Chapter 29 Rain Falls Down

Eric's POV

"Apparently, the news regarding the Daughter being abducted had spread. The alpha of the first town sent the rogue here escorted, of course." Kirk says.

"He must have some delicate news with him," Jake says.

"She," Kirk says.

"She?"

"The rogue is a she."

"A she?" Aaron asked.

I sighed and exchanged looks with Siam. This won't be fun. I thought.

"Is he marked?" Siam asks.

"I'm not sure." He said. "It'll be hard to tell."

"What do you mean you aren't sure?" Jake snapped. I wondered the same thing. It is easy to know if a female shifter was mated or not.

"See for yourself." Kirk opens the door, and we all stopped at the door, staring.

A prostitute? I thought.

"Darn, you boys." I hear a familiar voice of a girl shout.

"You know Anna's rules."

"Anna- shmana, I don't remember making a pact with any of you."

"Yeah, well, that's the beauty of being part of the royal family, you sort of getting to rule everyone, even rogues."

I chuckled and shook my head.

It has been almost two months since the arrival of this woman, and Aaron and Jake had been busy arguing with her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Jean?" Siam asks.

"Yes, Jean Columbus." She purrs, giving Siam a seductive look.

But it's either he didn't notice, or he has this mated act pinned down.

"Well," Siam shook her hand and stepped away, "I am Siam of-"

"I know who you boys are." She says, pulling a box of cigarettes underneath her micro mini skirt. "You are the top boys to hook up with the last time I checked."

"That would sound so hot if it wasn't from a dirty mouth," Jake says.

"Well, I'm sorry if I offended you, oh clean one." she rolled her eyes with her sarcasm.

"Forgive my friend. He's just a bit protective." I said, "I'm Eric Johansen. I am the alpha of Crescent Moon pack."

"Oh, alpha, I'm so scared…" she says as she puffed smoke toward us.

I frowned, and Aaron snatched the smoke from her and snapped it into two.

"This is a sterile room to heal injured shifters. We don't need your smoke and dirt in here," he says

"Well, if I'm so filthy, then why can't you just throw me out?" she sneered.

"Cause you have the information we need," I said.

"The others said that you have information of the whereabouts of the hunters?" Siam asks calmly.

"Maybe." She pulls out her pack of cigarettes, and before Aaron can snatch it away, she pulled away and raised her hand, "I won't tell you anything if you keep me from my smoke."

"Fine," I said. She smiled and took a long puff from her smoke, "Tell us everything you need to know."

"Well," she starts, "one thing for sure, your little girlfriend is with them."

"And how is she?" Siam asked.

"I don't know." She says, "It was either she was asleep, or she was dead."

I glared at the girl in front of me, but Jake held me back.

"There whereabouts?" I asked.

"To the south." She says as she puffs out smoke again, "And with the gears, they were carrying, I think they're planning to stay away for long.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*end.of.flashback~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And it has been long, a month and a half. I looked outside the window and sigh remembering Serenity.

We've extended our search to the Southern lands, but still no luck. Not even a trace. The hunters are also smart enough to keep their promise of not harming anyone, as we have received no news of any attacks or even injured wolves.

"Eric?"

I looked up and saw Anna standing at my door with a tray of tea.

"Anna." I stood up and bowed.

"Straighten up, idiot." she laughs. I grinned and did as told.

Since they were married a couple of weeks ago, I've been teasing Anna about being royalty- bowing and calling her majesty and queen- which pisses her off.

"What do you got there?" I asked.

"Tea and snacks." She said. "Siam is talking with the other alphas again, and it's driving me crazy."

I grinned, "Still not wanting to be caught up with the alpha drama?"

"Not unless it's about Serenity, nope." She said, setting down the tray on the coffee table and glanced my way, "How are you holding?"

I forced a smile, "Good, I guess."

"Eric…" she sighed, "I know it's none of my business, but please…" she walked up to me and cupped my face, "do try to get some rest."

"I am trying…."

"Your eyes say so differently."

I shrugged and looked away. It was true. No matter how Josephine tells me to sleep and reassure me that Serenity was ok, I can't rest. Especially not after that series of pain that I was subjected to a couple of weeks ago, for no reason at all.

It would only be a fool who will think it wasn't Serenity's pain that I was feeling.

But to be quite frank, I would welcome another wave of pain like that if it will reassure me that Serenity is still alive.

I stepped away and sat on my chair, looking down at the work that had been laid there staring back at me for days.

"I'm trying my best, Anna."

"I know you are Eric," she says, sitting across my table. "But you working through the night isn't helping you."

"I just…" I sighed, "I just want her back home. I need her to be home now, Anna."

"And so do I, and Siam, and Liam… but that isn't the case right now." she says, "Don't let her sacrifice be wasted. She was just protecting you and us. She'll be back when the time is right."

"And when is that?" I asked exasperated, "When there's barely anything for us?"

"Never say that, Eric." she looked disappointed. "You know she loves you."

"And I love her as much, maybe even more…" I said, "but the moment the bond weakens, what if she can't hold on to that?"

She frowned. What I fear more than her death is our bond breaking and her finding someone else. It wasn't impossible. My attraction to her is more robust as I have my wolf, but she… she's just a girl right now. She can easily fall in love with someone else.

"She wouldn't do that, Eric." Anna says, "You have to believe that she wouldn't."

I sighed and nodded, sitting back and staring up at the ceiling. I felt Siam's presence along with the others on the way to my office. And I can't have Siam see Anna looking upset.

We might have gone close the past month and a half, but still, it's a different thing when it comes to his mate, the queen.

"There you are." I hear him say by the door.

"Hey…" Anna walks up to his arms as they entered my office. "Alphas been good?"

He chuckled, "Nothing I can't handle, love." Then the room was quiet for a second, "You ok there, champ?"

