27.

"We should....." Jace began to say but he didn't get a chance to finish his statement. Delta Jonah and his sentinels were out scouring the streets of New York for the princess and her father. The pause Jace made created a ripple effect in every sentinel. Their eyes became dark, low growls of defense escaped their lips. They felt her.

They felt their little princess after hours, nearly a day of searching for her, the strength in which she used her gift alerted every wolf close to the Royal family. Jonah and Zhee felt it the most their wolves were itching to come out to go help their princess but their humans had a tight hold on them.

Slowly Jonah stepped out of the alley where he was searching onto the busy sidewalk, the humans rushed on by oblivious to the dark delta with piercing blue eyes who was now looking at the unseen waves of power resonating around them. 'How can we see this? This...This is unbelievable' Jonah said to his wolf.

'Our mate. She made us stronger, made us aware of the unseen trails our family leaves behind. ' Damon said in awe as they both memorized the path in which the sound waves came from.

'West on 116th street' was all he said to his men before pushing through the idle pedestrians not caring who he hurt, he wanted to get his niece back so his nephew won't relive his past.

'Right behind you sir,' they responded breaking into a run after their delta. They ran three blocks straight before the sounds of sirens and fearful murmurs of humans filled their ears. One by one they listened to the chatter of the people on the street, listening to their heartbeats they were all in fear. Their scents were stronger than usual for mere humans it confused the delta and sentinels for a moment until Hakeem spoke up through their earpiece.

"They cloaked the area with a strong pheromone. It can confuse any wolf who comes in contact for a moment." he said to them. Hakeem stepped forward and broke through the defensive line Jonah made unconsciously with his men. The vampire sniffed the air while looking at the humans on the street.

"They are moving them. Contact the prince this move wasn't part of the plan. Something or someone caused them to change hideouts," he said into the earpiece as he made his way to an apartment building that was being evacuated. Close on his trail, Jonah sent a message to Matthew to get everyone on the move. Jonah was uneasy, Damon wanted to be let out.

"No, sir. No serious damage to structures nor any harm to the public. The occupants of the building said it lasted for five minutes but there are no records of this quake. The base of the building looks unstable though it would be wise to not allow anyone in." They all listened in on a dispatcher who was leaving the building. They hid in the dark corners of the building as he passed, careful not to be seen. Jonah crouched to the floor and listened in for any more humans, his men did the same as Hakeem stood still and listened in also. "Clear," he said. As if on command by his word all wolves made their way out of their human form, Damon slowly made his way next to Hakeem, the vampire looked down at the wolf who was now his brother in awe. His electric blue eyes were what stood out the most against his greyish-brown fur. "Welcome to the family delta. My sister has given you part of her self to protect you. Things shall be different for you now," he said with a triumphant smile showing his fangs as his own eyes turn blue.

Damon bowed his head in acknowledgment and followed the invisible path that was laid out before him to follow. It led them down to what seems like a closed-off part of the basement in the building. It would have been unseen to anyone if it wasn't for the cracks on the outside wall. The door was made of steel and was painted in the same dark color as the wall, it was left ajar as if they were in a hurry. Damon stepped forward but was stung slightly. He looked at Hakeem then the door, 'Protected' Damon said to his human. Jonah got back to his human form and lightly touched the transparent shield he saw. "Normally no wolf can touch it. I charmed this room for only Bryan and the others can pass through." Hakeem explained.

"But Nikolai and Amelia's scent are strong in this room....." Jonah started to say. "Their wolves weren't present." was all Hakeem said and opened the door fully. All those who can see the interior of the room was outraged in what they saw and quickly put two and two together.

"OUVRIR!!" Jonah shouted in anger and strode into the room. Hakeem stood shell shocked at what happened. The delta broke his charm in one try, no other witch or warlock beside his sister was able to do that. The sentinels followed their leader in and surrounded the pool of blood that was drying slowly.

