Even though Hans insisted for us to travel in his car, we still stuck to Liana's motorbike because we were afraid this could be a ploy to get us both back and trapped in the kingdom. We needed a faster and easier means of escape on time, and Liana's bike was our only way.

On our way, as I clung to Liana, I realised that there was something different - probably, magical - about the vehicles that these werewolves used. We were almost invisible, and Liana was driving with a speed that nearly made my teeth chatter. We had left Hans behind a long time ago, but Liana wasn't slowing down at all. She was driving insanely fast, and so was Hans. But the way Liana manoeuvred through the traffic swiftly without anyone noticing was what had me in awe.

"The faster we go, the sooner we're going to get done with this," Liana had murmured when we had just started our journey.

"I'm actually feeling bad and worried, as if I just punished my child for a wrong reason - I don't even know if that's the right analogy." I said, frowning as I felt guilty for not being there in the Werewolf Kingdom with my people, "Do you feel it too?"

"Yes, I do. I don't know what the right thing to do is. As the High-ranking Lunas, it is our duty to stay back in the kingdom and take care of our people - but we are just running away from our responsibilities."

Everything was suddenly so different for me - I had people who were looking up to me now. I had people I was responsible for.

If only my relationship with my mate had been different, this process would have been much easier for both of us.

We soon realised that as we neared the MoonLine. Something felt horribly wrong with the air, and I felt as if my stomach was upset. I just wanted to move closer to the source quickly and yank it away right from its roots. There was panic, there was anger, there was grief, and so many other emotions that I had to take in a deep breath and calm myself down. Liana seemed to feel the same; she sped up and this time I didn't give two shits about my teeth chattering or my cheeks splitting wide.

When Liana brought the bike to a halt, I was almost annoyed. But then I looked around and found myself in between a familiar forest, and now it was time to hide the bike behind the bushes and cross the line.

We both took in a deep breath, not waiting for Hans to come and guide us. We started moving forward, and with every step, the gut wrenching terror curled up more and more inside me. Soon, Liana shifted beside me, and we both broke into a sprint to reach as fast as we could till we finally reached the borders of the Werewolf territory.

"He's guarding the perimeter," Liana whispered, pointing to a wolf, when we hid behind a tree so that the guards wouldn't find us.

"It seems so," I murmured back. "But why are we hiding from him?"

"Because we don't know for whom he is on the watch. It could be us." She peered at him again.

"Why us?" I whispered in confusion.

"He could have been given the orders to catch us and take us to the Alpha King. If we go inside on our own, without getting caught, there are higher chances for both of us to be able to come back. But once we are caught, neither the King, nor the Prime is going to let us go back across the MoonLine."

I just nodded my head.

"And another thing," She murmured when the guard was still looking around, "You try to stay hidden as much as you can. Show yourself only and only when I really, really need you - which I'm sure I will, at some point of time."

This time, the guard was out of sight. When I actually turned back to look at Liana, I realised that I was actually mind-linking her wolf.

Weird. I didn't even realise.

With one final look - ignoring the horrible churn of emotions in my abdomen - we finally took off to cross the territorial border. At first, I had wondered if the nauseous emotions would intensify. But they didn't.

Instead, I felt a strange calm blanket all over me as soon as I stopped and took in a breath. A little bit of concern and worries were there, my heart was still thumping fast, but then that was what my own emotions consisted of. The rebellion in my stomach had died down, and my chest felt light, as if I could breath.

It felt like the whole world went still.

And then Liana broke the silence – in my mind, of course – "Shit!"

I could feel her panic.

"What?" I turned to her and her eyes held mine for a moment.

"They know."

"What?" My eyes widened and now it was I who panicked.

"They know that we are in the Kingdom, everyone knows. That's why the rebellion stopped. That's why it feels so eerily calm. They know that the Lunas are here, and Shit! We cannot just run away now!"

Shit. Shit. Shit.

As if to prove what Liana said was right, the chants of "Luna! Luna!" filled the air. Something akin to giddiness and euphoria encompassed the atmosphere around us, and it took only a few moments for those chants to turn into howls.

