27.

"Is she awake?" Emma asked Angelo as he made it back into the study. Michael and Mason were sitting side by side discussing ways as to how and where the hunter came about knowing of Rosaline's position as the wolf prince's mate, even more, how did he know their location when they found Caiden.

"No. She isn't," he answered softly taking a seat beside his mother, immediately she held his hand and his gaze.

"Mama, what is it?" Angelo asked smiling at her as she tucked an unruly curl in his hair.

"I missed hearing my angel's voice. Its been years baby. Every day I saw the sadness and pain in your eyes though you tried to hide it, I know something happened for you to turn so seclusive. It did hurt me that you wouldn't tell me but I kept my distance. I am so happy that you are back to your old self," Emma said tears glistening in her eyes. Angelo rested his head on her shoulder, a smile of love for his mother turned to one of sadness as he knew he was far from being the old Angelo.

One day he would confide in his parents what happened but the pain was still raw, "I'm glad too, mama" he lied.

"Just great. Doesn't loyalty mean anything to anyone these days?" Michael shouted going to the large bay window.

"Michael," Emma said sternly as she called out to him. Michael's shoulders slumped dejectedly as he turned to face his son and wife.

"We have a traitor among Caiden's personal sentinels. As Micah told us they were the first to know of Rosaline, no other. There has been an underlying threat to my son and I couldn't see this?!" he growled out his wolf wanted to be released. Zane felt extremely protective and angry knowing that someone wants to hurt his pup. Michael's eyes were dark with fury, flames covered his hands as he stalked out the room before giving an alpha order.

'ALL SENTINELS REPORT TO THE TRAINING GROUNDS NOW'

The order was heard by every wolf they shrank in fear as they felt the king's anger through their link. "Michael," Emma called out rushing after to him scared of being at loss with what he was about to do. Angelo followed suit, opening his senses to the wolves around him, fear was all he got from their emotions to the escalated situation at hand, it was real.

"Love, please calm down. Don't you think you are overreacting it can be some other way. Someone else," Emma pleaded with her mate while struggling to keep up with his quick pace on to the field.

"Overreacting?! Are you serious Em? One of these men put our son's life in harm's way and you think I'm overreacting. What's even worse is the fact that the one thing he longed for may be taken away from him by a fucking hunter Emma," Michael yelled at her angrily, it was the first time he ever done it and instantly felt the remorse of doing it. His wolf, Zane whimpered and allowed his human to be in charge, his wolf mate Aria was still in shock and was hurt by their outburst.

"Shit. Emmy baby I'm sorry." He rushed out stepping towards her, thinking she would release her anger on him for doing something he promised he would never do. To her, it was nothing it only made her see how protective he was not only to her but his three pups. She gazed into his piercing blue eyes and sent a warm smile his way, he was still the young alpha whom she fell in love with twenty-four years ago, her possessive prince.

"It's okay my love," she said closing the space between them wrapping her arms around his neck. "I know you want to find whoever it is but please do it with a calm mind." She continued. Michael held her tightly while inhaling her scent as it calmed both him and his wolf a bit. "I will my queen," he said huskily in her ear, pleased by the fact that his voice and touch still affected her body with want for him.

Angelo stood at a small distance watching his parents with their exchange of love and comfort as they all waited for the arrival of the sentinels. A pang of hurt and want took over him as he imagined himself with Elise in that same position even worse yet his older brother and Rosaline. It's something they both envied their parents and little sister for, the gift of a mate, Angelo knew his chance for that happiness was taken from him so now he had to make sure Caiden doesn't suffer like he was at the moment.

Looking back at the castle, he knew what has to be done to help save Caiden but that would have to be put on hold as he saw the all 200 of the castle's sentinel marched onto the field and immediately went to their knees as they stopped in front of the royal family.

"At ease" the king ordered. Emma and Angelo took either side of the ranks of men and began to walk through the rows they created.

"As sentinels what are the words we stand by?" he asked in a cold tone.

"Bravery. Brotherhood. Loyalty"

"Are those words to be kept among yourselves?"

"No sir"

"Who those words are also meant for?"

"The royal family and the kingdom we live to serve and protect."

"Very good. Now would the twenty men I've assigned to Prince Caiden please step forward."

With that order, the twenty men stepped forward, Angelo paused as he detected an unwanted emotion among the men they considered family, the men they trust to protect Caiden. Hate.

It was for a moment then it was covered. Angelo looked to his mother who was looking to the ground in disbelief she felt it too. Michael released a low growl and ordered the remaining men to leave. The three royals stood before them in silence, the sentinels were confused as to why the king ordered them out here when they should be on patrol on alert for rogues and hunters after the damage prince Caiden had done.

"Who did it?" Emma asked softly. The men looked at their queen with love and respect all except one sentinel, this went unnoticed by everyone.

"Permission to speak freely, your majesties." Mark one of sentinels asked with his focus on the queen. Emma nodded in acceptance, she held a soft spot for this one as she found him when he was ten lost in the woods for three days after hunters attacked his home pack, thank goddess she was doing a walkabout around that time.

"Aren't we suppose to be on alert?" he asked with worried eyes.

"Yes sweetie but things....things have been brought to light and if what we assume is right then things would be changing drastically" she replied while cupping his cheek. Mark smiled down at his adoptive mother and hoped that whatever it was that bothering her would blow away soon.

"How many of you were around when Caiden found Rosaline?" Michael asked calmly. The six men stepped forward even more confused, Angelo now stood before them subtly searching through their memories, upon reading the last memory his wolf snapped. In one move he grabbed Nick by the neck and slammed him down to the ground. "Janovich. What is he to you?" he snarled at the fearful Nick.

"My-My uncle" he stuttered trying to avoid the prince's cold dark eyes. The growls of Michael and Emma were heard throughout the grounds, everyone knew how vile and power-hungry Alpha Janovich was and he wished to be part of the royal seal, worse yet he wishes to be on the throne.

Angelo's grip tightened, "You betrayed your prince for what? My brother trusted you with his life. What have you done!!" he snarled, his wolf fangs making an appearance just as his claws began to do the same.

Something in Nick snapped after hearing the words 'your prince'. "What I have done was helping in getting rid of this cursed bloodline. My uncle was right it is unfair to every wolf to bow down to you people just because of your freakish gifts. Your 'brother' can't even control it. He deserves the death that is coming to him," he spat while struggling to get out of Angelo's hold. "Oh and your princess? Her father would have her. A hunter's kid ruling over wolves?! That shit would never happen."

Angelo shifted into his black wolf, without waiting for any approval from his father he ripped out Nick's jugular in one swift bite killing him instantly.

'No traitor to the crown deserves to live. Get rid of him' he ordered before running back to the castle.

Everyone turned and watched the remains of Nick, a bloody mess with his lifeless eyes still wide open. "Let that be a warning to the bunch of you if you ever dare to plot against the throne your death shall be instant," Michael growled at the remaining men.

"For now we have to prepare for an imminent attack and an alpha to visit" Emma grounded out before making her way back to the castle.

Michael released a tired sigh as he came to terms that a threat that nearly killed his firstborn is coming back once again but in another form.