Chapter 4

Serenity’s POV

“A pack of rogues came out of nowhere,” Penn said to me finally after we were back at the packhouse and in the comfort of my room as she continued to fidget. I knew whatever she saw must have been frightening. I’ve never seen her so shaken.

“I’m sure everything will be okay. My brother is handling things.” I told her but then I began to worry since he had no backup. And for a moment, I thought myself stupid to have heeded his words when he told me not to send backup.

Worry began to consume me so much that I got up from the bed and headed towards the door.

“Where are you off to?” Penn asked as she stood up as well. Oh, I forgot. She couldn’t possibly stay in the room alone.

“I have to make sure my brother is fine. He is without backup.” I retorted as I turned the door handle, heading down the hallway.

As soon as I began to make my way downstairs, I noticed that the commotion was breaking loose. Wounded warriors were being taken to the pack intensive unit. Just then I spotted Brady who was barking out orders. I was just about to run to him - happy that he was okay, but then I stopped abruptly when I saw Lottie lodge into his arms.

A silent gasp escaped my lungs and my throat felt thirsty. My wolf within started to come alive and I had to hold it in not understanding why she was growling in this situation - since I was yet to shift fully. Her body cues and language remained a mystery to me.

Even with the mystery, I could feel hurt and burning energy seeing the two of them together. I know I shouldn’t be feeling this way towards my brother. Perhaps I just wanted him to make sure he waits for his true mate and not rush into love based on what he feels now.

Brady’s eyes moved around the room as he held Lottie to himself and his eyes finally fell on mine. I froze in place; tears clouding my vision. I don’t know how soon they got there. Not able to take a chance to cry in front of him, I turned my back against them and stifled a breath. Sadness choked me. Even with my back turned, I could still see the two of them close to each other. I ran back up the stairs. At least, he was okay. So I’m fine.

Penn was curled up into a ball on my bed and she must have passed out from everything that she witnessed last night. Between the beer we had drunk and the rogues’ sudden appearance. Not wanting to wake her, I took the other side of the bed crawled in snuggly and closed my eyes wishing that sleep would overtake me.

Soon after, sleep had taken me but I was awoken by an agonizing pain in my lower region. I couldn’t help but wince waking Penn from her sleep. “What’s going on?” Penn asked me as she towered over my body on the bed.

Another scream tore at my lips as another heathen pain washed through my stomach and this time it went straight to my heart. Tears began to sponge my face as I continued to yell. The door to my bedroom then flew open and my mother came rushing in.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” She helped me lay on my back as she went down on her knees beside me. I tried to speak, but the words were not forthcoming. This time, I gritted my teeth and shut my eyes suppressing the pain that won’t go away.

“Penn, call the doctor! Hurry!” My mum yelled in horror as she took my sweaty hands in hers. “Everything will be alright, Serenity.” She ran her hands down my ruffled hair.

As the pain heightened, my body began to burn. Like it was on fire. I held onto my mother’s hand like it was my saving grace. Not understanding what was happening, I let out another scream as my body rose from the bed in pain that could kill me. Then as fast as the pain came it left me and my body slumped to the bed.

“Serenity! Serenity!” I could hear my mum call. More frightened than I was. 

I could only focus on regulating my breathing. Thank goodness I didn’t die. The pain was gone. And my mum heaved a sigh of relief after getting the scare of her life.

The door flung open and I could hear footsteps coming to my bed. “I came as soon as you called.”

That was the pack doctor, no guess.

Opening my eyes, I looked up to see him checking my pulse. “Her breathing is stable now.”

He took out an acupuncture needle and placed one on my forehead and two on my shoulders.

“Does it hurt sweetie?” My mum made sure I was okay.

I winced a bit and the pack doctor eased a bit, putting on his stethoscope in his ears and moving the rear end to my chest.

The cold metal against my skin provided some form of comfort.

But that was not what he thought.

“How come? She is burning up so fast. Just now I checked, and her pulse was stabilised.”

“What is happening to my daughter?” Worry etched my mother’s face.

“I don’t know.” He shook his head in the negative. “Serenity doesn’t have a wolf yet. So it couldn’t be what I’m suspecting.

Do I tell him that recently, I have been feeling my wolf?

The problem is I sort of think she is inside me some of the time. And I wondered how that was so since I’m yet to fully shift. 

“She was close to being a shifter on her last birthday. But couldn’t shift successfully in the end. Could that be it? Perhaps her she-wolf is right there.” My mum thought out loud to the doctor.

I swear she was a wise woman.

The pack doctor nodded slowly, trying to dissect his thoughts and observing me in between.

“Doctor, if I did have my she-wolf in me, why is she in pain?” I asked in a small voice. Smaller than I expected. My throat had gone dry from all the screaming.

The doctor looked at my mother for approval before he responded to me. “It could be that you are in hear, but that only occurs to people who have found their mates. And she is in such pain because your supposed mate took another she-wolf to bed at the same time you started feeling pain. But neither of those pertains to you because your wolf hasn’t fully shifted and has yet to find a mate, correct?”

What are the odds of finding your mate before the mating ceremony? I’d say 0.005%. And such was my case.

Recalling last night. I had not spoken to any male except my brother and Anthony. Was Anthony the one? The thought of him being my mate made my stomach churn and there was no way in hell I was going to accept him as my mate after holding my hands possessively.

Opening my eyes, I looked at my mother. “My wolf expressed herself to me last night. But I only spoke to Anthony aside from Brady. Mum, you remember Anthony? He rarely appears in court. But he is the Beta’s last born.”

My mother bowed her head. “Doctor, can you kindly excuse us?”

“Sue.” He said, and he and Penn who were standing at the foot of my bed, left the room and shut the door for privacy.

My mother came close and sat next to me. Taking my hands in hers, I knew whatever she had to say was heavy. “Serenity, I don’t know how to tell you this but Anthony was one of the casualties tonight from the rogue attack.”