38.

Nikolai didn't want to let go of her but he had to, he had to keep up appearances, go about their normal day to day business. Feeling her lips against his always felt like heaven, the way she would wrap her small arms around his neck and play with his hair. The way she would go on her toes to accommodate his height it always brought a chuckle out of him every time they kiss. His Sienna was perfectly chosen for him, she always cared about him even the smallest detail she had to make sure everything is alright. It has been nearly two months or so and she was very attentive to him and his men, not caring for herself, her smile always gave him purpose every morning he left her for work. She was every inch the perfect one for him and the perfect Luna for his pack.

"You are gonna be late Nicky" she mumbled against his lips. He had her pressed against the mirrored wall in their closet; he was pulled in as she tied his suit-tie and fixed his hair. The way she bit her lips and her brown eyes showed every inch of adoration whenever she glanced up at him. "One more" he breathed out caressing her breasts. "Though I want you again, I want you back home early," she said over a threatening moan trying to escape.

"I want that too. Dinner for us alone and a night run?" he asked giving her his heartwarming smile. "I was thinking the same but I'm cooking." she teased kissing his cheek then his lips. Nikolai tried to capture her lips once more but she playfully dodged him then escaped his hold. "Enna" he whined following her into the little walkway with his business suits. "Nicky" she mocked sticking her tongue out at him. "Mature" he chuckled. He loved seeing her like that, her happiness was infectious, the way she was confident in everything she did. "Okay here you go," she said opening a dark blue jacket for him to step into. Going back out to the mirrors he smiled at his appearance, she chose a dark blue Armani suit with a black dress shirt; the tie was a tad bit lighter to the suit with black abstract designs. "Perfect," she said behind him touching his now shorter black hair. "Yes. Perfect," he repeated but he was focused on his petite mate still dressed in his t-shirt and a silk pajama pants, her bed hair still untamed. He didn't want her any other way, his woman was naturally beautiful.

She walked him down to the living room carrying his briefcase, him holding her hand firmly as they reached the awaiting car. "See you tonight yes?" he said smiling down at her.

"Tonight. Please don't be late."

"I won't. I love you Enna," he said kissing her once more. "I love you too Nicky," she replied gently pushing him away from her. He gave her a lazy smile then looked up at the guards who now stood behind her and those that patrolled the courtyard. 'Anything happens to her expect your death, do you all understand?' he said to them.

'Yes, sir!' they all replied. He nodded and waved goodbye to his Enna as the car drove away.



"So what are we doing today?" Sienna asked her guards with a mischievous smile. Shaking their heads, they smiled as she skipped into the foyer singing a silly song she has been stuck on for the past two days. After her Russian Language Lesson with Mikel, they took her for a drive through the town showing her the historical sites. She was introduced to a few wolves of the Dark Blood pack, who owned some of the popular businesses. They offered her things from little trinkets to things for the palace to make it homier. She called Nikolai and told him how much of a good time she had getting to know the pack; he was pleased that she was having a good time through all this worry.

After lunch and more sightseeing they decided to head back to the palace, Sienna asked them questions of how they grew up in the palace and how the last Alpha was.

"I'm going to take a little nap then start dinner," she told them as they walked through the hallways. "Very well. Princess Mina should be over soon." one said. She idly nodded heading to her suite, taking a quick shower she finally laid down for her long-awaited nap.





"Sienna. Wake up. Dude get up."

"Really? Like really" she mumbled smacking whoever was shaking her awake.

"Ow!!" The high squeal made her know it was just Mina who was now rubbing her cheek. "What do you want woman?" she grumbled in the pillows. "Can't your best friend just visit you? Damn, we live in the same palace and I miss you like crazy. Niko hogs you all the time" By her last word Mina was full-on whining and stomping her feet like a six-year-old.

