would want to rest for now, please.”

“Of course, princess.” She says.

Anna walked beside me as we followed Mama Ellena and mother to the bedrooms, while the men followed Alpha Johansen to his office.

A few hours later, Liam comes and informs me that a pack meeting was called for the following day, all to help in finding Eric.

I looked down the main hall from upstairs watching wolves who arrived for the pack meeting. They were to talk about the search for Eric.

Apparently, our arrival with the absence of Eric didn’t set in well with anyone, so they had agreed to have a nonstop search and retrieval. Siam had already sent out a couple of our men out last night to scan the area with the permission and assistance of some of the wolves from the Crescent Moon Pack.

I stood at the top of the stairs watching the shifters who were deep in conversations.

“Princess, good morning.” I turned around and saw a girl who was about our age walk up to me.

I forced a smile, “Good morning.”

“Would you like some breakfast?” she asked, “I can show you to the dining hall.” I stared at her not knowing what to say.

To be honest, I didn’t want to let the other wolves out of my sight, not until I have any ideas of their plans.

“Father doesn’t start a pack meeting with empty stomach,” the girl says as if reading my mind, “and we can always ask the help for news.”

I chuckled, of course, the house help was always the best source of gossip, I learned that on an early age when I heard our maids and cooks exchanged news from the war rooms or the common hall where father set and solve pack issues.

“I think breakfast sounds good.” I said.

She smiled and ushered me downstairs to where some the wolves were waiting. The moment that I was half way down the stairs they turned toward us and bowed as we passed by, which I returned with a smile.

“My brother is very well loved by our people.” The girl beside me says as we enter a hall way which I presume would lead us to the dining hall.

“Your brother?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes and grinned, “I’m guessing Eric never mentioned a sister?” I raised a brow.

No he hasn’t. I wanted to say but I held my tongue not wanting to sound rude to the house of my host.

“It’s ok.” She says with a hint of amusement, “He says he is proud to have me for a sister, but that it isn’t in his position to go brag about it seeing he was only my adopted brother.” She glanced at me, “Take note, I am his sister, but he is my adopted brother, as he loved to remind me.”

I smiled, the few moments I had with Eric made me see that this was how he is, he sees himself as an insignificant third wheel in everything in his life, though he is seen differently.

I stopped and faced her. “I’m sorry, how rude of me, I haven’t introduced myself.”

“No need to princess.” She smiled, “I am Camille, but you can call me Cam, your highness.”

I shook my head, “Your brother is my mate, you are family,” I smiled, “call me Serenity.”

“Serenity.” She repeats, “I can see now why brother had spoken so greatly of you.”

“He spoke about me?” I ask, surprised. What was there to say about me when we were only together for a day?

Cam nods, “He says you are a smart and strong lady.” She had a look like she was remembering the last time they spoke. “He said you are funny and very opinionated, a lady who demands respect and earns it.”

I felt my cheeks burn and stifled a nervous laugh. “Well, he is quite a gentleman.” I gave her a look, “When he wasn’t sneaking in to the bathroom while I am bathing.”

She stifled a laugh.

“I can’t say much about him, to tell you the truth.” I frowned. “We hardly had enough time to get acquainted.”

“So I have heard.” She says, sharing my disappointment.

“But I do have great respect for him.” I said. “He was the only one who saw me as me and not as a princess or a deity. He spoke to me like how a mate would speak to his mate.” Remembering my short time with Eric made me smile, “He made me feel special by treating me ordinarily. I can’t say that I am not happy with who the fates had chosen for me to mate, cause that will be me lying.”

She smiled at me, “Thank you, Serenity.”

I shook my head, “Your family raised you well, I can see that.”

“Well, my dad would have no brat for a kid.” She says, “Did Eric told you that he had to work for his car?”

I turned to her, surprised. “He bought his Ashton Martin?”

She nodded and giggled, “He washed cars, mowed lawns, worked as a baggage boy at the local grocery, became the news paper boy and even messenger for my dad.”

