KINGMAKER

Diana p.o.v

I felt a little guilty hearing the complaint she made, but I also felt a surge of relief when seeing her finally awake. She looked confused about where she was, looking around, and then her eyes fell on me.

"Diana... I'm not dead.." A tear fell on her face, and a weak smile formed on her dry lips.

"I'm so glad.." The words came out raspy and I smiled reassuringly.

"You're okay now, you're going to be okay." I took her hand that reached for me and squeezed it gently to transfer the strength that she needed.

"Amelia." Ethan called her, and her eyes, although subtly, were surprised to hear him. She turned to see who it was as if she was confirming what she heard was right.

They exchanged eye contact, and I now noticed genuine sadness coming from Ethan. I thought Amelia would be happy seeing him, but rather she shook her head before turning around.

"Amelia..." Now, it sounded like a plea. Amelia refused to face Ethan and turned her body at me instead.

"Not now, Ethan. I-I can't see you yet." She uttered painfully.

"I need an explanation, Lia. The doctor said you got hurt because of me. How ?" He continued to bombard her with questions, but Amelia shrunk smaller into her bed, trying to get away from him.

"Hey.." I heard Noah consoling Ethan, holding his shoulder to stop him from pressuring Amelia further. He looked at me, and I nodded at him.

Ethan was hesitant but followed Noah outside afterward. Ian closed the door to the room when the both of them left. We exchanged glances before I looked down at Amelia again.

"Hey.." I tried to call her who had her arms over her chest, tugging her hair that fell on her face behind her ear. Sadness washed over me seeing her shedding tears non-stop.

"It was my fault. I hid it from him. I couldn't help it. My dad will hate me if he knew." She cried, but I could not wrap up what she was saying in my mind.

"I-I'm not following.." I told her, and she pushed her body up, trying to sit up, and I helped her.

"He was drunk that night. I ran away after that and thanks to the alcohol, he didn't remember it. At first, I thought everything would be alright, but I guess it wasn't." I rubbed her back while she was explaining, and now I get why Ethan was angry when I accused him of cheating.

"My dad hates the Griffin and told me to stay away from him, but then Ethan Griffin is my mate. How can I do that ? But the thought of letting my dad down scares me." She continued to cry when speaking of her dad, and all I could do was listen. I did not know what to say in this situation, so I looked at Ian for help. He noticed my stares and sighed.

"All your dad has to do is to suck it up. You cannot sever mates' bond." I gave him a glare for his insensitive words, and he shrugged his shoulders at me.

"This is exactly what he hates, cheating mate. If he knows about what Ethan did to me, he will be strongly against him. My dad hates Lorenzo Griffin for his unfaithfulness and the act of mockery toward Moon Goddess, and Ethan did exactly what his father used to do." I did not let go of her hand, and she continued to cry over her twisted fate.

"How about... we think about it later ? You should rest first." I caressed her hair, but she did not reply instantly.

"You know how to fix this. The bond we were granted by the Moon Goddess is the most powerful tool we have as werewolves. You're a smart girl, Amelia Foresky." We both turned to look at Ian. What he said sounded straightforward, but they were always right.

"And... I'm sure your father isn't as heartless as you think. You just have to be honest about it." I noticed the frown on Amelia when the 'heartless' word came from Ian. I was surprised as well that it could also interpret that way. I was just thinking her father was just a protective one.

Amelia seemed to be contemplating something until she looked less tense and looked over at me.

"I would like to see Ethan." She said, and a smile formed on my lips seeing her positive reaction.

"I have to go as well. I'll get him on my way back." I looked up to Ian who was about to turn around to leave.

"Where are you going ?" I asked him.

"There is an unfinished business before I came here. I'll come back soon. Don't worry. I registered as your guardian here. Your dad won't know about you unless you want me to." He reassured Amelia before looking at me again. I nodded as thanks, and he did the same before he left the room.

Then, I noticed Amelia's eyes looked at me questionably. I immediately understood that stare.

"Ian Bennett, our new teacher." I was slick enough to remember his guise at the last second. This might be the first time I was seen with Ian after Noah. I almost forgot he was also under the guise as well after everything.

"Bennett.. no way, the Bennett, the family of Kingmaker ?!" I was taken aback by the reaction. I knew that the Bennett family is an impressive one and has many nicknames, but a Kingmaker ? That sound so cool. I did not forget to nod at her with a smile.

"One and only." I told her, and her smile grew bigger.

"Meeting the Bennett is one of my dreams ! I thought that I had to enter the Parliament first to see them. I never thought they would ever take such a measly job." I tilted my head at her words, but then the door opened from the outside and a doctor entered the room. I distanced myself from the bed to give space for the doctor to check her.

"She barely survives earlier, but surprisingly healing very fast. I assume you already find her mate ?" The doctor asked after finishing checking up on Amelia. I nodded at him.

"The outside heals progressively, but I'm afraid you need more time on the inside. Please don't move too much, Amelia, or else your organs will tear apart." She nodded sadly, and I just stared at her sympathetically.

"How do you suggest the inside heal as fast as the outside ?" I asked the doctor.

"Bonds knows no boundaries. Through mating, her body will gain strength again and will heal in no time. By that, I mean as early as a week."

