Chapter: twenty-two

Aylin took a deep breath, steeling herself for the arrival of the Dark Moon Pack. She glanced at her mate, Ezekiel, who was the picture of calm and control. His face was unreadable, his aura powerful. She knew she had to match his composure, no matter how hard it might be.

She sat up straight, her eyes fixed on the door.

“Let me handle the talking,” Ezekiel’s voice echoed in her mind.

“Okay, I trust you.”

As soon as she spoke, the doors burst open. Quill and Angus entered first, followed by the Dark Moon Pack.

The beta and the delta bowed to the king and queen in a show of respect, then took their places behind them.

“I don’t expect you to kneel, Alpha Morris.”

“I’m glad there are no expectations, Your Majesty.” Daemon’s gaze shifted to Aylin, his fists clenching briefly. “It’s an honor to see the queen again.”

“Likewise,” Aylin replied, nodding slightly.

“Why did you summon me, Your Majesty?”

“You’re aware of the recent demon incidents. One infiltrated the castle and attacked the queen. She wasn’t harmed, thankfully.

“But it made me wonder why the demon targeted her, and what might have happened if you hadn’t rejected her.

“Have there been any more demon issues since we left your pack?”

“No, they seem to have moved on.” Daemon was growing increasingly irritated, unsure of where this was leading.

“And do you know where they went?”

“North—why are you asking?! Are you accusing me of something?!”

“Quill.”

The delta stepped forward, presenting a photograph to the alpha.

“What is this?”

“Take a look.”

As the conversation unfolded, Aylin kept a close eye on the luna, studying her reactions and body language.

The luna was becoming more and more agitated. Her eye twitched, and sweat dripped from her—the classic signs of guilt.

“This is from the day of the attack. So what?”

Ezekiel rose from his throne and approached the alpha, earning growls from the pack members behind him. “Look closer. I didn’t see it at first either.”

Daemon brought the photo closer to his face, then turned to his luna. “This...you... explain this!?”

~“Be ready, Aylin. You should be the one to deliver the final blow.”~

When Ophelia remained silent, Aylin stood. “For the luna, this was about revenge. The black mist in the photo is the demon Zagan whispering to her.

“Like me, your luna lost her parents. I suspect Zagan convinced her to take you from me when she realized we were mates.

“Small things. Subtle things. Telling you about a mistake. Or even suggesting that people died because I was selfish and ran away.

“Convincing you to reject me as your mate once you took the title. But all she really wanted was revenge and power.”

As Aylin spoke, tears streamed down Daemon’s face. Shock and disbelief crossed his features. “How could you?”

Ophelia broke down at the sight of his pain. “I did it for us, for the pack. Name one good thing she ever did there?!

“She left me alone in this world. So I took something she loved, leaving her alone too.”

The king, beta, and delta all clenched their fists in unison.

“Newsflash, I’m not alone anymore. And I’m happier than you’ll ever be. You may have driven me out, but you drove me to a place that makes me happy.

“All you’ll have is the broken bond left when your alpha imprisons you.”

Ophelia’s eyes darted around, and she began to pull at her hair. “No, he’ll come for me. He’ll save me. He promised he’d make everything better.”

“What’s she talking about?” Ezekiel asked.

“I have no idea,” Daemon replied.

“Ophelia, did you make a deal with Zagan?” Aylin asked. “Did he tell you to get rid of me and promise you whatever you wanted?” Aylin moved closer to her.

“Yes! Yes, he did! So what?! I got what I wanted and made you an outcast! But it’s not enough! I’m going to erase you for good, you worthless bitch!”

Daemon lunged at his queen, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her against the nearest wall. “You are a liar and a traitor! You betrayed me, you betrayed your pack, and you will pay for your crimes!”

Ophelia clawed at his hand, pleading for her life. “Can’t you see? I did it for you, for the good of the pack. She’s a demon, and that’s all she’ll ever be. Don’t you see that?”

Tears streaked down the luna’s face, smearing her mascara.

“All I see is a selfish girl ruining the lives of those around her for her own satisfaction,” he growled.

A low, threatening growl came from the king. “I’m only going to ask this once, where is he?”

As Daemon tightened his grip on her throat, Ophelia clawed desperately at his hand. “Answer him!”

