Noah 3. It Has To End

I didn't expect to be back here. The place where it all began all those years ago. It felt like centuries since I've been back home. After the death of our mother I haven't stepped foot back onto Moon Dust territory, even our father hasn't returned after the war. He spent his last two years at the castle with his kids. The loss of mom took a toll on him, he died peacefully in his sleep after his first grandson's second birthday. We weren't sad, we didn't mourn his death, he was with mom and that was all that matters.

I was now seated at my mother's desk in the library looking at the framed photo of all five of us, I mentally made a note to thank Aiden for keeping our home in good condition. Leaning back in the old leather chair it creaked under my weight, my gaze went around the room remembering the nights where we all stayed in the library as a family, the kids doing homework while our parents do pack related business then the night ends with mom telling us of our wolf history.

I missed those days of no pain, no loss just love of the family.

'Love of a mate is what we long for' my wolf said quietly. I agreed with him fully. Tears flowed down my cheek, in the privacy of my home I allowed myself to be vulnerable. Letting down my walls I allowed the pain of Natalia's rejection course through my body. This is not what I expected when Caiden lifted the bond.

Happiness.

That's what I expected. 'Not for us' both my wolf and I said. Wandering around the house for a few minutes then putting back on everything for an hour or so the doorbell rang, I steeled myself to answer the door.

"Hi uncle Noah."

I smiled at the blonde-haired grey-eyed girl in front of me, her eyes watching me curiously as she folded her arms. "Yes little one," I said to her in a bored tone but she knew better. Just like her father she thinks over her words before voicing them out.

"What happened?" she asked softly. "Don't worry about me, Alicia. I'll be fine, just need some time away from everything" I answered opening my arms wide in which she ran into. "You are hurting aren't you? Uncle Jonah did the same a few years back. Please tell me you will survive this," she said against my chest. My arms tightened around her in reassurance, my wolf whimpered in pain the love of my close and extended family never failed me.

Alicia was the firstborn of Aiden and Stephanie then came Carter a year later. The two grew up in Moon Dust with holiday visits to the castle to spend time with the Royal siblings. The two Alpha kids had the opportunity to live in the castle and be like their cousins they fondly call the Royal children but decided to stay in the quietness of their pack.

"I promise," I whispered.

"Good. Mom wants you over for dinner. We all know you won't cook while you're here" she said with that silly grin of hers. How can I say no to those dimples that just showed up in her cheeks?





After a welcome home dinner from Aiden's mate in which she insisted to invite the beta and delta families, I returned home to my place of solace. Being in their company was great, their jokes and stories kept my mind distracted from the pending dilemma at hand. More like my heart's dilemma - Natalia. I didn't bother to put on lights because I knew the house from memory as I made my way up to the second floor. Out of habit, I knocked twice on Emma's old room door. Jonah and I did it every night to let her know we were close and going to bed. I snorted in disbelief now noticing how protective we were and still are for the present Queen. I paused and looked at the closed door down the hall. Our parents' room. "Not tonight" I mumbled and went into the room I shared with Jonah. I chuckled and looked around the room again amazed at how my other half re-furnished our room to suit our present lifestyle. He extended the room to fit two king-size beds a writing desk equipped with mac books. A larger walk-in closet and concealed cupboard for weapons. "He sure thinks of everything," I said out loud. I looked under my bed out of curiosity only to find a Total Gym folded beneath there still in the shipping wrap.

I had to release my tension but my wolf wanted to stay hidden for a while only another way is gyming it. Setting it up my mind was on Natalia, questions swam around my head.

Was she alright?

Was she being taken care of right?

Does she miss me?

Is she even worth my worry after she hurt me so bad?

How did she become so much like her father with this pure-bred action crap? Doing a few pull-ups embracing the tightening pain of my muscles I thought of the position she was in. My heart ached, when news of this non-mate union and the reason behind it reaches Michael's ears it won't be pretty. After the whole Malcolm fiasco, Michael and Landon took action in stopping whatever rebel behavior like that from the root, and the ones to eradicate this threat would be my brother and me, the executioners.

After two hours of trying hard not to think of her, I failed miserably and left the exercise machine. I was frustrated and heartbroken I felt like I was losing my mind, how am I to survive this. 'Go to her. Fight for her' my wolf said sharply. He was feeling the same thing and he was getting desperate..... I think I was too. Thoughts of going back there and take her away by force crossed my mind but I wasn't that kind of monster to make someone lose their family, I know how it felt.

'So we just sit here and let another man touch what is ours. Talia was ours, to begin with. SHE'S OURS!!!!!' His loud outburst brought me to my knees halfway down the hall.

'Nico, please. She made her choice.' I was trying to calm him down but he wasn't having it. He wanted out and if I do let him out, I'm afraid of what he will do.

'NO!!! We've waited years for her and I won't allow some sniveling baby alpha to claim the gift Mother saved for us. We are the fucking executioner no one makes a fool of us' Nico was in a full fit of rage now on my hands and knees my shift was happening without my consent. My human side was getting weak.

'I can't let you out. Not here. ' I snapped at him. The house phone began to ring it took all my might to stand upwards and go down to the phone. I was halfway there when he began to push me.

"NO!!!" I screamed, stretching for the phone. I had to answer it. I knew who it was, they always knew when I need them.

'They will not stop me. They don't understand the pain we are going through Noah' he screamed at me, my claws began to show on my hand along with the light brown fur of Nico. Knocking the phone off its holder the voice of my sister echoed through the silence of the dark kitchen.

"Noah? Noah!" Her voice was breaking, she was crying. I hate when she cries it weakens me and this time I was the reason behind her tears. "Emma" I bit out. A click was heard then my brother's voice came through. "Nico you need to calm down, you are hurting Noah," he said in a calm voice.

