His Rejected 'Queen'.

Tension...

"And they were too same and too different at the same time, too strong and stubborn, too smart and brave, difficult personalities with no fear and enemies they didn't know with an uncertain future in front of them..."

~next morning, palace, hospital~

Diana’s pov

“Baby…” his soft angelic voice whispers and my heart instantly starts beating faster.

He is here!

My love is here!

My Gray!

I look around me quickly searching for him but the white clouds are too thick and I can’t distinguish anything.

Wait!

Where am I?

It’s like I am in…

No way, f**k…

“Diana I can listen to you! Watch your mouth!” he says strictly with the familiar dominance in his voice and I lower my head like he is right in front of me.

Damn it!

He was always so appropriate but now he seems to be worse!

“I can still listen to you and I am right in front of you!” he states once more and I lift my head up shocked to find him…

Two meters away from me!

“Gray…” I whisper breathless and tears begin building up blurring my vision.

My heart breaks in his view and I start shaking instinctually.

He looks… So…

Relieved, happy, complete!

His beautiful face is shining and he is wearing white, it’s the first time I see him in total white and he is so pretty! His big brown eyes are filled with a warmth I had years to see, his hair is perfect stylized as always and his skin looks so perfect and soft!

“Oh… Gray!” I cry out and try to move and go to him but I can’t!

It’s like I am stuck, paralyzed and my feet don’t obey me.

“Baby… Listen to me because we do not have so much time…” he says softly making me look at him panicked.

“No! I do not want to go, I can’t leave you again! I want to stay with you, I… Gray, I had to die in your place, you left me alone and now I can’t do it, everything it’s my fault and…” I start screaming scared of staying without him again but he raises his right hand and cuts me off immediately.

“Diana, try to calm down and listen. What happened to me wasn’t your fault, I was careless, I couldn’t let you die because I was out of control. Nothing was your fault and I am sorry because you are still suffering for what I did! The fault is mine! I… I love you and I am sorry for not being there for you when you needed me the most! You are doing a great job all these years, I am the proudest man there is, I knew you could make it and… I am here to warn you!” he says with a painful yet apologetic expression I had never seen him with until now.

“Gray, I…”

“No, please Diana. I need to tell you some things!” he cuts me off and takes one step closer.

“I know you are in pain my love, I know you are still fighting to forget but sometimes we don’t need to forget but forgive and trust again… Whom you are going to forgive and trust is up to you and I am not going to tell you what to do. All I want you to know is that you are in the middle of the storm even if you do not know it and I should have been worried but… From now on I am not because you are strong and there is someone that will do anything to protect you, he loves you and I am relieved!” he says with a heartbreaking voice smiling melancholically and some tears fall from his eyes.

“Aiden… You mean my brother but I need you Gray! I missed you, I don’t want to go, keep me here! I LOVE YOU!” I say through my sobs now and fall on my knees curled like a ball as pain consumes my body.

I can’t do this, I can’t go back, I don’t want to!

All I want is to stay with him and never leave his side again.

“Diana… My Diana, my special love, my greatest love and biggest weakness… I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING! I would love to be with you again but not now my queen, it is not the right time yet! There are things you need to do and you may don’t see me but I am always on your side, I won’t leave you alone, I promise! I want you to find happiness, you deserve it, find true love Diana and open your heart! There is someone out there dying for you, try to be happy again…” he replies and I lift my head up opening my eyes to find him kneeled some inches away from me.

My eyes are locked on his and I stop breathing, the pain I was feeling until a while ago faints but it doesn’t leave me completely and I still can’t move.

I missed his eyes, I missed being so close to him, I missed his touch, I…

“I can’t touch you my love, not now… I want you to be strong, our time is over and I can’t stay with you for more. Once you wake up I need you to be patient, strong and do never forget what I just told you! You will be in pain for some time but it will be over too soon… Okay?” he continues and leans even closer to me with our heads being away from each other’s only two inches.

“Please Gray… Do not leave me again! I can’t live without you, I love you!” I beg him crying with the pain increasing again.

“You will have the one you need baby… And me… I love you too my queen!” he whispers smiling emotionally and starts fainting in front of me.

“No Gray!”

“Take care my Diana!” he whispers again and disappears leaving me completely alone.

“NO!” I scream trying to get up and find him but a sharp wave of pain hits me all over my body and I curl again like a ball crying.

What on earth is happening to me?

I do my best to open my eyes and surpass my pain so I tighten my teeth.

God! I feel like dying, why am I not dead?

Shit!

Did a train hit me? Why does it hurt everywhere?

I finally open my eyes with great difficulty and I groan from the pain that now gets even worse, I want to scream but I can’t and my vision…

It is so blurred!

“Welcome back to life my child!” a familiar male’s voice tells me and I blink my eyes in a try to see better.

I do my best to ignore the pain and concentrate on my vision and after some seconds I finally manage to see and find next to me…

Doctor Robert?!

And where am I? What happened and Destiny…

No! Where is she?

I try to call her some times but she doesn’t reply! I feel my heart breaking as the agony suddenly makes its appearance and I try to move and speak but I can’t! Instead of it I let out a painful groan and tears start falling again from my eyes.

