Chapter 20 Awake and Alive II

Liam’s POV

“What’s going on Siam?” Serenity asked.

“Just have to look into something.” Siam gave the queen a kiss and walked toward Serenity.

The moment Aaron got the news, he mind linked it to me and I instructed him to tell Siam himself. I knew he would ask me to stay with Serenity, it’ll be better if it came from Aaron, the one who got the information first.

“Is it about the search party?” Serenity asks, her face covered with worry.

I read Siam’s face even before he broke out the cover up smile. “Just alpha business, baby sis.”

“Oh…” she responded, she wanted more information. But she knew better than to ask for that. It was Alpha business. “Ok.”

“We’ll be quick.” He says, “You ladies stay in the house, ok?”

The women agreed and caught Siam glance my way. Let’s go. He says in our mind link. I raised a brow. Serenity would wonder if I don’t ask you to come with me in an Alpha business.

I took a deep breath and followed him, Aaron and a still red Jake followed me. Then I felt someone tug me back, I turned to see Serenity, her face pleading making my heart ache.

“You will tell me if there’s news, won’t you Liam?”

I stared at her for a second and gave her a smile, one that I know she needed right now. “Yes.” I say, then gesture toward the cake she was making, “Now go finish your cake and remember to leave me a piece.”

She agreed, but I knew it would take more than a smile and fresh gossip to calm her.

It was already almost dinner time and there was no word from the search party. But like Aaron said, they have arrived, and I wasn’t feeling a bit good about it.

We were all obviously lost in thoughts, even Aaron and Jake… well, until Jake broke the silence with another grunt.

“You ok there champ?” Aaron asks, teasing.

“Yeah.” Jake mumbled.

“So, Jake…” Siam looks back, trying to lessen the tension that was obviously building on his shoulder. “What’s up with Cam?”

I rolled my eyes, of course, there was only one way to loosen up. Talk about girls.

Jake rolls his eyes as well, and puffing out an exasperated breath. “There’s nothing.”

“Really?” Siam raised a brow, “Cause I thought you two were openly flirting.”

“We were.” Jake says.

“But she isn’t your mate?” Aaron asked.

“Nope.” Jake popped.

“No tingling feelings, butterflies or anything?” Aaron nudged his cousin on the arm, “not even sparks?”

“You want me to punch out the answer for you?” Jake glared at Aaron.

I chuckled and shook my head.

“What?” Jake snapped my way.

“Nothing.” I said. “I was just wondering if you’re blushing or if that’s still allergies.”

Siam and Aaron laughed, while Jake glared at me.

“Anyway, what’s this about?” Jake segue the topic and we all turned back to wolf business mode.

“Aaron?” I call out.

“Right.” Aaron nodded, “The search party just came back.”

“And?”

“It isn’t good news.” Siam says under his breath, fighting away anger with the looks of it. “Let’s not talk about it here, I don’t want anyone outside the search parties hear about it. In fact I want everyone in the meeting accounted for in case we have issues of leaking whatever happens or is mentioned in meetings.” Siam was in full king mode as his voice dripped of the alpha tone. “Anyone without business is not allowed near the common room.”

We nodded as we finally reached Alpha Johansen’s common room where he holds pack meetings. The guards outside glanced at us and opened the door.

“Clear this hall and any other hall that leads to this room of anyone who isn’t part of the search.” Aaron gave instructions to them. “No one is to come or go in the duration of the meeting.”

“Yes sir.” They say in respond and Aaron jogged up to keep with us.

When we entered the others turned to us and we looked around, Jake stepped up. “Those who are not part of the search parties please step out of this room.” he says, “orders of the alpha.”

We looked around and saw some of the help step out looking grim.

“Liam,” I hear Siam say, I stepped up beside him, “I need you to keep me sane.”

I chuckled, “Don’t you always?”

We walked up to the table where the maps and charts were scattered.

“You were supposed to keep us updated.” Siam says to his father.

“I know.” He says, “But I thought it would be better if you find out in the absence of Serenity.”

And he was probably right to think of that, Siam would go wolf and throw a tantrum if he receives another bad news. Hey, the guy may be half Alpha wolf and half human king, but it doesn’t mean he don’t feel anything.

