20.

**Emma**

We laid in comfortable silence with my head resting on his chest as he played with my hair. My thoughts and heart were going at a race thinking of this new development in my life. My mate is with me. After days of pain and disappointment, it vanished by his simple heartfelt apology.

"So beautiful," He muttered, kissing my head. That kiss burned my skin. I clutched onto his hand tighter, letting his minute affection flow through my body. I felt it all that he was feeling over our bond.

Comfort. Longing. Great affection.

This is the Michael I knew he was, the mate I believed he was. I was truly happy and felt so safe and right in his arms.

“I was a fool to deny your affection. I heard the worry and care in your cries. It was your last call that did me in. You were about to give me what I portrayed initially. I felt what you were feeling and that was something I didn't want any of us to feel.

“Thanks for not giving up on me, Emma. I know I don't deserve you after what I've done but I promise to prove to you how much I truly need you in my life," he said.

His voice rumbled in his chest as he spoke, I sat up and looked at him.

His eyes showed utter happiness as I simply held his hand. The sparks always will be shocking to me, to know only one person can master that effect. I was beyond happy also that he came back but now we have more pressing matters. I bit down on my lips thinking if to tell him everything or just what everyone else knows about me.

I heard him groan in pleasure, looking up his gaze was focused on my lips. Before I can ask what was wrong, I was pulled onto him then his lips were on mine locked in a passionate kiss.

Oh, moon goddess, this guy can kiss. His lips were molded onto mine, his tongue asked for entrance and I happily obliged.

*“I swear I'm already addicted to her,“* I heard him over our link. This made me laugh against his lips.

"What is it my sweet Emma," he said softly against my lips as he held my face in his hands.

"It seems like you forgot about our link. I heard what you said," I said smirking.

His eyes widen in realization as a faint blush covered his cheeks. "Awwww look at that" I cooed pinching his cheek.

He rolled his eyes and playfully nipped my lips.

Alia laughed at his silliness. *“Go on Emma, tell him the truth. After all, he is our mate and he accepted us,”* she said adoringly.

Looking at him I came to the conclusion that I can trust him, trust him with my life.

I linked to my brothers to come over in my room.

"Michael what I have to tell you about myself maybe unbelieving but I must tell you now. Please have an open mind，" I said getting up from the bed as my brothers came in.

He sat up with a confused look and nodded.

"Great to see you again and in a better frame of mind," Noah said with a raised eyebrow at my mate.

Michael looked at me and answered, “I sure am.”

A blush took over my face as Jonah coughed over a laugh.

"Jonah," I snapped. He raised his hands in defense.

"Guys, Alia and I agreed to tell Michael everything," I said to them.

They looked at me then watched Michael intensely. They were searching for his feelings and analyzing his thoughts. It always freaked me out when they did that.

"Very well," they said together.

"As you know your mate is a white wolf with rare or special gifts. The only other white wolf was that of the elder royals who was....." Jonah started.

"Queen Mina," Michael finished for him and stood up.

His face showed that he was in deep concentration.

"That leaves Emma here to be the last royal. We had her since she was a baby, protecting her, she's like our sister not just our princess but family," Noah said tugging on my ear playfully. I swat his arm away and focused back on my mate.

"No one knows of her existence only the high-ranking family of Moon Dust and two elders of the royal family. You cannot reveal this to your family, Michael. It may be hard but you being her mate now means you also have a job in keeping her safe......" Jonah said.

Michael said nothing but just stared at me with an expressionless face.

"Michael?" I called out twisting my fingers nervously, "Say something."

Nothing. Was I losing him?

"I found out a few days ago myself after I acquired a new power, I'm still trying to come to terms with it all. I don't even know my real parents. Also, I don't even know what I'm supposed to do," I rambled on.

"You're their Emma," was all he said.

"What?" All three of us said.

"I-I met the moon goddess while I was out and two wolves joined us. They were Queen Mina and King Lucian, she told me to keep you next to me. Also, there's to be some war soon" he said in a daze.

"Shit." I heard the twins said then they grew silent. I looked at them questioningly.

"We have to send word to your parents," Noah said.

"Wait. They have been rogue attacks near your pack, it seems like they are searching for someone in high ranking families. I think they've been looking for Emma, " Michael said pacing the floor.

"Where did you get this information?" Jonah asked.

"My father told me about an hour ago," Michael said looking at them.

My thoughts ran to Mason and Aiden. The two were great fighters as the twins and knew their duties to the pack but anything can happen.

"I hope the boys are alright," I said sitting down.

"They know what to do when it comes to you. I'm sure of it that they are okay." Noah reassured me.

"I'm going to talk to your father, Noah find a way to send a message to the palace. If they are searching for Emma it won't be long till they make their trail to Dark Moon," Jonah said leaving.

Noah looked at Michael and I then left.

Michael knelt in front of me with a concerned look. " Are you alright?" He asked.

I shook my head. "One minute I'm preparing to leave high school now I'm the white wolf princess to lead a race to victory or something like that. It's all so fast for me. I just wanted a life where no one notices me. Was that too hard to ask for?" I rushed out.

I heard him chuckle before placing a kiss on my head.

"If we met under different circumstances do you think you would go unnoticed?" he asked giving me a sly smile which I loved to see.

I rolled my eyes, "Being Luna is much more low-key than being a princess babe"

"True but I will be showing you off every chance I get," he said burying his face in my stomach.

I let out a laugh as he blew raspberries on my stomach.

"I will be right by your side through all of this and what is there to come. I'm a bit scared too. I mean I'm practically now a prince that's more responsibility than alpha of a powerful pack, you know," he said propping his chin on his fists looking up at me.

I had to grin as those striking blue eyes that showed a hint of mischievousness.

