"I can't believe I managed to lose her again!"

I entered my office only to hear Jaxon venting out his frustrations to Theo, who was sitting and listening to him patiently. We all had hoped that Jaxon would finally get hold of Liana after he's been searching for her for so many years, but he came back empty-handed this time as well, and was very obviously, quite frustrated about it.

"I fucking managed to lose control as well. All because of that bratty little girl who talked back to me and didn't fucking tell me where Liana was. She even said she has a boyfriend!" Jaxon growled.

"I'm hoping you didn't do anything drastic." Theo said to him, and then sighed when he looked at Jaxon's face.

"I almost strangled her to death – along with ruining all of Liana's furniture. Now Ana's going to be even more pissed at me for what I did." He sat down on the chair and stopped his pacing, "What was Liana even thinking; bringing a pesky little human in our territory? I could have snapped her pretty little neck."

A girl?

Yesterday, there had been rumors going around that the crowd had felt the presence of their Queen and Prime, which had compelled both of us – Jaxon and I – to sniff out the Kingdom territory for the presence of the two women. My heart had been in my throat the entire time, wondering how in the hell did Moon even come here, but when I didn't find her scent, I felt pain and relief at the same time.

I didn't want her to know the truth about everything, well, not yet.

Jaxon was too focused on Liana to even think about the fact that their Queen was seen as well. No one questioned me about their Queen, but the way everyone talked it did seem like Moon was here.

But now that Jaxon was talking about this girl, at Liana's house, I was seriously in doubt again. We all knew Liana wasn't stupid – she would never endanger someone's life by bringing them across the MoonLine, especially if the person was not a supernatural. Also, it was impossible to bring a person with no supernatural genetics in this world.

I strode towards Jaxon, who now looked up at me with a confused look on his face. I took his hand, without caring that I probably looked like a lunatic.

Delia entered my office at the same time, opening her mouth to say something but I silenced her with a single look.

I knew there would be at least some trace of her even if she used her Luna Queen abilities – she was probably a newbie at this and slipped up somewhere.

My wolf was threatening to come out, eager to find the scent of his mate and feel her presence around him. I, on the other hand, hoped that I didn't detect her scent because that would mean hell for me in the near future.

"What is happening, Adrian? What the hell are you doing? I have a mate and I love her!"

My wolf took over my mind the moment I caught her scent on his fingers.

"You said you strangled the girl, didn't you?" My voice was a low growl, and that was the only warning Jaxon got before I punched him straight in the nose and he toppled down with the chair he was sitting on.

Theo was quick on his feet and tried his best to restrain me, while I brought my senses and control back to me.

"What in the fucking hell?!" Jaxon was angry, ready to fight, "Did you just punch me because I strangled her? I did not kill her! She's fine, just a little scared – which she should be." He spat, "You are acting as if the girl is your ma –"

Jaxon stopped mid-sentence to look at me to confirm his suspicion. Theo's arms went loose around me in surprise and Delia gasped – tears brimming in her eyes.

"Is that girl your...your mate, Adrian?" Jaxon asked, his voice slow, "Was that why you went hysterical on me? The rumors are true?!"

I didn't say a word, just clenched my jaw and tried my best not to meet anyone's eyes.

I didn't want to say it out loud that I had found my mate.

The answer was quite obvious for everyone present in the room. Delia ran out the moment she realized and Theo and Jaxon stood gaping at me.

"When the fuck were you going to tell us? The Kingdom?" Jaxon asked. "I can't believe I strangled my Luna Queen." He murmured the last part.

I glared at him.

"I will apologize to her immediately – in-person – I promise." He said, "You tell us, when in the hell did you find her?"

"It's been weeks. I went for a meeting –"

"It's probably the same meeting from where you came back frazzled, and in a mood that the entire Kingdom had felt. It's been a lot of time since then, and you've kept it hidden all this long?" Theo spoke, "You found your Luna Queen, Adrian, and we all deserve to know that from you!"

