22.

**Michael**

After lunch, I spent some time with my mother and siblings catching up. I realized how much I missed out and how I hurt them with my abandonment. It won't erase the past but I apologized to them and they accepted me with open arms.

I personally apologized to my little brother for my actions pertaining to Emma. He was taken back by it but my mate insisted I do it. "A sibling love and bond is always stronger than any other bond," she told me when I was reluctant to do as she asked.

What a wise and loving mate I was given.

I was now in the pack house's war room with my father, the twins, and the Delta (third in command) discussing the reported rogue attacks in the southern states near Moon Dust. They seem to be taking a pattern. The packs that were small and seclusive were the only ones being targeted, with the imprisoning of the high ranking families. The more dominant packs in the area took it upon themselves to place few warriors in the smaller packs as guards. They asked Dark moon for guidance and help if needed and we readily agreed to do so.

Noah and Jonah were excellent at planning strategies in case of an attack. My father was impressed by their opinions even the delta was impressed. Delta Brian wasn't a man to be easily swayed when it came to the protection of his pack but the twins were exceptional in his eyes.

"What line are your parents?" He asked them.

"Delta" they simply stated.

My father and the delta frowned at their answer "And you were still attacked?" Brian asked.

"We were at our weakest moment, that we won't deny," Jonah said face expressionless.

Noah's body tensed when his brother said what he had to say.

The twins were loyal to Emma even a blind man can see that. It put Zane and me at ease to know if anything should happen to us Emma will be safe with them. We were wrapping up a conference call with the White Moon pack on strategies when we heard the calls of our warrior wolves.

"We have company," dad said smiling at the twins. Realization set in when they bolted out the door. "Survivors of your mate's pack are part of the refugees," dad said following them out.

As we made it outside, foreign wolf scents hit us. The refugees were clothed in t-shirts and shorts, their journey showed on their faces and bodies as the older wolves of our pack offered them water, food, and blankets. The twins were hugging a few as they cried in relief while a tall blonde hair guy looked down at them with a relieved smile on his face. I made my way over to them. Before I made a foot away from them I felt my mate's happiness. She came bounding down the street from the alpha house shouting the name 'Mason'.

The blonde-haired guy instantly perked up, his face shone brightly with an affection I couldn't place as he ran to her. My wolf and I didn't like this one bit. He held her on his waist as they both clutched on to each other tightly. Growling, I made my way up to them but someone stopped me. I looked at the hand that was restraining me. Noah.

"Take it, easy bro. That's Mason. Her best friend," He said smiling.

I watched their interaction, he was holding her not in an embrace of a lover but more of a brother. Zane and I calmed down a bit sensing her happiness and agreed not to deny her of this.

Mason walked back to us with Emma still clinging onto him. "Come on Emmy. I'm here now you can let me go," he said laughing.

"No way dude. Not ever again," she said with her voice muffled in his neck.

I laughed at how cute she sounded and looked attached to her friend.

"Emma," the twins said sternly. She grumbled and came down. It was cute that she always followed her brothers' orders whenever they gave them.

"Michael, this is our beta of Moon Dust, Mason. As we were told he led them all here," Jonah said introducing me to the guy who seems also loyal to Emma.

"Pleasure to meet you. Leading everyone to safety was very noble of you. Thank you. Now they have someone to thank for their lives," I said sincerely as I shook his hand.

"Doing what I was trained for, sir," he acknowledged me. I felt my mate's gaze on me so I sent a wink her way. She giggled and turned away.

"So while we were running for our lives you've been here living it up," I heard a bitter female voice said. Turning to the voice I saw a female wolf in front of Emma with pure hatred in her eyes.

"I escaped just as you did. No need to be bitter Heather" Emma spat at her.

"The little wolfless bitch got a mouth now huh. You may have Aiden and Mason fooled but not us. You're the reason why we're in this mess," The girl named Heather said with venom. Her posture was ready to attack not caring who instigate it.

I stepped up to the pair, my wolf was ready to surface as a few warrior wolves stepped up to them also growling at Heather. Disrespect shouldn't be shown to my mate not even by her pack members. Everyone was looking at the scene, waiting to see what will happen.

"No one speaks to our future Luna like that. You may be under our protection pup but respect will be given to our Luna," Beta Samuel said to her, authoritatively. Anyone can hear the underlying anger in his voice, it surely matched my level of brimming anger.

The girl paled and a few gasps were heard, I held Emma closely, growling at the she-wolf. She bowed her head in submission and knelt before myself and Emma.

"Emmaaaaa. Look at you now. Snatching up another alpha. This is a proud big brother moment here" I heard the amused voice of Mason.

"Masonnnn," my mate whined, her face was now an adorable shade of red. I chuckled as she buried her face in my chest, a smack was heard with Mason yelling out in pain accompanied right after. Shaking my head I looked down at the she-wolf, "While you're here you shall show respect to my mate if I hear or see otherwise I won't hesitate to put you out of my pack" I said to her, purposely letting the power be heard in my voice.

"Y-Yes alpha" she stuttered before running off to join her own pack members.

Emma quickly left my side and went to Mason, " Mom and dad? Where are they? Where's Aiden?" She asked desperately looking into the crowds. Her anxiety, her fear was all felt over our bond, the silence made her emotions spike. My heart ached by the sadness that seeped in from her.

