37.

**Landon**



"We need a few more days to get our answers. Our people in the other kingdoms are still searching but we've got some good leads." My beta reported.

It seems like my uncle has gotten sloppy after the ambush. His scent has been tracked hours away from the palace but not in a permanent hiding grounds. We were optimistic about getting an opportunity to attack first, this problem was something we all wanted to vanish.

"I think he's getting weaker." Avery mused as he reclined in a chair.

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"When the princess first struck him he was caught off guard but landed a few feet away from us. When he got close enough to actually hold her, Emma's attack didn't affect him. It looked like he was absorbing her power. Can it be that he is weakening from the princess' inheritance of his power?" He continued deep in thought.

No one else in the family has had Emma's gift of telekinesis much less two members. "It can be a theory and can be used against him. If he can absorb her power in close proximity, then the distance between them and the lack of usage can make him weaker, "I mused looking for the family lineage book.

"It can," Isah said. He studied the family and their gifts extensively noting every new finding and when they were discovered.

They went back to surveying the map around the palace while I traced our family. No one. Just as I thought. Malcolm and Emma's powers are new to the blood. Elemental and mind powers were common between the royals and their mates. The goddess blessed our lineage with these gifts to help keep our species in order. In layman's terms, the people who are against us saw us as destroyers, while the people who are with us saw our gifts as peacemakers.

We can use our gifts for simple things like helping the simple farmers, protection from attacks in whatever territory we are in, and whatever we think is useful for our wolves.

But Emma's power was new and unexplained. The moon goddess probably has big plans for us.

We were all deep in our own thoughts and work when we heard the loud howl coming from near the woods. Isah and Avery looked at me with pitiful expressions.

"Poor kid" Avery muttered.

We all went to the window facing the direction of the howls. What we saw through the window was enough to break us.

The twins stood in front of a large black wolf whose head was bent in defeat, the rain-soaked him through and through. The boys were in cut off jeans talking to him, probably trying to get him inside. Jonah was talking while Noah watched on, the wolf sat and looked up at the twins. They probably asked him something when he shook his head 'no' in response.

"What happened between the two? When we left Dark Moon you can actually see how much the kid loves the princess. He waited on her hand and foot. To see him like this is just sad" Avery said. My delta didn't take to new people much so for him to care or be concerned about for crowned prince was a sign that he approves of Michael.

"I spoke to him last night. He's hurting. Emma's love for Aiden has broken him somewhat. Something happened between Emma and Aiden this morning that sent him into a rampage throughout the palace," I said.

"This kid Aiden where is he?" Isah asked.

"With Mason. Probably in the lounge now" I said distractedly as I watched the scene outside.

"Mind if I talk to him?" Isah said with a too cheerful voice.

That snapped my focus from the window and it was the same for Avery too. Whenever Isah gets that voice, someone always gets sent to the hospital.

"The kid just left Malcolm's hold. Don't you dare put more on him even though he deserves it for hurting my baby girl" I said. To be honest, I wanted to beat the shit out of the young alpha but that won't make a good impression on me being a king and father.

"And she's my goddaughter, who I've yet to meet. Whatever I do won't be that bad. I think. I don't know, we shall see how it goes." He said brushing me off.

I bit back a smile. Avery and Isah have been my best friends since pups and through the years we've grown like brothers, so naturally, they are Emma's godfathers. Isah just loves to persuade people with his method which has been successful I might add.

"Don't get blood on the carpet. Ari will kill you" Avery warned.

That statement had me laughing through our tense moment. My mate surely was strict with the cleanliness of the palace. To her it wasn't just a family castle that's centuries old, to her, it was home. A place where both workers and family were truly comfortable.

"Ari won't know a thing." he grinned and left.

Avery rolled his eyes at the departure of his friend, "Ari always know," He said.

I chuckled looking back at the boys. The twins were now sitting in front of him not moving nor talking.

"Emma and Michael's bond will get weaker if this goes on longer which won't be good. He just got his gift, anger is the only fuel that brought it out. If it continues he will become corrupt, it won't be a nice scene" I said.

Avery released a sigh. "We just have to wait, Donnie. That's all we can do" he said.

I nodded.

Thinking about Emma. I haven't seen her for the day, I've been in my office since breakfast tracking my uncle. I hope she's alright, the rains have let up, that's a good sign right?!

'How is she Ari?' I asked my mate.

'She's hurting so much. I got her to eat, she just fell asleep. Have you seen Michael?' She asked. I heard how tired and sad she was by her words.

'The boys have him now.' I replied.