"I wanted to make sense of the mess I am in before I could tell everyone!" I growled, "When everyone gets the wind of this, everyone will want their Luna Queen on the throne!"

"It's not wrong for them to want her on the throne!" Jaxon said, "We have all been waiting for her for years. And there's nothing you can do now – by now, everyone knows about her existence and that is because you've been stupid enough to keep that information hidden from us."

"I don't understand," Theo said, "Does she know about Werewolves and all other supernaturals? I mean, did she know about us when you first met her? Everyone says she is human – how in the hell is she your mate?"

"I don't know! When I told her to stay away from the MoonLine, she looked at me as if I was crazy. I don't think she knew about anything – I had done some background check on her and it seemed that she had been human all her life. Her grandmother was also pretty normal."

"So how did she come here? I don't think Liana brought her here." Theo frowned. "Was she in danger?"

I felt my heart sink to my stomach.

"And this is why you have to tell us about important things like finding your mate. Even if she isn't new to the world, she is vulnerable to a lot of threats." Jaxon said, "I don't know how you're going to deal with the situation between Delia, you and the girl – all I know is her safety is of utmost importance, and it is something you should have ensured. Why haven't you hired someone to keep tabs on her? There are a lot of capable women out there if you don't want men to follow her."

"I wasn't thinking straight." I sat down in the nearest chair, "It wasn't supposed to happen this way."

Theo and Jaxon sat down in the chairs next to me, and we all remained silent for a while.

I knew everything was going to go downhill from now – I didn't know what I would say to Delia, I didn't know what I would say to Moon, and I didn't know what I would say to the Kingdom.

"What is her name?"

"Moon."

"What are you going to do about her?"

I sighed, "I need to talk to her first. I'm assuming she knows everything now, with Liana's help, so she might just understand my situation. I have no idea how she's going to react, though."

"Will she be staying here in the Were Kingdom?"

"I don't know. I think she should stay here – for her safety and all till the mess is sorted."

"I still find it difficult to believe," Jaxon said, "You found our Luna Queen – the real one – and you are caught in a terrible situation. Is this what the fates want for us - to have terrible mated lives? How long will we be tortured this way?"

"I don't know."

************************************

I was sitting all alone in my office, thinking about how Jaxon and I were going to catch both of them – Liana and Moon – and also catch the insider who was helping them stay hidden from us. We were sure he or she would go ahead again and inform them about us paying a visit to them at a certain time. The plan had been laid out carefully; we only had to wait for the right time.

But time was crawling slowly and I was becoming anxious at the thought of meeting her again.

One look from her and I have never been able to control my cool and composure. My thoughts went haywire, I couldn't think straight and I have only met her twice – that too on the other side of the MoonLine. The feelings I have for her will be exponentially higher here and I was not sure if I was entirely ready to face her and not mark her in the same instant.

I heard the door open and Delia peeked in, giving me a small smile. She stood awkwardly near the table and stared at me, waiting for me to speak something.

"Take a seat, Delia." I stood up and pulled out a chair for her.

"Thank you." She murmured as she sat down.

I went back to my seat and waited for her to speak. She again kept staring at me as she mulled over her words, thinking about how to phrase her questions. I knew that she definitely had a lot of questions after the revelations today.

"Why didn't you tell me about her?" it was her first question, and a very obvious one.

"I don't know." I think I was probably worried that she would throw a tantrum. I couldn't predict Delia these days – her personality and behavior was constantly changing and I was constantly on the edge, fearing what she would do next.

"I'm not a fragile baby, Adrian. I have prepared myself for this all my life," her voice cracked a little, "I obviously knew you were going to meet your mate someday and that I am only a temporary member of your life. It's been almost a century of living together, married to each other, yet I have not been able to make my place in your heart." She paused for a moment, and looked down, "I know you do love me, but it's not in the way a wolf loves his mate."

"Delia..." I sighed.

