36.

**Emma**



"What was that?!" I yelled pushing him away.

I looked at Aiden in disgust. Why did he do that? At one time his kisses would make my toes curl but after he planted his lips on mine, it felt wrong and disgusting on top of the pain of not being my mate's lips. My heat was still in effect but not as intense as before.

"Just checking," he said shrugging like he doesn't have a care in the world.

"What? Checking what?" I asked confused.

He raised an eyebrow at me and got himself out of the bed weakly. "To see if you still love me as you did two months ago. We are still basically a couple. We haven't broken up you know." he said standing and stretching.

"Well, we are now. I've found my mate, Aiden. I just told you everything that happened since I got to Dark Moon to now. We both agreed that our relationship will become no more once we find our mates," I said crossing my arms across my chest. He snorted then ran his eyes down my body. I now felt disgusted by his stares which were once pleasurable.

"He didn't even want you Emma and now you are telling me how much in love you are with him? It's the stupid mate bond have you thinking that's real. I'm the one who loves you, the one who knows you in and out, I'm the one you love" he said coming closer to me. I backed into the wall as he drew closer he placed his hands on either side of my head. For some reason, I felt threatened and scared.

I've never seen Aiden like this, so cold. Why couldn't he accept that I found my mate we both knew this day would come.

"Why don't you calm down and we talk more of this later," I suggested trying to get out of his trap.

"Emma, baby, I am calm. I'm trying to let you see the truth. We can go back to how we were. You won't have to hurt. I will never hurt you I will love you till my last breath. " he said bringing his body closer to mine, his breath fanned across my cheek as he spoke.

Mason was right, Aiden's love for me was bigger than mine for him. Why didn't I see it before?

"Aiden we both knew that the time will come when we find our mates......" I started to say.

"I know what was said," He shouted.

I flinched outwardly, my eyes widen in shock. In all the years we've known each other and had our share of arguments, Aiden never shouted at me in his dominant voice. This has to be nipped in the bud. He was off, completely out of character.

"Oh, Emma I'm sorry for shouting. I promise I won't do it again" he cooed coming closer to kiss my cheek but I moved away to avoid the contact. Hurt and anger clouded his eyes for a moment before he stepped back.

"I don't think we should ....." I started to say but what stopped me this time made me fall to my knees. It was a wolf's howl that filled my ears. My heart began to fill with fear as each crack surface with his howls.

Michael.

No. No.

I will never betray him. I loved him and only him. Each howl told me how much pain he was in, the bond between us was faltering. He was giving up on us?

Aiden tried to hug me but I flinched away. "Emma I'm sorry I just..." He stuttered trying to console me. I ignored him out trying to connect to Michael.

'Michael. Baby? Please answer me' I cried.

Nothing. Why isn't he answering? I needed him to know the truth. I needed him.

'Michael?!'' I called again. I called out to him out loud and over our link. He had to know none of this is true.

'Was this all a trick till you have him back in your arms? Did you actually love me, Emma? Maybe it's payback for hurting you. Congratulations baby. You did it.' He replied venom and anger laced every word.

His words cut through me like a knife I couldn't even respond I tried to answer but the right words would not come out.

I cried into my hands knowing I've messed up.

'It's not what you think. I can explain.' I finally said.

'Not the answer I was looking for. Emma..... I didn't... Look I need time to be alone. I do love you with all my heart but now I don't even think you know that He said in a defeated tone before he closed off our connection.

I looked up at Aiden. He stepped back in shock, he probably saw the hatred I had for him in my eyes. I just wanted to make sure he was alright and tell him my good news. "I've never expected you to react this way about me finding my mate. If you found your mate first I would surely back off. Why couldn't you do that?" I shouted coming to my feet.

"Because you're mine, Emma. I loved you from day one I would do anything for you. The constant arguments with the elders about being with you. I took it all. I've gone through being tortured, just to keep you safe now I'm being put aside for a mate who doesn't even want you. I'm sure he only wants you because you're a fucking princess" he seethed. I did what came naturally to me at that moment, my hand swung back on its own accord and the loud slap against skin echoed in the hospital room. My hand stung as I watched with tear-filled eyes his face redden with my handprint. I never struck anyone willfully. His head was turned but I saw his wolf surfacing in anger but I didn't care. I was losing my mate because of my stupid devotion to the man in front of me.

"Don't you dare talk about Michael like that. When he marked me he didn't even know I was a white wolf and a crowned princess. I love him so much that my feelings for you have died down a lot. My love for you as a friend didn't die but I now see it hurt the man that I love. I put your life in front of his. Your needs in front of his. If you can't accept the life we both knew we were headed for then I guess our friendship is over," I said while trying to reach out to Michael. The tears flowed harder as I reached the wall he put up between us.

Alia was calling out to Zane but he also refused to talk to her. She whimpered in sadness as we both tried calling out to our mates.

"Very well then I guess we are no longer friends," he said coldly. I got up and walked up to him.