If there’s anything else, he probably is having a hard time of what to think or feel right now.

“What do we have?” I asked.

Alpha Johansen gestured over the map in front of us, “We’ve searched for the area you asked. Even went a little beyond it-“

“And?” Siam cuts him off.

Alpha Johansen glanced at Uncle Silver who sighed and stepped up. “We found tracks of humans…” we stayed quiet urging him to finish. “Hunters to be exact.”

Siam stiffened, “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” My dad says, “Though they tried to cover it up, there were some fresh residues of their visit in our land.”

“What else?” I asked and caught them exchange glances.

Uncle Luke stepped up and tossed something on the table with a loud clank. A knife smeared with blood.

“Silver dagger.” He said. “Signs of hunters in the area.”

“And the blood?” Siam asked.

“Eric’s.”

With that Alpha Johansen sat down, looking worn, old and lost for the first time. “He wasn’t supposed to be there.” he shook his head, “He was suppose to be home, waiting-“

Uncle Silver stood beside him and put a hand on his shoulder, “This is my fault Harold.” He said, “And like what I promised my daughter, I will make this right.”

Alpha Johansen stared at him, questioned. As if to answer his, and all of us, Uncle Silver stood up and faced us.

“Prepare the men, we’ll be leaving by midnight.” he says, tone oozing with Alpha tone, though not as powerful as it use to, but it was there. “We will follow these hunters and retrieve young Johansen.”

“Yes your highness.” They all said, no drop of doubt.

“I must ask for all of you to keep this between us.” He adds, “I don’t think my daughter can take any more pain and worries right now.”

“But she will ask.” I reminded him.

“And I will tell her.” he said. “She will not find out about this from the help.”

He gave me a look, reassuring me that he will tell her.

“It may be hard for those with mates not to tell them, so I would ask those who aren’t mated yet to come tonight.” He continues. “I do not think a big number is necessary, that way, there will be not much loss in our side.”

“You may all rest for the mean time.” we turned and saw Alpha Johansen standing, hope ignited in his eyes. “We will meet at the clearing south end of our territory.”

“Everyone is dismissed.” Siam says. I frowned seeing his face, he disagrees about something.

I glanced at Jake and Aaron who also noticed and moved closer to Siam, he may be the Alpha king, and this may be his father, but an angry shifter is an angry shifter.

“Requesting only for unmated shifters? To not have much loss on our side?” he sneered at his father, “You might as well have told them that they are worthless and meant to die!”

“That isn’t what I meant Siam.” Uncle Silver says.

“Then we’ll send the strongest and most experienced shifters.” Siam snapped.

“These hunters can kill us, Siam.” Uncle Silver snapped, “If those mated ones dies, there will be no assurance of a next generation-“

“And if we don’t kill those bastards now, there is no assurance of a tomorrow for any of us!” Siam shouted, “If its war they want, and war they’ll get!”

“It’s Serenity that they want!” Uncle Silver shouted back, faces only a few inches from each other.

“And right now, with Eric held captive, we can consider that they already have her.” Siam sneered in almost a whisper.

The room was quiet, but we all had one man in our view, mine was my father. He is Uncle Silver’s beta and I am Siam’s, we both know we’ll do our duties even if it means to be against our will.

We gave our word to our alphas, and our word is our honour.

“It is true that Serenity is our priority, but we are saving her to save our kind. That’s what you taught us and that’s what we believe in.” Siam continues, “Serenity knows she is not any better than any other shifter. It will break her heart to know that we sacrificed lives of other shifters for her and what she represents.”

“There is a need-“

“It will just prolong all our agonies.” Siam says, exasperated.

Uncle Silver stared at him, not moving away a bit. “Orders remain the same, Siam. Until you aren’t mated or crowned my word is still law.”

With that he turns toward the door.

“Then tell her.” I said. He may be king but he was no longer my alpha, he turns to me. “Tell her now. The least you can do is have those who we’ll be sending out be blessed by her.”

He gave me one last look and left the room. I turned to check on Siam who stepped up beside me.

