31.

**Emma**

'Alia it hurts so much,' I breathed out to her over our link. I struggled to make my way to the stairs without letting anyone notice my discomfort. It was hard back in the office as I masked my scent and talked through the pain.

I was in heat.

My legs were heavy and my lower region was on fire. The slightest movement and my body screamed out to stop. I just need to make it to my room before anybody sees me.

'Let me help you, Emma.' Alia begged. I didn't want her to be in pain she needed to be strong for whatever may happen. 'No. Please bear with me. I'm almost there' I begged her but she was bent on helping me. She whimpered in sadness before she gave me a little push. 'Stubborn wolf' I said to her as I was able to walk a bit stronger.

'Just like my human. Why don't you call for our mate?' She asked.

'He needs this time to say his goodbyes to his family. I can't take that away from him. ' I replied.

Michael has been worrying a lot about leaving for the past two days. We both were in bad places at the same time but seem to comfort each other somewhat. I wish I can make things easier for him but I couldn't. This was his home he was leaving to go start a new one. With me. His mate. As a crown prince. I had the utmost confidence in him that he would make it, so did my brothers.

I released a sigh of relief as I made it to my room, making it to the closet, I sat on the floor packing the backpack I arrived with at Dark Moon. We were told to pack necessities and a two to three day worth of clothes. Dark moon was approximately a 2 days drive to the palace. On foot was nearly four days give or take. Mason suggested air transportation but the twins shut it down immediately, it will raise suspicion and questions within the pack and nearby packs. Not to mention bring attention far and wide to whoever was after us.

I was going to meet my real parents. From what the twins told me, they were really great and loved me as any parent would. That eased my nervousness a bit but I couldn't help it.

'Don't fret Emma. ' Alia comforted me.

I groaned in frustration, whatever happens, happens right.

Making my way to the bathroom a wave of pain hit me unexpectedly. On instinct, I clutched my lower stomach screaming in pain. My body was on fire, the cold tiles below me didn't help to ease the heat. My legs were stiff in the fetal position I crumbled into.

I let out another scream of pain, my voice became hoarse, my eyes were heavy and my hair stuck to my face with sweat. I needed Michael.

'Emma let go.' Alia yelled at me. With no argument, I opened up our mate bond.

'Love' I heard him shouted over our link before I closed my eyes willing the pain to go away.

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

**Michael**

No one spoke out loud nor over the link. I just told them I was leaving with my mate which they understood. When asked when we will be back I couldn't answer. The sadness in my family's eyes was too much for me to take.

Madison was sitting in my lap clutching onto me not wanting me to leave; Maxwell was trying to come to terms that I was leaving yet again and now would be the next alpha at 17. I know he can do it. Dad taught us well. My mother was silently crying, she was now getting used to the fact that she had seven pups to love and care for, her eldest son was home. Now she had to say goodbye to five.

"Don't forget to call us whenever you can," she said hoarsely. "I will mom" I replied. My mind wandered off to the fact of why we were all leaving. We were protecting the pack. Dark Moon was already reviving from a previous attack, an attack by purebred wolves would be a massacre. Though we were one of the strongest packs and the best warriors we can still fall.

Mason entered the room his face devoid of any emotion. "Delta Avery wants to leave before nightfall. The twins are out front waiting on us." He said to me.

His posture was rigid it seems like he was unsure of what is to happen, all of us were.

Zane began to get agitated. 'Mate not responding to me. Stubborn she-wolf' he huffed. 'Calm down, Alia and Emma probably need space. Stop bugging her.' I said chuckling.

'I know but something is up.' He said.

"I'll go find Emma," I said gently holding my baby sister in my arms.

He nodded to me then turned to my family.

"Thank you for taking in my...Moon Dust pack and I. I'm truly grateful for that. I'm sorry also for the disrespect my... Moon Dust gave to your future... Luna" he started to say.

"You shouldn't be apologizing for them. They chose their own path" Anna said going over to hug him. He held onto her like a child saying goodbye to his mother, then stepped back.

"Also thank you for taking care of our Emma. She's very dear to all of us. I know her parents are truly grateful for that. Thank you in advance." He ended.

"You're welcome, son," my father said shaking his hand.

Madison climbed down from me and went to Mason as Maxwell did the same. He was like a part of us for the few days he been here despite our little argument we've become close.

"Fuck" pain and heat took over my body with a force so unexpectedly. Emma. 'Love' I shouted over our bond. No answer.

'Mate in heat' Zane said fighting for control. I ignored everyone's question and made my way to her room. "Baby?!" I called out. Her arousal filled the room but she was not in the room. Painful whimpers came from the bathroom, I rushed in to see my baby girl on the floor crying in pain.

"Baby, why didn't you tell me?" I asked picking her up in my arms. I sat on the floor my back against the tub, her tiny hands clutched onto my shirt tightly as I held her close. Her body immediately relaxed against mine but her scent was so damn intoxicating to me before I knew it I had her on the floor kissing her roughly. She didn't mind, her legs were wrapped around my waist as she brought herself closer to me.

I needed her.

I wanted her.

Damn this heat. My hand found its way in her panties inches away from her core.

"I can only take away the pain for a while okay love? Heavens know I want to mate you but not here. Not now." I said hoarsely against her skin.

"I don't care baby. I just need you now" she said fighting to get my shirt off.

