The Unwanted Luna

-POV

Ayame-

I bit down on my tongue as the whip landed on my back, creating new scars I thought I would never see again. "You really want to do this the hard way? I'm shocked. How easy it was for those three to tame you...and I have to go through all this work for a stupid human when they just picked you up and galavanted into a happily ever after?!"

Crack!

Does this man even know what the mate bond is? I'm human and it seems like I have more of a grasp than he does. The best part is I didn't give them an easy time. The past two months have been hard on all four of us, but with every crack of the whip, I know for certain I would do it again. A million times over if I have to, as long as they come to find me. I took a deep breath and continued to look down at the ground. "Sir, we've used fifteen lashings." The torturer called. "And?"

"That's the daily allotment for women, sir." He said, clearing his throat.

"I want to hear her scream! Beg for me to let her warm my bed! Until then, you will continue!" Prince Chaz shouted before sitting on the stool at the far end of the cell. "Begin!" He bellowed.

"I'm sorry about this." The man mumbled just loud enough for me to hear and I nodded once. He will have to continue. Believe it or not, everyone here is a prisoner. No one below ground is here because they want to be. I would rather take these lashings than watch him suffer. By the twenty-fifth lash I finally let out a scream, unable to hold back any longer. My tongue was bloodied by the sheer force I held, biting down on it. Many paragraphs are missing. Read the complete book on Jo=b n-1 b. c (o) m. Prince Chaz laughed and the man continued. "Three more and then she can be taken to her cell. I'm sure she will be ready for work in the morning! We can rediscuss this conversation at a later date. Make it count!" He growled before disappearing back to his posh lap of luxury. Once the man was out of ear shot, the torture stopped immediately and he carefully helped me down.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Luna." He whimpered as his voice caught in his throat.

I turned and rested my hand on the young man's cheek. "It's okay. Please don't apologize. I don't want you to get in trouble either. They would do much worse to you." I smiled softly.

"Get her back in her cage!" A guard shouted from down the hall.

"C-Can you walk, Luna?" He whimpered.

I guess it really is painful for a wolf to harm their Luna. Whether I hold the title officially or not, they know who I am. I smiled and nodded. "Let's get out of here."

He agreed and gently placed his arm around my shoulders. I'm thankful this boy has impeccable aim. I can still raise my arms with...minimal pain. That will make this easier. We slowly made it back to my cell and the guard locked me in before locking the young man in his. More like throwing the young man in his. During the time I've spent here, I've realized what Edon and Conri have told me since I found my nirvana. The werebears are not to be trifled with. They really are the strongest. I mean, the guard just flung him against the wall like he was a sack of feathers. It's terrifying. We both stared at each other before I was thrown a menial medical kit. "Don't die." The guard growled before disappearing back up the stairs. I hurriedly did my best to clean my wounds and, thankfully, I was able to get some sleep that night. Unfortunately, this was night number five. -POV Conri-

After the day we felt her torture for the first time, it took all of our power to fight back the urge to set the prince's territory a blaze with blood and carnage in its wake. Once we calmed ourselves, we decided it was best to go with a fool-proof plan this time instead of brute force. Prince Chaz won. I will admit that, but it was just the battle. He hasn't even begun to see the war. We cannot be taken advantage of.

Once we had our pawns in place and the crimes against the council were stacked against them, Zyair, the King of the Fae and the Head of the Council met us at his home in the inner ring of Bodhi Cora. The kicker is, to say it took a lot to convince him of the treason happening right under his nose would be a subtle way of looking at it. "How can you come in here and tell me my trusted advisors would do such a thing?!" Zyair shouted and rightfully so.

If someone told me my Gamma, Head Warrior, and Beta were plotting against me I would laugh in their faces. "Not all of them, Zyair. You are one of my good friends and I wouldn't have come here without evidence. I have been looking for the right information for years and finally, our omegas have enough proof against them. Not only the kidnapping of our new Luna, but many other nefarious plots and colluding with rogues to send them down the creek without a paddle. Without a doubt, the information we found has confirmed my suspicions that, in the past, has only led to stale breadcrumbs."

"And how am I to believe this? Who am I to trust if not the men I have served on this court with since before your grandfather was in diapers, Connery?"

My dad turned to the entrance of the study and The King's closest council confidants, Fawn and Magnus, came around the corner. "Glad to see you two could make it. Late as usual though." I said, nodding with respect.

They nodded back and turned to Zyair, bowing low. He is the King of the Fae after all. Yeah...friends in high places make us a rather large target. One with rather large arrows pointing their way begging to hit the bullseye. "My King." They both called and Zyair waved them off. "So you are telling me the only people I can trust out of a fourteen-chair council are my childhood friends? Everyone else had stabbed me the back?!"

I stood at this point. This conversation was going nowhere and we pushed for almost two weeks to get him to even talk to us. I don't have time to wait for him to come to the understanding that some don't like him. "Your highness, we understand that this might come as a shock for you, but while we waited for an audience with you, we have not sat idly by. Our spies have shut down hundreds of conspirators against your throne. Tortured and killed to confirm the names, and they all came back with the same twelve men that stand by you and supposedly govern our nation. They are also the same men who said the werebear species and royal territory cannot be touched."

"Our Luna...no our mate is being held captive there and we can feel her being tortured. She hasn't had the life of a pampered royal or dignified lady. She has been through enough pain and to feel her going through that again while we have to sit on our thumbs because of a law that should have been abolished two generations ago is a joke! I'm sorry, but we need an audience and we need it now." Vil added.

