18.

Amelia



My body and mind were so relaxed as the morning sun tickled my nose, I wanted to curl up more in bed and relish the calmness some more. Instead of soft sheets to snuggle into, I found myself being brought in closer into a cocoon of a strong manly scent and warm flesh. I opened my eyes to be greeted with the sleeping face of Angelo. My heart got wilder at the sight of him, he was every inch of perfect to me from his physical features to his emotional level. This man is who I saw my self with years from now. Slowly I reached up and brushed away his hair that fell across his face sticking to his lips, I thought it was adorable. I took that time to trace his face from his hairline to the cleft in his chin, my fingers trailed down to the spot where I marked him. A blush took over my face as I remembered how bold I was with him. Though I've been involved in sexual activities many times before I was never the one of being taken care of first then to freely return the favor. Everything was new with this man who held me dearly in his arms and I was thankful for it all. Just thinking about our future together made my heart soar, I edged closer to him and lightly kissed his lips. Even that action made my heartache in pleasure, everything about him made me feel .... loved.

Love. What does love feel like? How can I tell if the strong feelings I have for Angelo is love? If it is does he feel the same way? I hope he does. It would hurt to develop these new feelings and know it's one-sided. Angelo gave me back hope just when I felt that I would never be a gem in someone's eyes after they know about my past but here he was, my real-life Prince. He showed me everything I longed for and more. He will always be my prince, my savior.

"Hi" I heard him say in a husky sleep-filled voice. That one word sent shivers down my spine, looking up I met his green eyes which was filled with so much adoration and something else I couldn't figure out. Before I can reply to him, he was already pulling me to him to claim my lips.

'This is how I want to wake up every morning. You in my arms looking beautiful as ever' he said through our link. Surprisingly I wanted that too, waking up beside him every morning and falling asleep in his arms every night. Our kiss wasn't sexual it was just a kiss between two people who cared deeply for each other may be more but it was kiss confirming everything we shared the night before. A moan escaped me, he chuckled against my lips, "I love that" he whispered against my lips. I pulled away and straddled his waist as he tilted his head and looked at me thoroughly. "No regrets?" he asked.

"None. " I said truthfully. There was no way I was backing out of anything after I willingly claimed him as my mate. "I'm with you 100%. You and I are a team remember, Angelo and Amelia" I said kissing his head. "Angelo and Amelia" he repeated with a wide grin on his face. Damn his smiles.



After a few do nothing minutes in bed we decided to actually face the day head-on. Claiming each other made our bond stronger and it also meant that wolves around New York will now recognize me as their new princess. Due to the situation at hand with Bryan and a dark witch targeting Angelo, it can be bad, plus we don't know when my father would show up for our reunion. Angelo and the others are anxious about his arrival and somewhat on guard, I haven't asked them why nor have they told me willingly. On my end, I was both excited and nervous. I'm going to meet my father the man who has been searching for me years upon years without luck and now he knew I was alive. The guys came to the conclusion that he found out I was alive due to the leaked photos but Prince Caleb didn't agree. He was quiet most of the time during our talk last night before he left to go watch over Angelo. This family was awfully close and I was happy that I was accepted into such. After my mother died this was what I craved, what I longed for, and now I have it.

"Love? What would you like to eat?" That voice of his never ceases to send shivers down my spine and through my body. No other man had the power to do that.

"Nothing in particular anything should be fine," I said covering his hand with mine that was now resting on my knee. He kissed my temple and took a deep breath before kissing my cheek, it was an innocent kiss but it still brought a blush to my face.

"Maureen said she cooked us all a feast only because of uncle Caleb's arrival," he said chuckling while going back to read the morning papers. We were seated at the dining table side by side, the papers in his right hand while my iPad on my left our other hands still below the table with intertwined fingers. It was a needed connection, each other lifeline. "Maybe he should stay longer" I teased as I detected the frying of sausages along with bacon and turkey patties. Angelo chuckled and went back to his paper.

"Good morning your majesties" the voice of Zhee and Jace brought my head up from the book I was reading. The look on their faces brought a smile to my face, it was one of acceptance and respect as they both met my gaze. Angelo grunted a response while I returned their greeting verbally, rolling my eyes at my mate I squeezed his hand. "Morning you guys. You have eaten I presume?" he asked without looking up. He looked every inch the powerful businessman and prince as his concentration was on an article in the business section, so serious yet adorable. A boy in a man's world.