“And he made enough money to buy his car?”

“Yup.” She says proudly, “But half of it is from his savings since we were kids.”

“Really?”

She laughed at my reaction, “Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t a scrooge or anything, he’s just really good in saving.” She beamed with pride more, “After he bought his car he started to help me save for my own,” she rolled her eyes, “though he would still drive me to and from school.”

I laughed and nodded when we finally reached the end of the hall. “I can relate to that, the over protective brother?”

“You have no idea.” she says, “Almost mauled my last human boyfriend.”

“He what?” I asked in shock.

She sighed, “He found out he was cheating on me, which was not really a big deal for me seeing he wasn’t my mate, but my brother didn’t like the idea of someone makes a fool out of me, so I guess he wanted to teach that human and the other boys as well not to mess with me.”

“Wow.” I said with a laugh.

“Wow indeed.” She laughs. “Haven’t had any trouble since then, though almost no boy would walk up to me, I don’t mind. Human boys cannot satisfy a she wolf’s need of a partner like a human girl can a male wolf. Especially since we don’t get any physical action from them.” She whispers the last part, “It’s just the need to be wanted and needed that is nice, you know?”

“Yeah…”

Lie, of course I wouldn’t know what she was saying since I never really had that kind of need, my brother’s attention was enough, not to mention Liam’s… and Aaron’s… and Jake’s… and all the wolf boys who they had in control.

“Serenity, love, good morning dear.” I hear mom say, “I see you have met Cam.”

I smiled at Cam, “Yes, she was sweet enough to show me here.”

“That’s good,” she says, “have some breakfast sweetheart.”

I nodded and sat with them, “Did you sleep well, princess?” Mama Ellena asks.

I forced a smile, I know what’s the answer to that one, “Yes I did, Mama Ellena. Thank you.”

And that wasn’t it.

I practically stayed up the whole night worried of Eric. Though the pain and cold of the gap between us had lessen, but it was probably because I was too worried of what I was feeling.

What if the pain last night was his? What if my intuitions are correct and he’s in trouble?

And it was all because of me.

“Good morning!” I snapped out of my reverie hearing my brother walk up to me and gave me a kiss on the forehead and settled beside me, “You ok, baby sis?”

“Yeah.” I said, slicing my French bread and keeping a smile. Liam gave me a kiss on the temple and sat on my other side.

“Hey, how are you feeling today?” he asks.

“Ok, I guess.” I said, then turned to Mama Ellena again, “Nice to be able to sleep in beds again.”

She gave me a pained smile as if wanting to tell me that I don’t need to lie to make them think I was ok. That they actually saw through the act I was putting on.

“Ok enough to run around?” Aaron teases, ruffling my hair.

“We can go for a walk?” Anna asks.

“Of course dear.” Mama Ellena says, “I’d love it if you children would see the place where I grew up.”

“Sounds fair seeing you saw us grow up.” Jake says sitting beside Aaron.

I watch them as they make a light conversation and laugh along at the boys’ silliness, then I turned to Siam.

“What happened last night?” I asked in a whisper, which was a fail seeing I was in a table filled werewolves. Even those who were at the other tables stopped talking.

Siam looks around, no doubt giving the eavesdroppers a glare telling them to mind their own business. He looked back at me, I knew he had no plans of telling me what’s going on, but I needed to know, so I beg him with my eyes. He sighed.

“We already sent out guards to search for him.” he says, “Today we’d be sending out messengers to inform the other Alphas and packs about the situation.” He then turned back to his pancakes, “They may not have been chosen to be your mate, but they would be a fool not to follow Alpha orders or bid to your needs.”

I gave a nod and stared down at my breakfast, not really feeling hungry anymore.

“Serenity-“

“I want to be in today’s meeting.” I said in almost a whisper. The hall became so silent that you can probably hear a pin dropped.

