57.

**Emma**

When did life for a seventeen-year-old girl become so.... words can't even explain what I've been through and what is there to come.

Learning of a new life. Finding my mate.

Gifted with powers other than those of a white wolf. Loss of a friend and surrogate mother.

Worrying about the man who took me in as his own. A crazed uncle bent on killing me.

A friend whose hurting and a new one who's at her wits end trying to win back her mate.

Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, ruling the majority of the supernatural realm and keeping the peace.

I sat in my suite alone in need of much space from what's happening outside my doors. Queen Rayan came for Ariana after I alerted my mother of what is happening. Knowing Jonah was in the hallway I enclosed myself in the lounge area trying to put my thoughts together.

'Are you okay, baby?' Michael called out to me. I smiled as I heard the pure concern in his words and felt the love and care over our bond.

'I am. Go back to your training Michael. Stop worrying about me' I replied.

'I can never stop worrying about my baby.' He teased.

'Then stop for fifteen minutes' I laughed.

'I'll try my best. See you soon my love. Get some rest I know you haven't been sleeping well with your mind on Mason' he said to me before cutting our link.

Beginning to relax I heard a knock on my door but ignored it, the person repeated their action rapidly which made me get up unwillingly. Can't a girl get lost in her thoughts for a second? Approaching the main door to our suite an envelope was pushed under the door, I quickly ran and open the door but no one was there, looking back down the hall I saw Jonah making his way back to the door.

"You okay sis?" He asked standing in front of me. "Ummm yeah. I thought I heard someone knock on my door" I said still looking around. We both sniffed the air and just caught the scent of our own wolves and a faint trail of Michael's also the royal vampires.

I shrugged and went back in, Jonah took back his post being more alert. Picking up the letter I saw my name written on the envelope. Instantly I recognized the handwriting. Aiden's.

Letting out a tired and frustrated sigh I opened it, thinking of what am I about to read from my now delusional old friend.

If you are reading this, it means that somehow you are curious as to what I have I to say. First of all, I would like to apologize to you, Emma. I haven't been the most supportive nor understanding friend or boyfriend to you when you mention finding your mate. Time really crept up on me with that. When I came back to Moon Dust my main focus was only on you. To pick up where we left. Those two years apart I've missed you so much and my love for you has grown so much.
In my mind and to my wolf you were our Luna, the girl I want by my side till my last breath.
Its hard Emma. It's hard to let you go but I have to. I have to now acknowledge you as my future queen and your mate as my future king.
All I ask of you is to forgive me. Forgive me of those harsh things I've said to you and hurt your mate. I have no one to blame but myself. Maybe someday I would know the love of a true mate.
I want my best friend back. I've lost Mason. I can't lose you too. You have been the one to keep all three of us together, I know you still are. Please forgive me.
I'll be waiting if you do forgive me. All I ask for is your friendship. If you don't, I would understand.
Through thick and thin we will always be best buds.

Your best friend Aiden.

With blurry eyes, I looked at my half of our 'Mordecai and Rigby' tattoo. It was a sign of our friendship. A friendship we promised never to break no matter what happens. His actions towards Michael and I nearly cost us our relationship. A part of me wants to forgive him the other part wants me to scream and yell at him for hurting me so bad breaking our promise.

But.

He has been my friend since kids, the one who stood up for me countless times, loved me, and treated me like his one and only.
'You're probably still his one and only but this apology from him seems sincere and true. The question is would he betray us once more?' Alia said.

'Can you sense anything pertaining to this. To him' I asked her.

'I can't. Should we tell our mates?' She asked.

Michael. I don't know what he would say or do but he was bent on us making peace with Aiden so we can move on. I haven't been able to talk to Aiden since my induction in the royal pack, I do miss my friend.

This would be the only time I have with him until we get rid of Malcolm and clean his mess up. It would make me feel better to know I got one problem solved.

'Not this time. We gotta do this for us.' I told her.



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

**Caleb**

The room I was given was above exceptional. Better than the room my father had given me when my mother 'died'. I felt more at peace here at the palace than at the compound my father called his palace. Stepping out to the balcony I took in the morning sunlight with much appreciation and played over the events that took place in the last few days.

After talking with Landon and my uncles I felt more at ease, my wolf confided in me that he felt safe here at the palace. When I first shifted I was bent on making dad proud, he was somewhat amazed by my wolf's size but the disappointment was there as I was only able to shift when I turned 18. That was nearly a year ago.

Growing up as a human among purebred wolves who had a distaste towards my kind was hell on earth. The fights I got into to prove myself; the training I had to endure; the spiteful words spat at me every day and not once did dad came to my rescue.

I was ecstatic when he asked me to lead one of his teams to 'hunt'. Getting a first hand at what his meaning of 'hunt' meant I wanted out but he was pleased with my success that I went along for the ride.

My father was acknowledging me. That was all I saw. Then I saw my cousin.

The girl they saw as a threat. What I saw that day was a girl willing to give all that she has for a friend.

Not a threat.

My wolf was reluctant to attack her, he kept on saying that's his queen but I took over willing to please my father.

If Michael hasn't stopped me I don't know if I would be here so at peace with myself.

'Here is where we belong. A lot is to be revealed' my wolf said to me.

He has been telling me little riddles since we made it in the palace, I question him but followed as he said.

What I am about to do would be hard but must be done.