Eli:

"So you're telling me. A CHILD put her hands on either side of your head, you felt this horrible pain and Vik began to fade. THEN she disappeared into thin air?" I asked Sean for the 4th time.

"YES! Prince Eli. YES!" Sean was getting annoyed now. Ryan helped carry Rosette in to the next room as soon as it got difficult for Sean to keep his voice down. "The important part is that she said they are coming for you just like the other Alphas."

Ryan was pacing up and down the room, his eyes glowing as he tried to put together the pieces.

"I have never heard of such a creature in any realm with this kind of power." I mumbled. I ran my hands through my hair.

"Mate?" Ember whimpered in my head.

"We will hold her soon Em. We just have to figure this out."

"EASY! Ember think female is powerful like Mate. Powerful because of Gods."

I stopped for a moment. Perking up at what Ember just said.

"What if this female isn't a creature? What if she was gifted powers just like Jessica or Charlotte?" I blurted out.

"Or what if she was made like my brother and I?" Sean whispered.

Ryan looked at both of us, a confused look on his face. "I wonder what our parents aren't telling us..." He sat down on the stool in the corner of the room. "...They know what's happening here, I'm sure of it."

We all growled.

"Tell them what Titan show us."

"I'm not supposed to say..."

"TELL OUR BROTHER'S THE TRUTH ELI!" Ember roared.

I moved my hands to my temples. Sean interrupted ember's roaring. "Vik says Ember knows something."

Ryan chimed in. "Beckett is telling me the same thing."

I sighed, leaning against the far wall. "Listen, this DOES NOT leave this room."

"Yes Alpha." The both said in unison.

"So here's what happened the night I marked Jess..."

♕Flash back:♕

♔Ember(in wolf form):

"RUN RUN RUN, JUMP, RUN RUN, JUMP!"

"Em! Pay attention! Titan is taking us somewhere important. We need to remember the route to get there."

"Can't Eli remember? Ember RUNNING!"

"EMBER!"

"Eli so bossy. We just marked mate. Eli should be HAPPY! RUN RUN RUN!"

"EM..." another warning.

I slow down. Sniffing the trees as I go. I memorize the scents, the sticks, the leaves, the trees, everything a long our path.

Titan lead us to a cave near the waterfall.

"Eli, this feel wrong to Ember."

"It's okay Em. I'm sure it's fine."

I sniff around some more. "Eli so much Dark Magic here."

"I can feel it too Ember."

"SHIFT." Titan says through the mind link.

♔Eli:

Shifting felt different here. It felt uncomfortable.

"Father, what is this place?"

He sighed as we moved deeper into the cave. "This is where we, the leaders of the realm, hide all of our skeletons Son."

I knit my eyebrows together in confusion. "What is that supposed to mean Father?" I gritted out.

When we finally reached an opening, there was a signal stream of moonlight shining down into a giant cavern.

My father mumbled something under his breath and his eyes glowed as the room slowly lit up. The single stream of moonlight seemed to grow, moving across the entire room leaving a silver glow on anything it touched.

I gasped turning to my father again. "What?"

He looked at me and smirked. "Don't worry, Once you are officially crowned prince you'll be able to light this room as well." He moved further into the tavern as I looked around.

"Ember? You seeing this?"

"Eli, Ember not OK. Ember feel wrong."

I turned to my father again. "Why is my Wolf so uncomfortable here?"

My dad chuckled. "Well because his creator is trapped here." He pointed to the statue in the middle of the room. It was a statue of a beautiful woman.

Her long curls gracefully falling down her back, she had wings and was holding a box. "Don't worry, Ember will get used to it."

I narrowed my eyes on him as I went to touch the box. "NO ELI!" Ember yelled in my head.

I quickly stepped back. "Father! What is this?! Tell me why you've brought me here NOW!" I was out of patience.

He looked around slowly then back to me. "Son, This is where Princess Reena was trapped before she could over throw our realm. The statues you see all around this room are the mages who were turned to stone in order to complete the trapping ceremony."

I looked at him with wide eyes and raised brows.

"ELI! Ember- Ember can't be here any longer... Please..."

I moved up to my father, so I was looking at him eye to eye. "Explain everything to me NOW!"