I turned to my brother and nodded to him. Four times, we felt searing pain riddle through our bodies...four times. We feed ourselves, but we are always starving. If that wasn't confirmation, I don't know what is. She...she's being tortured. I can't take this anymore and neither can they. Zyair looked at each of us and sighed. "I know you are telling the truth, it's just hard for an old man like me to listen. I think it's time for some change and an audience with the council is first on our list. I will make it happen as soon as I can. You place your men and women to be ready to fight. We will shut this down if this is the last thing I do as King. You will get your mate back and I look forward to meeting her when the time comes."

"We look forward to making the introductions." I said with a bow and my father held out his hand for Zyair to shake.

The king engulfed him in a hug and they chuckled. "Thank you for raising such good kids. I cannot wait to hear about the grands." He said with a chuckle.

My father laughed along with him. "I'm sure you will be there to guide them on the right path as you did with me and you will with my sons." "What?" The three of us asked.

They both rolled their eyes. "Let's just say, we are closer to the Fae royalty than just a good friend. Now let's get home and be prepared."

"She might have to stay there for a few more days. I don't want to raise suspicion." The King added reluctantly.

I grit my teeth, knowing we can't get out of this. However, there will be a compromise. "Only a few more days, then we go in, guns blazing. We take them and we take the council, regardless of how it looks." I warned.

Zyair nodded and raised a glass to me. "Spoken like a true alpha. I will see you in a few days."

I nodded and headed out of the room. "I'll hold you to it." I said before disappearing down the steps of his lavish castle and speeding back to our territory.

A Few Days Later

I stared up at the Fae Council and I could tell exactly who was in the Prince's pockets. A few days almost turned into a week while we pushed to get an audience with them. I'm at my whit's end! There isn't anything we could do to make this process go faster and - according to them - we need to use the proper channels to retrieve our mate. I'm glad we were able to talk with Zyair or these 'proper channels' would have been endless.

"You have made your decision already." Vil growled lowly. It wasn't a question.

The three of us stood to our feet and Zyair raised his hand. We discussed this before but this is just frustrating. "We did not dismiss this audience." He called with a slight worry in his eye.

"With all due respect, King Zyair, if we are not going to get assistance from your council, we will deal with this on our own." My father called back.

"That is not something that can be condoned, Alpha Father." Zyair countered.

"Our Luna is missing!" Edon finally shouted, making the room freeze to silence. During this entire process, Edon had fallen almost deadly silent. It's not like him and it made many of the pack members fall on edge. Hearing his brother again, my Lycan howled in agreement. "I'm tired of this political bullshit! I will not condone anyone allowing our mate to suffer at all, let alone how long she already has! I'm getting my mate back. If you don't want to back us because of the protective alliance placed on the werebears, fine. But if they do not hand my mate over by the end of the day, the entire species will be extinct!" He bellowed and the silence turned into shock as he stormed out the room with Vil close on his heels.

My father and I stared up at the men that are supposed to keep the peace in Bodhi Cora. Even at the extent of many things, like the safety of others. We want to be civilized, yes, but when my princess is at stake for our 'civility,' I draw the line. "You... Alpha Conri...you cannot let this happen!" One of the councilmen called, fumbling over his words.

Zyair glanced his way then back to us. "I can do whatever I want to do. You all are so terrified of my brothers and I taking over the council or Bodhi Cora purely because our parents were able to join together three of the five shifter species into a larger territory? A nation we had no intention of ruling or overthrowing now or in the past! However, you made a grave mistake, tossing my fiancé off to the side. Now...we just might become your worst nightmare."

"Was that a threat?! He threatened the Fae Council! Cease him!" Another councilmember called and the smug look on his face made me realize this is exactly what they wanted all along. Play with the devil to obtain your prize. My brothers and I are the prize.

I turned to the men coming towards me with spears and my father chuckled, while I didn't even give them the time of day. I took a deep breath and turned to Zyair. "Anything else you would like to see?" My dad called up to him. Zyair shook his head and raised his hand, stopping all of the guards in their tracks. "Remove the council at once. All but Fawn and Magnus are to be imprisoned immediately for treason." He said with a calm in his voice that could not be argued. However, the other twelve members were screaming when the royal guard dragged them

away.

"So, we fixed your house, but you still won't help us." My father asked with his arms folded.

Zyair chuckled. "I will help you by allowing this to happen. Prince Chaz has crossed a line. I have no idea what other treasonous acts he has committed, but we can start with corrupting councilmen, kidnapping a Luna, and we can add in the generational eradication of the royal werebear family that my father blessed personally as well. You can leave the other transgressions on my desk. I cannot allow him to continue this selfish rampage."

My father bowed and, as did I, while we walked out of the throne room to catch up to my brothers already fuming in the car. "I cannot believe those dusty assholes!" Edon shouted.

"Did you get them to crack?" Vil asked. It seemed like he was the only one who remembered the plan.

I smirked as the car drove off. "Like an egg. All council members assisting Prince Chaz have been removed. It's time to get our mate back. Now!"

Vil howled and Edon cracked his fists. My eyes shifted, black as night. I took a deep breath and opened a link to all of our awaiting warriors. "Move on the werebear kingdom. If anyone resists, leave no survivors. Find our mate!" My Lycan shouted.

We sped along the crystal-covered streets as our guard did their best to get us there in time. I need to see her. I need to know she is okay. None of us have felt the pain of her last heartbeat, so...at least we have that going for us, but there is no telling what has been happening for the last three weeks. The pain we felt. The fighting spirit she's held onto.... We know this won't be easy, but no more. It's time to get back our queen.