Chapter 97: Unbreakable

ALEX

“Thank you once again for your service to the Crown, Grimsby,” I say as the Royal Pack Navy’s ship floats alongside our rescuer’s small fishing boat.

“No bother Adam and Eve,” he grunts, marveling at the size of the ship a few meters over.

The Navy has given us uniforms to replace the thin blankets, and the Admiral stands by me, ready to escort us to the ship.

But I have one more thing to do before we go.

“We must repay you,” Ariel says. “You’ve saved the entire werewolf kingdom!”

“Certainly,” I say. “Your bravery in patrolling these waters, and your services to the Crown must be rewarded. I think I have found the new Knight of the Moon.”

Ariel looks completely confused, but I give her a wink, signaling her to play along.

Grimsby likely doesn’t know much about werewolf traditions, and I want him to feel special, even if I’m making all of this up on the spot.

Ariel catches on immediately, and audibly ~ooohs~.

“Knight of the what?”

“Of the Moon. For the bravest…and most dedicated warriors,” I say, hamming up the position that I just made up. “Admiral,” I say, pointing to the hat on his head, and then the saber on his belt.

“Yes sir,” he replies, handing them over without question.

I turn back to Grimsby and proudly say, “Kneel.”

Grimsby takes off his hat and gets down on one knee as I unsheathe the sword.

“Now, what’s your full name?” I say.

“Cawthor Harold Rains Glamis Grimsby.”

~What a mouthful.~

“Cawthor Harold Rains Glamis Grimsby,” I repeat, “I hereby dub you Knight of the Moon, honorary member of the Royal Pack.”

I knight Grimsby, placing the sword lightly on each shoulder, before placing the admiral’s cap upon his head.

“Here is your sword, too, if you ever need to enter battle for the pack,” I say, sheathing the sword and offering it to him.

“It’s like my birthday has come early!” he says, waving the sword above his head in excitement. “The missus ain’t gonna believe it!”

Ariel starts climbing up the rope ladder, hanging from the ship, and she salutes him.

“Mind how you go,” I say as I follow her up onto the royal deck.

“You too my king and queen!” Grimsby replies, waving his cap as we depart.

ARIEL

After our ship docks in the closest harbor, we are quickly rushed into a royal convoy and driven back through the countryside, to the palace.

Our disappearance was kept hush-hush by Dom, and our closest advisors. No one else knows about the crash, and we want it to stay that way.

When we finally arrive home, we sneak into the palace by the kitchen entrance, hiding away from prying eyes and rushing upstairs to our bedroom.

Despite the ride from the harbor taking the better part of a day, I haven’t gotten a minute of sleep.

As soon as the door is open, I fling myself on the bed.

“Oh, what a trip,” I say, closing my eyes. I hear Alex close the door behind us. “I feel like I could sleep for the rest of the day.”

“For sure,” he says. I feel him lying down softly next to me on the comforter.

We lie in silence for a while, content in the knowledge that we’re now safe, away from that horrible place.

I feel Alex tense up, and I slowly open my eyes, turning to him.

“I can tell you want to ask me something,” I say. “You clench your jaw before you ask a hard question.”

Alex sighs.

“I just want to protect you. I want to know what happened in Fate’s lair when we were away from each other.”

I don’t respond immediately, trying to think of the best way to tell him of Fate’s decree. I take Alex’s hand and lightly kiss his fingers.

“I saw Olivia,” Alex says. “Or her ghost anyway. She said that I didn’t love her because I chose you. But that’s not true. I loved her then, and now I love you.”

I sniff and try to shake the tears forming in my eyes. “Fuck Fate. Fuck whatever she has planned. We found each other without her. And we’re stronger for it.”

“I love you,” Alex whispers before leaning over and kissing me.

We stay cuddled up for a long time, until we hear a soft knock at the door and a voice on the other side.

“Ariel?” Natalia quietly calls through the door. “Are you there?”

I leap out of bed like a gazelle and run to the door, wrenching it open.

I barely have time to greet my sister before she flings her arms around me.

“You’re safe… You’re okay,” Natalia says, softly stroking my back. “I thought I would never see you again! They searched everywhere but couldn’t find you!”

“Oh Natalia,” I manage to say, too busy hugging her to give a proper response.

“It’s okay, you’re home now,” she replies.

I think back to the last time I returned “home,” to the Crescent Moon Pack after losing two years of my life to the Hunters.

How my sister, my own mother, even my destined mate, disowned me and banished me from the pack.

~How time changes.~

Now I’m with a mate I love, with a power given to me by the Moon Goddess, and my sister by my side after years of fighting.

“What are you doing here?” I ask as we finally pull away. “Aren’t you supposed to be finding your mate?”

Natalia looks down at her feet.

“I-I found him. He was outside the Crescent Moon Pack.”

My mind is suddenly racing with questions…

~How did you find him?~

~What’s he like?~

~How did you meet?~

But one question stands above the rest:

“Why aren’t you with him right now?”

“I came back when you went missing…and kind of, brought him along with me…,” Natalia quietly replies.

“Where is he? Let’s go meet him!”

NATALIA

I feel my face burn with embarrassment.

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest?” I say, trying to send her back into her bed. “You’ve had a long journey; you need some sleep!”

But Ariel stands firmly in front of me.