“I-I don’t know,” she wheezed.

“Morris, let her go!” Ezekiel ordered.

Daemon released his grip, and Ophelia gasped for air, coughing violently.

“Now, tell me, where is the demon hiding?”

From her position on the floor, she gazed up at the king. “I swear, I don’t know. He always came to me.”

Ezekiel turned to the visibly upset alpha. “It’s your call what happens to her.”

Without a backward glance, Daemon left the room, leaving her behind.

As she watched him go, her face crumbled, tears streaming down her cheeks.

She was left alone, just as she had forced the pack to abandon the one person she hated the most.

Aylin turned to her mate, “I need to talk to him.”

He nodded, signaling Quill to accompany her. “I’ll handle this.”

~“Don’t lock her up, Zeke. We still need her.”~

The alpha stepped outside, shattered by his mate’s actions.

Yet, a part of him wasn’t surprised. By rejecting his first mate, he had set off a chain of events that led him here.

“So, what now?” David asked.

“For the first time, I don’t know.”

“Alpha Morris!”

That voice. That familiar female voice made his heart race. He turned to see her, as radiant as ever.

The terrible mistake he made was now burning brighter in his heart. “Your Majesty, how can I assist you?”

“Why don’t you and your men stay here tonight? You’ve come a long way. It would be foolish to head back now.”

“I don’t think the king—”

“The king already agreed. You’ve had a tough day. Why don’t you and your men rest and leave tomorrow?”

He sighed, nodding a few times, clearly communicating with his warriors through the link. “Alright, we accept.”

She stepped aside, turning to her delta. “Quill, please guide the men. I need a private word with the alpha.”

“But, my lady—”

“I’ll handle it later,” she said more firmly. “Just… please.”

~“Yell if he tries anything,”~ Quill warned through the link.

~“I promise.”~ She gave him a reassuring smile.

They parted ways.

The alpha followed the queen to the library, where she closed the door behind them. Daemon looked out the window. “Do you have something to say to me?”

“No, I just want to know how you’re doing.”

He scoffed and turned to face her. “How I’m doing? You want to know how I’m doing? You’re unbelievable. You know that? Absolutely fucking unbelievable.”

Aylin stood still, letting him vent his frustration; she didn’t want him near his pack members in this state. “It’s a fair question, don’t you think?”

“Jesus Christ. You’re too calm. After what I did?! Get mad. Throw something. Hit me. Anything! Tell me you hate me. I don’t deserve your kindness. I don’t deserve to live!”

Seeing the alpha break down tugged at her heart, but she didn’t think reacting in any of those ways would ease his pain.

Mistakes were made, lives were ruined. That was enough. She wasn’t willing to add to his pain.

Daemon fell to his knees, his red, swollen eyes looking up at his rejected mate. “I’m so, so sorry, Aylin!” He buried his face in his hands and sobbed.

She had thought that seeing him like this, the man who had rejected her, would bring her satisfaction. But seeing him in this state only made her feel sad.

She wanted to reassure him that everything would be alright, but it wouldn’t be. His actions had made her life a living hell for far too long.

But seeing him in tears only made her feel sorry for him. She felt sympathy for a man who didn’t deserve it.

She stepped closer to him, gently stroking his hair, hoping to offer some comfort. His crying seemed to intensify, but she continued.

His hands found her hips, but he kept his head down, his tears falling to the floor.

Suddenly, the door opened behind her, and a low growl echoed off the stone walls. Turning her head, Aylin saw Ezekiel’s expression change from anger to understanding in an instant.

It was hard for him to see his mate comforting someone else, but she was trying to console a man who had lost so much. He could understand that.

~“I didn’t want him to break down in front of his men.”~

~“I get it.” ~His tone was softer than she had ever heard it. ~“He needs to rest.”~

As his sobs subsided, she seized the opportunity. “Daemon, come on. You need to sleep.”

As she helped him up, he wiped his eyes.

“As we said, you can decide what happens to her. Take your time.”

“She stays. I trust the king will punish her more effectively than I ever could.” He followed Quill out without another word.

Aylin sighed deeply, feeling a sense of relief. She had finally found the closure she needed. Ezekiel didn’t look happy with her, but he wasn’t angry either. His expression was somewhere in between.