"Yes sir. The Deltas and his majesty Prince Caleb shall be here soon. The princess's protector Leah is also on her way to the apartment. Her brother Liam has taken six sentinels upon Delta Noah's orders to go in search of the witch....." I didn't hear the ending of Jace's report as I was distracted by the tighter grip on my knee. 'Angelo. Calm down baby,' I said trying to soothe him over our link. He turned his focus to me, his eyes were dark not a trace of his lovely green eyes. 'You. It will always be you.' he said in a broken voice. I brought him closer and kissed him until I felt his tension evaporate. 'Only me as it will always be you.' I said to him, he growled lowly before kissing me on his mark. "Mine," he said out loud.

"Good to see you up, nephew" we heard Jonah calling out, with one last kiss on his cheek I turned to greet our newcomers. "Thank you uncle," Angelo said softly while kissing my cheek. "Good morning princess" Jonah teased sitting on my right, I blushed not being used to be called that.

"Good morning Jonah," I replied as Noah sat on Angelo's right. Caleb came sauntering in a green dress shirt and black slacks his matching jacket in his hand which he threw on an empty chair. "Good morning everyone," he commented smiling at Angelo and I. He looked at us back and forth before looking at the twins. "They do," Jonah said now looking at us. Angelo looked around the table before turning back to his papers, I saw a sad smile on his face then it disappeared before I can actually register it. I was about to ask him if he was alright but Maureen came in rolling a trolley laden with all types of breakfast goodies. The men offered to help her but she refused as she placed all the plates before us.

"Good to see you again your majesty. You should come home more often. I know everyone missed you especially a certain queen." Maureen said giving Caleb a motherly hug.

"I should. It just sucks I had to visit only half of my family before heading back to Britain," he said wistfully as he returned her hug. I smiled at the love shared between them and watched as Maureen kissed his head and moved on to each twin making sure they were okay tugging at their hair, she lingered by Noah who simply nodded in their wordless conversation. She then made her way to Angelo which I deducted as her spoiled baby. She gently scolded him for reading the papers as he ate and took them away, pushing him to eat more. "Nana," he whined as she brushed his hair away from his face and holding it back complaining how unkempt the men in the family were. I tried to hold back my snicker but failed miserably. "See. Now my mate is laughing at me," he whined again bending his head slightly but didn't pull away from her hold.

"Well if you combed your hair before breakfast she wouldn't be laughing now would she," she said in the all famous mother knows the best tone.

"Yes Nana" he mumbled going back to his breakfast which I did also. A warm hand on my shoulder caused me to pause in eating, I turned to the person, only to be met with Maureen's warm brown eyes. "How are you feeling today little princess," she asked. At first, I was taken aback by her concern but was in full acceptance as she moved my hair and tucked it behind my shoulder. It was an action my mother always did while she watched over me doing my homework. "I'm feeling great today ma'am. Thank you." I answered. "No. No. No ma'am here. It's Maureen or Nana. You're family now. Well, you were from the first day this one came home frustrated like a bee trapped in a glass jar." she said motioning to Angelo beside me. Deep chuckles were heard from the men in the room except for the one who was being teased. "She caught me off guard alright," he protested digging harshly into his pancakes. "Stupid blue dress," I heard him mumble before fulling his mouth.

"See what I mean. But if you need anything sweetie just ask. Alright, sweetheart?" she said looking down at me in great adoration. "Yes ma'..... I mean.... Nana" I replied. Maureen beamed at me calling her Nana and kissed my head before leaving. Breakfast conversation struck up between the men about security and any sightings of uncoded hybrids. I was pleased with myself as I was able to keep up and understand their language. During small brainstorming Angelo would ask for my opinion on certain things when I gave my two cents the pleased look on his face and the uncles' made me feel ten feet tall. He saw me as his equal and not some arm candy.

"Hi. Are they awake?" The bubbly voice of my friend Leah was heard from the front door. Silverware dropping onto a plate sounded loudly in our semi-quiet room, everyone's focus went to Prince Caleb, his body was in a frozen state, his hands above his plate, eyes focused to the nearly empty food, his breathing changed instantly.

"Yeah. They are in the breakfast room" Jace was heard next. " Thanks. I would......" her voice trailed off then silence. I was about to get up to go see if she was alright but a warm familiar hand stopped me, he shook his head no and mouthed, "Watch". In my peripheral vision, I saw Leah stepping into the room slowly dressed in tight denim jeans, tan combat boots and a peach flowy top her brown hair was let loose and framed her face neatly. To anyone you would think she put much effort into her look but not to me, this was Leah whatever reached her hand that was it.

Her eyes were focused on one person. Prince Caleb.