"We need her. She belongs to us." I was no longer in charge he was, I was a spectator in my own body. "Nico please" Emma begged crying hearing her sobs was too much.

"You don't understand how it felt to see the woman you love before knowing she's your mate giving the love that once was yours to another. You two never felt the betrayal, the loss, the pain that went through his heart. Our hearts." Nico was now shouting at them. His voice deep and loud filled with anger. They both stayed quiet. "You don't know. Why can't we be happy?" his voice was lower now, our sad whimpers filled the room, my body felt heavy and the cool marble floor was comforting to my heated skin, Nico retracted himself in the far dark corners of my mind. No one said nothing only our whimpers were heard, Emma cries and Jonah's sniffling told me he was trying not to be weak for me, for us.

"Beauty. Please do it. I can't focus anymore" I croaked out struggling to stand up but failed, I was too weak to walk over to the little nook in the kitchen that mom created for us. Crawling over to the cushioned area I plopped down heavily on it clutching onto the phone.

"Brother. We are not there to watch over you." Jonah objected instantly.

"Jonah" I breathed out. Knowing my twin, I knew he was now staring blankly at the wall with his right leg bouncing in nervousness. "Fine" he grounded out.

"Noah..... Do you understand what you're asking of me? You won't remember anything about her." Emma said with doubt in her voice.

"She made her choice," I yelled out loud, "I would not be in pain because of her" Her beautiful face and smiling eyes burned in my memory, I shook my head trying to erase it but it didn't work. I can't live like this call me weak for giving up on her but it's for the best.

"As you wish brother. Get me, my son, Jonah" Emma replied softly.

I have to let you go Tali, though I love you unconditionally it's for the best. You weren't mine to start with I guess.







Natalia

"You did well my little Natalia."

The dominant voice of my father aggravated me every time he spoke. I've grown to despise him since I grew to understand who he truly was. He was no longer my hero, the best daddy in the world in the eyes of a then eight-year-old.

"Thank you Father" I responded in a monotone voice while keeping my focus on a spot behind his head. We were both alone in the Alpha's office. The mating ceremony was two days away and my father arrived here earlier than usual. I knew why. Marc and his father told him of Royal's visit when they were sworn not to. My father knew of Noah and me, he practically had eyes on me without my knowledge back in California. His threat to Noah made me leave him, hurting him so much now I've done it again. This time the worst possible way.

My strong wolf, Noah. He was and still the man for me, the one who knew my weakness and claimed my heart. I miss the way his dark exotic eyes would watch me like no other man has. I was his world as he was mine. My wolf and I mourned the loss of his touch, his kisses, his silly jokes just to see me smile.

I released a deep sigh then sat straighter when I realized what I did. I was showing emotion being momentarily weak in front of him. He hated that. I looked up into his cold brown eyes the same as mine, his black short hair, and his hard chiseled jaw, a face that shot fear into his men even his past mate. "You better get that mutt out of your head. He isn't worth your thoughts" he sneered.

I clenched my fists in anger but kept my mouth shut. To my father, Noah is just the king and queen's lap dog. He doesn't have his own pack, his blood is a mere delta's, weak blood, and supports anything the king says. To the gracious Alpha Mendez, Beta and Delta's are expendable to any pack and are not worthy of any Alpha female or male hence the reason why I am to be mated to Marc. Telling dad that Noah was my true mate the night I saw him again was a huge mistake, Noah was right dad doesn't care about his own daughter's happiness only his.

"Yes, father."

"Good. Did you speak to the prince while he was here?" he asked.

"No only common courtesy. I left them all be as they were training the she-wolf" I answered distractedly thinking of my wolf. I hope he forgives me. After this crap I will go find him, I must.

"The half-human girl? Marc told me of her and the news confirmed everything. She's the new princess. Can you believe it a fucking half breed on the throne? Not to mention the future queen is also a weak human. Don't they see that the wolf breed is becoming weak. Soon the purebred line will end," he spat out.

I've seen pictures of the future queen she was really beautiful and the love between her and Prince Caiden was so evident. My heart ached. 'We had that,' my wolf whimpered. We did.

Dad was pacing the floor and checking his phone with a smirk on his lips, a chill ran down my spine from his next words. "It seems things got more interesting. Marc is going to be family sooner than you think. Tomorrow will be your ceremony. I'm heading to New York to meet an old friend." With that being said he left the room, my heart was beating faster than usual, my breathing was shallow. I can't do this. I thought I had a few more days to get myself together. Mated to Marc never felt right when dad suggested it at first, I agreed, wanting to please him greatly. Nothing I ever did was good enough for him being a girl even was wrong for him. Everyone in the pack knew how much he wanted a son.

This was one of the reason why he was so bent on mating me with some alpha. Less worry for him I concluded.

'We can't do this. Noah and Nico need us. We need them' my wolf cried. Hot silent tears ran down my cheek. 'I know but I rejected him. He won't take me back. Heck, it's too late,' I told her staring blankly out the window.

Wait.

Did my father say, New York? That's where Noah was. Please blessed moon goddess please don't let my father find him. Rushing out of the office I ran straight to my room looking for the one thing that would probably help me warn him. Finding the card, I dialed the number on my new cell while locked myself in the bathroom, the phone kept on ringing again and again. I redialed the number twice before the person answered.

"What is it?" the voice snapped.

"H-hi ummmm I-I need to speak to Mason."

"You must be Tali. You sure pick the wrong time to mess with our brother. What can I do for you ?" the person said no longer in an angry tone but in a comforting tone.

"I need help and fast" I breathed out.

It may be too late for Noah but not for me to rise up from under my father's thumb.