Fie Wright's P. O. V

My head buried in my hands is what is pretty much keeping me floating and saving me from drowning. I like to think of myself as a decisive person whose planned ahead and knows what they're going to do when any sort of situation arises.

Never did those musings of mine cross over to the man standing in front of me. The man I'm not even daring to look at because of the swirling of emotions in my chest. Lowering my left hand, I rub absentmindedly at my chest right above where my heart is situated as I try my best to calm the headache raging on as if my brain is set on fire. A groan escapes me before I finally lift my head from my hands and stare out the door through which my mate walked out mere minutes ago.

I can't believe I have a mate.

A mate that's a royal, at that.

"Oh God. Why do I have to have this shit happening to me?" I think out loud.

My Luna is in danger and the only way she'll be able to get help is if I stay with the King. Stay with him in this weird realm that's transported back to the past without even proper electricity. My mind does flit back to me simply telling him no and that as an advisor he has to help us out. What kind of a King would he be if he turns his back on a helpless pack?

Nonetheless, the thought of me even failing at that and turning back to my pack empty handed only to watch my Luna sink further and further into bad health causes me to cringe at the mere thought.

Shaking my head, I stand up and walk over to the window once more as I gaze out of the window and stare at the well trimmed garden. Even the sight of nature in front of me doesn't register in front of my eyes as they see something else entirely different. An image of me turning my back at a chance for love and leaving my mate. I don't even know the man properly and already the idea causes my heart to race faster and a pang of pain to shoot from my heart, down to all my limbs as my wolf practically growls inside of me. Scratching and digging almost as if she's trying to claw herself from the inside out so that she can run over to her mate and claim the man so that he can't even walk without me clinging to him.

I never realised my wolf was the clingy type. I'd rather die first than admit that to anyone especially my mate of all people.

Shuffling back and forth, my eyes are still turned towards the window when all of a sudden noises from down the hall greet my ears. Turning towards the door, I brace myself just in case of an attack as the voices grow louder and louder. Shouting filtering through the walls as guards and others alike growl and snarl at the offenders. Taking a few steps back, I take a protective stance which entails my claws elongating, knees bent and hunched over ready to be on the defence.

"Let us in!" Comes an all too familiar voice causing my stance to drop almost immediately, head tilting to the side as I take in the actual words that are being thrown about right outside of my door instead of the tone that they are being conveyed in. Letting out a sigh, my feet slide over the floor as I down right run towards the door, not bothering to put up any such etiquette of acting all ladylike.

The door is yanked open before my fingertips can even reach the smooth brass door handle, the piece of wood flying towards my way causes me to take a quick step back as a tense and disgruntled looking Ezra falls into the room. His wild floppy brown hair all messed up and sticking up on end like he's been electrocuted, brown eyes tense and wide as they dart around the room before finally landing where I actually am; right in front of him.

The man barely even blinks as he storms into the room with Marcus right behind him along with the other two warriors as they make themselves feel at home. Raising an eyebrow at Ezra's antics, I cross my arms over my chest since I already know this is going to be something so utterly typed and delirious.

"Are you okay Fie?" Marcus is the first to speak up as Ezra merely stands there, now fidgeting as he fumbles with both his hands and glances from side to side, taking in the people in the room. Rather probably looking for a certain someone.

"I'm fine. Thanks. Are you?" I ask in a barely audible voice even though it's obvious to the sight that they're all doing fine, except for an out of place Ezra that is whose still fidgeting and acting like he's either done something really stupid or is about to act on his idiotic thoughts.

"We're doing just fine, Fie," Marcus says as he comes up to me and clasps me on the shoulders. The man tries to make eye contact which I desperately try to avoid, not wanting to be subjected to any sort of thoughts he's trying to convey to me since it'll muddle up my own processing even more. I simply can't have that nor can I handle it unless I want to enter into a downward spiral of depression.

The man goes to speak some more but is frantically moved out of the way by a bustling Ezra who pretty much shoots into my arms and wraps his own around me, pulling me into his chest before lifting my body completely off of the ground and giving me a hard squeeze just for good measure. Letting out a low grunt, I bat at the man's back so that he can finally put me down which he does so after squeezing me to death just a few more times.

Landing back on my feet, I take a step in the opposite direction just in case Ezra gets any more funny ideas. "Am I missing something here? Did something happen?" I question to all the people in the room to which they all exchange glances, uneasy ones at that as they even avoid my own intriguing eyes.

