Chapter 22 Awake and Alive II

Liam's POV

Overall the day wasn’t so bad, even the lunch with the girls was fun. They kept their hands to themselves, behaving as Cam had told them.

That night I was out in the garden, thinking if Alpha Johansen had already spoken to Eric.

I knew it was inevitable, that they would be asked to be formally mated to avoid any more trouble. But I guess I didn’t expect it to be too soon.

“Hey…”

I turned around and saw Eric walking toward me.

“Hey,” I greeted, “can’t sleep?”

He chuckled and nodded, “You too?”

“Kind of.” I said. “Just thinking of what had been happening really. The fight, the handing down, basically thinking of the responsibility I’ll be taking from my dad.”

“You and I both.” He says. “But you’ll be fine Liam. Serenity and Siam trusts you a lot, I know you won’t let them down.”

I grinned, “Thanks.”

“No problem.” He says, giving me a slight slap on the back. “Liam?”

“Yeah?”

“I just want to say thank you.”

I turned to him, questioned. “For what?”

“For looking after Serenity.” He said. “I know she’s very close to you, she talks about you a lot, you know?” I frowned, wondering if she told her about my little confession a few days back. “She says that you’ve saved her a lot of times from her craziness, that if it wasn’t for you, she could have given up already.”

I looked away, great, I didn’t even do anything and here I am feeling guilty. I thought.

“She trusts you a lot, and I know it would hurt her once you guys leave.” He continues, “And the same goes for you.” he paused, “I guess I just want to assure you that I will take care of her, just like you did. I promise that I won’t hurt her or leave her again unless necessary.”

I smiled, “You don’t have to tell me this Eric, I already know you won’t.” I said, “As for taking care of her, I know you will be able to do more than I could. That you will make her happier than any of us can, in fact, she already is. You’ve earn my trust when you saw her as who she is, not what she represents. That takes a lot of courage to show.”

He chuckled, “I know, with her being so feisty and all.”

I laughed and nodded, “You’re a good man Eric, Siam and I could not ask for a better mate for Serenity.”

He turned to me, “Thank you.”

“No problem.” I said.

Then we stood there quietly, comfortable and understanding where we stood.

“You know she hasn’t stopped writing the whole day on that gift of yours,” he says, “she says there’s a story behind it.”

I grinned, “The necklace you gave her is a moonstone, wasn’t it?” he nodded, “She had to use it on my dad after we were attacked, she was trying to remember the story of Aurora the first daughter, she needed the words Aurora spoke to be able to use the moonstone. Along with the words, she found out the name of the Aurora’s best friend. She said she didn’t want our people to forget who she is with right now, the ones who matters to her the most. So she promised to keep a journal, to keep track of those people and so she can tell the future shifters about us.”

“I see.” He nods, understanding.

“She’s very selfless.” I said, “She strongly believes that it’s the people around her is the reason why she wakes up every morning. Little does she know that those same people sees her as their reason for living.” I sighed, “We all know that she’s special, but she rarely sees that as a good thing. Remind her for me why, ok?”

“It’s the least I can do after everything you have done for us.” Eric says.

“Thank you.” I said. “Anyway, she’s probably looking for you.”

“Yeah, she said she wants to meet up at the library.” He sighed, “She said she wanted to show me something.”

I chuckled, “I’m betting its Alice in Wonderland.” He raised a brow, “Just act surprised if it is.”

He grins and nodded.

“Good night, Liam.”

“Good night, Eric.”

I watch him leave, when he was out of my sight I sighed.

It’s what is right, Liam, it’s what’s right. I told myself.

You could probably say that I’m going crazy with all the thoughts I’m having. Hell, I won’t be surprise if I began showing signs of being bipolar. I was always capable of handling my feelings and responsibilities, but then again, I guess it’s different when you actually have to admit defeat.

It was moments like this that being human would have sounded so much better, rather than being the invincible werewolf that we are but tied down to a mate that is playing hide and seek with you, that part sucks.

I ran my hand through my hair, frustrated. We might need to leave sooner if this goes on.

I sighed again, then heard a rustling from the edge of the garden. I looked up and glanced toward it. There was nothing there.

I am going crazy. I thought.

I turned to enter the house when I was sure I heard a footstep, one that hit and broke a branch underneath the ground. I looked back then saw something familiar glisten amongst the trees. I took a quick smell and I was sure of it. I ran inside the house, that’s when I felt an arrow fly over my shoulder.

“HUNTERS ON THE PREMISES!!” I screamed, “HUNTERS ON THE PREMISES!!”