When her lips touched mine the shocking sensations came ten times more than usual. We both moaned in pleasure, I inserted a finger into her, her wetness took over it I began my motion in and out as she rocked her body against my hand her moans were sending me wild.

'Take her' Zane pushed.

'I can't. Not now' I said going faster she was calling out my name.

"It will be over soon babe. I promise"

Her hands found my erection and squeezed it. "Fuck. Emma." I grounded out. I felt the beginning of her release around my fingers, finding my mark on her I bit over it as she orgasmed all over my fingers. "Michael!!!!!" She screamed out. Quickly I muffled her screams with a kiss, her body went limp against mine. "Thank you" she breathed out.

Removing my hand, she gasped and whimpered as she realized what I've done. "Shower?!" I offered trailing kisses on her neck. "Uh-huh," she moaned out. Stripping her to put her in the shower took every ounce of control not to go down on her.

I stood outside the shower watching her, every curve of her body wasn't missed by my eyes. She was perfect and she was all mine. I growled possessively as she bent over to wash herself off.

"Mine" I growled before I joined her in the shower, clothes and all.

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

**Mason**

Sitting on the front steps of the alpha house, I thought about all that happened that led us to here. A pack was destroyed. Family lost. Bonds broken. It will be all over soon, right?

All we had to do was get rid of that man then we get our families back. It sounded easy but hard to get done.

I watched the five dark vans parked in front of me. Eight men surrounded the vans as Noah and Jonah talked with the high delta. Avery was the king's go-to guy on war tactics and safety concerns. He trained the twins since they were Emma's protectors. The two or three times I went with them I witnessed their training. It was brutal for any simple wolf. To me even but not the twins. Their power and strength was greater than mine and probably an alpha combined.

They taught Aiden and I a few defense and attack moves which came in handy when we were attacked but it didn't work for Aiden I guess.

Scrubbing my face with my hands I thought back to that night he was captured.

Aiden wanted to make sure Emma's scent was nowhere close to the pack and which left me to go help the pack. He kept the link open to me as I fought off the rogues who were near the safe house. Alpha Jack and my father were fighting off as best as they could and kept asking for Aiden.

I couldn't answer them because Aiden wasn't answering my calls. After securing the members in our underground hideout I went out back to look for him.

I should have stayed with him.

I saw them brought him down, he knew I was there and said those last words to me 'Go to Emma. Keep her safe.' I didn't want to leave him but he gave it under alpha's orders.

He risked his life for her while she was happy with her 'mate'.

I'm happy for my little sister but it hurts to see both of us out here in freedom and he's locked up, heavens knows where.

The sound of the delta and the twins' laughter reached my ears. How can they kid around when our families and friends are held by a mad man?

King Landon better have a good plan of rescuing them.


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


**Noah**

It was great of uncle Donnie sending Avery to come get us. Jonah and I were closer to him than Isah.

Growing up we used to visit the palace since dad and Avery were best friends. Mom and the queen were friends so that gave us another reason to be at the palace but we only stuck with uncle Avery.

Then Emma came home and we stopped visiting until we were ten. That's when we were told everything.

The training was beefed up. Secrets were kept. Lies had to be told. Special father and sons vacations.

Soon it will be all over.

Soon Malcolm would be no more. Selfish greedy bastard.

He was the one that created the war so many years ago, he wanted to be dominant over both humans and vampires. Elder king Lucian didn't believe the rumors but they were true.

Looking at my brother, all we wanted was to get Emma and Michael safe to the palace then to resolve this 'problem'. If it's a war Malcolm wants, it's a war he would get. Wanting to kill a royal is the most heinous crime but killing a white wolf is a curse. It weakens the bond between the moon goddess and us and it would be a very long time to have one being gifted among us.

"Where are those two?" Jonah asked trying to sense Emma and Michael.

I searched our link for her, I immediately closed it off after what I've found.

I coughed trying to clear my instant hoarseness. Good to know those two are still..... Loving towards each other.

"Ummm we should give them a few more minutes," Jonah said uncomfortably.

"Why? We are burning daylight" uncle Avery said agitatedly.

"I think baby sis is in heat" I whispered to him.

"Oh," he said not really listening. Then it dawned on him.

"Ohhhhhhhhh. We're gonna have one moody alpha on this trip. I will go get the mated males for their van" he said scratching his neck and walked over to his men.

"Think Michael would fully mate her?" Jonah asked grinning.

"Dude that's our sister. And the answer will be no... I sensed his nervousness. He's holding back because..." I started to say.

"He's in love with her and wants it to be special," Jonah ended for me.

*************************************
**Jonah**

Emma being in heat for this trip will be so damn hilarious. Well for me, Michael was so possessive of her when he got back imagine now that she's in heat. Lots of snapping and fights? I looked over at Mason, a scowl was settled on his face. Walking over to him, what I sensed made me stop in my tracks. I growled at him, revenge and betrayal. His head snapped to where I was standing. "You better calm yourself, pup. Whatever you're thinking of, get it out of your head. Revenge will be taken on Malcolm but it would also cloud your judgment. " I said to him.

"Sorry Joe. It's just that they are locked up, probably being tortured and we're here with what little freedom. It isn't fair." He said pulling at his hair. I know how he felt but victory comes from great planning and that takes time. But we have to expect the unexpected.

"No it isn't but they have us to depend on," I said to him and more for myself. First blood shall be mine.