The howls: they were like a beautiful melody to me, calling me towards it, drawing me in, waking up something in me that I never knew existed. It resonated in my entire body, and before I knew it, Liana and I were running towards the source. Celeste felt more powerful, and somehow calm and serene as the melody of the howls filled the air.

Liana's wolf had broken into full sprint beside me, and we both were reaching a clearing, which definitely felt like the source of the howls. The melody became even more beautiful and euphoric as we neared the clearing slowly and the happiness reflected in the tune of the howls, filling me up to my core.

But the happiness soon felt shattered as a scent overpowered every other scent for me.

Adrian.

For a tiny little moment, I felt fear surge up in me, my mind flashing to the day he had nearly killed me. But then I shook it away: there were more important matters to attend to. I just hoped everything went smoothly: Me and Liana calming the wolves and heading back home asap.

"Stay here, Moon. Celeste will know when I'll need her, alright?" Liana mind-linked me, "And even when you come around, make sure your PureBlood is far from revealing herself. Remember that, Moon, Celeste and Cynthia, no PureBlood should be traced from you because that will complicate things to another level."

I nodded and murmured, "Take care. I want to go back home."

Ana, Liana's wolf closed her eyes for a moment and then stepped out from behind the bushes. Her gait had a certain amount of power, her aura magnetic and enchanting. I was sure all of it came to her naturally, being the Luna Prime – one of the highest ranking Lunas.

While The Luna Prime was making her presence aware, making her aura obviously present through the entire Were Kingdom, I was following her stealthily, making sure that no one could trace my presence around.

Perks of being The Luna Queen.

Soon she had reached the crowd, the clearing full of wolves that watched their Luna Prime walking towards them gracefully, enchantingly. They all stopped howling, and all the wolves bent on their front legs, their tails high in their air.

They were all bowing to their Luna Prime, giving her the much needed respect and confidence that her own mate failed to give her.

Liana's aura was overpowering every other wolf's and she was standing straight with her snout held up with pride. I felt proud, too; Liana was doing much better than the both of us had thought. She definitely wouldn't need me to handle the situation.

"All hail our Prime Luna!" Those chants echoed in my mind – seemed like all the wolves were howling as well as linking their minds and voices. The wolves howled in unison, again and I noticed – all from behind the bushes – that there were too fucking many wolves. Like, over ten thousand! Maybe more!

Some of the wolves, leading the entire rebellion, were larger than others, though smaller than Adrian and Liana.

Pack Alphas, probably.

Celeste's voice was calm and in control – at least for someone who was stuck in a complicated situation – and it seemed like we both were really proud of our best friend.

And that was when things started to slip out of our control.

"Our Luna Prime is here, but where is our Queen?" A voice broke out from all the voices that howled in my mind, "She was here too, wasn't she?"

Liana, slowly and unknowingly started to emit those comforting waves that managed to calm the chaos that had suddenly started at the absence of their Luna Queen.

It was a female voice that spoke this time, "She was with you. We all felt it, didn't we?" A chorus of 'Yes' answered her. She seemed to be a Pack Luna, since she seemed to be larger than many wolves and was standing next to a Pack Alpha. Her voice held a tone of power, which meant she was someone of authority.

Not more than Liana's, though.

"She is not here." That was all she said, her tone clearly dismissing any further argument. A flash of panic seized me for the moment – Liana had sacrificed herself to keep me safe. I might be able to run away, but it would be difficult for Liana now that she had revealed herself.

Jaxon could hunt her down any moment, now. I just hoped that he at least was a gentleman – no, gentle-werewolf – enough to respect her boundaries.

No matter how dismissive Liana's tone was, the others didn't seem to take a hint. The voices rose again, but all I could make out of them was the repetition of the word 'Luna Queen'.

"Why isn't she here?" It was a male voice, heavy with age and wisdom, and I could make out a wolf, tall, brown, with flecks of grey here and there on his fur.

I felt a strange pull towards him.