"You've become so selfish that I pity your mate" I harshly said before I walked out the room.

How can I be so blind? Did I really hurt Michael by my actions for Aiden? What was I thinking?

'You were focused on a friend and that love eclipsed ours for Michael's. Must find mate,' Alia whimpered.

I blindly made my way back to my room trying to connect with Michael. The more I tried the deeper in defeat I got when he won't answer.

I did this.

I drove my mate away. I was naive to think that he was okay with it all, I should have paid more attention to him than a friend. Aiden meant a lot to me then, now he's ... I don't even know what he has become. His love has become obsessive.

'Emma. Where are you? What have you done?' Noah shouted through our link.

But I ignored him and shut everyone out. I laid down on my bed looking at my engagement ring and continued calling for Michael. Fresh tears took over my cheeks as the rain began to fall.

'I love you, Michael. I'm sorry, I was stupid. It's always you. It will always be you.'

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

**Arabella**

I stood looking out the window of my mate's office at the pouring rain that began to fall an hour ago. My little girl was hurting. Also her mate. This thing we call love can build us and destroy us. I turned to my mate, he was crouched over a map while talking on the phone with his trackers. Isah and Avery were deep in a serious conversation over the same map. They began their search for Malcolm and any of his allies from where they ambushed the kids. It was great news that their scent was still there so it made our trackers easier to follow.

All that mattered was that the kids were safe especially our little girl.

To hear that word mom from her made me feel like the best mother in the world. Eighteen years without her just news of her well being was not enough. Landon and I barely made it through on her birthdays but was comforted when Becca and Daniel would send pictures of her.

Now we have time to make up from all that was missed.

"Ari?" The sound of my name from his lips always sends a warm feeling through my body. My eyes went to his blue-grey ones, they were filled with worry and love as he looked at me. "She's hurting Donnie. What can I do to make her stop hurting? And Michael... he feels betrayed you heard his cries" I said twisting my hands and looking back out the window.

"I have, my love," he said coming behind me. I felt his arms around my waist as he placed his chin on my shoulder, his beard tickled my neck which made me giggle. He kissed my neck and held me in his arms swaying from left to right. "Emma and Michael have to work on this themselves. From what the boys have told me Aiden and Emma have been a couple since she was 14 going on fifteen they loved each other but since the attack and Emma finding Michael no one knows where Emma's heart lies," He said inhaling my scent.

"So what do we do now? Wait?" I asked.

"We wait. They both have to sort out this problem in order to handle others. Whether it be between themselves or the kingdom." He continued biting my ear. My body came alive for him by that simple method of teasing. Years we've been mated and he still ignites that fire in me only he can make. "You look beautiful today" he whispered in my ear. "Thank you" I breathed out as his fingers touched my bare skin under my blouse.

"Go see if our baby girl has eaten. I will go see her after the boys and I finished here. Malcolm became sloppy we found a few of his rogues a couple of miles away from where the kids were attacked. They are being brought in soon." He said turning me to face him. Brushing his hair away from his face I took in the handsome playful loving guy in front of me whom I call my mate. His smile was so infectious and always brought me to my knees. My Landon. My everything. "I love you," I said to him.

"And I love you. Forever I will" he whispered against my lips. The touch of his lips against mine always brings me back to the first time we kissed when we were 16. Gentle, sweet, and filled with love.

He pulled back, "Mine" he growled. Shivers ran down my spine at his possessiveness, it was such a turn on. "Yours," I countered kissing his cheek and left his office.

Making my way to the hallway for the rooms the twins joined me. I knew where they were headed. "She's not answering," Noah said after a moment of silence. I sighed, "Where's Michael?"

"He's still out in the surrounding forest. The guards are keeping an eye on him. They said he's just in one position for the past two hours" Jonah answered.

"Where's Aiden?" I asked worried for my new son.

"With Mason. He's not talking to us. " Noah said. His temper was rising. "The little prick won't even say what happened," Jonah grounded out.

"Boys please calm down. I will go see Emma while you go get Michael indoors he doesn't have to be near her. We have to give them time" I said not even sure how long it would take.

"We don't have time. As soon as we find Malcolm we gotta make a move before he attacks us. Having Emma and Michael this broken would make their powers weaker and their minds can easily be corrupted. Auntie, you know this" Noah said hastily.

"I know, sweetheart but this is their life, not ours all we can do is give them a little push. " I said softly.

"Yes auntie" he returned not too happy about my answer. We parted ways when we arrived in front of Emma's door.

Walking in my heart instantly ached. Emma was in a fetal position crying holding onto a pillow. I can hear her heart-wrenching sobs all the way by the door. Quietly I went and sat on her bed, she quickly clutched onto me, my body still not knowing what to do I haven't been prepared for this to console a broken-hearted daughter. All I did on instinct was hug her tightly, wanting to protect her from all the dangers in the world.

"I messed up mom. I lost my mate" she cried.

"Michael won't give up on you sweet girl" I comforted her.

Oh, goddess, I hope I'm right.