“Make sure he talks to her.” he said.

“You aren’t-“

He shook his head, “I need to go for a run, I need to calm down.”

I nodded, “Jake you ok for a run?”

“Yeah.” He nods.

“Stay near the area and inform a guard.” I said.

Siam chuckled, “Yes dad.”

I snorted and hit him on the nape, “I wouldn’t be able to calm down Serenity if you three go missing too. Not to mention Anna.”

“I just need to blow steam, Liam.” Siam assured me. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

“And this two will be all over their mates that you’d wish we never came back.” Aaron teased.

I chuckled as Jake glared at his cousin, "For the last time she isn’t my mate.”

“Yeah, yeah…” we all said in unison and I left them to their run.

I walk to the kitchen where we left the girls, I’m pretty sure Uncle Silver went to find Aunt Claire after he left to tell her what happened. It had always been that way even when we were younger. Probably because that’s what the Alpha females are supposed to do.

I ran through the very short meeting we just had and thought it over.

Siam was right about Serenity not agreeing of more deaths. But this is for Eric, she would do anything for him. Hasn’t she proven that time and again?

So deep inside, I somehow doubted Siam and agree with Uncle Silver. We have lost too much of our kind, this trouble needs to be dealt with from the source. If a massacre needs to be done, then it should be.

“Tonight?” I hear Serenity say.

“Yes, at midnight.” I hear Uncle Silver say.

“Do we really need to be so…” she paused, “brutal?”

“As much as I would want it not to be, but we’ve lost too many lives already.”

“And adding to that number will not make anything better, dad.” She sighed.

The room was quiet and but I kept my place by the door, eavesdropping.

“If…” she starts again in almost a whisper, “If there is any way around the death of anyone, wolf or human-“

“There isn’t-“

“But if,” she stressed, “if there is any way around it, please think of reconsidering.”

Her plea was met with silence. I can’t understand it. In exchange of this attack tonight by wolves will be Eric’s life. Why is Serenity against it?

I waited a few more seconds, but no one spoke up. I sighed and decided to step inside. Serenity looked up at me, her face crestfallen and her eyes pleading. Then she knelt in front of him, holding his hand.

“Please papa?” she asks.

I frowned, this is her begging, I know her that much. She calls him papa to show him she was desperate. Like when she wants him to stay home and never leave.

“Serenity…” he sounded just as surprised.

“Papa, reconsider this.” She pleads again. She turned to me and so did the king.

I frowned, only then did I realize what she was on about. I wasn’t mated, I was one of the required shifters to go. And so is Jake, Aaron and- since they haven’t mated yet- Siam.

“Love, if there is any other way, I would do that.” he says wrapping her in his arms. “But this is the only way.”

“Then do it on a full moon.” She said. “Eric will surely understand and-“

“Serenity, you won’t last until the next full moon.” He said. “You’re weakening and we can’t keep Eric with them, if they find out of your wolf- a shifter with two wolves…”

“Papa…” she sobs again and hid her face on his chest, as he ran his hand through her hair.

“I’ll tell the maids to prepare dinner.” Mama Ellena stood up, “We need to prepare for tonight.”

11:35, I sighed and looked back to the book in my hand. I was in the library waiting to be called for our departure.

Alpha Johansen gave the wolves different paths to take, and were still giving them a briefing downstairs. Somehow, I didn’t feel like listening.

“I thought I’d find you here.” I looked up and saw Serenity by the door.

“Hey.” I smiled. “You need help with something?”

She chuckled. “Am I so weak to you Liam, that you automatically assume every time I come looking for you is when I need help with something?”

I rolled my eyes, “Well, I’m sorry if I care too much.” I returned to reading, wanting the conversation to finish there.

And Serenity didn’t respond, instead, she stood in front of me and just stared at me.

Still facing my book, but my eyes rolled up to glance at her. “What is it sissy?”

“I like it.” She said.

I dropped the book on my lap and gave her my full attention. “Care to elaborate on that?”