He furrowed his brow in confusion. "Very well Son, No need to be angry about it." He scoffed at my frustration.

Does he even care about what our family has done?

"Long ago, Reena lived in the Southern realm as one of the chosen Females. She was feared for her power. She was stronger than anyone had ever seen, but she was on a mission to unite the four realms. Your great great grandfather wanted her. He knew she would bare strong werewolves, so, he made her a deal. He gave her all she needed for her quest of peace if she would be his mate..."

I felt my heart pick up speed. My realm is nothing like I thought.

"...He forced the mating, but since she already had a mate, they were never able to have children. Your great great grandfather grew angry so he tried to force her to renounce her previous mating in front of him. She refused and he thought of a plan. If he could somehow harness her power he could build up a powerful were army that would unite the realms under one. The Eastern Realm."

I stood straighter, crossed my arms over my chest. Ember was growing restless being here and I had no idea how much longer I could convince him to stay.

"So in this box, is Princess Reena's power?!" I got louder as I spoke, growing more angry.

"No, no. Let me finish. They devised a plan to ambush her and use dark magic to capture her magical essence. This essence would then be infused into the most powerful were wolf babies with the hope of breeding stronger Werewolves. Although it took many many years, eventually it begin to work. Although it was never perfect and many lost their lives trying. None the less, we discovered that it only works on those with royal blood, and the female must have a strong were gene."

I stopped breathing for a moment.

I stopped blinking as I processed what he was saying.

He sighed looking up at the statue once again. "When your grandfather came to power, the cocktail had been perfected. He began forcing people into his program without a choice. As soon as a werewolf male or female hit 14 you were paired with a mate and many many children were born. Many many mate bounds destroyed. I would have nightmares of Princess Reena coming down to our realm and killing everyone..."

He ran his hand over the top of the box and I saw a little spark of light seep into his fingers as his eyes lit up. He took a deep breath in. "She's long gone though. All that's left is this essence and as long as the moonlight continues to hit it, her essence will never fade." He smirked at me. "Because we are of royal blood, we can soak up this essence as needed."

He ushered me forward but I glared at him.

"No Father."

He frowned. "Son, this is important. A little bit of this essence could mean the difference between life or death for our realm."

"I don't want the essence of a fallen Princess!" I shouted.

"Son, I have changed the laws. I have shut down the program. This..." He pointed to the box. "...Isn't going to be for anyone except us. To use if need be."

My eyes began to glow as I backed away from the box, slowly heading towards the opening once again. "No father. I will never use that box. Why is there so much dark magic here?"

"ELI WE MUST GO!" Ember shouted in my brain as he tried to propel me closer to the opening of the cave.

"Dark magic was the only way to capture her essence and hold it here. It was what had to be done." My father spoke to me as if my reaction was something out of the ordinary.

"Father, I have to go. I can't be here any longer." I turned on my heel and ran.

"Son! Please! There's still so much to discuss!" I heard him yell after me but I had shifted and was running at full speed back to my home. My happy place. My Jessica.

♕End of flash back♕

Ryan and Sean looked at me like I just lifted the floor from under them.

"That's what they were doing?! Forcing this magic essence into their children?!" Sean sat up in bed and ran his hand through his hair. "That's what they did to me? To my brother?"

Ryan stood up and stomped up to me. "Prince Eli, with your permission, you must allow us into this cave. We need to - " I cut him off.

"I'm sorry Ryan, I can't take you there. Only once I'm crowned prince will I be able to enter. I don't even know how this dark magic works. I think it tries to keep those without a crown out."

I ran my hands through my hair as Ryan eyes began to glow. "Prince Eli, please. We need more information about this place." His arms at his side, fists clenching. He was getting angry.

Sean got up and quickly joined Ryan. "We deserve to know what our families did to our people. We deserve to know, and when we take on our new positions, we WILL take it all down."

Ryan looked at Sean and nodded before turning back to me. "Sean is right. When you are crowned prince and go through the alpha ceremony, we will figure out how to destroy this essence."

I stood up straighter, suddenly stronger knowing my brothers are behind me on this. I crossed my arms over my chest. "You have my word brothers, we will end this. We will start this realm over."