What happened to me?

“Diana calm down! I am here to tell you everything. You were shot last night! Do you remember anything? It was wolfsbane.” He says sitting on the bed some inches away from me with a nervous expression.

I narrow my eyes confused and try to remember. I think it makes sense considering the fact that I am in so much pain and I can’t feel Destiny but then it hits me.

Destiny and Libby!

I try to sit up again, I try to put all my strength but once more I fail! I let out a loud cry I didn’t know I could and I stop breathing for some seconds.

“Easy Diana! Please! Calm down! Everything is alright! No one got hurt! You need time to recover, do not pressure yourself!” Robert says in hurry and I groan not being able to even nod.

“Dest…” I whisper failing to say Destiny’s name but fortunately he understands me and smiles calmly.

“Your wolf is fine, she is just too weak but she is alive! And also the kid is safe and sound but too scared. You are very lucky my child! I am glad you are alive otherwise… Our ‘heart’ would be dead with you…” he continues and I close my eyes realizing everything.

Now it is obvious!

They know, my tattoo, Hunt and Land told them…

No! s**t! Damn it!

This means he also knows. The asshole!

Why me?

Why on earth did this have to happen?

“My child do you listen to me? I know you are in pain but it is going to be over soon! You have a great resistance to the pain, it’s something too rare and also your blood’s pressure gets back to normal more quickly than I had imagined so this means that in some hours from now it will be gone for good! You have passed through it again, right?” he asks me and I open my eyes again slowly.

“Yeah…” I manage to say in a low tone and he nods smiling warmly.

“This explains how you are dealing with such a strong pain so well. It won’t last for too long, try to be patient! Okay?” he asks me and I groan in agreement.

“Also… I read your file and talked with your doctor back to England, I know that you have been shot with silver bullet about one year ago and you had been cut with silver knife five years ago and I am aware of the side effects but I would like you to tell me more with every single detail after you get better and be in condition to talk. Alright?” he continues.

“Alright…”I whisper and sigh careful not to move and challenge the pain more.

Shit! I am f****d! I knew it!

At least he seems not to know about Gray’s death and the fact that I was in a coma… Nikki, my doctor and one of my closest friends back at the pack knows everything and I had made her promise me that she wouldn’t say a thing about it to anyone in any case. Well, I know I am putting her in danger like this but the last thing I know is this asshole to know and I am grateful that Nikki is on my side in this. I am sure she told him everything except from this!

“Would you like to see your brother my child? He hasn’t left the hospital since they told him everything last night…” Robert says smiling and I smile weakly.

“Um… Yeah, does he…”

“He doesn’t know about you and… Daniel yet. He just knows who you are.” He cuts me off reading my thoughts and I sigh relieved.

That’s good.

“Diana… One last thing.” He says standing up and leaning closer to me.

“You have no idea how happy I am you are back to where you belong! Whatever you need just tell me at any time, I am here for you!” he whispers, kisses the top of my head and turns to get out of the room leaving me speechless.

JUST KILL ME NOW!

What happened as long as I was unconscious and what is going to happen from now on?

Well, I hope the asshole sends me back home once I get better or we catch these s**t of rogues! And guess what I am going to do once I lay my hands on the bastard that shot me… Whoever made it personal is done and considering what happened some days ago I don’t think that it is a coincidence.

Anyway…

I will have time to deal with it later.

Now I have to stand the pain that surprisingly it is not so strong like the previous times and see a specific person’s behavior.

And before you accuse me for being interested in the asshole because it’s his behavior that I want to see let me tell you that I don’t want him to try anything funny. All I want from him is to leave me the hell alone and send me back to my home the sooner! I am useless to him anyway and I am sure that now that he knows who I am he has surely changed his mind about me, he is disgusted and this feels f*****g great!

I don’t want him anyway and he not wanting me next to him will be great, a heaven, a blessing!

And what Gray told me… Was it a dream or real? What he mentioned about danger, love, forgiveness… What was all these? I am sure I know to whom he was referring to. All I want right now is…

“Diana!” Aiden’s broken yet panicked voice brings me back to reality and I want so much to turn and look at him but this stupid body doesn’t listen to me.

The next moment he finally reaches my bed and almost falls on me crying desperately. I am finding myself under him and the damn pain gets more intense but I do my best not to scream, I just want him to hold me despite how much it hurts physically as emotionally is all I need!

I have my brother back, thanks Goddess!

“Baby don’t you ever do this to me again! Diana I would die! I missed you so much, I can’t live without you!” he says through his sobs and lifts his head a bit up to look at me.

His tears fall on my bare skin and I smile crying again as his wet, dark grey eyes are locked on mine. His expression is so different, his face’s features have been transformed. He looks so older, so tired, so hurt.

“Sister! I still can’t believe it! What a crazy girl you are Diana! What happened to you? How?” he murmurs breathless and leans to give me some long kisses on my forehead.

“Den… I am sorry.” I whisper not able to say more and manage to take a deep breath that makes me hurt again more than the usual.

