47.

**Mason**

Michael's words played through my mind like a broken record. He was right on all the points he made. I was no longer Aiden's beta but I was still his friend, in some sense. How did we get to this stage in our lives? One day we were a happy trio now we are weary of each other.

Aiden went too far in challenging Michael. We all knew both of them would find their mates but Aiden.......

He just had to take it too far now, I hope we all can look past this. I know I want to and so does Emma.

"Just here to talk to him. Won't be long" I told the guards at Aiden's door.

"Yes beta," they chorused and allowed me in.

Word does travel fast in the palace.

The room was far beyond any simple holding room, it was a suite to be more accurate. Landon sure wanted Aiden to be comfortable.

Searching the room, I found him in the lounge area watching a movie. His appearance caught me off guard. In front of me was no longer the clean-cut Aiden but now a shabby unkempt man, whom I think didn't shower since the fight. The burn mark was very visible, anyone can see it just below his neck. Michael surely left his mark, I wasn't even bitter towards my future alpha for hurting my friend.

I was pleased with how he handled the challenge; Aiden could of easily be killed but Michael held back, every witness that day saw it.

"What do you want?" Aiden snapped.

Someone was having a pity party.

"Came to talk actually, " I answered sitting in an armchair opposite him. He focused his grey eyes on me, they were cold and lifeless, I let out a sigh knowing what caused him to come to this state.

"Aiden we've been friends since diapers and we shared everything. Things Emma doesn't even know. All I want to know now is as to why you wanted to hurt Emma? I thought you loved her," I simply stated.

Silence.

I leaned back into the plush leather back and waited. He always does this. Try to form the right sentences to be understood and not be misjudged.

"I still do," he quietly said as a lone tear rolled down his cheek. "How can she throw everything away in a heartbeat? I thought she would be my forever." He continued.

"Emma knew her mate was out there that's why she held back in loving you," I explained.

"Bullshit. A guy like that would never look at Emma the way I look at her. Michael is the type of alpha who can get any she-wolf, his type are probably the most slutty ones. He's a fucking playboy who's using her why can't you people see that. I'm the one who would love her like the princess she is," he spat in disgust.

My wolf and I stood tall in front of him in anger for what he said about Michael.

"You will not degrade my alpha like that," I snapped at him.

A look of confusion and disbelief flashed across his face. Even I didn't know where that protectiveness came from when neither Michael and I have blood-bonded. Something is wrong or possibly right.

"Your alpha?" Aiden asked still confused.

"Yes. Yes, my alpha. He asked me to be his Beta and I accepted," I said with much confidence.

He let out a harsh laugh and shook his head still in disbelief. "Not only that bastard stole my girl. He took also my beta......" He said laughing still.

"I willingly left Moon Dust so he didn't just take me," I simply stated.

He came and stood in front of me, his eyes filled with anger while his body was shaking as he tried hard to keep his wolf at bay.

"Willingly? You betrayed your pack because of him....." He started to say.

"My pack? The same pack we protected Emma from? The same one who fought to break you two apart? I left because of my loyalty to Emma. If you do love her as you claimed, the reason why I left should be obvious and also the answer of 'why they were banished'. Michael was also acting on his protection for his mate. How can you allow your own selfish reasons cloud your thinking?" I shouted at him.

Anger fueled my words, though I still saw him as my brother and friend I wasn't allowing him to bring down my future alpha and Luna.

"Don't you dare question my love for Emma. You know how I felt about her and to see her in love with him, my thinking ain't all 100%" he said a bit calm. You can still hear the underlying venom between his words which caused me not to believe his words.

"Dude. Just let it go. Emma and Michael are there for the long run. They are both going to be crowned and welcome in the pack tomorrow...." I started to say before I was interrupted by Aiden.

"Wait. WHAT!!!" He shouted.

I grinned, his reaction was so priceless. Where's a camera when you need one.

"You heard me. They will be officially crowned Prince and princess tomorrow night also the twins and I would be inducted into Blood Moon pack as Deltas and Beta to Michael." I said proudly.

"No. No. This is too soon" he began to mumble to himself.

"Too soon for what?" I asked, curious by his words.

His head snapped up and eyes wide in surprise, looked like he just noticed me standing there.

"Too soon for that. I bet Michael was the one who brought it forward" he sneered.

"Oh for fuck's sake. Just let it the fuck go. Emma chose Michael. Michael is in love with her anyone can see that within a ten-mile radius. Why do you hate him so much? You better learn to accept this situation because after tomorrow he will be your new Prince" I spat angrily.

Damn it.

He's like obsessed with Emma and has unexplained hate towards Michael.

"He would be no prince of mine " Aiden returned.

I rolled my eyes at him, where was the reasonable guy I knew.

"You know what, I gotta go man. I thought I could have gotten through your thick skull about leaving them alone and explain to you what's going on but you're too far gone," I spat and turned to leave.

Before I closed the door behind me I left a few words for him "Everything would have been extremely good if you didn't reject your mate and followed the supposedly love you have for Emma."

With that being said, I made my way to go see the twins. I have a feeling Aiden is going off the deep end soon after I told him that news.