"His Majesty won't like this one-bit," one said crouching beside the princess' blood. "He isn't going to like any of this," another said taking in the full room. From the broken chains on the bed to the lifted concrete floor smashed against the wall. The scent of the princess and her father was there along with the hybrid even the crazy alpha Mendez but a new scent was there and only Hakeem noticed it.

"Someone else beside Bryan and Alpha Ramon were here," he stated sniffing the air walking back to the entryway. "It smells familiar but it can't be who I think it is. I saw my mère killed him," he said out loud but more to himself.

"What are you talking about?" Jonah asked standing beside Hakeem as he gave the vacant spot a confused stare. The voice of his brother in law brought him out of memories he wished to forget. He looked at the wolves who were desperately trying to find their princess it would be wrong of him if he chose not to voice his findings. She's already in danger with a hot-headed Bryan, in that man's presence, her death and also her father's is inevitable. He has to tell them which means Danielle would be put in the mix. After hiding for so many years because of a rumor their worst fear has caught up to them. No wonder Bryan and Samuel were confident to attack the Royals, they had outside support. A support that was stronger than both of them put together.

"The third scent...." Hakeem began to say before a large black wolf came running into the room. Everyone fell to their knees even Hakeem, how could you not when an unforeseen force was pushing you to your knees. The black wolf growled in anger as he sniffed the blood on the floor to the ruined single bed in the corner, he released an earsplitting howl then a loud bark to the wolves around Hakeem. In a blink of an eye, they all reverted back to their wolf form with their head bowed.

'WHERE IS SHE?' Lykos demanded of his men. The loudness of his voice in their heads caused them to let out painful whimpers, Hakeem looked around as the wolves submitted to their leader.

'They left before we arrived, your majesty. Hakeem notified us about the cloaking of the scents it tends to confuse their enemies.' Jonah explained cautiously. This is what they were afraid of since Angelo's birth. The Moon Goddess told the family of the day when the first wolf king's spirit would show himself through a descendant. He would be the one to hold the family together and the one who's power would be above all supernatural. In hindsight, Angelo was the strongest wolf due to Lykos being the wolf spirit of Castio De Leon, the first werewolf.

The black wolf shifted back into Angelo's human form but he didn't allow his human to be in charge no longer, the sentinels saw the green intense eyes of the prince but the anger-filled dark ones of Lykos. Caiden and Rebecca came rushing in but instantly stopped in their tracks and went to their knees. Both royals and their wolf were submitting to their brother and his wolf. "There is no need to fear me. The ones I would have the pleasure to see and feel their fear has to be found. They have my Amelia. There will be no rest until we find her." Hearing his voice they all looked up to the prince, his voice was deeper and filled with power it sent shivers of fear down their spines as he spoke those words.

Lykos turned to Hakeem who had a confused look on his face still and was looking back to the spot on the stairs. "You have a lot on your mind. What is it?" he asked the hybrid. It was then Danielle entered the room and rushed straight to her mate who held her tightly and took in her scent, it sent a pang of jealousy through the heart of the prince. He couldn't wait to hold his princess in his arms once again. "We just need to move now. The princess is in danger if my suspicions are right," he said glancing nervously at his older sister before rushing out the door.


*****



"Shit" With that one slight move her wrist was on fire causing her to scream out in pain.

"Don't...Don't move. You're gonna hurt yourself more" a soft defeated voice said. Opening her eyes Amelia noticed that she was no longer in the grimy basement she was now in a bright white room with one small window close to the ceiling from what she saw it was night time. How long she has been out?

She tried remembering what happened and began to thrash about but that was a mistake. Her skin began to burn once more as the chains rattled with her movements.

"Princess. Please stop. You're hurting yourself and your wolf. You don't want to appear weak do you?" the voice said. That was when Amelia focused on the voice she turned and saw a guy sitting on the floor with his head leaning against the wall. His unkempt brown hair fell over his eyes as he looked at her.

"Who are you? Where am I? Where's my father?" She said in one breath. The pain in her wrists and ankles was still there but bearable.

"Easy there. Alpha Starkov is safe......"

"Thank heavens," Amelia said feeling relieved for the first time. "But you.... not so much" the stranger continued.