Caleb lowered his hands to his lap for a moment took a deep breath then got up and turned to my best friend. "Hello," he said. In all my years I've known Leah I never saw her blush before a man nor was she rendered speechless by one. Caleb tilted his head to the side and smiled her way. " I love your eyes" he complimented her. Her blush was even more evident. Caleb made his way to her and cupped her cheek, keeping their gazes locked before lowering his head to kiss her. Leah was still frozen to the spot as this damn delectable prince kissed her, I was truly amused. A moment passed in their kiss before she loosen up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Caleb stopped and looked down at my friend, the same way Angelo do whenever we were close. "I guess New York is a place for second chances. Hello, again my gorgeous mate. I'm Caleb" he said still cupping her cheek.

"Yo Amelia. I gots me a prince too" Leah called out to me peeking over her new mate's shoulder. I literally face-palmed myself, that was my best friend alright. Caleb laughed out loud and lifted her in his arms, letting her wrap her legs around his waist. "Yes you do" he chuckled. She hid her face against his shoulder, Caleb kissed her neck and held her tighter. I turned to Angelo who had this silly grin on his face even the twins they all looked pleased with the union.

'His first mate betrayed him. Now he's happy that the goddess gave him a mate he knows will be for him through thick and thin. Your protector.' Angelo told me over our link as Caleb placed Leah on the ground and kissing her once more. 'I'm glad that she will be in good hands' I returned holding his free hand on the table. My best friend and protector would be added to my new family in a position just as me, a princess. Yes, she would be miles away but it would be nice to have someone beside me going through the same changes.

"Welcome to the family Miss Leah. " Noah said sincerely.

"Thank you, sir. Don't you be thinking that I will give up my training," she said pouting. Caleb brows furrowed in confusion. "Leah here is a sentinel under your uncle's command and your new niece's protector. You hit the jackpot bro" Jonah teased. "I sure have," he said watching Leah helping her self to a hefty serving of eggs sausages and waffles.



After breakfast, we all went to Angelo's office to finalize routes to and from the office. I decided to stay as my mate's PA, he made no qualms with it since I would be within arms reach of him, hell I wanted to be beside him every minute, every hour. Leah asked me if I was okay with the world knowing about Angelo and me. I knew how he was currently against being under the microscope but this is his world, our world now. I chose to stay with him which meant I chose to accept the scrutiny of the media and whatever obstacle that may come our way.

"We are a team. We are going to make it." I said holding my mate's gaze from across the room. "We will," he confirmed leaning back in his chair smiling at me. We moved on to frivolous stuff like my official meeting of the king and queen. My duties well both Leah and mines. We were all joking with each other when someone's phone rang off. Caleb answered his phone walking to the far corner of the room away from our laughter. Noah cleared his throat to get our attention, "I know you two are at a fragile stage of your new relationship and threats are lurking around but I must leave for a while. I need to do this before my wolf and I turn." he said.

"Turn?" I asked confused at his choice of word. "Yes, little princess. When one's wolf holds in many emotions and aggression we become feral. It's one of the reasons why we release them frequently and keep a calm lifestyle," he explained.

"Is it my situation with my father and Bryan?" I asked feeling a bit guilty of bringing my messed up past to them.

"No my dear princess. Let's just say not all mate unions are a happy ending. I will be back soon. Call me if you need me. Goodbye everyone" he said giving his brother and nephew a hug and kissing both Leah and my cheeks. He strolled across to Caleb both had a wordless conversation before Noah left.

Jonah and Angelo stayed quiet while Leah and I kept to ourselves talking about mindless stuff. Caleb returned to the group but didn't reoccupy his seat.

"I've some news. I have had some of our men keeping watch on airfields we frequently use to stay hidden. A few minutes ago a small jet has landed in Newark. My men have confirmed its passengers. Nikolai is here." he said in a grave tone.

"Okay...... what does this actually mean? He's just coming to see me right" I asked looking at everyone in the room to stop at my mate. My sweet prince.

"No my love. We believe he's coming to take you back home. Where you belong. Russia" Angelo said softly holding my gaze. It was then I saw it but I didn't like what joined it. He loved me but was in pain. I knew he saw the same with me as the tears flowed down my cheek. I am not leaving him.

"If I choose to stay he will respect that, right?" I asked going before Angelo. No one answered. "Right?!" I asked louder for everyone to hear but was focused only on one person. Tears blurred my vision as the pain of my mate flowed through me. He stood up and took me in his arms, 'You are not leaving me do you hear me. Angelo and Amelia right?' he said with much confidence.

'Angelo and Amelia' I repeated believing that we would make it through this daddy dearest thing.