"I think that's the question only she can answer, not me," Liana said, and I could feel how soothing her voice was, "You all have to understand. This all, is new to her. She is barely in her mid twenties, and has been among humans since the beginning. She will need time to adjust to what being a werewolf is."

"She can come here, stay in the Were Kingdom, and we'll all help her. We are all willing to have her take her rightful place as our Luna Queen," A young, scrawny voice spoke out, "All our elders will guide her whenever she needs them."

The Elder wolf that had spoken up before, spoke again, "Luna Prime, we all understand that it is difficult for her to cope up with the current situation. But she needs to understand that we need our Luna Queen too, our real Luna Queen. I know what it is to be an Alpha King, and I also know that only a real Luna Queen can rule the kingdom along his side, not some – no offense to the current Luna Queen – duplicate one."

Holy Goddess! He was the previous Alpha king!

"She will need some time." I could hear Liana's slightly subdued voice. "And it will be wrong of us to dethrone the present Luna Queen who has been ruling for an entire century just because the real one is in the picture. It is not fair to any of us. Let us take things slowly and think over the circumstances so no one is hurt in the process - especially since there is an unborn child in the picture." Her voice had gained authority once again, and the wolves seemed to understand what she was trying to say.

It was the truth, and that was why I was staying away from the Kingdom until circumstances were normal.

Liana continued, "Also, she is different from all us Werewolves. She is a hybrid, and cannot shift from her human form. In fact, her human possesses the strengths we have as wolves, but only across the MoonLine. Give her some time, she still has to learn to control and be one with her wolf."

The ex-Alpha king stepped forward this time and bowed slightly, "If she needs time, we'll give her that, Luna. But it doesn't mean that we can wait for long. No matter how different she is from the rest of us, we all accept her as our Queen. If she is chosen by The Moon Goddess herself, then we wolves are no one to stand up against her decision, not even the Alpha King."

I could feel the slight hope and satisfaction that filled up Liana – and myself – at the ex-King's words and the affirmative murmurs that followed. All the other wolves could feel it too.

But I still waited for the moment when Adrian and Jaxon showed themselves. I had clearly traced their scents earlier, then where were they now?

The Pack Luna from before came a bit forward and bowed slightly, "I hope you have come back for good, Luna Prime. Goddess knows for how long Alpha Prime and all of us have been trying to find you."

And that was when the matter slipped completely out of control. Liana's aura faltered, the confidence and happiness turned into something bitter, and the wolves felt it, again.

The wolves felt it that Luna Liana was not to stay here for long.

And chaos erupted.

"You have returned for good, haven't you, Luna Prime?" The Pack Luna said, her voice confident, yet holding a small amount of panic.

Liana, instead of choosing tactic, chose honesty, "No."

Oh. Shit.

"But why?" It was some other female member now, a Luna if I could guess. "We understand that Luna Queen needs time – and things aren't easy for both the Alpha King and the Luna Queen. But what about you? Why aren't you ready? We need you too! And we have all seen how much your mate yearns for you."

Murmurs started again amongst the Weres, and slowly Liana's comforting balm started to fade. I could sense her slight panic, even though she was trying to hide it. Whatever confidence and pride that was left in her, evaporated, when suddenly, out of nowhere, two huge wolves appeared out of nowhere.

Clearly, they were none other than Adrian and Jaxon. But there was an extra addition right there.

A flash of white, hot fury surged through me.

A beautiful female clambered down Adrian's huge form, and stood beside his wolf, with her hand caressing his fur. She was Delia, surely, yet her bump wasn't visible. Adrian wasn't paying attention to her, his eyes and nose seemed to scan and sniff all around, and I was sure he couldn't make out sweet, little me – who wanted to snap his pregnant mate's bones and make sure she never came back into his life, again.

I hope I can control my violent tendencies.

"She has a reason," I heard Jaxon's soft voice and everything was suddenly silent. Jaxon was stepping closer and closer to Liana who seemed to be completely frozen in her spot. Although she had her emotions drawn in, Celeste and I could feel how her heart went into a full-on panic mode.