"Who are you to tell me this?" she spat angrily.

"Dane. Beta to Alpha Ramon"

With his position declared to her, her heart began to race uncontrollably, fear coursed through her veins thinking that he was here to kill her that's why he was mentioning her demise. "Please, Princess, don't move. I can't bear you hurting yourself" Dane said moving quickly to her side. What she saw in his eyes took her off guard.... remorse. Defeat.

"Is this some sick joke?"

"No. Ramon has gone crazy in his act of revenge towards Starkov, now it's now broadened to the prince," Dane said running his fingers through his hair. "I have tried to tell him to back off of the prince but he won't listen. Going up against any other Royal is a quick death but Prince Angelo...... "

"What do you mean?" she was utterly confused. She saw how her mate struck fear into his men without a word even a mere human but she brushed it off to him being a dominating prince and CEO.

Dane smiled while standing up. "You are mated to THE original wolf. Well, the first wolf re-incarnate. He's stronger than every wolf in this kingdom even his own family." he said with pride.

"Re-incarnate? Angelo?" she said trying to wrap the news around her head. "Wait does everyone know how strong he is?"

He shook his head no and began to pace the floor. "We only found out a few hours ago. There was a surge of change throughout the wolf kingdom when you were shot and shackled back at the first holding cell. Normally this is felt when a new king takes the throne but our wolves told us, this was greater. The wolf spirit of the first werewolf has truly surfaced and its the prince. I tried to warn Ramon of this but he refuses to listen, even his own wolf is ignoring the magnitude of this change. Heck, the prince nearly killed him even while weak under silver. Imagine when the real power of the prince's wolf surfaces. Ramon is my best friend more like my brother and he's the only family I got."

"Who told you all of Angelo and his wolf? I guess that secret would be kept between the family?" she said with her brows furrowing.

"A dark witch. He came to us the night we captured you and your father, it was weird how he knew what was going on. He gave off a dangerous vibe when I was in his presence I tried to tell Ramon this but he was caught up in the witch's plan to get rid of the royals. From what I got from his stupid monologue he is trying to 'save' us from the Royals. He has the power of sight he saw the future as he said after King Michael's father killed his family. Apparently he has been trying to get rid of the royal family for years with help from our own kind and hunters. I sensed bullshit but Ramon was caught up in it." By the end of his explanation, he was tugging at his hair deep in frustration.

"Why are you here?" she asked with a sense of bravery. He smirked at her and looked at the ground. "I can't kill the only person who made my little sister smile in five years. You gave her hope when we got the news of your mating to Prince Angelo." A proud smile grew on her lips at the thought of having a positive effect on someone who she never met.

Dane's body tensed then his eyes glazed over for a moment when he refocused to her his eyes held her answer. "The prince is coming. I am to inject wolfs-bane into you but it really isn't. Just a counteractive solution to flush out the wolfsbane. You need to act weak when they come to get you. The silver may help but by then your wolf would be alert of her surroundings." Taking out a black pouch from his waistband he took out the contents and set up the 'fake wolfs-bane' while he explained the subtle effect of the drug that weakens wolves; when he was through Dane stood before the princess and bowed in respect. "I wish to see what you have planned for our kingdom. May the goddess bless you and keep you safe in what is to happen," he said smiling warmly at her.

"Thank you Dane." she softly said as he injected her with the solution. By the time the needle was pulled out the door to the makeshift prison banged open. Amelia went straight into her acting. She moaned in pain and grounded out. "What are you doing to me?"

"Just a little wolfs-bane. Don't want that monster of yours to unleash do we now" Ramon said chuckling humorlessly. Alpha Mendez looked at the blonde-haired half-ling with distaste he mentally cursed the goddess for pairing her with such a powerful prince. "You don't deserve the title as the princess you know. Centuries ago only purebreds were allowed on the throne but now humans and half-lings as yourself are being chosen to rule over us? I won't let that happen and I'm starting with you. Sources told me that getting rid of you would be the key to the downfall of the whole Royal family."

