"Should I go with him?"

It was the first question - quite an expected one, to be honest - which Mercy asked when finally we were able to sit down without the guys hovering over us. All the four men were right outside, in the living room, or that was where we last left them. They could be right behind the closed door and we wouldn't know.

Liana and I looked at each other at her question, and suddenly I realised that now I finally had someone I could look at, or go to, whenever I feel that the decisions I was taking were wrong. Even though my grandma and I were close, it was quite rare for me to ever look up at her for making the right decisions. She was naive and gullible in her own way.

"I think you should go back with him," I started, glancing at Liana again and she nodded at me, "I don't exactly mean that you should ever give him another chance with your heart - that decision is totally up to you."

Liana continued after me, "We are more concerned about your pup, and being with your mate will ensure that he or she is healthy. I know he will take good care of you, too," Liana's gaze was soft and kind, "better than any one of us can."

"But... " She added again, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "Make him beg. Don't make this easy for him. Pretend that you never wanted to be with him again and show him your reluctance to be with him. Use him for sex if that's what you want to do - buy don't let him ever take you for granted again."

Kia rolled her eyes, "Looking at him, I don't think he's ever going to take her for granted again."

"He is a man." I shrugged.

"And men are pigs." Liana continued after me.

"He is going to say all of those words that are going to melt my heart." She paused, staring distantly, "I remember," Mercy sniffled, looking on the verge of tears, "He has this way with words and he knows how to charm me into doing his bidding. How will I even resist him?" She questioned slumping her shoulders.

"It is hard." I murmured.

"That's what she said." Kia muttered under her breath, and when we all looked at her in amusement, she flushed red, "I meant, that's exactly what Mercy was saying, right?"

"Yeah, sure." Liana rolled her eyes playfully, "Coming back to what the discussion was about; avoiding him will be difficult; there's no doubt about it. However, if you really want to avoid being too involved with him romantically, I can only suggest that you keep reminding yourself of the times he ditched you when you needed him."

Mercy looked at me, and I shrugged.

"I really don't have any idea about the power of a mate bond. Every moment feels new to me because I always end up underestimating its effect. But I think you could manage some...uhm...self-control?"

Mercy pouted adorably, and I almost cooed at her. No matter how cute she was looking, it was finally time to send her to somewhere where she and her pup would be taken care of.

There was no doubt about this: Theo was not going to abandon Mercy and their child now and looking at him, I knew no one could take better care of her than him. It didn't matter that she was finding herself reluctant to go to him now; eventually, they will be back together as a normal couple because mate bond really is hard to resist.

But there was something about this entire situation that I absolutely hated - Mercy wasn't going back to her mate for herself; if upto her she would never put herself through that ordeal again. She was doing this for her pup - we all were supporting this decision because of the pup. And even though mothers would do anything for their children, was it really worth all the stress that Mercy would have, worrying about Theo ditching her, again.

"Kia?" Mercy turned towards her friend, "Don't you have something to help me?"

Kia shook her head and gave her a small smile, "We witches are not taught to tamper with the mate bond - the only thing you can do is get him to hide his scent the way you were doing till now, and I'm pretty sure he's not going to do such a thing."

"So we conclude that I'll be leaving with Theo and Kia with that idiot, Josh." Mercy said.

"Josh is not an idiot, Merc." Kia muttered.

Mercy gave her a sarcastic smile, "From what I remember about the things you told me about him, I still think he's an idiot. It's a pity though, that he is blind to the best thing that can ever happen to him."

A few jokes and giggles here and there, and our moods were back to normal. I was the one to open the door to the bedroom and just as what we had expected, four tall, hulking men were standing in the doorway with their arms crossed. All of them had impatient scowls on their faces, which soon became blank and composed the moment we stepped out.

"What was the verdict?" Adrian asked, as if it wasn't obvious.

"We are not stupid, Adrian." I scowled at him, "You guys were probably eavesdropping and heard everything."

"Doesn't matter," he retorted immediately, "We want to hear it from you." He stared right at me.

I gulped.

"I will go with Theo." Mercy butted in before we could argue further.

"That's it?" Josh said.

We gave them an incredulous look, "What else were you expecting?" Kia asked.

"What about the three of you?" Jaxon asked, eyeing Liana.

"We are going to stay here." Liana said, making it seem obvious, "Kia might leave with Josh in a few days."

"A few days?!" Josh immediately intercepted, "She's coming with me now."

"You said you will give me a few days. We just met after such a long time yesterday! You expect me to come with you today? So fucking soon?" Her voice was high-pitched and panicked.

Josh was completely silent for a long moment. Everyone was staring at him.

"I am your Chief and you wouldn't dare to go against my orders." He said in a calm manner, but there was a hint of a smirk on the corner of his mouth. He knew that if he wanted, he could get Kia to do his bidding by hook or by crook, and he was feeling quite confident about it.

"Pardon me," I started with the intent to bring his hype down, "But as far as I have been informed, Kia had been stationed here under the Alpha King's permission. She cannot just leave because you ordered her to do so."