I noticed how depressed Amelia look. She was struggling with which side to choose. However, I did not think there was any more choice since she was already dying earlier.

After the doctor left, Ethan entered the room. Guilt was all over his busted face, making me feel guilty myself for my harsh words toward him. His eyes first made to Amelia before he looked at me.

"Noah... is waiting outside." He told me. I nodded as I made my way to the door to leave this couple alone. Gently, I closed the door and made my way to the garden.

Once my skin met with the cold air, my fatigue was gone replaced with trembling nerves in my body. I quickly wrapped my arms around to produce heat.

I turned a corner and immediately saw Noah sitting down on a bench facing the garden. He was slouching forward while his face was covered with his hands. He looked stressed out.

"Noah ?"

Upon hearing my voice, he immediately looked up and stands. I formed a small smile while he started to look concerned.

"It's cold, huh ? We should talk inside."

I shook my head and cut him by wrapping my arms around him, hugging him, and resting my cheek on his chest. He took a breather before wrapping his arms around me as well.

We stayed that way for a while, exchanging heat under the moonlight. Warmth was created inside of us just by being close to each other.

I moved my head a little to rest my forehead over his chest, gulping down the saliva while thinking of the unnecessary bickering in the room earlier.

"I'm sorry... for losing it in the room earlier." I apologized, while his hand rubbed on my back to reassure me.

"It's alright. I'm sorry as well, for not stopping you." His words made me look up to him in with slight confusion.

"Why are you apologizing ?" His eyes darkened a little as he looked down.

"I shouldn't have let it escalate into a fight. I should've stopped either of you, but I- I don't know why I couldn't choose." He shook his head regrettably.

"I'm used to diffusing the fight before it starts. Especially for Ethan. He causes problems often and I'm used to saving him all the time, but now you're my mate... I guess I'm just a coward." Noah said, his face looking troubled.

He should not have felt this way. Noah felt this way because of my anger and childishness. It was bad enough that I took him lightly when he told me to calm down. I disrespected him.

I brought my hand up to cup his face. He finally looked up at me.

"I... I'm so sorry Noah, I really am." I caressed his cheek with my thumb, and he continued to hold me close.

"I didn't know you'd feel that way. You're not a coward. I'm the one who should manage my anger better. I got emotional easily..."

"It's justified. Amelia almost died." I shook my head as I rested my forehead on his chest again.

"Amelia hid it from him. Ethan didn't know. He was drunk that night." I could feel he was sighing before wrapping his arms higher to pull me into a tighter hug.

Only silence after that, but it calms us better than words. Our beating hearts beat in rhythm while I sniffed into his addictive scent. His scent was the only thing that can calm me.

"They will make it. Ethan has always had a crush on Amelia."

That surprised me. I looked up to him questionably and our eyes met.

"It's complicated, their family. Plus Amelia is that goody-two-shoes that's too pure for dating, and Ethan did not want to ruin her. By the time he realized he likes her, he already has the reputation of a playboy."

I spat out a laugh listening to it, forming a smile on Noah's face.

"Why are you laughing ?" he asked.

"I once thought you were a playboy as well. Ian told me to stay away from you and your friends. I ignored him." He laughed.

"Among everyone in the group, I was the hopeless one." He told me, and I poked his nose with my finger playfully.

"I'm glad." I loosened my arms around him as I walked backward with a cheeky smile.

-

Noah p.o.v

With the full moon being atop her head, I watched her walking backward with that cute smile. My stomach began to feel fireworks and my heart bubbly at her playful attitude.

"You know what we should do ?" Her beautiful voice questioned with playfulness, her face was brighter than earlier. Her magnificent blue eyes were sparkling as she beckoned my eyes to follow whatever she was doing.

Seeing her distance away, I snapped from my trance and jogged to follow her. It seemed she was trying to get to the wall to find a gate. Once she found it, she opened it and left it open while running into the forest.

I quickly get to the gate and closed it again, afraid I would lose her in the woods.

I navigated the darkness of the forest easily with enhanced vision, and suddenly I heard rustles. Alarmed, I turned around seeing the bushes move as if something had walked past them.

Then, a wolf appeared from behind it, the shade of black fur and silver lining around the neck and chest, and the eyes adorned with powerful red eyes, the eyes of the Predator. My heart palpitated at the sight of the Royal Wolf, thinking it was the King himself. However, the smaller size of it reminded me it was Diana.

She was staring at me for a moment before she was gone again behind all the bushes and trees. I smiled before I made my way towards one of the distinct huge trees, and a moment later came out as a wolf myself.

My wolf was a brown, almost red fur that moved swiftly passed the bushes and trees. The Sinclair was granted the brute and swiftness. Our strength and prowess were dedicated as shields and swords to the Royal family and to Aurelia many generations ago.

Coming out of the forest, I followed upward the hill where I could see Diana was heading.

The wind picked up once we reached the top, but the image of the night was beautiful. With Diana underneath the full moon, as if the Moon Goddess was looking down at her herself.

I was put to a stop at the sight, and my eyes widened in amazement even more once I witnessed her howling through the cold night. It was like a melody that soothe us and provide protection in our hearts.

Just like the leader of the pack should be.