F I V E

GABRIEL

She was stunning. As much as I hated being soft, I had to admit it. I saw her standing within the Dome, she had noticed me too. Though I don't think she could tell. My suspicions proved correct when I entered into the room with the rest of the Committee Members, she was my mate. Her scent was overwhelming, a sugared amber, maybe a hint of honey. I avoided eye contact with her, I didn't want our wolves to recognize each other as mates, but I knew she was mine. Solely based on the symptoms and signs around us. If the Committee Members found out, she'd be in danger.

Kai is a Moon Queen.

A rare and powerful Alpha female, even my wolf would succumb to her. Moon Queens are mated to Alpha Kings, and are born during the Total Eclipse. Kai was all of those things, but her genetics wouldn't alter until she was marked by an Alpha King. Me.

I couldn't hide it from her, but marking her my queen would put her into more danger. If there were other Alpha King's out there, they may try to kill her. If there were any Alpha Kings out there also born on a Total Eclipse she was really in danger. If they killed her, they would inherit her Moon essence and become a Moon King. I could kill her and become a Moon King, but I obviously wouldn't.

When the twins walked in everyone was shocked, I already knew who they were. I knew they existed. The way Pryor eyed Kai annoyed me. They were looking for her, their body language gave them away.

"So, birthday girl, where am I taking you tonight." Pryor asked her, the thought of him taking her somewhere made my blood boil. This mate bond was going to be the death of me if I was already feeling this way before our wolves recognized one another. Granted a King and Queen bond is strong than your typical bond. We will feel everything the other feels, emotions, physical touch, but only once we have marked each other.

I could read the annoyance crossing her face but she held her focus on the Committee Member's words.

"Alright then sweetheart, don't say I didn't ask," he continued. That was enough for me, I gave him a stern, low growl and glared at him, my pupils turning black as my wolf showed his dominance.

"Ah, there he is then."

"Don't disrespect your King." Kai snapped at him. She was a spitfire. She was looking at me, most definitely waiting for me to respond, but I didn't. She needed to snap at him, soon she focused back in on the conversation.

It wasn't long before everyone found out that they were all being sentenced to die, and Kai would win. She was built different. Her genetics were engineered to survive, the moon was one with her. She was basically a god. She just didn't know it yet.

"We do deserve to die? What if we don't want to kill anyone either. Just give us a normal task and be done with it." Kai's eyes we wild with rage.

Every single Committee Member turned their attention to her. The twins had just been escorted out for back talk too. Shit.

"Child, do you not learn? Gua-"

"NO," I cut the man off, "she is the daughter of Clayton Rivers, let him deal with her. I will call him after this meeting is through." I kept my tone even, trying to keep my secret.

Don't be stupid, I warned her through the mind link.

I was the only one able to talk to everyone without the people of The Palace hearing.

My own thoughts consumed me and soon the meeting ended. I watched Harlow make her way over as others were leaving, "act like you're flirting with me." She looked at me, she knew, I had been training her for months and as soon as I saw Kai, I knew she was mine, just unofficially and I was basing it off of a hunch. I had never had a mate because you only get one. From the stories I had heard, the things that were happening periodically were all symptoms and signs of how you finally come together.

When Harlow came to me originally, she wanted training to become a better warrior and to blow everyone out of the water for her Ritual. Little did she know. Today, I recruited Harlow to act as a cover up and as protection for Kai.

"How do I look Mr. Gabriel sir?" Harlow did a small play bow, joking around and snickered.

"Find out where they're all going tonight, and make sure you change before we go, got it?" I eyed her up and down but kept a smirk on my face.

She gave me some playful eyes, "something tells me we won't just be sitting around together tonight."

"Don't get any ideas, or you'll be dead," I warned. She nodded and left, right behind Theo. Now it was just Kai and myself. I headed to the door I had instructed her to go and opened it, stepping in side I went up the stairs.

At the top it was a dead end, just a small hideaway. I cocked my head when the door opened two floors below me. Did she trust me, or was she just following orders.

"Up the stairs." I could have let my scent guide her, but I wanted her to be confident about where she was going, and not feel like she was being lured in to a trap. I was instantly regretting this decision. I should have let her live her life, I shouldn't have made her come out here. I was selfish, I needed to smell her, my wolf needed to know she was ours. He had stopped talking to me, except for when Pryor was involved. Then he tried to take over. I think your wolf knows long before recognizing the other.

Close your eyes and guide yourself with your other senses. I wanted to give her the choice, to open her eyes or not. I had been selfish bringing her out here, so she can decide if she really wants to see me. If not, we can both be on our separate ways, but Harlow would be keeping an eye on her regardless.

Kai came around the corner, her left hand on the wall, eyes closed. I reached out and grabbed her by the neck, making sure not to hurt her. It was my wolf trying to take control, but Kai didn't flinch. I moved my hand to the base of her neck, making sure to not choke her. My thumb ran over her exposed collar bone on her left side, grazing over where I'd mark her. I inhaled her scent, it was perfect, she was perfect.

"Shit," I exhaled knowing she was mine. My wolf wanted to break free so bad, "when I tell you, you can open your eyes. Do not say a word, nor make a sound, or attempt to mind link me. I can't keep this from you, its not right. I gave in. I was her choice, but she needed to know about the danger she was in. She nodded in compliance.

"Kai Rivers, don't bite your lip. Do I scare you?" She shook her head, "oh come on, maybe a little bit?" She nodded and I grinned. I liked that, I liked the dominance it made me feel.

"Good. Open your eyes."