"I permit it-"

"But I do not!" I cut Adrian off with a harsh glare, "Kia is not going anywhere until Mercy is settled with her mate. Till then, you, Chief, can go down to the Were Kingdom and meet Kia whenever you wish to, as per her comfort."

Josh threw me an appalled look, and then looked at Adrian in horror, "She cannot do that, can she?"

Adrian was looking at me when Josh asked him the question. Then he shook his head at him apologetically, "When Kia was sent here, it was decided that she wouldn't be able to go back on her own volition, not even if she had a formal summon from the Wiccan Clan. All her decisions were to be taken by the Luna Queen."

Desperately, and without thinking, Josh blurted, "But she's not the Luna Queen!"

I suddenly went numb on the inside, somehow managing to keep my composure. Liana glared at him, and Kia and Mercy gasped in horror. I really didn't understand what was wrong with me. Why did his words feel like a knife was stabbed into my gut? It was definitely my wolf, Celeste's pride that was hurt.

Then there was Cynthia - living with an identity crisis, because she was the last of her species.

Both of them were an integral part of me.

And both were just as lost as I was.

Life before I met Adrian was completely black and white - everything was sorted. Yes, life was unfair to me many times but never did I have to struggle so much to get what I deserved.

"She is the Luna Queen, Josh, and unfortunately for you, her decision will be final." Adrian's voice was assertive.

I didn't realise the room had fallen completely silent with everyone staring at me - even Adrian.

"Well, whatever," I shrugged, masking an expression of cold indifference, "If I say that Kia stays with Mercy, then she stays without question." Turning my blank but hard stare at the Wiccan, I continued, "And you, no matter how far up you are when it comes to the privilege ladder, are not entitled to make Kia do your bidding without giving her a proper notice. As far as I am informed, she is not your servant."

Josh gritted his teeth but could not say a word. Adrian was already glaring at him, and Josh knew that after what he had just said, if he said anything further, he would get his ass beaten.

"You look like you wish to say something, Chief, " I provoked him further, wanting him to say one word further so that I could pull Kia further away from him. I didn't feel too vindictive doing that - I knew that even though Kia knew Josh was her mate, she was not too attached to him yet.

When nobody said a word, I continued, "The discussion ends here. Liana stays here with me. Kia will either remain with me or Mercy. All of you men can go back and mind your own fucking businesses."

Everybody was silent, again.

And for some reason, I wanted to go to a corner and cry.

"You should come with us."

Jaxon was the one who dared to open his mouth. When I turned to look at him - or rather glare at him - I noticed his eyes were soft, as if he was pleading and not demanding.

"Give us a reason. The last time you took someone with you - well I don't think anyone would want to be reminded of that. " I snapped.

Jaxon stilled. Liana gulped.

I knew it was a low blow. Still I was desperate to keep hanging to this side of the MoonLine. I was very, very aware of all the reasons why we were better off with them - under their protection. We were badasses, but still vulnerable and could be very well used as our mates' weakness.

I didn't want to go back into the Were Kingdom just to get hurt again. There would be those people - screaming across the kingdom about the Real Luna Queen. There would be hope - that perhaps my mate would ditch that bitch and bring me home. And then there would be that bitch - no matter how much I tried to school my thoughts about her, I always ended up with thinking about the hundred ways to kill her and the pup inside her.

It was not me - these thoughts had me disgusted with myself because never had I ever thought I would think of killing someone as innocent as a newborn baby. I knew it was Celeste, egging on those thoughts, and I couldn't even hate her for it.

She was a part of me - and with the way her mind worked, I knew she didn't care what she did when she was being humiliated so badly.

"That... " Adrian started, "Was a mistake on our part."

"A mistake that could've cost a very important life."

"Listen to me, and don't interrupt me this time. We would ensure that none of you is left alone, or unguarded at any time. Like I said, Liana's house has been built up again and guards will be stationed there to watch out for you at all times. Come with us to the Were Kingdom - if not for us then for Mercy."

I glanced at Mercy, and she gave me an awkward smile. I looked at Kia and then at Liana, who had her brows furrowed as if she was conflicted.

Just like I was.

Liana gauged my expression and then said, "Okay then. If Mercy wants us to be there with her, we'll go with you. Once she's settled, we'll return."

A weird fluttering feeling took over my heart, and I glanced at Adrian. Victory shone in his eyes, and I hated him for using Mercy against us this way. He met my eye the next second and his eyes softened, his body leaning towards me.

The next hour was spent in packing up Mercy and Kia's stuff. Theo was sitting next to Mercy, his hand possessively on her belly as he talked to her in hushed whispers. Since we were in the human kingdom, it was difficult for us to hear what they were talking about.

I could see that Mercy blushed for a moment there.

I met Liana's eyes. So, he already started with his smooth talking. While I was helping in the packing as the guys stood awkwardly, I glanced from the corner of my eye - Mercy was doing her best at being the reluctant lady. Hurt crossed Theo's face many times, and he masked it just in time for another jab from Mercy.

Poor guy.

I felt eyes on my ass, the next moment.

I turned around to see Adrian. It seemed like he wasn't standing there awkwardly at all - he stood there as if he owned the fucking house, and above all, he was eye raping me as if there was no one else in the room.