“What’s on your mind, Zeke? You seem distant.”

“When this is over, do you want to go back with Daemon?”

His question stirred up old insecurities. “Do you not love me anymore?”

Seeing her eyes fill with tears, he quickly pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair to soothe her.

“That’s not what I meant. Of course, I love you. But, seeing you with him… He still cares about you—”

“The bond is broken. I don’t want anyone else.”

The crushing pain in his chest eased instantly. “Shh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. No one is taking you from me, I promise.”

***

After the day’s whirlwind of events, they retreated to their bedroom as the sun began to set.

The day’s happenings felt like a dream, but it was a harsh reality that had slapped them all in the face.

Looking out at the orange sunset, Aylin pondered their next move. Even with Ophelia’s confession, they seemed no closer to finding Zagan than before.

She, like everyone else, felt like they were running in circles, searching for answers.

Strong arms encircled her waist, and a familiar scent filled her senses. “This might be a dumb question, but what’s bothering you?”

Aylin let out a small chuckle, her arms wrapping around his. “Well, it does seem like a silly question, but since you asked… It feels like we’re not making any progress.

“What else can we do without putting lives at risk? Our options seem limited now.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Ezekiel replied, trying to comfort her. “We just need to find his weaknesses—”

“Maybe we should start with finding where he is,” she cut in sharply. Realizing her tone, she quickly apologized.

“Should we ask Morris to help us?”

“Is that a good idea, considering everything that’s happened?”

“Personally, I think facing the thing that destroyed his pack and his life would be justice.”

Aylin considered it, and the reasoning made sense. Finally, Morris could get the closure he needed. “We can ask him tomorrow.”

Taking Aylin’s hand, Ezekiel led her to the bed. As they sat on the edge, his hands slid down to her backside, giving it a squeeze.

Caught off guard, she let out a groan, falling forward onto him.

“I guess it’s been too long,” he teased.

His hot breath on her ear sent a shiver down her spine. Instead of showing it, Aylin decided to tease him back. She slid her hand down his chest, further and further, until his surprised expression made her smirk.

“You’re not the only one who can play dirty,” she whispered in his ear, her tongue tracing the edge.

“Oh, you’re in trouble now.”

With a firm grip on her backside, he easily lifted her into his lap. He hiked up her dress, his hands instantly finding the lacy thong.

In that moment, he was speechless. Just the feeling of being with her, in the most intimate way possible, was enough.

Feeling Ezekiel’s hardened length pressing against her inner thigh, she began to grind against him, slowly at first.

With her hands tangled in his hair, she quickened her pace, making him grunt. “Someone’s eager,” she teased.

Aylin gasped, feeling a sudden intrusion in response to her teasing.

“Think you can tease me and get away with it?”

He pushed his finger all the way in, and she let out a squeal.

“Good girl. Now, ride it until I tell you.”

A shiver of pleasure ran down her spine at Ezekiel’s forceful command. This was nothing like the first few times they’d made love.

This was raw, animalistic. He was taking what he wanted, and there was no room for argument.

Ezekiel couldn’t decide what turned him on more—the sight of her in ecstasy, the loud moans escaping her lips, or the way she kept saying his name.

Turning up the heat, he pushed a little deeper, finding her sweet spot.

“Ah, God! Zeke, not there. I don’t want to yet,” she moaned. “I want it to be when you’re inside me!”

“Just once, for me, baby. Then you can have me all you want.”

She dug her nails into his shoulders, and Ezekiel could feel Aylin tighten around his finger. “Oh, God! Ah!”

Coming down from her high, she pressed her forehead against his, panting. “I never knew you could do that.”

“Amazing what you can do when you want your woman to feel good.”

Their lips met in a kiss filled with urgency. As they passionately explored each other’s mouths, Aylin reached down and unfastened Ezekiel’s belt.

Grinding against him again, she felt his hands grip her hair, tugging slightly.

Removing his hands, Ezekiel then placed a finger on the zipper of her dress. After pulling it down, he tossed the dress aside.

Feeling impatient, he ripped her bra down the middle, freeing her breasts.

With equally impatient hands, she undid the buttons on his shirt, revealing his chiseled chest.

