Chapter Four

Serenity's POV.

"Serenity. Serenity, it's time to wake up." A beautiful, gentle voice whispered. 

But I don't want to wake up. I am comfortable. Five more minutes, please. 

"You may not want to wake up, but you are making everyone who loves worry that you might never wake up." The beautiful voice said. “And you don’t want to worry everyone, do you?”

‘Fine, I guess I should get up.’ I thought to myself as l let out a frustrated huff.

"That’s good, and when you awaken, you need to start training even more than you already are. We don’t want something like this to happen to you again. And when I officially awaken within you, it will be challenging for you if your body remains as it is now. I can’t believe that there was nothing that I could do to prevent you from being hurt again." I could hear the pain in the beautiful voice as her voice began to shake ever so slightly. “I swear once I can fully awaken, I will do everything I can to protect us.”

Being hurt again? Is she talking about the event that caused me to lose all of my memories of my life before I came to live with the Callan family? Wait? Did she say that she was going to awaken within me!?! Does that mean that this voice belongs to my wolf!?!? 

Excitement swelled within me as I anticipated the answer to the question I ecstatically belted out.

Is it possible that you are my wolf? I can't believe we are finally going to meet! I have so many things that I want to ask you. Like, why have you taken so long to reveal yourself to me? Is it because I am weak? Or because…

Before I could finish with my flood of questions, the velvety voice interrupted, "I will answer all of your questions, but for now, you need to return to your family. They are so worried about you. If you weren’t a part of their lives, I don’t think they could go on. Ren, you must never think those horrible thoughts that you were thinking before you lost consciousness." 

The sweet voice spoke these words as I heard inaudible mumbling all around me. As the voices began to become more and more apparent, my body began to ache, and my dry, parched throat throbbed with each dry, stale breath. A tear escaped the corner of my eye as I remembered the horrifying thoughts that had run through my mind as I was being violently beaten. I felt a calloused hand wipe the tear that had escaped my eye, and then it moved to wipe the sweat from my brow. 

"All of her injuries have completely healed, so why isn't she waking up," Alpha Derrick questioned in a strained, pleading voice. 

"I know that you are concerned about her, but…"

Suddenly, a loud crash made my body flinche involuntarily, and a throaty growl vibrated over the room. "If you say that there is nothing you can do one more time, I swear we will be sending flowers to you, widow!" Alpha Derrick’s voice came out dark, angry, and entirely consumed by his wolf, Agnar. “I want answers, old man, and you're just giving me excuses.

At that moment, I knew I had to say something before Alpha Derrick destroyed everything within this room and possibly killed one of the pack doctors. As I tried to open my eyes, they felt as if they were being held shut with a vice. Light painfully flooded my eyes upon opening them, causing them to sting. So I tightly clenched them closed and reached out my sore arm towards the direction Alpha Derrick’s voice had come from. "De…derr…ick," his name whispered through my dry, chapped lips.

A loud thud came, and then Alpha Derrick grabbed my hand, "I'm here, Ren. Are you okay? Is there anything that I can get for you?"

Jace's POV 

Alpha Derrick and I have been taking turns handling the day-to-day matters of leading the pack. We could also divide up the times that we would each guard Serenity while she lay unconscious in a comma. 

Luna Emily was busy preparing for the Biennial Autumn Ball we are hosting this year. So she had been interrupting, without even bothering to knock, for budgeting, decorations, and anything she wasn’t quite sure about. Thus, when someone so rudely barged into my office again, I automatically assumed it was her. A frustrated huff escaped my lips, and I wearily rubbed my hand across my forehead.

"So what is it this time, Lu…" I began as I looked up, shocked to find Quinn standing before me with tears running down his cheeks. "Quinn, what's wrong?" I asked as I made my way around my desk to his side.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he wiped the tears from his cheeks, "Ren." 

He paused for a moment to blow his runny nose. The worst-case scenarios consumed my thoughts as I waited for him to finish. She is dead. Ren died, and I wasn’t even there with her in her last moments. Tears welled in my eyes, and unable to help myself, I blurted out, "Is she okay!?!? Is Ren okay?!?!" Panic completely consumed me as Quinn shook his head no. "She's not okay? She did die." I fell to the ground as my heart felt as though it was breaking, and tears began to fill my eyes.

Quinn leaned down and shook his head with a soft smile. "No, that isn't what I meant when I shook my head. Ren is fine, and she woke up not that long ago." 

Relief swelled inside me, followed quickly by anger. "Then why did you shake your head no?! I shouted as I punched Quinn in the shoulder, causing him to crumple to the ground in pain. 

“Because I thought that you would want to know first,” Quinn said as he choked on his words.

Racing towards the infirmary room where Serenity had been, I burst through the door. "Ren!" I shouted as I ran to her bedside. 

"Hi, brother Jace," she said in a soft, dry voice. 

Derrick stepped aside, allowing me to wrap my arms around my frail little sister. "You scared the life out of me," I said as tears of joy filled my eyes.

"I'm sorry," Serenity whispered as I pulled away, shaking my head.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, little sis." I stepped back, still holding Serenity's hand, as I looked at Alpha Derrick, who had a serious look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he leaned over and kissed Ren on the forehead, "You should get some rest," He said as he glanced up at me, giving me a look that stated 'we need to talk,' Before giving Ren one last smile and walking from the room. 

"Derrick is right. I'll be back to check on you later. In the meantime, please get some rest." I said as I kissed her forehead and exited the room. 

Upon exiting her room, Derrick grabbed my arm and said, "We need to talk. Let's go to my office."

In his office, Derrick rigidly sat in his chair, resting his chin on his fists with a tightly clenched jaw; he began speaking, "Ren can't remember what happened. The last thing she remembers is heading to lunch that day." His nostrils flared with anger as he continued, "So that means we are at a standstill when it comes to finding out any more about the rogues that attacked her."

"So whoever let those rogues within our borders are going to get away with it," I said as Faris began to take over. 

Derrick’s eyes also darkened, "You better control your wolf!" Derrick said, allowing Agnar's Alpha tone to seep through. 

Faris bowed his head and allowed me to take control once again. "Sorry. I just…"

I began when Derrick interrupted, "Something seems off about this whole attack, and finding the rogues dead before we could get there only further made me realize that this was an inside job."

"What did Erica say when you questioned her?" I asked.

"Nothing, because I didn't  question her." Derrick flatly stated.

"What!?! Why didn't you question her!? Her scent was there where Ren was attacked!!" 

"I know, Jace, but Emily let me know why. She said she sent her there to check on Ren because she heard what happened." Jace said as he avoided eye contact.

"Wait, that doesn't make sense. Emily hates Ren. So it kinda seems like Luna Emily is covering for Erica." I said as I raised my eyebrows in suspicion.

"How dare you speak about my Luna that way!!" Anger boiled in his voice as he spoke. 

"I didn't mean to disrespect Luna Emily. I just…"

"Enough! Derrick interrupted. Letting out a frustrated huff and running his hand back through his hair, he continued, this time more composed, "Double the guards watching over Ren, and let's end this conversation here for today."

With a quick nod, I exited the office to fulfill Alpha Derrick’s orders.