“I like when you ask me what’s wrong? Or if I’m alright.” She says. “I like that I can read your face as much as you can read mine.” She looked down her feet, entangling her fingers together. “I like that you don’t take crap from me and not afraid to say it. I like that you hit me on the head when I say or do something stupid, nudge me when you secretly tell me to shut up. Or glare at me for scaring off a girl from you.”

“Serenity I can’t-“

“I like that you care about me.” she said. “I know I can never be like that to you, or even feel so attached to you that you’ll probably die for me even if I don’t ask you to.”

She took a deep breath and look at me in the eye, hers was filled with tears. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t care. Cause I do, I really genuinely do, Liam. Maybe not the way you want or expect me to, but I do care. ‘Cause let’s admit it, I can never find anyone like you.”

“Serenity.”

With that she dropped on her knees, crying. I sighed and knelt beside her wrapping her in my arms.

“Liam,” she looked up at me, “I’m so sorry…”

“What?” I asked, surprised again.

“This is my entire fault.” She said, “If I fought off father sooner, of I told you and everyone else that he’s my mate, then we wouldn’t be in this mess, he wouldn’t have been captured-“

“Serenity…”

“You wouldn’t need to go to this mission-“

“Serenity?”

“You wouldn’t be in danger and-“

“Serenity!” she stopped, “Listen to me, Sissy. If there is any other way for us to do this without any of us getting in danger, we will choose that. But your dad is right…” I kept my eyes with hers, “there is no other way.”

She whimpered at this and leaned her head on my chest and continued to cry.

“I would lie if I say that I’m not scared,” I whispered, “but I’m not scared to go to this fight cause I am protecting you and our pack, what I am scared of is to fail without trying.” I closed my eyes as I held her tighter, “I’m scared of losing you, Serenity.”

With that she continued to cry and wrapped her arms around my waist. I glanced up the clock, it was already 1145, the maids will come in a short while, or worst, Siam.

I sighed and looked at the top of Serenity’s head. I smiled and ran my hand through her long hair.

“Remember when we were younger?” I asked, “Every time your dad would leave, you will cry all night and talk Siam and I to sleep in your room?” she nodded, but kept her face hidden in my chest. “We had a song to make you sleep…”

I grinned, remembering the song.

““Will you walk a little faster” said a whiting to a snail,

“There’s a porpoise close behind us, and he’s treading on my tail.

See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!

They are waiting on the shingle- will you come and join the dance?

Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you join the dance?

Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you join the dance?”

I hear her giggle and sat up, “It’s from Alice in Wonderland,” she says, “The Lobster’s Quadrille.”

“You said you felt just like her when she was in Wonderland.” I said, “That everyone was fussing about you, while in some alternate universe you are just like anyone else. But the thing is, this is your Wonderland, and the alternate universe was just a dream.”

“Not with you.” she says, “If it was another boy who hid me in the chest on the attic for a whole day, mom would have had you disown by the pack.”

I laughed remembering that, “You were so lame on the game that you didn’t even know where to start.”

“Yeah, says the wolf who I beaten last week.” She reminded me.

We laughed and sat there and let the comfortable silence take us.

“What were you reading?” she asked.

“Wuthering Heights.” I said, reaching for the book and running my finger at the edge of the pages, flipping through it.

“Urgh, twilight.” She scrunched up her nose.

I laughed, Serenity hated the movie, and it wasn’t because of the werewolf not getting the girl or because they showed how amazing vampires were supposedly. She just doesn’t like it, period. Or so she tells us.

“For your information, it’s a classic-“

“That was popularized at this time of age because of a lonely girl’s search for a true love and excitement that came through the form of a vampire who lives in a damp town who graduated so many times that he had what? Four PhDs?” She says, “Unusual as it may be, but let’s admit it, an Edward is probably just a figment of the writer’s imagination, and will remain there, much more a Cullen family.”

“Very cynical.” I said, amused.

“How am I cynical?” she raised a brow.

“You are one of those figments of a human’s imagination, she wolf.” I reminded her, “And aren’t you the one who is waiting by the window and throwing tantrums to get to Eric? That makes you a hypocrite as well.”

“First of all, I’m not in a book.” She pointed out, “And this is reality, we’re real. I’m in my Wonderland, if we aren’t then I’d delete the part of me being such a troublesome princess, or maybe of being a princess, losing Eric and have me worry about things like having my hair done and cry over broken nails.”