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


**Malcolm**

"Father are you alright?" Caleb asked me with every bit of concern in his voice.

"I'm fine, son. Just get me the book of wolves from the library." I asked of him. No one should be seeing me like this. My energy felt completely drained, my powers have grown weaker which meant she was getting stronger.

I must get to her before her powers evolved. Once it does, my death would soon follow. That throne is rightfully mine. Lucian and his offspring should never be there, I was robbed of it.

Having her blood in me won't only add years upon my life but it will strengthen my powers also.

What luck was it to know that she was a white wolf? Two for one.

"Here it is Father. Are you sure you're okay? Maybe you need to rest" Caleb said interrupting my thoughts.

"I said I'm fine" I snapped at him. He stiffly nodded his head and took a step away from me. Even my own son was fearful of me, that's how it should be. Power is what you need to rule not kindheartedness. What a load of crap.

"Ummmm any word on cousin Emma?" He asked hesitantly.

With his question my head snapped up to look at him, "'Cousin Emma?'" I repeated.

"She is my cousin, isn't she? Why can't I call her that?" He asked calmly.

"Because she's the reason why I'm like this. She's killing me slowly and you're acknowledging her as your dearest relative?" I shouted.

Confusion played across his features, " I do not understand father. Cousin Emma.... " he started to say.

"Stop calling her that. " I yelled. Why is he so concerned about her?

He stood tall, head held high with the utmost confidence. That can be mistaken for arrogance by many.

"No disrespect father. That girl I saw a few days ago could never be so malicious as you paint her to be. It is of pure coincidence she has inherited your power and would be stronger but that doesn't give you a right to kill her nor stop me from acknowledging my own blood relative" he said coldly.

What has gotten into him? Has he gone draft? After all these years of molding him in my likeness one meet with that little wolf, he has a complete turnaround.

I cannot have this. My own blood has fallen for that bitch.

"Leave," I said icily.

"What?" He asked.

"I said to leave my premises. I won't have a weak-minded son in my presence. You're just like your filthy human mother, always seeing the good in people. That's a fucking weakness. I don't need that in my ranks." I spat.

He didn't flinch at my words nor retorted he simply breathed out and left.

I fell back into my chair tired as ever.

Everything is going crazy.

Seems like things would be happening sooner than expected.


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


**Caleb**

I never understood my father's thinking. For years, I've been doing everything he asks of me for him to be proud to call me his son but I knew he would never do so.

Because of my mother he won't. My sweet loving mother. I missed her so much. Being half-human never deterred me from being the best wolf I can be but it was never enough for him.

I released a heavy sigh and made my way to my room. With no idea of where to go, I blindly began to pack a hiker's backpack.

"Where are you going?" I heard heather said. Turning around to see her I instantly got mad.

"What are you wearing?" I shouted.

My mate was clad in short jeans barely covering her ass and a midriff top showing her cleavage.

"Calm down, it's hot here and these are suitable clothes," she said walking slowly to me.

"Don't you like it baby" she purred in my ear. Her hands went down to my already hard member.

I fisted her hair in my hands and roughly pulled her to face me, the lust was evident in her eyes but I ignored it.

"For my eyes only not for the whole fucking pack. Do you think I want my mate to be looking like a cheap slut? Change now and get packing we're leaving," I growled in her ear.

She pushed away from me and sat on the bed." I'm not changing nor am I leaving. Why are you leaving though?" She said defiantly.

Are all mates this difficult?

"My fa... Malcolm asked me to leave" I simply stated.

"Why?" She pressed.

"He just did," I shouted at her, I didn't feel like retelling the 'situation'. I just wanted to be far away from the man I called father. I considered myself extremely lucky he hasn't executed me.

"That doesn't explain much besides I don't want to leave. I'm tired of walking aimlessly plus my pack is here" she said cleaning her nails.

"Your pack are his prisoners do you think he would allow you to be free knowing you're a part of Moon Dust," I asked grinning.

"I'm your mate. He will do it," she countered.

I let out a harsh laugh.

"Yeah mate to his banished son would be treated fairly" I mumbled.

I didn't want to leave her though my wolf was begging his mate to come along, Heather was stubborn enough to control her wolf into staying.

"Heather. Please come with me. We can have a better life than all this. Do you want to be part of this? Resistance against the crown? This is all my father's greed and hunger for power, " I said kneeling in front of her.

"Your father is making a better life for us baby. For purebred wolves everywhere. We are going to be worshiped baby" she said cupping my face.

"Are they going to worship your half breed of a mate also?" I asked pulling away from her.

"What?!" She asked in disbelief then the realization hit her. Her face showed disgust. "I mated a half breed?! No wonder you and that bitch are related. You both are weak links" she spat stepping further away from me.

I will admit that it hurt like a bitch for my mate to be disgusted by me but she won't be the first wolf to be like that towards me.

I ignored the pain in my heart and smiled at her.

"I may be a weak link but not cousin Emma" I simply said while grabbing my bag and left the room.

How can someone or anyone have such bias and vile thoughts?

Walking out of the place I called home I decided where I should go next. For once in my life, I'm going to do what I think is right.