Amelia felt her wolf stir but she knew better to make it known. Alpha Mendez continued with his rant while Dane stepped away from them making his way to the exit. He caught the eye of the princess giving her a reassuring smile, with that he left to carry out the rest of his plan.

Mendez was now before the princess his face screwed in utter disgust as he took her in. "Do you even know how powerful your mate is?"

Amelia didn't answer but kept her stare on the mad man. "Of course you don't because you just became aware of us". He stood up and began pacing the floor, "I'm going, to be honest with you, I just found out myself of how truly powerful Prince Angelo is. I thought that the soon to be king Caiden due to him being part of the Moon Goddess and the firstborn to be the one with the fearful power but it's funny how supernaturals can keep a secret well one big like that."

"What are you talking about old man?" she grounded out as the silver shackle burned her wrist as she shifted. In a blink of an eye, he slapped her cheek harshly causing her fall to her knees, Amelia screamed out in sheer pain, "You're going to regret that."

"And I wonder who would avenge you little Princess" A new voice said in the room. Dressed in all black with a long coat jacket in walked a tall slim man with fiery red hair his eyes were blue as the sky but was cold as ice.

"Who....who are you?" she asked.

"The last person you would see in your short life. " he said coldly manifesting a silver dagger with a red hilt in his hand. Her heart thundered loudly in her ears, tears streaming down her cheek as the thought of not seeing the love of her life ever again. Angelo's smile which sets her pulse racing, his kind loving eyes that looks at her like she was his world all the perfect things she saw in her mate came rushing to memory as she saw the determination in the stranger's eyes to kill her.

Mendez and his guest looked down at the blonde woman as her blue eyes turn to the green eyes that struck fear into wolves' heart. She was no longer crying but was now slowly standing up, "Who are you?" she ordered in a thunderous voice. They both were curious, confused as to what was happening.





Angelo sat upright in the passenger seat of the van as the connection between himself and Amelia was newly linked. He was seeing everything she was seeing, even feeling everything that she was put through. Angelo took in everything. He memorized the features of the two men before his mate, he recognized Mendez from pictures but the redhead was a mystery. "Again I ask who are you?" he thundered.

"Someone who should have had your father killed years ago," was all he said before he lost the connection.

"What the heck just happened there?" Jonah asked watching his nephew cautiously. Angelo said nothing he was trying desperately to hold onto his anger. Lykos was seething within his human form, that burning of his skin he knew was the result of silver being used on his princess.

"Vision share. It's a gift between mates when their bond is very strong and can't be broken no matter what." Caiden said in awe.

"Just like mom and dad," Rebecca said holding onto her mate's hand. "And us" Matthew whispered kissing her temple remembering the night she was in a near-fatal car accident in Wales. It was a month after their mating and she was making a trip back home when it happened. That's when he knew he loved her outside of their bond, he never want to know how it would be without her in his left.

"Turn left," Angelo said after a few minutes. Jonah turned onto the semi-deserted road after a few seconds of driving aimlessly he told everyone to stop all four vans halted at his command. He closed his eyes and sort out his men who were in wolf form.

'We are here your majesty,' they answered hiding in the bushes on the outskirts of the area.

"Ready sis?" he asked his baby sister who was watching the armed hybrids coming slowly down the street.

Quietly she adjusted her hair to a ponytail and nodded to her brother, she looked at him and saw a few specks of green in his dark eyes.

'We won't let you hurt again. We promise you this, brother,' she said over their link.

'I don't want to lose another. I can't lose my Amelia'

'You won't' his family said to him. Both Caiden and Rebecca remembered what he went through with Elise they prayed to the Goddess that this trial they were about to face that no one especially Angelo would lose themselves.

"I'm ready" she said out loud closing her eyes.

Angelo created shields around his people as they all got ready for a fight they must win.



"Let the bloodshed begin," Samuel said watching the security footage from their hideout. Bryan stood beside him quietly with his mind elsewhere. His main focus was on the endgame with his Amelia.