“Come on, I want to welcome the newest member of the family,” she says, a wide smile stretching from ear to ear. “Now where is he? Is he in one of the guest rooms?”

“No…”

“What?” Ariel says. “You made him stay in a hotel?”

“No…”

“Then where is he?” Ariel pushes.

“He’s…outside.”

“What, like working in the gardens?” Ariel’s expression is getting more and more confused by the minute.

~Goddess give me strength.~

I give in and lead Ariel down the main stairs, out onto the lawn, passing by the flower beds and hedges.

“We thought you were lost or dead; we couldn’t figure out where the plane had gone down. Where exactly were you?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“I don’t know. That’s the Goddess’s honest truth,” Ariel replies.

I remember what Charlie said when we were looking at the map.

~The mountain range known as Fate’s Web.~

When he said that at the meeting, I thought it was just folklore. I didn’t think it would have any basis in reality.

“Where are you taking me?” Ariel quizzes me while we pass around the back of the palace.

“It’s just a few more steps,” I say as we turn a corner and come face-to-face with my destined mate.

He’s shirtless, standing near the trailer of his pickup truck, ripping apart blocks of firewood with his bare claws.

His long dark hair is tied back into a Dutch plait, and his beard is braided intricately.

“That’s…your destined mate?” Ariel says, clearly recognizing the irony.

~She’s absolutely loving this.~

“Um, yeah, that’s Charlie,” I say.

“Tell me, why is his truck parked on the lawn?”

“He likes sleeping in nature.”

~This is a nightmare.~

On hearing our voices, Charlie looks up and throws the pieces of wood he was tearing into a pile.

“Lovely morning,” he says, his pale blue eyes glinting in the sunlight. “Who is this?”

“Charlie, this is my sister Ariel, the queen and luna,” I say, motioning to Ariel.

“Hi Ariel,” Charlie says, before pulling Ariel into a tight hug. “Natalia has told me all about you. So nice to meet her sister. But please, call me Chuck.”

Ariel manages to pry herself apart from my mate, and gives him a smile. “Okay, Chuck. But honestly, we have SO many rooms in the palace. Why don’t you just stay in one of those?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I’d prefer to stay here. I’ve never slept better than when I’ve slept under the stars!”

~Oh please stop.~

“Okay Charlie, Ariel and I need to talk, so I’ll see you later,” I say, grabbing Ariel’s hand and racing back around the palace.

“Okay, well, nice to meet you Ari!” Charlie calls after us.

“You too!” she calls back before I yank her behind the stone wall.

“Nice catch, I must say,” she says with a smile. “Broad chested, sculpted, his back is uh-mazing!”

“Put your tongue back in your mouth and stop drooling over ~my man~,” I say, annoyed. Then I lower my voice: “Do you like him?”

“He’s a damn better choice than your last mate,” she replies.

“That’s not much of a contest!” I say. “Please, just tell me!”

Ariel begins to laugh.

“Natalia, he’s great. As long as ~you~ like him, he’s welcome. He seems genuine and nice, if maybe a bit overzealous. He could have crushed my ribs with that hug!”

My body relaxes at Ariel’s response.

“One question though,” Ariel says, her face filling with mischief. “Have you introduced him to Mom?”

~Ah. Mom.~

Quick to judge and even quicker to verbalize said judgment.

As soon as I introduce the two, she’ll immediately voice her opinion.

“No, they haven’t met,” I reply quietly.

“Well, good luck on that one; I think you’re going to need it. I’m heading back to bed.”

ARIEL

I’m in a white void, floating weightlessly.

~Am I dreaming?~

~Or is this something else?~

The last thing I remember is falling asleep next to Alex…

“Ariel?”

I whirl around, trying to find the voice calling out to me.

“Who’s there?” I ask.

A great shaft of light appears several feet in front of me, then materializes into the Moon Goddess.

“Selene!” I say, trying to bow but finding that being weightless makes the act ten times harder.

“Sorry that you had to meet my sister, Fate,” she says. “She’s always been resentful of me, ever since the dawn of time.”

Selene continues, gliding closer: “I can’t really blame her. She doesn’t just bring destiny to wolves, she also brings death and despair. And with so many wolves choosing their mates, it seems she is redundant in the matter of love.”

“But why is she so fixated on me?” I ask. “Why does she want me to be with Xavier?”

Selene smiles.

“She feels the world would be better if you two were mated. But that’s simply not true. If you were mated to Xavier, you wouldn’t have your healing powers. She’s jealous that I chose you to heal the wolves and challenge her.”

“Is that why you ~chose~ me? To fight with your sister?” I say.

I’m reminded of something Fate said in her lair. How the Moon Goddess was only using me as a pawn in their feud.

Selene shakes her head, and her smile grows wider.

“My child, I chose you because your spirit and your will are ~unbreakable~. That’s what makes you unique.”

Selene reaches out a hand, and I have an intense urge to extend mine too.

“Be my conduit; be their beacon of hope. They will give praise to me and you, Ariel, queen and luna of the Royal Pack!”

I stretch out my hand…and finally we connect.

I suddenly feel heat surging through my body, like nothing I’ve experienced before.

It feels like fire is flooding my veins.

~Holy shit!~

~I’m touching the Moon Goddess...~

~And it feels like I’m invincible…~