Shifters suddenly stepped out and ran to the front, I looked back and saw a fight begin at the main hall.

I ran to Siam’s room and opened the door. “Siam!”

“I heard…” he says running toward me already. When I stepped back Aaron and Jake were already in the hallway.

“Take the girls to the war room.” Siam ordered.

I ran toward the library where I knew Eric and Serenity were and burst inside.

“Serenity-“

“What’s going on Liam?” she asked.

I turned to Eric, “Hunters, they’re in the house.” I said, “Siam said to take the girls to the war room.”

Eric nodded, and took Serenity’s hand and lead her out of the room, I ran behind her, making sure no one was following us, she was, after all, who they were looking for. We reached the war room, I looked around and saw Cam, Anna and the boys there.

“Where’s mom and dad?” Serenity asked.

“Serenity-“ Siam starts.

“No!” she pulls away from Eric and ran out of the room.

I have always admired how fast she can run even as a human, but right now, I wasn’t happy about it.

“Serenity come back!” I shouted.

She turned on the corner that will lead to the stairs. We all step out with her and saw the great fight. The number of the hunters were twice as ours, and many were already dying.

“Mom!” she shouted, I looked around and saw Aunt Claire’s wolf cornered by two wolves.

“I’m on it princess.” Aaron says, and ran down the stairs and shifted.

“No Aaron!” she shouted. I grabbed her around the waist and stopped her.

“Get them out of here.” Jake says and ran after Aaron, as he shifts and joined the fight.

“Jake!” Serenity calls out again.

“We need to go, Serenity!” Eric says, reaching for her.

“No!” she struggled.

“Serenity listen to me, listen to me!” I snapped, “We need to get you of here.”

“But the others…”

“They’re stronger than you think,” I said. “Right now we need to get out of here, or else all the shifters will be in danger if they get to you.” she stared at me, crying, “We’re stronger than you think.”

“Liam, no… you can’t…” she shook her head.

“You need to go.” I said, pulling away from her hold. “Go!”

“Liam!”

I turned around and looked over the fight, I needed to tip the scale a bit.

“It’s what’s right.” I said and shifted and jumped in the middle of the fight, killing two hunters with a slash of claw and caught one hunter by his torso and broke him in two.

I howled and the other shifters turned to me, understanding what it meant. Fight to death, fight for the goddess… and for me, fight for Serenity.

With just a mention of Serenity hope seemed to have sparked for everyone, eliminating more hunters as they arrive. I look around and saw that many had been wounded but continued to fight, in my peripheral view, I caught what I feared the most.

I left my position, as another wolf took my place and fought off other incoming hunters.

I reached for the white wolf that I have admired for far too long in my life.

Uncle… I called. Uncle wake up.

Liam? Even his mind was weak.

Uncle I’m getting you out of here. I said.

No, don’t… I wouldn’t last long. He said and glanced at another wolf behind me.

Another surge of pain ran through me as I move toward the grey and white wolf lied still as death.

Aunt Claire, no… you can’t… I promised Serenity…

It’s time that your generation take over for us, Liam… she says. You and my son have grown to be better men than I have expected. Take care of my daughter, like you always have… she reminded me. No one can take your place in her life Liam, remember that.

Yes Aunt Claire… I said.

You are like a son to me Liam, don’t cry, it pains me to see you hurting. She says in almost a whisper.

And with that I felt both of them slip away, along with the soul of their wolves. I look around more, and not from afar I saw Alpha Johansen’s wolf not far from where we were, beside him was his beta.

I looked around, seeing so many familiar wolves, some were new friends even.

Liam! I hear Jake call out to me, I turned around and saw a hunter behind me. But I was too slow, as I felt him stab me on the side.

I dropped on the floor in pain, as he pulled out the dagger and was about to stab me again when I heard a growl behind him and he was drag away and snapped into I don’t know how many pieces.

Liam, wake up… I hear Siam say. Wake up!

Not so loud, brat. I fought off the pain. What are you doing here?

Dad called for me. He glanced behind me.

There are more of them coming. Aaron says.

Who are with the girls? I asked.

Eric. He said as he urge me to stand.

Are you stupid Siam? He can’t shift right now…

They’re safe, there are guards with them. Now shut up and let’s get out of here.

Liam? I looked up and saw my dad, c’mon son… we need to get out of here.

I took a deep breath and held it in as I struggle to stand. It was a silver dagger, I was sure of it.