"When we met the first time, I rejected her for reasons I cannot explain to you. I hurt her, so much that I can't even begin to realise it. But I love you, Liana. I want you back. And I'm ready to beg and grovel at your feet for centuries and beyond, if it makes you stay." Jaxon said quietly, taking slow steps towards her.

I was about to snicker quietly, but looking at Liana, and the growing rage amongst the Weres, I decided against it.

"Moon Goddess" The ex-King muttered, "What a predicament she has put all of us in. I hope she has a reason for making things happen the way they are now."

Jaxon didn't control his emotion from flowing out to all of us, his agony, his longing and his regret. But it seemed to only agitate the crowd further: the amount of disappointment that the wolves emitted shook the earth – symbolising how the Kingdom would collapse if it went further.

Liana flashed a panicked look towards where I was hiding, and I could see that her wolf couldn't hold it anymore. It was either shifting back, or surrendering herself to Jaxon.

It was time I came out of the bushes.

It's time we became one, Moon. Liana needs us. Let's just try not to look at our mate and his...whatever.

Well, Liana should be a good distraction.

I stood up from my spot, holding Liana's clothes and made my presence felt in the entire clearing. The comforting waves that Liana seemed to be radiating before now radiated from me – successfully overpowering the rage of the werewolves. I gathered my wits, put on my brave face, and thought I would slowly walk.

I thought.

But looking at Liana, all thoughts of walking slowly ran out of my mind. I sprinted, finding myself standing in front of Liana as a shield in just the span of a second. Jaxon looked taken aback, and stumbled a few steps backward as Celeste made her presence known – quite fiercely, might I add – and glared at Jaxon. Liana shifted back behind me and wore her clothes in an instant, standing up with my support, and then coming right next to me.

She had gathered herself back.

Celeste had taken over completely, and I was more than happy to let her take up the front stage.

Loud gasps echoed here and there, and all the wolves bowed, again. Murmurs could be heard about their Luna Queen and Luna Prime and my pride rose up a few notches.

The one thing that caught my attention was how the ex-Alpha King was looking at me intently, and the strange tug I felt towards him, as if Celeste should have shifted right there and jumped into his arms.

Weird.

"We will come back," I declared to the wolves and they all fell silent. "We will come back when Liana is ready to forgive and forget, and when the child is born. We can take all the major decisions after that."

The wolves looked at each other and the ex-Alpha King – who snapped out of his reverie – bowed to me again, "Luna Queen, we assure you that we are not going to pressurise the two of you into doing something you are not ready for. But how is our kingdom supposed to function without the two of you?"

I shrugged, "Just how you did for the past entire century."

"Just asking," a young female voice broke out from the murmurs, sounding uninterested, "Does this mean that there can be a duplicate Luna Prime just how there is a duplicate Luna Queen? Well, till our real one doesn't come back."

The crowd fell silent, but no matter how much I wanted to wring her neck, I held it in and snapped – as subtly as I could – at Jaxon, "Having a mate didn't stop him before. I don't think it is going to stop him now. If he wants to mate another, it is totally his decision."

As deep regret filled Jaxon, the entire crowd gasped loudly at my words.

But I was growing impatient now, "Liana and I, we need to go back home and clear our minds. Please don't force us to come back again," I pleaded and all the wolves nodded, albeit disappointedly. "We won't make you wait for long."

Giving a last glance to Jaxon, I slowly picked up Liana, wondering if I would have looked the same if Adrian was all alone without that woman by his side.

I sprinted away, trying to shake away the despair and disappointment in the air. It made me uneasy, and I had half a mind to run back and embrace all the wolves in the gesture that said, 'Don't worry, mommy's here.'

But I couldn't.

Once we were completely out of the clearing and I was a mile, or so, away from the Kingdom borders, Liana seemed to get heavier. Not just physically, but her emotions were weighing down on my wolf in a way that the sprinting seemed to be more and more difficult.

And that was when I felt it.

The stupid mate bond pulling me towards something. Or someone.