"We're here to take you home." Ezra says finally, looking around the vast room almost as if he's looking for something. Nodding his head upon not finding anything, I cross my arms over my chest with a brow raised not believing anything he's saying. Not even believing the others trundled in after him even with Marcus being an advisor.

"What on Earth are you going on about?" I question sceptically, not sure I should be asking the man any questions since he's seemed to have a few screws loose from the day he came into this world.

Ezra gives me an equally dumbfounded look back almost as if I've asked the worlds most stupidest question ever. "That man thinks he's your mate. He's lost his marbles! I don't think he's even fit to be King. I mean what sane man things you'd be his mate? Mate to the King?" He further reiterates while my mouth drops open. I can't help myself but to feel peeved at the thought of someone finding it down right incredulous that my mate is a Royal. Or that I even have a mate which is a common for al wolves.

Jeez. Am I really that bad?

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I ask slightly miffed as I let out a disgruntled scoff and eye an equally weary Marcus who takes a hesitant step backwards from where he's currently standing, just slightly wedged in between Ezra and I.

Ezra squints his eyes and throws his hands in the air as if me asking something like that is plain as day stupid and I should have figured it out before they even stepped foot into this room.

"That man is fucking crazy and who knows what he'll do to you. We need to-," The man's ranting voice is cut off mid speech as the door to the room comes flying open and that same menacing figure steps into the room. The intruder taking my breath away as my eyes are blessed for the second time in one day, just a few minutes apart. My pounding heart barely manages to divert my attention from the matter at hand as my mate strides into the room with a grace and power only someone of his stature can achieve.

No one dares to utter a single word as Malleus continues to walk towards us, none of us even breathe in a loud and annoying way as we stand with bated breath till he comes to a stop in front of us all.

"Did you just insinuate that I would harm my mate?" Comes that deep baritone that has Ezra tensing up in place as his brown eyes widen and he shifts uneasily on the spot.

"I- Uh- I wasn't- um-," I practically facepalm then and there as Ezra continues to get flustered and pulls himself deeper and deeper into the gigantic hole that he's dug with no chances of escaping it unless he gets some much unwarranted help. Not even the man's own father seems inclined to help as they all stand in their spots with their eyes either directed at the ground or somewhere behind us so as to avoid eye contact with the hulk of a man standing next to me.

"Ezra was simply being emotional. Ignore him, Malleus." His name is like velvet on my tongue as it drips out of my mouth in the nicest way possible. Who would have thought that saying a name could be so mouth-wateringly appealing. The person whose name I just uttered snaps his head over to me, our eyes connecting as his eyes glaze over with something I can't place immediately but I know it has to do something with me just saying his name aloud. By this time, I've tried to make myself as accustomed as possible to the blatant staring that I've been subjugated to by the rest of my merry band of travellers as they hear the King's name being thrown about so casually in the air.

I bet they're assuming how it isn't my head that's being thrown about instead.

Malleus then stares straight ahead at Ezra, almost as if he's challenging the man who himself is ready to shift into his wolf and lie flat down on his back to show his belly in quivering submission.

"Who are these people and what relation do they hold to you?" The question is clear cut and no nonsense worthy as alluringly blue eyes meet mine. Now it's me who has to stop myself from squirming in place and finding a bed to hide my head in just out of the sheer intensity of his eyes that send that heated glance my ways. I even make a move to shuffle just a little bit to the side and away from him, simply because of the heat radiating off Malleus' body as tingles erupt within the limited space between us and sending my head into a whirlwind induced frenzy. However, my shuffling about gets halted in place as the man steps even closer, the warmth and tingles building till it's a static heated thrum as his giant palm finds its way to the small of my back, delicately cupping the curve of it while I try my best to stop myself from jumping about in place at his softly endearing touch.

"Well," I begin with a gentle clearing of my throat as I try not to let his closeness effect to such an extent that I turn into a blabbering mess like Ezra himself, "Marcus has already introduced himself to you back in the hall. He's one of the head advisors back home along with my father. Brutus and Aden are the two pack warriors who had to escort us here," Each in turn nod their heads in respect as I direct my gaze finally onto Ezra who already seems as uncomfortable as can be.

"This is Ezra. He's an advisor in training and is brother to Alpha Tyrell. Also my cousin." I throw in at the end, hoping that Malleus might have mercy on the downtrodden man named Ezra since he is family.