“You would have never met Eric if it wasn’t for him being an Alpha’s son and you being the princess that needs to be married to an Alpha.”

“Eric is my mate,” she pointed out, “If its fate that tells us who we are supposed to be with, I would have still met him sooner or later.”

I laughed and raised my hands up, “Touché.” She bowed her head and laughed. “So, is that all you’ll change in your life? Nothing else?”

She grinned and shook her head, “I’m pretty happy with how everything else.”

We exchanged smiles and had to end the conversation when someone knocked on the door. We both looked up and saw Siam, Anna, Cam, Jake and Aaron step inside.

“Hey, dad says it’s time to go.” Siam said, I nodded and stood up and reached out a hand to help Serenity up as well. “You ok?” he asks her.

Serenity nodded, “I am, but I’ll feel much better if you boys all come home in one piece.”

“You know we will, cry baby.” Jake says. “We have each other’s back.”

“And we’ll bring home Eric for you.” Aaron says.

“I know you will.” She said.

She walked up to them and gave them a hug and kiss on the cheek each. She did the same for me, “For good luck.”

“No fair.” Aaron whined, “You guys had two each.”

“Two each?” Serenity and I asked in unison, glancing at Jake and Cam.

“Don’t ask.” Anna shrugged.

“Anyway, we should really go.” Siam says, “You girls stay with mom and mama Ellena at the war room.”

“It’s the safest place in the house.” Cam explained.

I shrugged, “Guess it’s time to go.”

I stooped on top of the rock, my belly on the ground, scanning the area. There were hunters walking about around the fire, talking and laughing, some cleaning there blades and stuff.

Have you found him? I hear Siam ask.

The hunter’s scent is too strong. I responded.

They were somewhere behind me, about twenty meters. I step up to get a clearer view of the camp as I was better at tracking than anyone else. Siam was the planner, Jake and Aaron are the doers- no one can beat there tandem.

I looked around some more, taking- in all information I can. The camp was huge, and from the looks of it, they weren’t planning to be very discreet. There was probably thirty to forty of them, fifteen in guarding duty.

Come back. I hear uncle Silver say.

I was about to do so, when I caught one man step out of one of the huge tents. There were no lights inside the tent, but the moment that flap door open and the man step out, I knew what was inside that tent.

I think I got it. I said.

“How is he?” I hear one of them ask.

“The brat still won’t talk.” He says, flicking a blade on the ground and it pierced through the soil as he sat on one of the logs around the bon fire. I stared at the blade and saw that it was covered with blood.

“The fact that he is still alive after everything we’ve done proves that he is an Alpha.” Another guard says. “It won’t be long until the dogs come out to play.”

And that would be tonight asshole. I thought as I kept a growl from escaping from me. He’s alive, badly wounded I’d assume.

“Do you think the boss is right?” the first one asked, “That he could be the one the princess has chosen to mate?”

“That’s what that other wolf said.” the third guard said as he finished peeling a fruit and took a bite. “Funny how weak they can be when it’s their life that’s on the line, don’t you agree?”

They laughed, “Dogs should remain in their leash, shifter or not.”

I glared at the three, making a mental note that I would kill them myself later. I move from my position to be able to go nearer the tent where I suspect Eric was in.

When I was near enough, I laid still on the ground and listened. His breathing was deep and gasping, his heart a bit weak.

Liam, what’s going on?

I found where they’re hiding Eric, I reported, it’s the fourth tent on the east of the camp. I’m already in front if it.

Ok, I hear Alpha Johansen say, as planned, Siam and his group will retrieve Eric, everyone else kill every hunter you see, no one attack those on the tents, let them come outside.

Yes Alpha. Everyone answered.

In total there were twenty eight of us here, surrounding the camp. We may be outnumbered, but if we take down the guards first then we’ll be even, or at least, almost even.

Be careful, I said, there are about forty here last I counted.

And the guards? My dad asked.