Ryan put his hand on my shoulder. "We will bring real peace here." He nodded at me.

We both turn to Sean who has a smirk on his face. "And we will live out the rest of our days, uninterrupted, between the legs of our mates!"

We both roll our eyes.

"Vik know the real truth Eli!" Ember snickers.

Sean throws his hands up in the air. "Don't act like I'm the only one here who wishes I could have Rosette however and whenever I pleased!" He starts chuckling when he sees Ryan's eyes light up.

Ryan punches his arm and Sean growls in response. Holding his arm while glaring at him. "Jeez, you didn't have to be so rough Ryan! I'm still healing you know." He mumbled out.

I chuckled. "Sean, just say you're in this with us okay? We all know how much we want our mates..."

Sean smirked at me. "You haven't even hit your peak yet, Prince Eli." He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Mate..." Ember whined.

I sighed and glared at Sean again.

"Fine." Sean ran a hand through his hair. "I will always stand by my brothers, ALL of my brothers." He looked up at his both.

Ryan growled at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Sean glared at him. "Asher needs to be in on this. I don't want him shut out. This obviously includes his realm somehow. He deserves this information just as much as we do."

Ryan stared daggers into Sean for a moment before speaking. "How are we supposed to trust him?"

Sean's eyes began to glow. "Because he is my blood. My brother." He gritted out.

"Silence. Both of you." I looked at them both. "We will include Charlotte and Asher as we get information with the agreement they share what they know."

Sean and Ryan both nodded at me. "Yes Alpha."

"Okay, I need Jessica now. We can discuss this more in the morning." I quickly opened the door leaving Ryan and Sean both chuckling behind me.

"It's just the beginning..." Sean said. As Ryan's chuckle turned into a laugh.

I quickly moved into the hallway and up the first staircase. I picked up the pace as I continued up the stairs. My desperate need to be close to Jessica coming in full force.

"Mate! Mate AWAKE! Wait..."

I slowed my pace. "Ember? What's wrong?"

"Mate busy."

I continued to move forward at a normal pace. "Em, she's not busy it's past midnight." I shrugged off his sudden drop in excitement.

"No Eli, Mate with friends. Talking about things." He suddenly sounded distant.

"What Ember?" I shouted in my brain.

"Mate say Eli can't interrupt meeting for 5 seconds."

I stop in my tracks again as I make it to the royal wing. "What? Em that doesn't even make sense- wait are you talking to her?"

"Yes! Mate talk to Ember now!"

I sigh as I continue down the long hallway to our front door. "Another new skill I see."

"Best new skill Eli. Now Ember talk to mate all the time!"

I huffed. Too tired to think much about it.

I just need a few hours alone with Jess to clear my mind. I took out my key and just as I was about to reach for the door, It swung open. Charlotte opened the door with a silly smile on her face which immediately put me on edge.

"Hello Prince Eli, I was just leaving." She said as she quickly slipped out the door and down the long hallway.

Skyler was in front of me a moment later. "Sleep well Prince Eli..." He smiled and winked at me. Then turned towards the kitchen, looking over at Jessica. "This was a great session. I'll type up those notes tonight."

Jessica furrowed her brow at his comment. "No way Sky, save it for the morning. The boys will be busy until the afternoon anyway."

I rolled my eyes at her comment. She seemed upset about me being busy as if I had a choice with everything going on right now.

"Mate need hugs. Eli need hugs. Ember need hugs. Then no one upset."

I smirked at Ember's response, then glanced at Jessica who smiled and winked at me.

Jess:

"Please Eli... More!" I gasped as his length pushed further inside me.

I heard him growl as my legs began to quake. Our grunts and groans growing louder as we moved closer and closer to climax.

He moved his forehead to mine. "I love you Princess."

I smiled as he pounded into me one more time sending me over the edge. "I love you Eli..." I moaned out loud.

♕♕♕♕♕

Now that we've showered, went for round two, then out of the shower for round three in the bathroom.

Well round three for me.

We finally made it back to our bed.

"Jess?" Eli lifted my chin so he could see my eyes. "What were you discussing with Skyler and Charlotte?"

I smiled proudly. "We were discussing the history of the southern realm and the chosen females."

Eli Frowned. "Really?"

