34.

**King Landon**



"What's taking them so long? She needs to be here. She needs to be at home."

I was currently pacing the helicopter pad waiting for the emergency chopper's return. The wait was simply torturous. The call from Avery shocked me to the core. How did Malcolm find them and on the most secluded road to the palace? 'Traitor among us' my wolf said. We both were on edge, our pup was out there with a mad man who happens to be related to us.

"Donnie" I heard my mate called out. She was sitting in the corner awaiting the arrival of our Emma also.

"Ari. It's getting late. No one has called." I said rushing to her side. She tilted her head slightly and looked at me. "Being agitated isn't making them return faster, my love," she said gently.

"I know Ari but Malcolm has found her. He attacked our baby girl" I shouted. She simply raised an eyebrow at me, grumbling I sat next to her. She held my hand kissing my fingers one by one, my worries eased up and my body relaxed against hers. "Avery also said they all made it. Also, they got Jack's son. So that's one worry less." She said calmly.

My hand reached her hair, playing with the curls she constantly fuss over during the day. Her dark blonde hair was always perfect to me no matter what style, my fingers trailed from her temple all the way to her chin.

"You're right, my love. As always. Sorry for behaving like an ass" I said kissing her cheek. "Don't I always forgive you," she laughed. "Oh shush and kiss me," I said playfully nipping her lips. She kissed me gently and left me wanting more.

"Such a tease Ari," I said in her ear, she shivered involuntarily and blushed.

I sat waiting somewhat patiently for them to arrive. "This is not how I expected her return to us. The same urgency of keeping her safe eighteen years ago. I just wanted her to grow up like any normal girl," Arabella said next to me.

"I missed all her firsts. I missed... Everything. Now she's all grown up. I don't know how to deal with an eighteen-year-old girl" I said holding onto my mate's hand tighter.

"Neither do I but we will do it together," she said comforting me. My Ari always knew what to say.

"You do know I love you right Ari," I said to her. "Donnie you tell me every day," she said smiling shyly. "Because I mean it every day," I returned pulling her into my arms.

The sun was setting when we heard the sound of the helicopter blades, we stood up quickly searching the skies. We spotted it coming in closer to the landing. The doctor and his attendants came out wheeling three gurneys and waited to get the injured. The wind from the blades was a bit strong, I shielded Ari from the dust that was circling around as I tried to look in the chopper for my daughter. The doors were opened wide by the doctor who went straight to work getting out whoever was closest. I smiled as the identical faces came into my view. One held his side tenderly as he looked over the doctor handling his brother.

Noah and Jonah.

"Dude ease up you're hurting him," he shouted and that one is Jonah, always the loud one. I heard Arabella chuckled she too realized it was Jonah. Avery was right they do have their father's stature but their looks were all of Becca's. The doctor apologized and proceeded to wheel Noah inside. Jonah saw us and ran towards us while wincing in pain. "Auntie Ari. Uncle Donnie," he breathed out. His grin was infectious as always. It was good to see him again. Arabella fussed over his bruises and hair, he took her worrying with a smile. "I'm okay, auntie. I will go shower and rest now. We still got our same rooms right?" He asked.

"Yes, they are. See you soon Joey" she answered hugging him. "Auntieeeee I thought you forgot about that name" he whined. I laughed and pushed him playfully to the entrance. I looked down at her still amused by her antics. "What?! He's still my little Joey " she huffed. I turned back to the copter and saw a tall muscular boy stepped out then turned to help someone out.

The boy's eyes met mine he smiled and acknowledged me with a bow then she came out beside him stepping weakly.

Our baby girl.

Arabella's grip on my hand tightened. She lifted up her head and saw us. When she smiled it reached her eyes that were much more beautiful than any emerald.

"Our baby" Ari sniffles next to me. We stepped forth towards her, her eyes were shining with tears. She let go of the guy who helped her down and began to walk towards us then breaking into a run. I ran towards her, so eager to hold her I pulled Ari along knowing she was probably wanting the same thing. Her tiny arms were around my neck before I could even register what was happening.

I held her so tightly, inhaling her scent, her legs were around my waist, I squeezed her so much I think I may have hurt her. Tears ran down my cheek with my face buried in her hair. Her scent reminded me of the day I first held her in my arms when she was born. The scent of my blood in her was comforting. My daughter.