"I'm not a toy" she retorted rolling off the bed and end up on the floor. "For the love of glob," she spat out looking up at the white ceiling with its intricate designs. "So what do you wanna do?" Mina asked standing over her, " Gumball is on." A wide grin made its way to Sienna's face as her friend helped her up, they both decided to watch their favorite cartoon downstairs until it was time for her to start dinner for her mate.

An hour into their binge-watching, Josef one of her guards made his way into the TV room. "Ya?" she asked laughing as Ms. Simeon had to apologize to Gumball and Darwin but decided to prove that they are bad kids.

"Good evening your majesties" he greeted, "Luna, you have a visitor."

"Who is it? I'm not expecting anyone," she mumbled still focused on her show. Mina paid them no mind as she focused on the show. "His majesty's uncle. Viktor," he answered waiting for her reaction. "Ummm okay I will go to the sitting room shortly," she responded with a questioning look on her face.

"Are you sure Princess? If you are not for visitors I can send him away."

"Don't be silly, Josef. It's Nicky's uncle. It's time to bond with family I guess," she responded looking down at her jeans and tank top, as usual, she was barefooted. Following Josef to the sitting room, she wondered why Viktor wanted to see her. "Princess Sienna De La Vega" Josef announced and let her in. The young princess stepped in and gave Viktor a smile. "Thank you for seeing me your majesty." he greeted bowing respectfully to her.

"It's Sienna. Please. After all, I am your nephew's mate." she said politely as she took a seat on the armchair.

"Very nice of you. I came to get to know you better. Dinner last night was a disaster, my apologies again. I assumed the situation as I saw Prince Cain here on his own free will. I take it you know of their differences." He struck up a conversation right away and on a topic, Sienna didn't wish to speak on.

"Do you want anything to drink? Eat?" He shook his head no and continued on in talking, "So tell me how you and my once recluse of a nephew met." Sienna chuckled at his choice of words and leaned back to answer him. She told him of how they met and he shared stories of his nephew when he was a teenager.

"I would like to show you something. The past Luna owned it but after she died it was locked away."

Sienna perked up, she was instantly filled with excitement. The thought of seeing something of one of the past Luna's was a rare thing. Sienna wanted to make her own stake in her new home. Maybe whatever it is will give her an idea of what to do.
"What is it?" she asked bouncing on her seat. Viktor laughed then looked at Josef and another guard Rafe standing watch. "May I take her to the gardens?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Rafe and Josef looked at her. 'Are you okay with this, princess?' one asked.

'Shift four guards to the garden. I shall be back soon. If I'm not within your sight or contact after an hour, find me. The trust for him isn't fully there but... appearances,' she responded.

"Have her back in an hour's time. His majesty is due to be back by then." Rafe answered coldly. Viktor simply smiled and stood up offering his arm to her. A knock sounded on the door and a pair of red toms was pushed through the opening. Josef took it and placed it on his princess' feet. 'I don't trust him, princess,' Josef said to her while putting on her last shoe.

'That's why I asked for four guards and placed the precaution. Be back soon. Get the steaks out of the freezer.' she replied giving him a playful smirk.

The walk to the gardens was a bit long and filled with idle conversation, each guard they passed watched Viktor warily but eased somewhat when Sienna threw a smile their way. "Nikolai's men seem very protective of you. One can truthfully say you have won their hearts," Viktor commented. "I don't blame them, what happened in New York scared everyone. From what I heard, it tore through Nicky, they saw how important I was to their Alpha," she replied with a sad smile. That scenario will be forevermore imprinted to her mind, her fight for freedom, being hit by the car, seeing Nikolai's distraught face momentarily, and seeing how he fared without her. She put herself in Nikolai's shoes and felt ten times worse. Their need to always be with each other was very intense.

"Understood. I never saw him so open and happy and I want to thank you for giving him a chance. His grandfather wanted this for him so badly and I know my brother would be proud to call you his granddaughter."