I furrowed my brows. "Yes. Why? Is that a problem?"

He pulled me in close cuddling me again. "Not really. But in the future I'd like to know ahead of time if you plan to discuss political topics with another representative from another realm."

I chuckled into his chest.

Is he serious right now?

I sat up, covering my bare chest with the blanket. "Is it not the job of the Luna of this pack and Princess of this realm to protect her people. Her family?"

He looked at me with concern. Unsure of what to say next. I searched his eyes for any sign of anything. Something to let me know that he wasn't serious.

"Sky should know better - "

I cut him off. "- I'm sorry, I'm confused. You're telling me that, not only can I not contribute during the political meetings, but I can't discuss anything in private?"

"Jessica..." He gritted out. He was annoyed that he made me upset, but I don't care. I refuse to sit back and do nothing while I watch my friends and family suffer.

"Eli..." I mimicked his tone as I pushed myself off the bed and headed for my closet. I grabbed one of his t-shirts and put it on.

He sat up in bed, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "Jessica. This isn't your job Okay? Let me and my brothers handle it. This is our job. Your job is to - "

"What Eli?! Make sure I have a perfect meal plan for the entire pack every week? Schedule fun, themed parties for the realm? Walk around the hallways reminding all the Females that this, This castle is where they are stuck? I won't do that ELI! Not when I know I can do more. We can do more..."

Eli's eyes began to glow. "Jessica, please, This is just the way things are." He tried to use his calm voice as he got out of bed and crossed the room to me. Pulling me into his arms. "I know it may seem frustrating right now, but, this is your role and I have mine."

I felt the tears fill my eyes.

"It doesn't have to be this way." I mumbled into his chest. "We could do things differently."

Eli lifted me from his chest and furrowed his brows at me.

I glared up at him. "I'm serious Eli. I learned a lot about these chosen females and the southern realm. I have ideas that could help, and I'm just as strong as any werewolf here. I won't be told to sit back, put on a pretty dress and do Nothing."

Eli rubbed the back of his neck. "Listen, Jess, Let's talk about this in the morning. Let's just get some sleep." He picked me up and took me to the bed where he laid me carefully. He pulled me into him as my body pulled him closer.

I listened for his breathing to slow and then carefully made it out of his clutches.

It happened just as Skyler had said it would.

I carefully made it into the kitchen where all of our phones were charging. Both Eli and I have our personal phones, the phones used for Pack business and another used for Eastern Realm Business.

I picked up my personal phone and opened up my text messages.

The group text between Rosette, Skyler, Charlotte and I was already blowing up.

Whoops. Three rounds with Eli sort of made me late to this party.

Skyler:

Looks like Ryan was tired tonight. Didn't take much to put him down. 😘

Rosette:

😆same for Sean.

Skyler:

Our sweet boys, all tuckered out after a long day. ☺️

Rosette:

❤️

Skyler:

Ryan refused to listen to my information about the southern realm. He also said we have to start training together.

Rosette:

Sean told me if I wanted to be helpful I should check out the historical archives. 😞

Skyler:

Ugh. Basically he wants to keep you busy and out of the way. 😞

Rosette:

☹️I know.

Charlotte:

Damn. You guys are depressing AF.

Skyler:

LOL! Charlotte, Hey girl Hey!😀✌️

Rosette:

Hello Charlotte.

Charlotte:

Asher told me that he's happy to see me talking to people versus fighting them. 👏☺️

Skyler:

Wow. 😮

Rosette:

MMMkay. 😳

Charlotte:

Just telling you what my Mate told me since we were all sharing.

Jessica:

Okay guys. Eli is not going to easily get on board with us doing anything that doesn't involve party planning or serving food.

Skyler:

WHOA! Finally Luna decides to show up. Jeez, I forgot how crazy the newly mated life is. 🤪

Rosette:

LOL 😄

Charlotte:

How many rounds?! I bet it was 8.👏

Rosette:

8?!🤯

Skyler:

8?! Nah probably like 3. I bet he was tired.

Charlotte:

Only 3?! 🧐Your mates need to workout more...

Rosette:

🙄

Jessica:

Seriously? This is what were talking about? We need to make a plan for tomorrow. Ember told me some things.