"Please, let me speak," She interrupted, "Had it been any other time, any other time, I would have given up my title and welcomed her with open arms. I don't care about the throne or anything else; I just want me and you to be happy – whether together or apart. But, I'm pregnant, Adrian." She sobbed, "I don't know if I can let another woman wreck our family. My baby deserves a happy and loving family – he deserves to be with his father."

"I know, Delia," I took her small hand in mind, feeling the conflict inside, "and that is why I have not decided anything as of yet. I'm still here, and you're still my wife."

She stared at me, probably shocked that I was not leaving her. I knew that was exactly why she had come to the office – to convince me that I could not leave her for my mate. And also to remind me that she was pregnant and vulnerable enough that I could not leave her alone.

Even if she hadn't been pregnant, I knew she would have done every last thing possible so that she could cling on to me for as long as she could.

She was right though – I wouldn't have thought this hard if she hadn't been pregnant. In fact, there would have been no question about who would have taken the throne if Delia had not been pregnant.

She was probably extremely stressed because of that.

Just because Delia was pregnant, I was also happy that there was no hereditary monarchy in the supernaturals. Everything was decided on the basis of abilities.

"Delia," I spoke to her calmly, "I am not leaving you – if you thought that I would, then you really don't know me after so long of being together. Let us wait till you give birth, and we will decide about this situation later. There is no hurry."

"What will happen to us if you take her in?" She asked.

"That will majorly be your decision, Delia. I will do my best in becoming the father my child deserves."

I kept looking at her while she sat in silence for the next few moments; right in front of me, I saw the old Delia – the one I had always wished to be my mate, the Delia I had married. She looked vulnerable and thoughtful – no greedy twinkle in her eyes, and no trace of the 'regal' air she carried around her.

I didn't want to hurt her in any way, but the situation was out of my control.

"What about the Kingdom? What about other people?" Her brows creased, "You are saying that we can wait till the pup is born, but that's a lot of months. The people don't like me anyway – now that they have their Luna Queen, they will do anything and everything to dethrone me and throw me out. They might not be happy with your decision."

"We have all waited for years, Delia, and I'm sure they can wait for a few more months so that we can decide. They will be agitated, yes, but they won't take extreme measures."

"Where is she? Your mate?" She asked.

"At Liana's house near the pack borders."

"So she's still in the Kingdom. Why didn't you go meet her?" She asked me with wary eyes.

When I didn't respond, she continued, "You don't have to stop on my account."

"I'm not stopping on your account. I just know that I lose control around her and that's why I need to be prepared and have a strong grip on my senses when I meet her."

She nodded in understanding, looking a little dejected, "Well, I was very worried. I wish you could have felt even a small fraction of what you already for her."

"You don't need to be worried. Just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby."

She seemed happy with our conversation and then retreated back to her room. I leaned back on my chair and looked up towards the ceiling, fantasizing about how different things would have been if I would not have been married beforehand.

I knew it would have been a very joyful occasion for the entire kingdom.

The moment I met her, I would have cancelled that fucking meeting and whisk her off to the kingdom like a brute. She would have been a little confused, but I would have carefully explained her, given her all the time and space she needed, courted her like a proper gentleman and then marked and married my Queen. The entire Kingdom would have been so happy and everything would have worked just fine.

But when did life ever go according to my plans.

My wolf was very excited to meet her, and honestly, so was I. Although I was very anxious to meet her, I couldn't just sit in my seat patiently. The urge to shift into my wolf, run to Liana's house, abduct Moon and keep her with me till eternity was very strong. I had to contain myself from going there and mauling my mate – I didn't know how she was going to react now that she knew about the truth behind everything.

For some reason, I was sure that she was extremely pissed at me, and was plotting my death or something. I didn't want her to hate me – I didn't know what she would ask of me when we meet. Would she tell me to kick Delia out of my life? Or would she want me to leave her alone? Or she would understand my situation and we could both wait together till the pup was born before getting together.