"Emma," Mason weakly called out to her. He approached her slowly, his answer to her question was etched on his face.

She froze. "I can't sense them. I-I'm supposed to sense them without the pack bond. Why can't I sense them?" she whispered. Hysteria mounted with each word she said, her eyes still searching for her family. Oh, Emma.

Another of wave of sadness took over me as I watched my mate still frantically searching the dissipating crowd of survivors for her parents.

"Emma..." Mason started to say again but his voice broke.

"WHERE ARE THEY?" She shouted cutting him off still looking in the crowds, the hope in her eyes dwindling. I silently prayed to Mother that her family is alive.

The twins' bodies tensed as Emma turned to them. Their eyes glazed over as they told her something over their link.

The pain was felt in my chest as Emma abruptly fell to the ground, panicking we all rushed to her side. I was able to get to her first, her pain and sadness went through my body as she cried out, it weakened me to see her like this. It took me back to the pain I dealt her by my rejection. She doesn't deserve this.

"I'm sorry Emma," Mason cried softly as we all surrounded her.

"NO! They were the strongest..... NO!" she screamed at him.

Thunder clouds began to form, lightning flashed as a peal of thunder cracked above us. "Emma...." Noah said to her crying also. He didn't know what else to say, he stood there in one spot, so still, frozen in pain.

"They killed her. They killed her because of me. They will kill daddy too. It's all my fault," she cried out. Rain began to fall in full force, my body felt powerful as Emma cries grew louder and the weather grew violent.

"Michael please calm her down," Jonah shouted at me, tears falling down his face.

"What is going on?" I asked holding my mate closer as the rains came down heavier. No one answered but motioned for me to follow them. Everybody else found shelter as five of us made our way to the river. Holding her and feeling her pain made my movements sluggish.

"Let me carry her" Mason offered. I snapped at him as he moved to hold her but he didn't flinch at my warning.

"Michael" Jonah simply said and I reluctantly gave in.

"Shift!" Noah shouted. I didn't know why I complied but I did. Along with the twins, they followed Mason running with Emma to the river. Mason placed her gently on the wet grass, stepped away, and shifted. I looked on as the twins stood on either side of her and howled to the dark skies. The cries of Emma can still be heard over the thunder and rains. The twins howls were sad and mournful, Emma shifted in her beautiful white wolf and joined in.

Their howls were heartbreaking and the pain along with the sadness that overcame me brought me to my knees as I whimpered comforting my mate from a distance. The power that was in my body slowly faded as did the heavy thunder as the trio's mourning came to an end.

They huddled together and whimpered sadly.

'They lost their mother while their father is imprisoned' Zane notified me as we watched on as our mate and her brothers allowed their sadness to take over.

The rain was falling steadily now as I heard my mate calling out to me.

'I'm right here my love. I won't leave your side' I reassured her.

'They killed her. They took her away from me' she cried over our link.

Zane growled in anger, 'We will find whoever did this. We promise you that baby' I said to her, a sad sob was the reply I got from her.

The twins stood and shook off the excess water from their fur and looked down at their sister. She laid motionless on the ground, staring into the darkness beyond her. They pleaded with her to follow but she huffed at them to leave her be. Whimpering they walked away from her with bent heads. Two abrupt barks were heard a few steps away from me, Mason was barking at her to come back with them.

She wanted to be alone.

I went and sat before him, showing them I will watch over her. With one last look at their sister they reluctantly left sloshing through the muddy ground. I moved and lay down beside her. My head resting on her back as I listened to her heartbeat and low whimpers.

'Whoever it is, also has my best friend. The alpha's son,' She said softly over our link.

'We will get them all back my love' I said licking her neck.

'He was my first love' she continued.

I growled at the thought of my mate loving another and not me.

'Mine' I snapped at her. She laughed and licked my snout. I huffed in annoyance that she found it funny.

'Easy there, love. We knew we had mates out there but took the risk. Childhood crush everyone said it was. He came back home after two years and we just simply picked up where we left off. I knew love because of him. He and Mason were my only friends back at Moon Dust.' She continued.

'How come? You're so easy to love' I said confused.

Did they mistreat her at Moon Dust?

She laughed bitterly.

'I was wolf-less to them. Not worthy of being around an alpha and a beta. Aiden and Mason didn't care they stuck by me all these years. Mason even allowed his only two girlfriends to leave him because of me.'

I growled at the thought of other wolves picking on her just because she had 'no wolf'.

'Wolf or not. I would still accept you.' I said honestly and Zane agreed also.

She turned to face me and placed her head on my paws.

'Mate is a strong one' Zane said as we looked down at her. Pride filled my body when Zane said this as I lovingly licked her snout.

'You're mine now. No one will ever hurt you or anyone you care about. Come on let's get out of this rain,' I said.

She growled as I moved my paws from below her head. I laughed as she got up and flicked her tail in my face.

'The rains will stop in a few' she said nonchalantly.

So said, so did happen.

'I can manipulate the weather' she said walking away.

Knowing she can do that didn't freak me out one bit. My mate was fucking powerful.

'Don't you know it' she said cockily.

The thought slipped out again.

I ran after her and playfully nipped her ear. How can one person make you feel so happy, no one else I'm sure won't make me feel like this way.

I think I'm in love with my mate.