CHAPTER 10

It was 3 in the afternoon when we got off the jet plane the next day in California at LAX. My sisters and I got our bags from baggage claim, placing them on two trolleys and headed to the waiting area where was waiting for us. I took as my sunglasses and hugged my best friend.

"Hey, guys. Whoa, check you girls out. Dressing to kill as always."

"Thanks, Rae. You look amazing too." Kara said as she and Korra hugged her.

"So shall we get going? I can't wait to see the look on Nick's face when he sees you, Kiara." Rae said.

"Let me guess you didn't tell him where you were going and asked Alec to cover for you in case, didn't you?" I asked with a smile.

"Yep. You know me so well." Rae said smirking.

"That explains why Alec isn't here with you." Korra pointed out.

"Yeah. We figured it would be less suspicious if I came to pick you guys up alone." Rae explained.

"Smart." Kara commented.

"So shall we get going?" Rae asked.

"Yeah, sure." We walked to Raelynn's car and put our things inside. We then set off for the pack house.

30 mins later, we arrived at the pack house. Alec stood outside waiting for us. I got out of the car and looked around a bit. Everything looked as it did 4 years ago. I zoned back in and went to hug Alec.

"Hey, Alec." I greeted.

"Hi. Shall we? He's in his office." He said. I nodded and followed him and Rae into the house with my sisters, leaving the luggage in the care. As we walked by, we were met and greeted by familiar faces and a few unfamiliar ones who recognized us.

"Hey Rae, Alec. Where are former Alpha and former Luna Mendez? I thought by now we'd have met them." Korra asked as we climbed the staircase up to the fourth floor.

"The year before Kiara was crowned queen, they left to travel. Something they hadn't really gotten the chance to do when they were alpha and luna because of their duties." Alec explained.

"That's great. They really deserve this vacation after taking care of the pack for more than 20 years." Kara said and I agreed. Soon we reached the fourth floor. Alec and Rae led us to the 3rd door on their right, which I assumed to be Nick's office. I stopped Alec from knocking and asked him to open the door. Inside the office we saw Nick standing behind his desk trying to push away a certain brunette who was pressing herself against him in attempt to seduce. I stepped into the room quietly with my sisters without Nick or the girl noticing.

"Michelle, please stop and leave. I've told you already and I'll tell you again. I'm not interested." Nick said in a tired voice. I looked on amused.

"But baby, think of all the fun we could have together." Michelle said in what I could perceive was supposed to be a seductive voice. I resisted the urge to snort and laugh. I looked behind and beside me and saw my sisters, Rae and Alec trying to do same.

"I said no, Michelle. Now leave, please." Nick said, in a semi-firm tone, successfully pushing her away from him and stepping back.

"Come on, darling." Michelle said, trying to reach for him again. I decided to step in then and save Nick.

"Excuse me, (both of them turned to look in my direction. Nick looked surprised at my presence while Michelle looked rather annoyed by it.) I believe your Alpha just asked you to leave his office, did he not? So I'm gonna ask you nicely to step out." Nick shot me a grateful look and smile.

"And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" Michelle asked haughtily. I chuckled and looked to my sisters who had smirks on the faces.

"Goodness me, she's awfully bright." I said sarcastically. Everyone in the room except Michelle tried to hold in their laughter.

"Yes I am. Now who the hell are you?" Michelle asked again, getting annoyed.

"Michelle, you might wanna watch that tone and voice of yours considering who you're speaking to." Alec said with a mischievous smile.

"Then why don't you tell me whom I'm speaking to since she has refused to, instead of laughing at me like I'm some kind of idiot." Michelle said, getting more annoyed.

"That's because you are an idiot for not knowing who you're speaking to." Kara said in a hard yet amused voice.

"OK, I've had it. Who the hell is she, Nick?" Michelle screamed.

"The queen." He simply answered.

"The queen?" She asked, looking at me. I flashed my violet wolf eyes with flecks of silver in them which showed my status. (The status of a wolf is normally determined by the color of their eyes. Violet meant they're either the king or queen, silver means they're part of the royal family, red means they're an alpha, blue means they're a beta while the eyes of the ones with no rank are amber yellow. Werewolf/witch hybrids however have green eyes which only change to blue or red is they gain the status of beta or alpha.) Michelle's eyes widen before she started apologizing to me. I rolled my eyes and dismissed her insincere apologies and sent her out of the office.

I settled into one of the chairs in front of Nick's desk comfortably and looked up at him with a mocking smile.

"Not that we were looking for a thank you but you're welcome. After all, Kiara did just save you from that leech who just wouldn't come off." Korra said sassily.