Sienna blushed and mumbled a thank you as they reached the outskirts of the garden. She smiled inwardly as four guards stepped out from their hiding spots then disappeared once more, "Dark Blood wolves are truly the most superior," Viktor chuckled after they left. They walked around the garden, he told her names of flowers in which she already knew but humored him by giving him thankful smiles. They sat at a bench for an idle talk which began to annoy her at most, she checked the time it was nearing four-thirty, she should be heading in and start cooking dinner for Nikolai.
"Viktor what is it that you were excited to show me because I must be heading back," she said trying to hide her annoyance. He chuckled once more which was irritating at the moment. "We had to wait because of that," he said smiling an pointing on a wall at the end of the garden, from a passing glance it was just a stone garden wall filled with vines but from the point where they sat, a portion of the wall was a bit sparse than others. "I've been here before and didn't see this," she mumbled walking on her own accord. "The past Luna loved her privacy so my father had this built for her on their first anniversary, my brother showed it to me after our father died," he said solemnly.

"But..." she asked confused as to why she was shown this."Though I never knew her I would like to think that you would be the right person to keep good care of it." he responded to her unspoken question while pushing away the vines to reveal a weathered wooden door. "Wow"

Viktor pushed open the door and allowed her to walk through, Sienna gasped at the sight before her. Though the once neatly cut grounds were overgrown and the different sectional of flowers had lots of weeds, Sienna saw its beauty and tranquility. "Down this path is what she called her Garden of Eden. Nikolai told me of stories where she would bring him here and they would read and talk for hours. I envied him for that. My mother was more about the world than her son." he said looking around as they went down the path. Sienna was captivated by the stone path, the flowers that lined it, she laughed as she saw a bunny ran into their way looked curiously at them then went on its way.
"It is truly beautiful" she commented walking over to the stone seats. On the stone seat closest to the now dry fountain, she discovered two sets of initials engraved in the armrest of it. N.S II & M.S.

"Mariya Starkov. That was her name. My brother named his daughter after his mother" he explained. "I would love to keep this place alive for her." she all but whispered. Sienna was lost into the thoughts of how the previous Alpha loved his Luna so much to gift her this oasis. She prayed that she and Nicky live a long love-filled life. Nikolai was her world.

Lost to it all, she didn't see Viktor step closer to her and glanced at the cluster of trees behind the stone sitting area. She didn't notice when he shot a look of disdain her way. Lana was trying to tell her something but she shut out her wolf to get a moment to herself.

"I know I made the right choice," he said but it was no longer warm and love-filled for family. Viktor calmly circled his arm around her shoulders; Sienna felt a slight sting in her arm. She shifted her gaze to the arm which Viktor now held, he slowly removed his hand and revealed a needle with a now-empty cylinder. In a panic, she pushed him away from her. "H-How .... How could you." she managed to say stumbling backward. She tried to call out to someone but all she got in return was a massive headache Lana's whimpers were not helping.

"Use one's weakness for family," he answered nonchalantly with his arms folded. Sienna tried to call out to her men again but the same result, her surroundings were spinning, and trying to get her bearing straight she stumbled over her own feet and fell hard onto the stone platform. "Don't hurt yourself there, cousin" a new voice said. She closed her eyes to focus better then opened them once again. Crouching beside her was Cain himself with a smug smile on his lips, her body began to feel limp, and she no longer can hear Lana. With what strength she had left she used it to create a fireball and tiredly toss it to him but he saw and ducked out of the way.

"Well, that was eye-opening. Of all the Royal Mates, you inherited grandfather's gift." Cain gritted out, his eyes were dark and filled with anger. Sienna couldn't move nor talk, her body felt like it was on fire, her eyes were blurred but she can hear everything clearly around her. "Time to move. I covered our scents in the main garden no one knows of this place," she heard Viktor said. Cain gave instructions to someone then the sound of tactical boots was heard loudly by her ears. "It's time to watch the downfall of Russian's mighty Prince," Cain said coldly before she gave in to the darkness that was taunting her.