"We have a wolf connection, idiot," Jayce muttered. "Alright. Enough stalling. We have to go."
"You sense them, too, huh?" Saint commented. "We’ve got time."
"No, we don't," Onyx pointed out.
"While you and Neo were playing heroes of the century, we secured the area with a few traps," Saint revealed. Suddenly, the ground shook as loud sounds that resembled fireworks went off. "Ah. There we go."
Screams of agony cut through the air, and they sounded far closer than I would have predicted.
"That's our cue to jet," Saint declared.
Onyx secured me in his hold while Dimitris spoke. "Two hours. I'll need you for thirty minutes, and then we'll return to Neo's hotel to regroup. Then we'll know what our game plan will be."
Dimitris was obviously directing the statement to Viktor.
"Fine," he agreed, but he didn't sound pleased about it.
"If you need backup, just let me know. You know how," Onyx stated, which had to be directed to Viktor.
"You wouldn't abandon Willow now," Viktor acknowledged. From the swaying movement of my body, we were moving swiftly.
"You're correct, but I also know you're important to her, so if I let you go get into stupid shit, she'll scold me the best way she knows how."
"No access, huh," Viktor stated like it was an obvious fact.
"That, and she'd probably never speak to me again. I can't afford that now. Would be a pain with a bond as strong as this."
"Valid," Viktor replied. "Recap later?"
"Yes. For now, just secure her valuables. And if you can get a hold of Aurelia, please do. I want to make sure Willow is actually okay inside and out."
"Got it."
My consciousness was beginning to fade now, and at some point, I felt us make it to the car. I wanted to sleep, I really did, but there was just something frightening that lingered at the thought.
What if I lose control? This isn't the time for psycho Willow right now. What if we get attacked? I shouldn't rest. I need to be strong for what's to come...but I'm so tired. Fuck...
I felt like I was stuck in a position I had no clue how to get out of, but was suddenly silenced by the touch of tender lips to my temple. Waves of tranquility washed over me as a soft, humming melody began to flow through my mind.
The deep serenade was like being tucked into bed and having someone's hands running through your hair at a soothing pace that only encouraged sleep to come faster. My worries, fears, and anything else that tried to leave me anxious faded away, and I was left to slip into the positives of our situation.
I’d somehow escaped death, met Mother Moon, and received proof of how much Onyx loved me. My wolf was awakened after another close call. Somehow I had two mates, was a royal princess, and was officially part of the Forbidden Pack as a wolf shifter.
There was no conscious time left to wonder about what would happen after I woke up, but the Pink Moon had somehow delivered everything I needed to destroy the depths of doubt that fought to ruin me and replaced it with all I'd been asking for.
My purpose, an identity, people who loved and cherished me, and ultimately...acceptance.
That was more than enough to allow me to succumb to the darkness, as my last thought echoed within my mind.
Thanks to the Pink Moon, I've awakened my destiny.
1
Royally Bonded And Showtime
~NEO~
"We need confirmation from Boss to let you in!"
All eyes were on me, the attention making me smirk at the spike of their tense energies. Guess my hidden persona always gave those vibes, and it was why no lost sheep tried to venture into my vicinity of power.
I reached over to slightly press the button that rolled down the tinted window to my left. I didn't need to move any further as the guards in black gasped and quickly stood at attention.
"Prince Neo. W-W-We apologize! We were not aware of your arrival!"
All eyes were back on me, and seeing as Dimitris wasn't in our car, I knew I'd get a bit of questioning about the rather "royal" title. It'd been a while since I last arrived, and my guards only felt more nervous at the idea of simply calling me Neo.
Annoying.
"I had unexpected business." I got straight to the point. "We'll be staying in the penthouse. I want security doubled. Dimitris will be here shortly with another ally. They're cleared by me. I want food prepared by the time we reach the hotel. And where's Zane?"
"Zane is out on business, Prince, but I can contact him?"
"Tell him I need him here in ten minutes."
"Yes, sir!"
"Ensure the suites are available for my guests. You know how each of them like their arrangements."
"I'll handle that immediately."
There was nothing else to be said, which left me to do the honors of lifting the tiny plastic button to roll the glass back up.
"Open the gates!" the guard declared. I swore they were close to peeing their pants. It was amusing how my calm demeanor always left people trembling.
Yet they said a blind man can't rule the world.
Once the front window was shut, we moved right onto the main street that would lead to two more security points. I recalled the first time I'd brought the Forbidden to these parts. They’d thought I was ready to kill them and use their bodies for research purposes.
As amusing as the taunting idea was, I'd actually gotten used to our unique differences, but I even had Dimitris trembling internally at the potential outcome.
Not like he'd show the others just how fucking worried he was.
I didn't think we'd ever come down this route, but it made sense. My district took up the east part of NYC, and no one fucking knew about it because it was under my real name.
Nicodemus Ramiro.
It always amused me when I heard the gossip about how my name left people begging for mercy, while the bold ones would do anything to hop on a plane to Mexico in hopes of never being found by me.
Sad that they never reach boarding time.
My birth had been celebrated like a king sitting upon the throne, and though the loss of my sight was of a noble nature, it didn't stop the wrath I could deliver in a world of bloodshed. Joining Dimitris's pack tamed that cynical beast within me, but it didn't mean it couldn't click into its role and remind those who'd forgotten how dangerous I could be in anyone's presence.
Money talked, especially when you carried currencies few held in their possession thanks to generational wealth in this world of shifters. But royal titles? That got you into places you'd never think were possible.
"So..." Saint began, and I tugged out of my thoughts to acknowledge his dancing energies of white that moved like a flickering flame in a fireplace. "Are we ignoring the fact Neo was just called a prince, or are we planning to have this conversation...like never."
Jayce sighed. I could only imagine his eyes rolling while his blue energy flickered with gold. "Does it matter?"
"No," Saint pointed out. "But last time we came here, which was a fucking long time ago, no one was calling him ‘Prince.’"
"You'd never think this side of NYC had anything like this security gateway nonsense," Onyx casually muttered, as if the whole royalty topic was already boring him.