"I'm sorry. I'm just surprised to see you here. It isn't time for the annual visits from either the queen or her envoys, is it? I'm just wondering what you're doing here." Nick said, sitting down in his own chair behind the desk.

"I suppose what you're trying to say is I need permission from you before I can visit this pack which by the way is part of the packs in the world which I rule." I said in a sarcastic voice.

"No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying normally I'm notified of any visits that would be made to my pack that's all. I'm not saying you need my permission to come and visit. I'm just always usually notified before, that's all."

"Why should you have been notified so that you can cover up what's really going on in the pack. Then we'd have no cause to stay and we'd be out of your hair, isn't it? Well, tough luck." I said in a hard tone.

"Judging by the tone of your voice, I'm assuming Alec and Rae found a loophole in my order to not inform you of what's happening over here." Nick said.

"Well, they weren't ready to see the pack experience anymore attacks because of your damn pride." Kara said.

"Pardon my impudence but I gave them that order because we do not need your help." Nick said with confidence.

"The hell we don't. Nick, whether you want to admit it or not the pack needs their help. In the past 3 weeks, we've been attacked over 5 random times more than we have been in the past. And all those times I suggested we inform the queen you refused saying we can handle it, we just need to be more prepared next time. Now look, you might be the alpha and I, your beta, but you're also my best friend. So I will not sit on my ass and watch you make decisions that could not end well for the pack." Alec countered.

"You're right which is why I asked you not to tell her so I could tell her myself when I was ready." Nick said, standing up.

"When you were ready? And how many more of our pack members had to get hurt or worse before you were ready? You may deny that it was your pride and ego as an alpha and a man that was keeping you from reaching out for help but everyone knows that's the truth and hell, you know it too deep down." Rae said, frustrated with Nick's stubbornness.

"This isn't about my damn pride, ok?" Nick said in a loud voice. I watched as the alpha and his beta and beta female continued to argue. I stood up after a moment and decide to break up the argument.

"I think that's enough arguing since we are getting nowhere. Now, you are all gonna be quiet and listen to me. Alpha Mendez, your betas came to the elders asking for my help because they care about the pack just as much as you do. The elders sent two scouts over here to check the situations and the reports they received were not good at all. And so they came to me because I'm the only one who can either appoint someone to help or help you myself. And I decided to do so myself. You may think you don't want our help but the truth is you don't just want our help, you need it. And I'm not asking you to take my offer of help, I'm giving it whether you like or not. Now, this is what we're gonna do right now. Alexander, Raelynn, you and my sisters are going to step outside and take our luggage to the house we stayed in the last time we were here. And then you're gonna take my sisters to meet with your head warrior to discuss new training schedules which will take effect as of tomorrow. (Nick opened his mouth to protest.) This is not a suggestion, Alpha Mendez. It's a royal order. (Nick closed his mouth after I snapped at him.) While they do that, you and I need to have a chat, Alpha Mendez." I turned and nodded at my sisters to go. They stood up and left the office with Alec and Rae in tow. I turned back to Nick and gave him a tight smile. He sighed and sat back in his chair.

"So, Your Majesty, what did you want to talk about?" He asked.

"It's quite stuffy in here. Why don't we take a stroll around the house and through that beautiful forest behind the house that you loved so much when I was here 4 years ago? And then you can tell me what's really going on with you." I said in a soft tone.

"Are you asking this as the queen or my mate?"

"I'm asking this as a friend who cares." I saw a look of disappointment cross his face before it disappeared quickly and he smiled.

"I'll take what I can get for now. Shall we?" He asked, getting up and coming to stand by my side. I nodded and stood up as well, then we left the office and went downstairs and outside the house. We walked for a while in comfortable silence. Neither of us saying anything. We stopped walking when we got to a stream and then we sat down on a boulder by it.

"I didn't know there was a stream here." I said, breaking the silence.

"That's because Nico never brought you to this side of the forest when you were last here 4 years ago and she took you on your morning runs on Saturdays and evening runs on the weekdays. This is actually a spot I used to come to whenever I wanted to be alone, to think or to just get away from everything. Only Alec knows about this place and my coming here. I've been coming here a lot lately."

"Nick, why don't you tell me what's going on with you? You look like you haven't had proper sleep in weeks."

"That's because I haven't, Kiara. I don't know what to do about the 'rogues' situation. I don't know why they keep attacking us randomly like that. I'm at my wit's end and I don't know how to help my pack. It's like everything's been falling apart."

"And yet, you were ready to refuse my help."

"I guess everyone was right about it being my pride and ego preventing me from asking for help. I didn't want to seem weak, like I couldn't protect my own pack."