“Sit up on your knees, baby,” he groaned.

Doing as she was told, she captured his lips with hers, never breaking the kiss. She dragged her nails down his chest, and Ezekiel tensed even more.

Roughly grabbing her hips, he pushed her back down onto himself. “Ugh, fuck!”

Aylin held him tightly. She could feel everything. “Harder, please,” she begged.

Obliging, Ezekiel thrust harder, their voices echoing in unison. One hand gripped her hair, pulling it slightly to the side, while his lips found her mark.

The erotic sound of her voice only intensified, and he could feel every part of her quiver.

“I-I can feel it, Zeke,” Aylin moaned, her hot breath against his neck.

As he slowed his pace, she groaned. “Look at me, Aylin.”

She lifted her head, and their eyes met. In that moment, he resumed his frantic pace, never once breaking eye contact.

Slowing again, he could feel himself start to unravel, and Aylin as well. As he hit his peak, his eyes rolled back in his head. He grunted harshly, his climax fueled by hers.

Then Ezekiel fell backward, cradling her head and rubbing her back. Their panting filled the room as they came down from their high.

That was the most intense lovemaking either of them had ever experienced. It felt like a whole new experience.

Ezekiel knew the timing wasn’t ideal, but he didn’t regret it. It was just what they needed to clear their heads, even if only for a moment.

He glanced down at Aylin, his mate, who was clearly feeling the same way. She rested her chin on his chest and gave him a smile.

Aylin rolled off him and snuggled in close, her fingers tracing the stubble on his cheek. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“For what?”

“For loving me.”

He didn’t say anything else, just wrapped his arms around her and tangled his fingers in her hair. He didn’t want to let her go until he absolutely had to.

Thinking about what they were up against, he silently vowed to protect her from harm.

This quiet declaration of war was meant for Zagan, the demon who’d tried so hard to break their bond.

***

Morning came, and Aylin woke up in a tangle of limbs under the covers. There was a heavy weight on her legs, and she realized it was Ezekiel’s leg.

She chuckled softly, her finger tracing patterns on his chest muscles. Suddenly, a large hand squeezed her backside, and she yelped.

“That tickles,” a sleepy voice said.

“Sorry.” She wasn’t really sorry. It was fun to get a reaction out of him, even a small one. “We should get up, you know.”

“Ugh, do I have to?”

“Really?” she asked, deadpan.

“Okay, okay,” he gave in. “Let’s get up.”

Aylin was about to roll the other way when his large hands tossed her over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“We’re going to shower, of course.” His voice was teasing, with a hint of mischief.

“Oh, for the love of…”

***

Daemon hadn’t slept at all that night. Everything was falling apart, and he couldn’t make sense of it.

Someone he was supposed to trust and love had betrayed him in the worst way possible. The one person who loved and trusted him was no longer his.

Years of lies had finally caught up with him. Now, he had nothing—punishment from the Moon Goddess herself.

He steeled himself, realizing there was only one thing left to do, one last good deed that would give his life meaning.

He couldn’t erase his mistakes, but he could say he did something worthwhile before he died.

After meeting with his men, they headed for the throne room. He ran into the delta, who told them the king and queen were in the main dining hall.

Changing direction, he walked in.

“Good morning, Alpha,” the king greeted him.

“Your Majesties.” He bowed.

Aylin was puzzled by his sudden formality. He hadn’t been like this the day before in the throne room. “Something on your mind?”

He looked the king straight in the eyes. “I want to fight with you against the demons.”

The two royals shared a glance, then looked back at the determined alpha. “I know you both don’t think much of me, and after everything that’s happened, I deserve that.

“But I will fight to my last breath to protect the queen.”

“And what about your pack?” the king asked.

Daemon hadn’t thought that far ahead. He could only come to one conclusion.

“I’ll send my pack members away. My beta will take over the Dark Moon Pack if something happens to me.”

David looked shocked. “Daemon, think this through.”

Daemon turned to his men. They all looked upset. “I want you all to go back to the Dark Moon Pack. Tell them what’s happening. When this is over, someone will send word.”

He put his hands on David’s shoulders. “If the worst happens, I leave the pack to you. Do better than I did.”