I looked around, there’s seem to be more damage among the hunters, seeing there are more of them dead. We walked pass them and was met by shifters who were either injured or panting and made our way to the war room.

When we got inside, Siam helped me toward the fireplace.

“Liam!” Serenity knelt beside me, “Shift back to human form.”

I took a deep breath and did as she asked. She quickly checked on my wound and held her hand over it, I feel her energy running through me, she was healing the rip on my energy, but that can only do so much with my physical body still losing blood.

“We need to take him to a hospital.” She says.

“The cars are at the back.” Eric says. He moves toward me and helped me up, the others were to stay wolf to keep guard.

“Serenity…” I reached for her hand. “Serenity I’m sorry…”

She gave me a smile, “It’s ok… they said their goodbyes… but I won’t be expecting yours, do you hear me Liam?”

I grinned and nodded. Eric then helped me move toward the other door that will lead us to the other side of the house.

There were five cars waiting, enough for everyone who was still with us. Eric reached to open the door when we heard a gun shot and Eric groaned in pain.

We turned and saw more hunters by the end of the driveway.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he sneered.

The shifters moved between us, Aaron, Jake and Siam were in front of us. Eric was holding unto his bleeding arm, while I leaned on the car, gasping for breath.

“We’ll let you leave only if you give us what we want.” The hunter says.

“No.” Eric says, pulling Serenity behind him. “Not over my dead body.”

“That can be arranged.” He raised his gun at him again, but Serenity stepped into view.

“Please, stop.” She pleads, “please…”

“The princess of the dogs is pleading to us.” The hunter, who seemed to be the leader says, amused. “Well, you know what we want.”

“We are not harming your kind.” Serenity says, “Why can’t you just leave us alone?”

“Because we took an oath to kill every single one of you.” he sneered, making the wolves in front of him bare their teeth at him.

“And where better to start than to the being that gives them hope?” he raised his gun at Serenity.

“You wouldn’t want to do that.” I said, he glanced at me with a sneer.

“And why not?”

“Like you said, she gives us hope.” I said, “Can you just imagine what the shifters would do if you kill her? We’ll have more reason to kill you, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

He frowned, I knew he hadn’t thought of this plan that far.

“If you kill her now, she’ll just reincarnate, then all these mess will just start over.” I added. “This will be a never ending cycle.”

“You’re lying…”

“Am I?” I asked. “You should have done your research more, hunter.”

Then he moved his aim and shot me on the leg, I held unto the car, to keep me from falling.

“Stop it!” Serenity shouts.

“You seem to be forgetting that your lives are at stake here, shifter.” He sneered at me, “And I don’t think your kind will be stupid enough to bear a new daughter of the moon, after we’re done with her.”

“Then just get on and kill me!” Serenity snapped.

“As you wish.” He sneered and took the shot.

“Serenity…” I reached for her hand and pulled her to me, shielding her.

“Liam…” She held unto my arm and slowly laid me to the ground. “Liam...”

“You idiot.” I said, “I told you to stop getting yourself killed. You have to stay alive for out kind, remember?”

“You’re crazy…” she cries as she pushed away strands of my hair away from my face. “Liam you can’t die…”

“I’m not dying sissy…” I said. “I’m that badass.”

She chuckled, “This has to stop now, Liam… I’m sorry.” She bent down and kissed me on the forehead and laid me on the ground.

“Serenity what are you-“

“Everyone stay back.” She said, I flinched hearing her alpha tone mix with her deity’s command.

“Serenity-“ Anna says.

“I’ll be fine.” She cut her off. “Why not just take me? You want to take me from them, then just take me.”

“No! Serenity, stop this-“

“Stay away Eric.” she said, “Let them take me, keep me alive and away from my kind. That way, you would not need to make a mistake of killing me.”

The hunter gave me a look and nodded.

“In return you have to stay away from them.” She said.

“Serenity no…” I whispered, but my sight was slowly turning into a blur.

“Never touch anyone of them again.” With the tone of her voice, I knew she was crying.

Stop her Siam. I said.

I can’t, she has the hold on all of us.

“Eric…” I groaned, “Eric stop her.”

“Serenity, please…”

“This is the only way to stop this.” She said, “I’m sorry Eric, but I have to think of our kind first.”

“Serenity…”

“Keep her safe for me,” she says, “until we meet again.”

With that I heard the hunters grab her and take her away. No one was still moving, much more talking.

I looked up into the sky and stared at the moon, the bright light consuming me along with the pain. Before I let it take me, I only had one thought in mind.

Serenity…