Siam’s POV
When we arrived at Johansen’s house, Eric went straight to Serenity’s room and locked himself.
It was obvious. The separation is taking a toll on him, and having Serenity’s wolf with him as well, must be harder than anything any shifter has gone through.
And right now, space is the only thing that we can give him.
We all walked off to the War room and stood around the table where the map laid. Jake marked the new area where we found the latest murdered shifter.
“That’s the twelfth.” He announced, “Total of 25 if we included Jim and group last week. These are the areas that had Serenity’s scent in the locations.”
I looked up and saw that the latest kill was the nearest among all the death. And the others, like Jim and the other guards’ bodies, were relocated.
“What do you plan to do now?” Uncle Luke asked.
I shook my head and shrugged. “I don’t really know what to do to tell you the truth.” I turned to Aaron, “Any news about the victims?”
Aaron nodded, “Like what we suspected, they are unmated.” he said, “All are in the right age to mate.”
“So it is safe to assume that they are targeting the unmated ones,” Jake says.
I nodded and stared at the map.
“Maybe we should get some rest for now before we call for the other alphas.”
I shook my head, “We’ll meet in a few hours. Let’s just let Eric calm himself-“
Jake snorted and glared at the map, “He needs it.”
I sighed, “Jake-“
“He had no right to say that,” Jake said.
“He did, Jake.” Uncle Luke says, “He had every right.”
“What?”
“He didn’t lose Serenity.” Uncle Luke continued. “None of us lost anyone. But he needs to know that we understand what he’s going through, that he isn’t going crazy.”
“Well, he obviously was-“
“No, he wasn’t!” Uncle Luke snapped and hit the table with his fist. We all stepped back and stared at him, surprised, as he took a deep breath and calmed himself. “You have to understand that he feels not only his pain but also Serenity’s. That’s why he’s acting crazy, as you like to say.”
I frowned. I thought I always understood where Eric was coming from. Knowing what it felt like to have a mate and how the mere thought of losing her feels. But I didn’t know that it was more than just the connection.
Eric felt what Serenity felt. The longing to go home and be back to her mate and us probably was painful to Eric not to know why she felt what she was feeling.
I don’t think I can bear that.
“Now, all you boys, get some rest, and we’ll meet after dinner.” Uncle Luke stepped out of the room without a second look.
I sighed and walked up to Jake.
“Just let Eric calm down.” I tell him, “I’m sure he didn’t mean to say what he did. The situation just called for it-“
“Uncle Luke’s right.” He said, “I should have just understood him, I shouldn’t have…” he shrugged, “it was just stupid.”
“Everything will be fine….” I said, “I know it will be.”
Jake sighed and nodded.
“C’mon, man.” Aaron said, “Let’s get some rest.”
I watched Aaron and Jake leave the room.
I sighed and looked around the room, where I never thought that I could be left alone. I looked back at the map on the table and stared at it.
Realizing that moment that there was nothing for me to do.
Not at the moment.
I made my way to Anna and my room. She had been told to rest as the baby had been giving her a hard time, as we have expected, which made Anna grumpy and annoyed all the time.
I knocked and stepped inside to find Jean and Cam in bed with Anna talking about Lord knows what.
Anna looked up at me with a smile, which faltered the moment she saw me.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I sighed and forced a smile and walked up to her, sitting beside her.
“It’s nothing, love. Just the usual….” I said.
She studied my face and shook her head, “What aren’t you telling me, Siam Clarence?”
I rolled my eyes. She reminds me of mother whenever she does that. I guess I should take it as a sign that she’d be a good mom, right?
“There was another killing,” I said.
“And?” Jean asked. Anna gave me the same look as Cam and Jean had made me continue.
“Serenity’s scent was present.” I continued.
They all sat up, “Was she there?”
“Did they leave any tracks?”
“Did she leave any signs or something?”
“There were tracks….” I glanced at Cam.
“What is it?” Cam asked.
“Eric…” I sighed, remembering the scene at the clearing. “Eric and Jake fought….”
Cam frowned, and I caught her swallow and worry. “Are they ok?”
“I’m not really sure,” I said. Cam grew more worried, “Not that they hit each other. They didn’t go that far. It’s just that Eric was pretty angry, but I don’t think it was with Jake….”
“I don’t think I get it….” Cam was now looking confused.
“Eric found the tracks….” I began, “and he wanted to follow it, but we disagreed. Jake stepped up and stopped him. They fought about….” I glanced at Cam again and thought of my words carefully.
I felt Anna reached for my hand and squeezed it. I smiled at her, quietly thanking her.
“About?”
“About you and Jake,” I said. “Eric is trying his best to understand Jake, but I guess Jake talking about Serenity and mating is just too much for him. For Eric, he doesn’t have the right to talk about that.”
Cam sighed and shook his head, “And here I thought that he’s all ok with Jake’s stupidity. He was the one who was siding with him a few weeks back.” Then she crawled down the bed.
“Where are you going?” Jean asked.
“I need to see Eric,” she said.
“I think it would be wise to leave him alone for a few hours, Cam,” I said. “Let him calm down for a while.”
“I need to know if my brother’s ok-“
“He is.” I said, “He’ll be better once he calms down.”
Cam sighed and nodded, “I’ll go check on Jake then. I’m sure he needs to be calmed more than Eric anyways.”
“Thank you.” Anna says with a smile, “I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
Cam gave a forced smile and left.
Then Jean sighed and step down from the bed as well, “I’ll give you guys some privacy.” she says, glancing at me and giving me a wink. I smiled at her, thanking her as well. “I’ll check on Cam. She’s probably panicking right now. We’ll see you guys for dinner.”
“Thanks, Jean,” Anna says.
We watched her as she ran after Cam and closing the door behind her. I then sighed and turned to Anna, who was staring at me with a smile.
“You ok?” she asked.
I shook my head and looked away, “I can’t do this, Anna… not anymore….” I said in almost a whisper. “I thought by now we’d have Serenity back, and with the elders still not letting us leave, I don’t know what to do….” I felt a tear find its way to my eyes, “I can’t… I just… I just want her home….”
I let the tears pour out of me, the same tears that I fought against since my parents’ cremation, Serenity’s abduction, Liam’s near-death… but I can’t stop it now.
“Shh…” Anna wrapped her arms around me and pulled me to her. I rested my face on the crook of her neck and cried like a little boy. “Let it out, love….”
“Anna, I missed her….” I said, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close to me. “I missed her so much….”
“I know, love…” she whispered, “So do I. But remember what you said?” she pulled away and cupped my face with both her hands, “She did this for us. She gave us time to study what the hunters are planning, she just sacrificed herself for us, and we can’t set that aside because of one moment of weakness.”
I listened to her words and her heart at the same time, trying to make sense of this moment of weakness.
“Take this time to let out whatever you feel, Siam.” She said, “Your anger, your longing, and want. Everything…” she looked deep into my eyes, “Cry it all out if you have to. It doesn’t make you any less of a man or a king.”
I stared at her and nodded and hid my face on her neck, and did as she told me to.