Playing with his hair, I watched as his eyes closed in pleasure, he placed his head on my lap as I continued with my sweet torture.

"You will be the death of me, my sweet" he growled as he quickly lowers me to the bed and straddled me.

I let out a squeal of laughter as he began to plant kisses all over my face and neck. "I love your laugh," he said hovering over me. I was sure the blush on my cheeks made its way to my ears.

This man over me wasn't the man I expected my mate to be, this gentle, playful, considerate guy compared to the cold and distant guy nearly two weeks ago. A complete turnaround.

*"He had help in seeing the right path,"* Alia said with pride in her mate and his human.

Caressing his cheek, he leaned into my touch and shuddered. I passed my thumb across his lips as his eyes turned black with lust. *“With one touch this is what you do to me. You're killing me, my sweet Emma,”* he said over our link as he took my other hand and placed it by the bulge in his pants.

Feeling bold, I started a motion by moving my hand up and down its length and squeezing it enough for him to groan out loud.

"I will take you here and now my love if you keep doing that," he said breathing heavily against my neck. It sent shivers through my body as his hot breath touched my skin.

"No, no, no," I said smirking, "Not now my big bad wolf."

His growl was so lustful that I fought Alia so hard to keep focus.

"My mate is a tease. Excellent," he said kissing me with all he had to give. My body was on fire as his hands wandered all over it. His hand found its way below my shirt, towards my breasts and bit on a nipple through my shirt. I moaned his name out as he began his torture on my breasts, it felt so good.

"I love how your body responds to my touch," he said in my ear.

Before I can respond, a knock on the door interrupted us.

"Stop doing whatever y'all are doing. Lunch is ready by the pool" we heard Maxwell say and left.

I pulled him closer and whispered, "We have a lot of time on our hands" and kissed his lips briefly then pushed him off.

He laughed as I skipped to the door. "Wanna race?" I asked grinning. Childish I know but there was something about Michael that made me forget about everything around me and focus on being an idle teenager. Since the reveal of me being a hidden royal, my only focus was to survive, now I can live without worrying about an attack.

"Sure. Whoever loses have to feed the winner." He said rushing to the door but I was closer. We ran head to head down the hallway and through one too many rooms before we reached outside.

I won and began to sing "I won I won," jumping up and down.

"You cheated, Emma." I heard Michael practically whine as he made it out. I turned to him with my hands on my hips. "Nuh-uh I am faster than you. Now go get me food," I said snobbishly with my nose turned up.

"Yes madam," he said in a fake British accent and bowed to me. I tried really hard not to laugh as he took the posture of a butler and walked past me.

Turning around I was met by amused faces looking between Michael and me.

"Uhhhh hi," I said taking a seat next to Madison.

"It's great to see both of you like this," Anna said clapping her hands in pure joy.

Maxwell and Madison shook their heads as Michael sat next to me bringing his chair closer to mine.

I bent my head blushing when he kissed my temple and his mother let out a long "aw".

"It’s good to be back," he said, holding my hand below the table.

"No more running?" Madison asked sternly.

"No Maddie" he answered her truthfully.

"And no more hurting Emma," Maxwell asked.

Michael turned to me and answered Maxwell's question, "Never again."

His eyes held the sincerity of his words which made my breathing hitch. Zane surface to reassure me then allowed Michael to be with me. I leaned over and kissed his cheek but before I pulled back, he caught my chin to give me a kiss.

It was short but sweet enough to have me blushing. Days with him will not be boring, his touch, his words always catce me off guard.

"Alright. Alright. Enough of the PDA, people are eating here," Maxwell teased.

I stuck my tongue out at him as he did the same.

"Very mature you two," Anna said laughing.

"Where are Angelo and my brothers?" I asked noticing the three empty spots.

"They decide to have lunch in the office, talking over business," Anna answered dismissively.

I nodded.

Remembering our wager, I sat back in my chair and cleared my throat looking at my mate.

"Something wrong Emma?" Madison asked worriedly.

Michael continued eating then paused midway in grabbing his drink. Rolling his eyes playfully at me a sly smirk was on his lips. Me being incredibly caught up with his appeal began fantasizing of those lips on my body.

"A bet is a bet and I'm terribly hungry sweetheart" I sang grinning widely at him.

"I didn't expect you to follow through with it you know," Low laughter coated his words as he grabbed my plate.

"Say ahhh. Here comes the choo-choo train" he said in a girly voice along with the train sounds.

"Michael... Noooo" I said between laughter. The table erupted in laughter as he tried to force-feed me in a motherly way.

"Now Emma how are you gonna be a strong wolf if you don't eat your red meat come on now open wide. Don't make me spank you" he mockingly scolded.

"I... Can't... St....stop" I laughed out dodging the spoon.

"You pups today. Tsk tsk," he continued with his act.

"Do the airplane. Do it. Do it," Madison laughed out.

"Awwww why can't he do the race car, mom did it best," Maxwell whined.

Michael cracked and drop his act. His laughter was infectious and the only laugh that made my toes curled.

"I have the silliest bunch of pups," Anna said wiping away her tears of laughter.

"But you still love us," Maxwell said.

"Yes, all four of you," she said looking at me with a mother's smile on her face.

She saw me as her own. Not as her son's mate. But as a daughter.

"Thank you, Anna," I said shyly.

She brushed me off with a gentle wave and continued eating.

I was truly pleased. A warm hand covered my own and kissed my knuckles, I turned to the only one who created the butterfly effect in my stomach, to see him looking at me with so much adoration.

*"No thank you. You have no idea what you did for us. Thank you for believing in me,"* he said over our link.

*"Anything for you, my mate."* I said truthfully.