I was also afraid that I wouldn't be able to control myself and take her right there and then at Liana's house and then mark her without giving it another thought.

And then, I was afraid of her heat – It was a monthly thing which meant that so many months between now and the time the pup would be born would have several heated moments between us.

I did say that I wanted to keep her here, safe in the kingdom didn't I? Which meant that marking her was literally unavoidable.

I didn't even know that woman – her was Delia, someone I knew for years, someone who constantly kept changing but I managed to keep up with her. I didn't know anything about Moon, but that she was a gorgeous, single, smart, versatile and independent woman with a benevolent demeanor. She had all the qualities that Luna Queens were supposed to have except for the fact that she was a human.

Or maybe she was not and she was the love child of a human and a wolf, which was why she could come here to the MoonLine and was my Queen. I knew that the Goddess wouldn't make just anyone my mate.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thought.

"Alpha, the former Alpha King, Malcolm is here to meet you." A voice came.

"He is very much welcome." I said, actually dreading the moment on the inside.

I knew what he was going to say – he was going to ask me to immediately make Moon the Luna Queen, or at least start her prep training if I wished to wait. And then he was going to scold me for not telling anybody about the Luna Queen. And then he would give me a long lecture about the importance of a Luna Queen – the same one he gave me when he told me I should consider marrying someone till my mate arrived. Of course, it was going to be a contractual arrangement for the stand-in Luna, so that she knew her purpose in the Kingdom.

But I was not really prepared for all of that. My mind was running haywire and I hoped we didn't end up arguing about the whole matter.

"Good afternoon, son." The man entered my room and took a seat without his usual smile on his face. He was a heavyset man and I used to be shit scared of him when I was a young boy. He always had that look in his eyes that made you feel like he could eat you alive, but he was one of the most amazing men I have ever met in my life.

Things changed a bit for when his daughter died during the war. Elise was beautiful, and was the absolute light in Malcolm and his wife Melissa's lives. She was somewhat equal to my age and we had been good friends before she died. I knew the couple was still grieving her absence, and missed her a lot.

"Good afternoon, Malcolm. What's the occasion?" I asked him.

"Well, rumors have been flying everywhere that our Luna Queen is here, your mate, I mean. You found her?" he asked.

" Yes."

"And..." he prompted, "When did you meet her?"

"A few weeks ago, at a meeting with the company she is working at." I told him.

"No one knew about her existence?"

I shook my head.

"You are one big idiot, Adrian Wolfe. You might not have told everyone but a lot many supernaturals do live among the humans and keep track of everyone's activities. How are you so sure that no one else knew about her being your mate? You know that you potentially put her in danger?"

I remained silent. I had been berated about this by Jaxon and Theo already, and I felt enough guilty about it.

"Also, she needs to know about her life, her purpose and what she is – you should have had the conversation with her by now, but I am assuming she must have gotten all of that from her Prime."

I remained silent again.

"I'm not here to have a one-side conversation, Alpha King. If I wanted you to remain silent, I would have sent you a mind-link or a voicemail."

"I'm sorry." I nodded.

"Well, when are you going to bring her in the palace?" He asked.

"Well, I am planning to go there tomorrow –"

"Make sure you have someone with you – no one can trust newly met mates."

"Yes, I will have Jaxon with me."

"Good. Continue."

"We'll go to Liana's house where both of them are currently residing and then bring them to the palace and ensure their safety."

"Okay, and when will your mate start her training? She must take the throne as soon as possible."

I took in a deep breath.

"I think we should wait a little."

"For what?"

"Delia is pregnant."

"She knows she has served her purpose and it is time for her to leave the throne."

"She is pregnant, I can't leave her like that." I hardened my voice a little, but he scoffed.

"Please, don't tell me you are harboring delusions that she is pregnant with your child?" he asked, "You have to know that pup is not yours. It is impossible for two weres to have a child if they are not mates."