Nalya
My wedding was lovely, and private, we went to an island and stayed there a month after the wedding for our honeymoon.
We were back in the pack, and my duties as Luna were a little challenging because I had to balance being a mom of two kids.
" Mama! I want a cookie,"
" Me too!" Elara clapped. My kids are a ball of energy, and they enjoy playing together.
" I'm coming!" I call out. He and his sister were in the salon, playing with toys while I prepared dinner for us.
" Dada, Dada!" I heard two little voices squeal in excitement, and a smile formed on my lips, Rhaegar was back from work. They were talking in the salon, and soon, I felt Rhaegar's presence behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist,
" How was your day, my love?" Rhaegar asked.
" I took Khai to Jon's party afterward and attended a meeting for the newly challenged foundation, and I had to go to the border for the open market, I almost collapsed in tiredness," I complained, turning around to face him.
" After dinner how about I get you naked, and give you a mind-blowing massage," he husked in a sexy voice.
" Brilliant idea," I smiled and kissed him quickly before resuming to cook for my family.
***
I fell asleep after my massage and woke up in the middle of the night. My heart was pounding against my chest after the nightmare of Khai falling over the cliff.
I glanced at my side, but Rhaegar was not there. I got out of bed and put on my robe before leaving the suite to look for him. I followed his scent to Khai’s room and opened the door, but he was not there, and neither was Khai.
‘ Rhaegar?’ I tried to mind-link, but I was met with silence. My heartbeat was erratic, and I feared the worst as I went outside the house. My heart was still frantic.
I followed Rhaegar’s scent down the quiet forest. So many questions were running in my head. Were they taking a night walk and decided to go for a run? But why would he do that with a child in the middle of the night?
“ I loved you! I love you so much, but you chose her over me!” I heard screaming and froze. That voice belonged to Juliana. How did she leave her cell? I started to run towards the voices.
“ Juliana, let him go,” Rhaegar’s voice was pleading.
‘ Stop!’ my wolf commanded. I couldn’t stop. I needed to find them.
‘ Khai is in danger,’ she whispered, and I froze. My blood ran cold instantly. My baby was in danger. I stood behind the tree, and using my wolf’s eyes, I saw Juliana standing too close to the cliff, and I was reminded of the nightmare I had earlier. Juliana was crying and holding Khai’s hand. My heart almost leaped from my chest. Rhaegar was been careful with his actions, trying to talk calmly to her, but Juliana was not listening.
“ This was not the plan!” An angry voice boomed. I didn’t notice the man with a gun standing close to Rhaegar, and pointing his gun at him, but my mate wasn't worried, his gaze was on Juliana, trying to talk her into letting Khai go. At where Juliana was standing she could take two steps back and fall over the cliff.
" Juliana, please let my son go. I'm here, you want me, right?" his voice was gentle.
" No, I'll push your precious son over the cliff. So we'll both lose!" she screamed. Juliana was crazy, and too far gone.
‘ What are we going to do?’ I asked my wolf. My hands were shaking.
“ Two years of planning your escape, and you just had to mess it up!” the brut man with a gun growled, he was pissed. Khai looked uneasy, his big eyes on his dad, and suddenly, as if sensing me, he looked in my direction. He opened his mouth, but I softly shook my head and put a finger on my lips to signal his quietness.
‘ Khai,’ I tried to mind- link. His wolf is not fully awake, but he could mind-link his kin because of his royal bloodline.
‘ Mama,’ his little voice broke me, ‘ She’s scaring me,’
‘ I know, baby... you will have to bite her, hard and run to me, okay?’ I told him.
‘ Mama, I’m not allowed to bite,’
‘ You can, now, count up to five and do it,’ I said. I was taking stealthy steps towards that man holding a gun. He was too busy shouting and cursing to notice me while Rhaegar was negotiating for Khai’s release.
I lunged at the man from behind, and he fell to the ground just as Juliana screamed in pain, and Khai ran to me. I ran towards Khai while Rhaegar fought the man. Juliana was about to catch Khai when I charged at her. I was seeing red. This bitch should have run while she had a chance. I grabbed Juliana by the neck and slammed her against the hard rocks, blood splashed from her nose and mouth. I wasn't through with her, I repeatedly kicked her. She managed to push me, and as she stood up, I hit her in the stomach, and she rolled down the cliff with a wretched scream. I have no doubt she was dead. No one would survive a fall of this height. I looked back at Rhaegar. The man he was fighting was dead, and he was carrying our son. Khai's face was hiding the crook of his neck. Nate, Kendrick, and a dozen of our warriors were arriving at the scene.
I went closer to the edge, peeking at Juliana’s body. The sharp stones around her were covered in blood and lying face down on the ground.
I got down and went to my mate. He hugged me and kissed my head. We stayed in an embrace for a moment.
“ She’s dead,” I whispered, feeling overwhelmed with emotions, and a tear or two escaped my eyes. Rhaegar soothes me, stroking my hair with his free hand,
“ It’s what she deserves. Don’t feel guilty for it,” his tone was imperious, and he was exuding an alpha aura.
I nodded and checked on Khai. He was still hiding in his father’s neck. I caressed his body and kissed his back.
“ Let’s go,” he said. As we walked back, the warriors were giving us way. I heard Nate give out orders before he followed us to the packhouse. I exhaled once we were in the common area.
“ Are you alright?” Kendrick asked. I nodded. He gave me a one-sided hug. He stroked Khai’s head before kissing the back of his head.
“ I’m relieved you’re all alright,” Nate sighed.
Marilyn joined us, along with Roman. She tried to take Khai away, but the boy did not want to leave with anyone else. He was still scared and traumatized by what happened.
“ It’s okay, Marilyn, thank you,” I told her. She frowned and patted his back before leaving us.
“ What happened? How did the bitch escape?” Roman asked.
“ Roma!” I hissed, gesturing at Khai.
“ We are yet to find out. The head guard informed us there was a breach in security. That’s why we went to the dungeons,” Kendrick said.
“ We’ll discuss this tomorrow,” Rhaegar spoke and stared at me. I nodded and followed him to our suite.
Khai was sleeping, and he laid him on the bed,
“ Hopefully, he forgets this,”
“ He's three. He will,” he kissed my forehead and embraced me, “ You did well,”
I smiled, and pulled away, caressing his cheeks.
“ Are you alright?”
“ I should have killed her the first time. I'm sorry, baby," he whispered honestly.
" You didn't know she'd do that. Don't blame yourself, "
We stayed in an embrace for a long time. Rhaegar and I took another shower after discussing what happened.
The next few days were busy with investigations. We learned that Juliana paid five guards to help her escape the dungeons. They had an escape vehicle waiting at the back road, but she told them she had to accomplish a task and would meet them later.
It was suspected that Juliana's mother, Claudia, was an accomplice, but she couldn't answer any questions as she was still in the hospital. After hearing about the death of her daughter, Claudia attempted to take her own life.
It was the night after the full moon, we were outside, having dinner with our family and friends at a large table. Everyone was smiling, and laughing, it was filling to see. This is what peace and freedom felt like.
My eyes met my Rhaegar's, and he mouthed, " I love you,"
I felt butterflies in my stomach like the first time I met him, they never die. They were always here and reminded me how much I adored this man.
' I love you,' I mouthed back.