Malleus' family too now. Oh God, that's still so weird to think.

Malleus nods, appearing to be deep in thought for some reason unbeknownst to me. Marcus clears his throat as everyone's attention snaps to him while he smiles in turn like he usually does.

"Your Majesty, my King. I do not wish to intrude on matters that do not concern me- or rather us- but what about the main matter of importance with which we came to seek your assistance?" Marcus sounds like he's having great difficulty trying to be as respectful as possible without sounding condescending. Malleus doesn't seem to have a care in the world as his hand feels quite at home being perched on the small of my back as he stands there in that same pose; legs spread out at a distance, stance alert and shoulders braced even with his one hand not by his side. He doesn't seem to be a lax man but more of a warrior as he eyes the person who just spoke.

"My answer is the same as when you first posed this question to me. You will get my help but only if my mate stays here with me." The words are simple and to the point and I can already tell there's no way going around them.

Ezra doesn't seem to get the memo as his lips part, "That isn't really fa-," This time he cuts himself off as his eyes slightly glaze over and from the way Marcus is trying to inconspicuously turn his head towards his son, I'm sure the man is mind linking Ezra to be quiet for once in his life and not ruin the chances of getting our Luna back to the perfect condition she was once in.

"Fie, will of course be staying here with you. You both are destined mates and a mates side is nowhere else but with one another." Marcus speaks again while Ezra and I glance at each other and try our best not to roll our eyes at the sappy advisor.

Malleus doesn't seem to mind the words at all as he gives a firm nod in agreement, seemingly at ease now that its apparent that I won't be running off the first chance I get. Hell he probably thought I'd be climbing down the side of the castle just to escape being by his side.

"You can set out as early as possible if you wish to do so. I will send one of my best mages with you along with a few others. You must explain the situation to me first, however, especially with why I wasn't informed regarding the situation immediately when it happened." My mate speaks up, eyes hardening at the last words while I tilt my own head in confusion.

Why wouldn't anyone inform the King about our Luna being sick?

From what I remember about my training, there's a report that has to be issued every six month with the heads of the pack's detailing every instance of something occurring even if it's good or bad. The six month of the report being due came up a few weeks after Luna Aria got sick. I never heard of any sort of report being drawn up nor details about the instance entailed in it.

"But your Majesty, the report was submitted on the correct date by the head advisors ourselves. We handed it over to the Skoll Pack who are in charge of collecting the reports to hand over to the spokesperson from our Realm and over to yours." Marcus comments while I frown further.

My dad seems to keep me more in the shadows than I originally thought.

"I will have to look into that." Malleus says aloud while Marcus nods his head in understanding. "You can leave at first light tomorrow. Fie will stay behind with me of course." I barely register his words as I'm too wrapped up with how my name sounds on his tongue. The second time he's called me by my name but it still invokes an unfamiliar yet deeply thrilling reaction out of me that simultaneously perturbs me.

I seriously need to figure out my emotions and what the hell is actually going on.

I don't mention anything yet about going home but I do intend to as soon as we're out of hearing of the others and so that Malleus and I are free to talk like we were a while ago. I know if I make any sorts of objection, Marcus will probably cut me off with his words about destined mates and being by ones side again. I've already heard it once and that's enough to last any sane person a lifetime.

"Ezra, you will stay behind with Fie." My eyebrows raise at Malleus' abrupt words and even Ezra is genuinely surprised as his own eyes widen and his mouth drops open before clamping his lips shut together.

"Yes your highness." Is all he says with a subdued nod of his head while I wonder why on Earth Ezra is staying behind out of everyone that's here.

Before I can even finish my thought let alone get a word out, Malleus grip on my back tightens with the slightest amount of pressure some more as his blue eyes land on my own boring ones.

I don't think I'll ever get over the stunning yet unique depth to his eye colour.

"Come Fie. I have to speak with you in private." I don't have any chance to murmur my protests as I'm hauled out of the room, my feet moving of their own accord. The rest don't even make a move to help as they glance at one another before heading off in their own directions to stare further into the interior of the room like it holds some great secret.

Peering up at my mate walking a slowed down pace just for me, I bite my lip and stare straight ahead.

I wonder what on Earth we're going to talk 'privately' about.

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AN: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry for the overdue chapter but I got down with the flu and could not for the life of me even come up with the strength to think of the contents of a chapter let alone write it. I hope it isn't too bad!

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