"My sweet little Emma," I said into her hair. I fell to my knees holding her kissing her head and cheek. After eighteen years I've got my little girl. She's finally here. I looked up and saw Ari crying looking at us, she threw herself at us holding us in a bear hug. "Daddy? Mom?" We heard her say. I knew our hearts soared at the sound of her voice saying those words. "Yes, princess it's us. We've missed you so much" Ari cried stroking Emma's hair. I allowed her to get up. She looked at us intently, holding our hands in each of her own. I grinned at her, my baby girl. What a beautiful woman she has become. She inherited most of my grandmother's looks. I wanted to ask her so many questions talk to her about any and everything. All I know she won't be leaving my side soon. "I'm happy to finally meet you." She said tears flowing down her cheeks. "Don't cry, my little princess," I said drying her tears. Emma giggled and smiled up at me.

She turned back towards the chopper and the guy stepped towards us.

As he got closer, I sniffed the air 'alpha'. "Um... Mom... D-daddy this is my mate, Michael of the Dark Moon Pack" she said nervously. He held her hand which she relaxed.

"Oh my goodness. How did you two meet? Did you mark her? Did you mark him?" My mate asked excitedly. Emma laughed at her mother's excitement. Michael laughed along but kept close to Emma.

"Met at his pack and we both marked each other," Emma laughed out.

"You're alpha Angelo's son aren't you?" I asked.

"Yes, sir. I'm the eldest" he stated.

Ari gasped at the pairing the Moon Goddess has made, then squealed in delight.

I didn't say a word, it was good news, it meant the family just became stronger in the future but to me, it meant less time with my daughter. I sniffed the air they haven't fully mated but soon, Emma was in heat. Which was why he was ever so touching her slightly...... To ease her urges.

"Let's go in. Do you want to see your room? I hope you like it," Arabella gushed on. Emma smiled at her mother and nodded.

Not much of a talker my daughter was. As I watched from the back, Ari held Emma's hand tightly and asked her about her likes and dislikes. Michael was distant but kept hold of his mate's hand, caressing her lightly.

Something was wrong with this pup. Something was bothering him.

I was brought back into reality by the laughter of my little girl. I loved her so much since she was born and that love hasn't died. Passing through the different hallways Michael and Emma took in the different rooms in awe, asking questions about particular things or was contented in listening to Ari talk about the history of the family.

"..... Every year we host a ball for all packs and neighboring kingdoms to celebrate our peace treaty. It's also a time to find each other's mate. I was lucky to find Donnie earlier that one year." Arabella was saying. She turned to me and smiled at me as we both remembered that night we found each other. 'My own piece of sunshine' I told her causing a blush to redden her cheeks.

We made it to Emma's room, I stood by the door and watched as her face lit up at the view in front of her. Arabella really has outdone her self. The room was painted in purple or lavender as I was told so many times with the wall her queen-sized princess bed was positioned in cream. The theme was basically lavender and cream from her bedspreads to her carpet and vanity. The closets were filled with new clothes and shoes, there were 3 doors in her room one led out to the balcony, another to her bathroom which Ari handled and the other to her private lounge room. I personally designed it, the latest movies in the computerized movie library for the movie projector screen, soda and snack machine, cream leather sofas (didn't want to get on Ari's bad side with ruining her 'decor') and ps4 game system.

"You like it?" Ari asked biting her lips. Emma nodded her head enthusiastically, Michael laughed and shook his head. "So that's where you get that biting your lips thing from," he said kissing Emma's head. Both mother and daughter brushed him off simultaneously, it was too cute and funny that I myself had to laugh.

"Ummm..... Are my friends here yet? Mason and Aiden? Especially Aiden, is he okay? " Emma asked twisting her fingers. Michael tensed behind her, his eyes lost the light it had when he looked at her. I couldn't put my finger on it but he got cold after my daughter's question.

"They're on their way we got word that he was awake for an hour and asked for you," Arabella said sitting on the bed.

Emma let out a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness. I was worried. I thought I lost him," she returned sitting next to her mother. Arabella hesitantly placed her arm around her shoulders and kissed her head. "Your friends do mean a lot to you aren't they?" She asked Emma.

"A lot doesn't explain how much they mean to me. Seeing Aiden hurt was... I can't explain it" she said yawning. Her eyes were drooping, she snuggled closer to Ari. Arabella froze then held her daughter closer to her body as humanly possible when she drifted off to sleep.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I walked to them and picked up my beautiful little girl to place her under the covers. Michael came and took off her shoes while I brushed back her hair from her pixie-like face.

"I still love him but..." She murmured in her sleep then turned on her side.

I felt Michael stepped back, anger came from him in waves. Turning to him, my wolf became protective of our pup.

Tears rolled down his cheek, jaws clenched, his body was rigid..... "Sweetheart look at me" Ari called out to him.

He did look at her while fire engulfed his hands. My son in law got an element. Pride filled me for a moment, then I realized the danger he can bring to himself and us.