“Serenity, I don’t think that’s-“

“I know it isn’t proper for me to be there, mother.” I said calmly and monotonously. “And I know that the alphas and the men are doing their best to find Eric. But I need to know. I need to see it.”

“It wouldn’t help-“

“But it would help me Siam.” I cut him off, I can feel the tears in my eyes again.

Why the heck am I crying every damn morning? Is this going to be a start of a ritual for me?

I look up at him again, “I’m not asking you as your sister, the princess or as a deity.” I said, “But as a she wolf asking help to find and save her mate.”

Of course, the brat that I am, I got what I wanted, we were set up at the end of the hall listening and watching the men planning, mapping out possible locations of hideouts, paths and shortcuts.

“Eric knows the land well as any native.” Alpha Johansen says. “He knows where he can run in broad daylight in his wolf form and still not be noticed by humans.”

“And that’s through these forests, I get that Harold.” Siam says, frustrated, “But we’ve been there, and we’ve combed the area, there were no signs of him there.”

They all sighed and stared at the map again.

“Hey, what’s this path?” Liam asked.

They looked down.

“It’s the old Cliff Drive.” James, the Crescent Moon’s beta, says, “Believe me, he wouldn’t be there.”

“Why is that?” Uncle Luke says.

“That’s where we found him when he was a kid.” Alpha Johansen frowned, “Though I doubt that he remembers the place, we didn’t tell him that it was where we found him either. But I’ve seen him stay away from that place saying there’s something wrong with it.”

“But this is Eric we are talking about here.” Liam says, “He is smart and all but the need and want to see Serenity fogs his better judgments right now.”

“He knows better than that.” Alpha Johansen says, “It isn’t…”

“We passed through this area last night,” Siam says, “it’s far from the main road or the side path we wolves had made, it would be perfect for a lone wolf like Eric to travel on.”

Then I sat up remembering the events of the night before.

“The howl…” I said in almost a whisper.

They were still bickering when I was thinking about it.

“The pain…” I said again. This time I caught Liam look up at me.

“Serenity, are you ok?”

I stared back at him, “Last night, when I felt the pain, where was it?”

“A couple of miles down…” Siam traced the map to show where it was, the moment his finger stopped he looked up at me, obviously realizing what I discovered. “Serenity-“

“Then the howl came afterwards, a few minutes I calmed down.” I stood up, “Eric’s hurt! He could be injured or-“

“Serenity, calm down.” Liam says walking toward me and pushing me back to sit.

“No Liam… not until Eric is home!” I see the pain in his eyes through my own tears. “Liam, he called for me, I know it was him…”

He sighed and pulled me into a hug and running his hand through my hair.

“Serenity could be right.” Father says, “Them not having fully mated makes their mind link weak, but the emotions will be present.”

“Send men to that area.” Siam says, “I want that area combed and cleared by the end of the day, I don’t care if they have to turn over every rock and tree I want to make sure that Eric was never in that area.”

“Yes your highness.” Alpha Johansen says and walks off to call for his men.

“Serenity?” Liam says pulling away from the hug, “It’ll be better if we wait in your room, you need to rest.”

“But Eric-“

“I’ll go with the men to personally over see the search.” Father says. “Siam, Liam you stay here and watch over them.”

“Yes father.” Siam says. Dad turns to follow Alpha Johansen.

“Dad?” I called out.

He turned to me and smiled, “Everything will be fine Serenity, daddy will make everything all right.”

I smiled and ran up to him, and held unto him tight. Just like when I was a kid.

“Daddy, be careful.” I whispered.

He chuckled as he pulled me nearer, “I will, and I will see you by dinner.” He looked down at me and cupped my face with his hands before tapping the end of my nose, as he always do before leaving, “Stay safe and rest, princess. And listen to your brother.”

I grinned, those were his lines whenever he needs to leave for Alpha business. “I will daddy.”

He wiped away my tears with his thumb, staring at me. “I know I did you wrong, princess. But I promise to make everything right.”

“I know.” I said before he gave me a kiss on the forehead and left.