Skyler:

Nah, it was a crazy long day for the guys. Don't tell me you and Asher went 5 rounds.

Charlotte:

😏

Skyler:

WHAT?!🤯

Rosette:

Wow.🙄

Jessica:

TOMORROW GUYS! Focus. Before one of us gets caught.

Charlotte:

6.

Skyler:

Okay, Sorry Jess. Let's meet at 7am in the kitchen. We can discus further while we make breakfast.

Rosette:

😱WHAT?!

Skyler:

DEAR MOON GODDESS. 😳😱6?!

Jessica:

Charlotte!

Charlotte:

I'm okay with that, but Asher may not be finished by 7am. 😏

Jessica:

Oh my goddess. 🤦‍♀️

Skyler:

😆

Rosette:

🤦‍♀️TMI!

Charlotte:

Why are you all such prudes?! 🤔 I'm just being honest.

Jessica:

Fine. Make it 7:30 am, does that work Charlotte?

Charlotte:

Yep 👍

Skyler:

Wow Charlotte. Maybe I need to get some tips from you 😉

Rosette:

I'm curious now. 🤔

Jessica:

3. 😏😘

GOOD NIGHT! Xoxoxo❤️

Skyler:

I KNEW IT! LOL👏😂

Charlotte:

WHOA only 3?!😱

Rosette:

😂👏

I quickly tossed my phone aside and turned it on silent as I continued to watch it light up. Chuckling to myself I walked slowly down the hallway to our room where I cuddled up next to Eli again.

♕♕♕♕♕♕

'Find me...'

'I need you sister!'

'So close...'

'We must bring peace...'

These words were whispers in the back of my mind as I continued to walk down the earthy pathway to an empty cave.

I turned to my right and noticed a figure, small, petite. She seemed as if she was blending into the shadows. Her eyes looked black as night and her long, ink black hair seemed to reach for the shadows around her. She didn't seem to notice me even though I could clearly see her.

I turned to my left to see Charlotte. She seemed to look just as confused as I was. She noticed me and squinted her eyes as if I wasn't standing right next to her.

I noticed another girl next to Charlotte. I couldn't make out her face but she had an interesting white shimmer that danced around her.

I tried to speak but nothing came out. It was as if my ears weren't working either. I couldn't seem to pick up on anything here.

I couldn't hear anyone.

The only thing I was drawn too was this small wooden box. I wanted to reach out and touch it but as I moved forward it seemed to move further away. I furrowed my brows in confusion. I felt my flame flicker, my tattoos moving from my back to my hands as they began to glow.

I smirked. Pretty sure I can shot this box open. I held my hands up and blasted it as hard as I could.

I watched as my power seemed to glide around it. I shook my hands out in frustration.

I saw Charlotte try to shoot water at it. I noticed the shadow girl try to slither closer to it but again failed.

"Mate?" I turn around and notice ember standing there, looking at me. "Ember helped Mate, now mate need to come home."

"What?"

Everything went dark and My body suddenly felt heavy.

I opened my eyes to see Eli's head on my chest, sleeping away.

I looked over at the clock, 6:30 AM.

"Thanks Ember." I say in my mind as Eli begins to stir.

He looks up at me. "Why are you thanking Ember?" Eli's raspy morning voice is just as sexy as his regular voice.

"Because he's amazing." I smiled down at him.

He chuckled as I ruffled Eli's hair and giggled. I didn't enjoy lying to him, but if he wasn't going to let me help, then I really don't have a choice. "I gotta get up and get ready to prepare breakfast."

I quickly escaped his clutches, knowing full well if I didn't I would be late to meet everyone. "Breakfast will be served in the board room for you boys. I got the message from Marcus about your meetings this morning."

I grabbed one of my nice pairs of jeans and button down top from the closet before heading towards the bathroom.

"Jessica..." Eli said in his Alpha tone causing my entire body to feel warm instantly. "...Are you okay?"

I flashed him a big smile. "Of course Eli. Just doing what a Princess does best." With that I quickly closed the bathroom door and hopped into a cold shower trying to calm myself.

Please don't let Eli interrupt this shower this morning.

Knock Knock

I huffed before turning towards the door and smirking.

Too late....