"Nick, asking for help doesn't make you seem weak or unable to protect your pack. If anything, it shows your willingness to do anything to protect your pack. It's why you left a loophole in the order you gave Alec and Rae. You wanted them to reach out to me for help. And that wasn't weakness, it was strength."

"How did you know I deliberately left that loophole?"

"Because, even though we weren't as close as I am with Alec and Rae, I still know you, Nicholas Mendez." He chuckled and nodded. I smiled as well.

"No wonder you had a 5.8 GPA. You're smart."

"Nick, what's the other reason you've not been sleeping? And don't lie to me. It isn't just about the rogues. (I looked at him as he turned away from me, not wanting to meet my eyes. I instantly knew what the reason was.) It's about us, isn't it?" He nodded.

"Ever since Amara found her mate and left the pack, I couldn't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I remember you. You were everywhere. As much as I loved that, it was driving me insane. Because it reminded that the reason why I don't have you was because of the stupid mistake I made. It was my fault you hated me. And I deserve it for breaking your heart without a good enough reason."

"Why did you really reject me, Nick? And the truth this time. I know what I said about you wanting a power couple was not true. So why did you do it?"

"Because I felt like I didn't deserve you. Kiara, you were perfect, too perfect for a guy like me to have. You deserved at least someone better than me, that's why I pushed you away."

"You felt? You felt? And so you broke my heart based on how insecure you felt? Fine. But did you stop to think about how I felt then? How I would feel after you did that?"

"Kiara, I'm sorry. I realize what a fool I was to do that. Please give me a chance to fix this. I can't live without you, Kiara. I need you." He looked at me pleadingly.

"For 3 years, you let me believe I wasn't enough for you. And then a year ago, you came to my coronation accused me of trying to turn your people against you and make myself the victim of your rejection just because I hadn't told anyone about it. How do you think that made me feel? The accusation I can forgive because finding out that I hadn't told anyone made you feel guiltier than you already were. What I cannot forgive is your reason for rejecting me and causing me so much pain. I have to go." I got up and turned to leave. Nick stopped me by taking my hands and kneeling in front of me.

"Kiara, please give me a chance to fix this. I was stupid and selfish and inconsiderate of your feelings. And for that I will spend the rest of my life regretting it and the decision I made. Please give me a chance. I beg of you. My life is meaningless without you, please. Let me earn your forgiveness, I just need a chance."

"I can't do this right now. Not right now. I need some time to figure all this out."

"Ok, but can we at least be friends? I can't stand it when you don't talk to me or even look at me."

"We're already friends. That's already established. It's the other stuff I need time to figure out." He got up from the ground still holding my hands.

"That's ok. I understand. It's getting kinda late. We should head back now."

"Actually, do you mind if I stay a little longer? I want to be alone for a while."

"Sure, just be careful."

"Of what? The bugs, the wild animals? You do realize they have to be careful of me." I said in a teasing tone. Nick chuckled and shook his head.

"Just take care of yourself. Call me if you get lost. I'd be happy to show the way back after I laugh at you for getting lost." He teased back.

"Yeah, sorry to bust your bubble but I don't get lost ever."

"Really? And why is that?"

"I don't forget stuff. You can ask Alec and Rae. They'll tell you all about it. Now shoo, you need to see Kara and Korra to see the schedule they've planned and also introduce them to the pack. You can tell them I'm also here but I won't be there."

"That reminds me. I know you and your sisters are a package deal but why did they come along? Aren't they supposed to take care of stuff at the castle in your absence?"

"Technically, yes."

"So why are they here? And why didn't you bring the Captain of the royal guard? Isn't he or she the one supposed to be making the training schedules with my head warrior?" I smiled and raised a brow at him.

"Come on, Nick. You're smart enough to have figured it out as you asked the questions." He gave me a confused look.

"Wha... Wait, are you saying what I think you're trying to say? Korra and Korra are the Captains of royal guard?"

"Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner."

"Wow. So in this way, you three are still a package deal. Where you go, they go, as princesses and as captains of the royal guard."

"Wow, you really getting good at this figuring out thing." I said, playfully sarcastic. He shook his head and smiled.

"Shut up. Always the sarcasm and sass with you, isn't it? Well then, I'm gonna go back to the house where I'm sure no one's gonna sass me and give me an overdose of sarcasm."

"Probably for the best." He chuckled and walked away them, leaving me smiling. When he was completely out of sight, I took my shoes and shifted into my wolf. Taking my shoes into my mouth, I run around for a while to clear my head, making sure I wasn't seen by anyone, human or werewolf before I shifted back and went to the house my sisters and I were staying at.