I narrowed my eyes at him. My breasts tingled at his appreciative gaze and then he slowly brought his eyes up to mine, just to smirk.

That infuriating bastard!

"I think it's time to pack our stuff, " Liana said to me with a sigh.

Both the guys - Adrian and Jaxon - immediately snapped to action. They gently pushed us aside and emptied our closet in a matter of minutes.

Yes, Liana had an entire side in my closet dedicated just for her.

We both narrowed our eyes at them - annoyed. It seemed like they were very enthusiastically rummaging through our drawers, taking in the scent of anything. I noticed Adrian's nostrils flared many times, especially when he reached my shorts, short dresses, and then my lacy underwear and nighties.

His jaw was clenched and he risked looking at me.

For some unknown reason, I sent a heated gaze his way and bit my lip, seductively. His glare at me hardened, and I enjoyed torturing him this way.

He did know what he was missing out on. Even though a part of my ego hated to be vying for his attention all the damn time, I couldn't help but try and do things - anything to pull him towards me.

The packing was done in a moment's time and the suitcases were being loaded in the trunk. I, pitifully, could only focus on the bulging muscles of my mate as he lifted my heavy one and shoved it inside the car. Even in his shirt, I could feel the movement of his body. And then I wondered how it would feel, looking at him, touching him without the shirt.

My mouth dried, picturing him naked, above me, our bodies moving erotically against each other. I held back a moan, my mind conjuring images from my wildest fantasies, and my breathing altered.

Then I realised it wasn't my mind conjuring those. Adrian, somehow, had managed to send me his own mental images, and turned me on in the same way. He turned around to look at the poor flustered woman - me - and smirked.

That bastard was definitely crossing his boundaries.

Now, the actual dilemma came forward.

They had only one car. I offered mine first, but they refused. Not budging, I took my car keys out of my pocket, and threw the keys of Liana's bike at the girl. Both of us confidently strutted towards my small garage only to find out that...

The tyres were flat. Above that, I was pretty sure the engine was having some kind of problem too. I didn't have to peek in to see that they had wrecked my car in a way that no one would know it from outside. I swiftly turned around and glared at Adrian, who had a poker face, yet his eyes betrayed his amusement.

"My car doesn't look like it can afford a ride right now, nor does Liana's bike. The girls are staying here until both the vehicles are in working condition again." I crossed my arms, authoritatively and raised my chin.

"You don't need to do that," Adrian stared down, his voice commanding, "You are coming with us. There is enough space in the car."

"There are eight of us, and one is pregnant. I don't think we all can fit. The car can fit only six people."

I knew what his next argument would be. The barbaric baboon - I didn't know if he even had manners to be the Alpha King - would persuade me to sit on his lap. The same was for his Alpha Prime. Jaxon was going to be an idiot with this too.

"The car can fit all of us comfortably." He said, and I had to cut him off.

"I am not sitting on your lap."

He raised his brows, "You don't have another option," I knew his lips itched to smirk, "I see your car is wrecked."

"We can wait here, at my home, till you bring another car here, Alpha King," I said, my fingers searching for my keys in my pocket.

A slow, wicked smile spread over his face, "Oh my Queen, I have the keys, and am not going to give the keys to you. We should save fuel - you know that, right? Our environment needs to be saved."

He had thought of everything, hadn't he?

Liana leaned towards me and whispered, "I'm tired of this back and forth between the two of you. Let's just fucking go and have them off our asses asap."

I couldn't argue with her over that.

The sooner we did their bidding, the sooner they would leave us alone. I knew even Liana found it embarrassing - having to sit on the idiots laps and feel their boners against our asses. Things were worse with Adrian - he always groped me whenever we were too close. I would have called it sexual harassment if I hadn't enjoyed it and encouraged him in the heat of the moment.

I sighed, resigned.

We all climbed into the spacious. I wondered why Adrian didn't ask for a limo or something if he really wanted to fit so many people in.

It didn't take us long to get seated. Josh and Kia had occupied the front seats. Mercy and Theo were ahead, and me, Liana, Jaxon and Adrian were stuffed at the back. As expected, Liana was seated in Jaxon's lap and seemed quite comfortable there, resting her head on his chest and falling asleep instantly. She probably didn't give her head a rest since the incidents of the previous night.

Well, I on the other hand, fussed the heck out of Adrian just to annoy the fuck out of him. I wanted to huff and puff blow Adrian out of the fucking car. Just to torture him, I wiggled my bottom in the pretense of settling in his lap, but it seemed that I was just helping him enjoy it further.

Fucking bastard.

I was sitting in a way that I was facing inwards. Adrian discreetly brought his hand to the small of my back and slid it down.

I coughed so loudly to stop him that Mercy's pup kicked.

I was just about to shoot him an annoyed glare, but right then Josh started the car and we rolled forward. My eyes fell on a man, standing near the lawn belonging to the house right next to mine. It wouldn't have been weird, if he had been moving, or at least behaving normally, doing his own work.

But he was standing still.

He was staring straight into the car.

He was looking right at me.

Our eyes met. My heart fluttered.

Mine.

She whispered.