'Thank god. Are you okay?' She asked. I smiled at how concern she always was. She felt it right to take care of me even when I don't need it. It gets a bit annoying at times but I won't have my Ari any other way.

'Yes, I am Ari. Give my baby girl a kiss for me. I will be by to check on her soon' I said smiling at the vision Ari sent to me of Emma asleep on her lap.

My two treasures. No one would take them away from me. Now that I have Emma back, nothing will make me give her up again. Throwing another glance at the boys, making sure Michael doesn't go back into a rampage, I set my attention back to the present work.

Finding my uncle.

"Oh, Donnie didn't I tell you? You have a cousin." Avery said. I looked at him confused while he had a stupid smirk on his face.

"Yup and Michael hurt him pretty bad." He continued pleased at that. I smirked, "liking that kid more and more".


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


**Michael**

Pain. That's all I felt.

'Doesn't she want us anymore? Aren't we good enough? ' I asked Zane.

He was still pissed with whatever Emma and Aiden did. The lingering pain was still there after all these hours.

'I don't know but they were calling to us' he sighed.

" Michael, bro, come let's go get something to eat you're probably tired and hungry," Noah said calmly.

They found me two hours ago and won't leave my side. Jonah has been trying to reassure me that there had to be an explanation for this whole situation but he didn't feel the pain piercing his heart. The pain of your mate doing something intimate with another male. I huffed in disgust picturing Aiden's hand on my Emma.

She's still mine.

Has she told him of us? He should have seen my mark and smelt my scent on her. How can he be so fucking disrespectful? Pathetic piece of shit. Did she enjoy whatever happened between them? My hackles rose just the thought of them together.

My breathing became ragged. How the fuck can he be an alpha's son and touching another wolf's mate. I stood up glaring at the palace. He deserved to die. No amount of sympathy should be given to him. At first, I was mad at the pain that I got but now its Aiden. He is the cause of everything. He has Emma's love. He's the one that caused me this much pain. He would be the reason why I can never see Emma without seeing him touching her.

Filth.

"Michael. What are you doing? " Noah asked cautiously standing up. I marked the spot I stood in anger. Barking at them to move but they stood still ready to block my path. "Michael. Listen. If you attack him the consequences would not be good. Think of Emma. What would she think?" Jonah said. Is he seriously asking me that? She will save his ass in a heartbeat.

"You're not helping the situation bro" Noah hissed.

Enough of this. That punk is probably in there gloating that he won over Emma. I lunged past the twins, knocking them to the ground, I sprinted towards the back door of the west wing where the living quarters were.

All I saw was red, that would be the color Aiden would be soaked in after I dealt with him.

As I neared the door, I was tackled to the ground. The twins.

One snapped at my hind leg but I flinched away biting his front paw. The other twin bit my back his teeth sank into my skin, I can feel the blood starting to flow out of the wound but I ignored it. Kicking off the wolf with my hind legs I turn to the other and lashed out at his shoulder, he returned with one to my face. His claws passed two inches below my eyes but I didn't care, my temper was high.

Aiden disrespected me and they were protecting him. How could they?

I turned to the one behind me and pounced on him biting him on the neck but he shook me off before I added pressure. At that moment I was tackled to the ground again but he had me by my neck, I struggled to get free but I couldn't.

"Enough!!" we heard an order rang out. It was so powerful that even I submitted. All three of us bowed down to the person stepping forward to us. It was king Landon.

"Shift now" he commanded. Avery came out with three pairs of shorts just as we shifted back to human form. Our wounds were still fresh, blood still flowed as they slowly began to heal.

"Explain" he calmly said. I didn't answer I was still pissed at the fact I wasn't strangling Aiden at the moment.

No one said nothing.

He let out a sigh and before we knew it a force had us on our knees. I tried to get up but the force won't let me move a muscle.

"Don't fight it, kid. You will only hurt your self" Avery said. I moved my eyes to him and saw the pity in his eyes.

"Now who will like to talk?" king Landon asked.

Silence again.

A pressure tighten behind our necks causing us to scream in pain. "Speak now" he shouted.

"They were in my way." I grounded out.

"He wants Aiden dead." Jonah grounded out after. The pressure let up and the force willed our bodies upright.

Landon looked at me amusement was clear in his eyes. Not what I expected.

"Go clean up," he said turning to leave.

I got up, snatched the shorts, and stormed inside.

"You're gonna let him do it." I heard Jonah shouted.

"I always believe a wolf should always protect their property," Landon said laughing.

Damn right he is. That pup would learn today. Not caring if Emma would see me in the wrong but no one touches what was MINE.