I have seven on my sight, three in the middle of the camp, four doing rounds. I said seeing four men standing at the edge of the camp. But I saw fifteen men part ways when I arrived, I’m guessing they’re doing rounds in the forest.

Very good Liam. Uncle Silver said. Everyone, move.

If it wasn’t for my extra sensitive senses, I wouldn’t have heard the sound of paws on the moistened ground that somehow help muffle its sound.

Soon I can smell them, probably just a meter or two behind me.

Liam, I see Siam crawl on his belly toward me, which one is it?

That one. I pointed with my eyes, I’m guessing that he isn’t in his best state. They’ve been torturing him since they caught him.

What for?

Information.

I can smell him. I heard Eric’s beta, Kirk, says.

We agreed to link in with the Crescent Moon for us to be able to work better with them. We may be more aggressive, but they know the place. And they have the right to take revenge to these monsters.

Calm down, Siam says, we need to wait until some of the guards are down.

He is barely breathing-

And he can take a few seconds more of it.

Well, I can’t!

Shit! I thought.

Move in now! Siam ordered and hell broke loose.

We all run to the camp, surprising the hunters, some weren’t even able to grab a gun or a dagger. They were instantly killed, as I passed by the three of the guards who was talking earlier, they were surrounded by shifters from the Crescent Moon, their teeth out, while the three had their daggers up, waiting to lunge when needed.

Aaron! I called, he bit one of the hunters by the neck and we heard a crack before he ran up to me and we lunged behind the three hunters, causing them to fall on the ground, and the others made their move.

We cleared a path for our group toward Eric and we ran inside and found him tied in a post, covered with his own blood and bruised.

Siam and I moved up to him, slashing off the ropes while Jake and Aaron were fighting off four hunters who were guarding the tent.

I hear a yelp and saw Siam move back, but then he lunged again, this time, catching the hunter on his shoulder, he bit harder and again the sound of a broken bone came. The hunter screamed in agony and soon the others did the same.

I shifted and squatted in front of Eric.

“Eric, can you hear me?” I ask, holding him by the shoulder, he groaned and leaned back, looking at me.

“Liam?” he said in a raspy voice.

“We’re here Eric.” I said, “We’re getting you out of here.”

I looked him over, he would need to shift for him to be able to heal faster, but with such a weak heart beat, the chances of him to shift back to his human body would be hard.

“I don’t think Serenity would like me to turn you into a permanent wolf.” I said under my breath.

“Serenity…” he says, a light of hope flickered in his eyes, “how is she?”

I smiled as I grab him by the arm, “She’s ok, she’s waiting for you at your house.” He nodded and closed his eyes. “Eric?” I reached for his neck looking for a pulse, it was getting weaker by the minute. “We need to get him out of here!” I said to Siam who was now standing beside me.

He turned his back and gestured for me to put Eric on his back. I nodded and grabbed a rope and tied him on Siam.

I looked around inside the tent and saw five guards were dead. One was by the door, I’m guessing he tried to check on Eric but one of the boys got to him first.

I shifted back.

We got Eric and moving out. I hear Siam send out.

A couple howls from outside can be heard.

Go, we’ll be right behind you. Uncle Silver says.

We stepped out of the tent and saw the place covered with blood, human bodies were everywhere. It wasn’t even the battle field but the sight was heart breaking enough.

Move out! Siam tell us and we ran out of the camp, some of the other wolves joined us, I’m guessing they were more of Eric’s friends.

Run home. I hear dad say, don’t stop boys.

Yes sir. They all responded.

I frowned and slowed down a bit remembering he was still in the camp.

Dad?

I’ll be fine Liam. He says, we’re down to the last five ones. And they won’t escape us either.

I grinned, I knew how good a fighter my dad was. And to be fighting along with Uncle Silver made them untouchable. But then, that wasn’t their best moment, if you fuel them right, that five would be down in a second with just a slash and a bite.

They were looking for Serenity, I told the Alphas, blocking my mind from the others, they were going to use Eric to get to her.

There were a couple of loud growls from where we came from echoing through the forest. Making me give a low howl.

What was that about? Jake asked.

Something to hasten the job. I said and we ran through the forest and out into the open, the hidden road that will take us home to town.