Her Choice To Make
\[Serenity’s POV\]
I stare at my uncle in disbelief, wondering how it is even possible that he would think of sacrificing my mother like this. How could he? Out of everyone around us, I thought that he was the one that cared the most for her, but here he was basically offering her up in order to save everybody.
“No,” I hiss, not even wanting to think about it. “There are other ways to deal with these wolves. We can…”
“We don’t have the time.” Uncle Jose counters, giving me a sad look. “We are already surrounded by the enemy, and many of our own have been turned into mindless zombies.”
“I can save them.” I whisper, remembering how my blood helped Maverick. “If we just create weapons with my blood, then we can…”
“We can’t even get close enough to that boy to do such a thing.” Uncle Jose counters.
“I’ll figure out a way!”
I would. I would figure out a way to get close to the enemy even if it was just me. I would do whatever it took to take them down, even if it meant giving my life for the greater good. Anything but bringing my mother into this and having her use her abilities.
“Serenity,” Maverick murmurs, squeezing my hand that he grasps gently. “You can’t think of giving yourself to the enemy like that.”
“Then should I allow my mother to lay her life on the line?” I demand, yanking my hand free. “Do I just stand aside and watch and hope for the best? No! I can’t do it! I won’t allow it.”
“The choice isn’t yours to make.” Uncle Jose says quietly. “The only person who can make that choice is Denali.”
“I’ll stop her from coming here.” I counter, stubbornly. “I’ll tell her what is happening, and then…”
“If she decides that she is willing to do what is needed?” Uncle Jose asks, all but punching me in the gut. “You, your father, and all of your packmates and family are your mother’s greatest treasures.” He continues when I don’t speak. “Because of that, I’m certain that even if we tried to stop her, she would make the choice to use her abilities without being asked.”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue with him, but I know deep down that what he is saying is correct. My mother would do whatever it took to protect everybody and to save my father, who was already a mindless zombie.
“You’re the worst.” I whisper, pain beginning to claw through me. “I thought that out of everyone you would be the most caring and understanding, but you’re just as bad as everyone else who just wants to use our abilities for your own good!”
Not waiting for Uncle Jose to retaliate, I turn and begin moving, shoving my way out of the meeting room and into the hall where the men from before stand, most likely listening.
“What?” I growl, taking them in as they watch me. “You got something to say?”
“Stop thinking about only yourself.” One huffs in amusement. “You were acting all high and mighty, but…UGH!”
I don’t let him finish before I lift my knee and connect it with his groin so that he collapses in front of me, and as his buddies stare at me in disbelief, I bare my teeth.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re talking to, but I’m not some pup that you can talk down to as you please. I am Serenity Torres, the daughter of Rosco and Denali Torres and the future alpha of Emerald Moon, which means that you are below me.”
“Are you pulling rank right now, kid?” One of the sergeants demands, narrowing his gaze on me. “Don’t you know that we can…”
“You can what?” Maverick asks, coming to stand beside me. “That you can retaliate and touch her as you please? Go ahead and try. The minute you do, I’ll break every fucking one of your fingers, do you hear me?”
Maverick. I think. Appreciating just how much he protects and supports me. You’re the only one who actually understands, but I can’t let you get yourself into trouble because of me.
“Don’t waste your time.” I sigh, reaching out and grabbing his hand. “I think that they’ve learned their lessons, wouldn’t you agree?”
As I speak, I turn my gaze to the man who still huddles on the ground, and when he fixes his hate-filled gaze on me, I know that he understands.
“Then let’s get going, shall we?”
I wrap my hand around Maverick’s and then begin to move, not bothering to turn and see what the sergeants are doing. They could follow us and try something if they wanted. Hell, I would happily welcome such a thing because it would give me the opportunity to release some of the anger I was feeling, but I was certain they wouldn’t.
That’s why I continue to move, leading Maverick toward my room, and when we arrive and we are in the safety of it, I turn and throw myself against him and breathe in deeply.
“How is all of this happening?” I sigh, allowing my mind to travel to the issue at hand. “How is it possible that my mother may have to risk her life just to stop the enemy?”
“It is a guarantee that will happen.” Maverick murmurs, wrapping his arms around me. “For now, we need to think of a way to deal with them without including Denali.”
“And if we can’t?”
I hate that this thought is even coming to me, but even I felt that draw earlier on from Forrest. It was intoxicating, and if I hadn’t gotten myself out of its snare, I could be amongst those who were now suffering.
“Don’t think like that.” Maverick tells me, leading me to the bed and then sitting me down gently. “For now, you should focus on resting so that we can plan our next move in the morning.”
“Easier said than done.” I grumble, hating this feeling.
How long had it been since I felt so helpless? Was it in my childhood when I just couldn’t do anything right? Or even now when I think about all the members of Emerald Moon that haven’t accepted me.
“How can I possibly sleep when all of this is happening?”
“Then what do you intend to do?” Maverick asks, taking me by surprise. “Are you going to exhaust yourself and then go out there and risk your own safety? Don’t you know that being prepared is the single most important thing when it comes to battle strategy?”
“I do,” I growl, hating that he was right in what he was saying. “But I’m just so…”
“I know,” he sighs, pulling me against his large, sturdy body. “I understand that you’re overwhelmed and afraid. We all are, but we can’t let that get the best of us. We need to plan accordingly and attack swiftly before the enemy even knows what is happening.”
His words are comforting, and they make me feel like anything is possible, but down in the deepest recesses of my mind I can’t stop the fear that the only way to stop what is happening is to use my mother’s ability.
“When did you become so great at battle strategy?” I sigh, giving up on arguing. “It’s actually pretty sexy.”
“I was a warrior in my previous life.” He reminds me. “But I’ve picked up a lot in my time in Emerald Moon since it will help me protect you.”
“I don’t need protecting.” I point out, lifting my gaze to his. “But I’ll be satisfied with you fighting alongside me.”
“Isn’t that my duty as your future husband?” He asks, causing my heart to kick up a beat. “Or were you planning on keeping me as a trophy?”
“Never,” I smile, knowing there was no way I could ever keep Maverick hidden away. “That’s why no matter what, you can’t let anything happen to you.”
“I won’t, and you have to promise me the same thing.” He murmurs, kissing me. “Because a life without you isn’t a life worth living.”