I glanced their way and shrugged, "Yeah, just a little tired."

"Well, you do look like you need sleep," Cam says.

I nodded and stood up, "I'd be in my room if you need me for anything."

"You want me to go with you, alpha boy?" Jean teases.

I chuckled and walked toward my door, "I'll be fine, Jean, thank you."

"Well, you know where to find me," she winks my way, "just in case."

I nodded and left for my room.

On the way, I saw Uncle Luke step out of Liam's room with a shrug.

"Oh, hey Eric…" he says with a tired smile.

"Uncle Luke." I greeted them back, "How is he?"

"The same," he sighed, then forced a smile, "at least it isn't going worse."

I grinned and nodded. Then he gave me a look like he was studying me.

"Can't sleep?" I shrugged and shook my head. He reached for my shoulder and gave it a squeeze, "That's normal."

"I know, but I don't want to be too comfortable with the idea that it is."

"True," he says as he pulled me toward the stairs and made me sit on the steps. "When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't know…." I said, looking back. "Since she left?"

"That long?" he asked in surprise, "Damn, it's a surprise that you're still standing." I sighed, "Look, son, I know it's hard, the way you look right now probably isn't even half of what you feel, but you have to think of the bright side. What you feel, like there's a missing part of you, that's a sign of her still alive and longing for you."

"Isn't it the same when your mate dies?" I asked.

He looks away, a sad smile on his face. "Worse. The cold never goes away, and you aren't missing a piece of yourself. No, it's still there, just hollow, unresponsive. It's like when you hold her in your arms, yet she isn't holding back."

"I'm sorry, Uncle-"

He shook his head and gave me a light slap on the back, "Don't be. It's just what I feel physical. My heart says so differently."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Liam reminds me of his mother every day." He says, "He's my proof of the love that I thought I lost. Liam more than just fill that longing. He had always been his mother's ray of sunshine." he laughs, his eyes reminiscing, "Nothing can rain on that boy's parade. Not then and not now, I know that cause he hasn't stopped fighting."

I caught a tear on the corner of his eyes which he quickly wiped away.

"It would be so easy for him to escape this hell hole, but that wouldn't be like him." he continues, "And knowing him, he'll be back on his feet until you have found Serenity and is home." I looked away, somehow. The more I hear of how Liam had always been there for Serenity, I feel how undeserving I am of her.

"To tell you the truth," he continues, "If it weren't for you, I could say that it's Liam who loves that girl the greatest. I thought he was joking around when he said he'd probably die for her or that she'll be the death of him… I never thought…" he took a deep breath and wiped more tears, "I can't really blame him. Serenity is an amazing girl."

I stared at the floor, just listening, giving the old beta the privacy to shed the tears that he had been keeping.

"She never hated being the princess or the daughter of the moon," he continued, "what she hated was because she can't do what she needs to do because of who she is. If she wasn't in so much trouble, she'd probably be running around helping the other packs and stuff." He chuckled. "And she does, whenever she reminds her dad of what a bully he sometimes was, that was her as a child."

Then I caught him sigh, and he reached for my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"Eric, don't give up." he says, "This may sound selfish, but I don't want my son to wake up seeing Serenity not home and that you have given up. He won't say it, but he would be distraught."

I nodded and gave him a smile. "I won't, uncle, I promise. I owe him that much."

"Thank you." then he gave me another pat on the back and stood up. "Go get some sleep, Alpha Johansen. You need it."

"You too, uncle." I said, "Lord knows we need some adult supervision here with Siam still busy with Anna."

He laughed, standing outside Liam's door. "I'm not going anywhere, don't worry."

"Good to know." I turned to leave for my room.

"Eric?" I turned and saw him halfway inside the room. "I'm not sure if it would help," he paused and looked around, "but when my wife died, I slept on her side of the bed. It gave me a sense that she was still around." He topped his head sideward, "Maybe it will help you sleep if you stay in her room."

I gave it a moment and nodded, "Maybe…."

He smiled and step into the room. I turned to leave for my room, but halfway I stopped and thought about Uncle Luke's words.

I stared at the door, remembering how I hid there whenever I didn't want to see anyone or when we weren't doing anything for the council.

It's worth the shot. Josephine says.

Five minutes later, I was outside the door of Serenity's room. I stared at it for a second and reached for the doorknob. Serenity won't be on the other side of the door, I know that, but if Uncle Luke's assumption was valid, maybe her scent can help.

I opened the door and step inside. The scent of cherry blossom filled my nose and made me smile, remembering her at mama Ellena's home and how feisty she was.

I closed the door and walked to the middle of the room, looking around.

I didn't bother with the light. I can see pretty well with my wolf's sight. There were stacks of books on the floor, on the foot of the sofa, and on top of the table.

"Someone was bored." I grinned.

I looked toward her bed and saw that it was still not fixed. Half of her duvet was sprawled open.

Since I arrived, she hasn't been in this room much. I thought, remembering that she was the last one I saw when I slept the night I came home and also the one who woke me up.

I ran my hand over her bed, and it was warm as if someone just laid there. Her scent struck me again, and it calmed me.

Maybe it would work. I agreed with Josephine. I prepared for bed, hanging my jeans and shirt on the chair on her coffee table.

Then I crawled into bed. I never use my duvet, but I need to feel and smell Serenity. I covered myself with her duvet. Underneath was another pillow that had a strong scent of her on it. It was probably the one she hugged when she sleeps. I wrapped my arms around it and held it close to me.

Somehow, I was calmed, but at the back of my head, I had a feeling that this won't last. As quick as it entered my mind, I pushed it away.

It didn't matter, not right now.

Good night. I hear Josephine says.

Goodnight… I answered before I let the comforting darkness take me, Serenity.