"Michael. Son. Whatever is bothering you, you need to put it aside for now. Just calm down. Think of Emma. She won't like seeing you like this" I said cautiously.

After a few moments of silence, the fire vanished then he spoke, "Why would she care about me? She still loves him like how I love her. Maybe even more. Emma will never be mine truly and solely. "

It literally ached me as I watched this boy so strong in aura to be broken like this. He was crying openly in front of us, strangers, no sobs were heard just silent tears. Arabella took him in her arms to soothe him but he didn't move to return her hug. He was truly broken, the kid was numb.

'Take him to my study, Ari.' I told my mate. She nodded and led him out of the room.

I sat beside Emma and stroked her head. "Oh my dear little one, you have much to learn and fix," I said softly before I kissed her goodnight and left.

**************************************************

**Michael**

Blindly I followed the queen, her words of comfort weren't reaching my ears all I heard was Emma's last words before she fell deeper in her sleep.

"In here." She said gesturing to two large oak doors. I walked in and took in the oak themed study. A sofa and two armchairs sat in front of a fire. A large desk was in the corner piled with books and papers with a leather chair behind it. On the wall behind it was a bookshelf filled with aged books. Portraits of the present king and queen and the past ones lined the walls.

I took a seat on the sofa and stared unseeingly at the fire in front of me. I tried thinking about anyone beside Emma and Aiden.

Zane was uneasy and hurt, he whimpered at the thought of our mate loving another. She did profess her love for me. Now I'm thinking if she did it because I admitted my love for her. Maybe she did it so she won't hurt me.

But it's killing me to know she loves Aiden.

I do understand the fact that they were a couple when we met and loved each other. Love doesn't die, that's a fact but what do you do when the mate you love with all your heart and soul, wants to give her life for another guy who she loved or still loves.

It isn't fair. Should I step back and let it all happen. Let them continue with the unique relationship they had.

What do I do?

"This is unsettling." I growled getting up pacing, "Maybe the goddess made a mistake. Maybe I'm not supposed to be hers."

"The goddess sees our path before she mates us with that one wolf for a lifetime," the king's voice said cutting through my ramblings.

I looked up and saw the king standing in front of me with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Then this pain I'm in is part of my 'destined' path?" I asked not expecting an answer.

And he didn't, he simply just stared into the fire.

"Son, I've been around for a long time and saw different mates and heard the stories that brought them both to become one. Some were fairytale-like, some were devastating which I had to ask 'how did you do it'" he started to say.

He smiled deep in thought. "I was lucky to find Ari when I saw her nothing else mattered. She had me smiling when I walked up to her. That day my mood was horrendous, I was snapping at everyone even my mother, I was even thinking of ditching my father's birthday ball. Everyone kept their distance, I was walking by the balcony when I heard her laugh I didn't care who she was with I just went to her with this silly grin on my face and marked her right there. She didn't even fuss she just held onto me not wanting to let go. Years later she decided to tell me that I claimed her in front of her then-boyfriend." He said lost in memory.

We stayed silent for a few moments.

"Emma claimed you right?" He asked. "A few days ago" I answered remembering that night. "And when did you claim her." He asked sitting on the sofa.

"The first time I saw her a month ago I think. My wolf was in control and partly me. I've just come back home still in the dark pits when I found her. I'll be honest with you sir, I've hurt her and left thinking I don't deserve her and she doesn't belong with someone so messed up as me. She called for me the entire week but the first night away from her I did realize I wanted her as mine. I was confused but I did see my wrongs. Jonah brought me back home to her but I didn't expect to be attacked and be coming home to her near to death." I explained to him.

"She brought you out of the darkness you were in, that's what true mates do. I may not know about your relationship with my daughter but I see that you love her deeply. Not because she helped you but because she's what you needed what you can't live without. Right?" He said.

I nodded, he was right Emma have been my dream for so long.

"I won't take your side and say 'don't worry she loves you and only you' only Emma can ease your pain. Maybe she's confused and her friend being in danger clouded her thinking. Give her time, rely on your love for her." He advised to me.

Emma was the only one to tell me what really is real or not. But how long should I wait?

Can I stand idly by and watch her show the affection I longed for to her ex?

"I will try. I don't know how long I can handle this... This... Situation but I will try" I told him.

He smiled.

"You know Michael I didn't expect a mate with Emma's homecoming but I know you would take care of her and love her as she should be." He said with the utmost respect and pride.

We stayed in a comfortable silence until he broke it.

"So you're the family's new elemental." The king stated. The grin on his face was so comical. He looked like a kid bursting to tell the biggest secret.

I had to laugh at his look and he joined in after. I didn't know how it happened but we spoke till late into the night like old friends.