“No, it’s okay baby! I am sorry I left you alone, I should have done something! I knew that they were dangerous and I still didn’t fight them. They did it, didn’t they? They hurt you?!” he asks shortly with my face cupped in his hands and I nod.

“I promise that I will kill them! You have my word baby sis, the moment I see them again they are dead! Why did they do this to you? You were here with them, right? What happened?” he continues but I have no mood or strength to say even a single word.

Later…

We will have all the time we need later. He has to know everything, even what Daniel did, even about Gray. I can’t hide anything from Den but right now I need time. He is going to get mad and I don’t want him to cause a fight with anyone, even the asshole.

“I will tell you but after I get out of here. Forget about it for now and do not tell anything Den. Don’t talk about them…” I state meaning our ‘parents’ and he nods.

Parents…

Shit!

My dad!

He must be worried sick and he was right! His bad dream, it must have been a sign. And I didn’t call him as I had promised, I couldn’t in the condition I was.

“Den, my phone!” I say quickly and he blinks his eyes still trying to gain his mind.

He wipes his tears and narrows his eyes not able to understand what I am thinking and holds his breath.

“My dad, Gideon! He is worried, he was waiting for a phone call I did not do because I was shot. I have to send him a text at least, he will understand from my voice’s tone that something happened to me!” I explain and he sighs frustrated.

“Gideon found you that day?”

“Yes, he saved me, he wanted to help me. He loves me more than anything, he is my dad brother. You have no idea what he has done for me, he can’t live without me.”

He gives me a sympathetic smile and signs in understanding. He kisses my forehead again and slowly gets off of me as carefully as possible. I finally breathe in relief not feeling so much pain and he stands up nervously.

“I am grateful to him then. We will talk about everything later but I will get out and ask from Ellie to bring me your phone. As you said you can text him for now and call him when you get better and the pain stops.” He states and I smile excited.

“Thank you brother! I knew you would understand, you saved me.”

“No sister. I did nothing. It was Ellie and Thomas that saved you at first and then Daniel. He came to find you, he carried you here in no time, he made sure that you would live. He and Robert had everything ready, the surgery room, the doctors and nurses, clothes, this room, everything. They saved you and Daniel was very worried, it’s like it took your condition personally. I have never seen him like this.” He explains in an unaware way and I just close my eyes trying not to seem shocked.

Okay…

This is a big surprise but…

Fuck you Daniel! Now I own you. I prefer to have died.

“Um brother… My phone please.” I whisper through my teeth and open my eyes again forcing a weak smile.

“Yes baby. I will be right back!” he says, kisses my cheek and gets out of the room in hurry.

And now alone with my pain and anger!

The asshole!

Who asked him to help me because I did not!?

Damn it, damn my bad luck! I am sure Landon told him and now he feels guilty, he doesn’t want anyone to accuse him for my death and he tried to help to cover his ass…

And he… Touched me? Now I have to disinfect my whole body. God!

Worried?! Yeah, kiss my ass with his wary, sorry, fake wary!

What a great actor he is…

Okay, now I really believe that he is going to let me go in order to seem good and kind and caring and all this s**t he is not. At least this is something, it’s a small progress.

He is just going to leave me alone, I am sure…

“The best you have to do Daniel! The best you have to do…”

Daniel’s pov

Aiden gets out of her room in hurry and I jump up immediately scared.

I hope she is alright and nothing has happened!

I am trying to be discreet all this time, I haven’t left from next her door about two hours now after I got out of her room as Robert had asked me and my parents and Ellie with Peyton and Jim with my most trusted guards are here with me.

I am waiting to see her when she is in condition to accept visitors and I have to be discreet because of Aiden as I do not care about anyone else’s opinion or thoughts. I spent hours on her side until she began moving more and Robert came to take me out telling me that Aiden would be soon outside her room and he had to stay and supervise Diana. So from that moment I am sitting on a chair right next her door and I am doing my best not to show Aiden how much I want to see Diana.

He is going to know about us, I am not planning on hiding anything from him but right now it’s not the time for this kind of discussions.

Diana is in pain and she needs peace.

“What happened? Is she alright? Why did you get out like this?” I ask him worried.

“She is okay, she is in pain but she is handling it great as I can see. She wants her phone. She needs to send a text.” He explains shortly and I sigh confused.

Why on earth does she want something like this in her condition?

“To whom?” my father asks reading my thoughts.

“To Gideon Black.”

“Her father?” my mom exclaims and he nods.

“Ellie can you please go to her room and bring her phone immediately? I would have gone but I don’t want to leave her alone, you understand…” he continues turning to Ellie on my left.

“Of course! Don’t worry, I am going right now.” She replies smiling and turns to leave with all the rest of us frozen.

Gideon Black…

I still haven’t thought about his role, I don’t have the mind but now with this my curiosity is killing me. What happened and how did she become his ‘daughter’, why?

“Okay, I am going back in again. Tell Ellie to knock for me to take the phone when she returns.” Aiden says after some seconds in silence and gets in the room in no time.

I turn on my right and give a confused look at my father. He seems to know what I am thinking about because he pulls me some meters away in order not anyone listen to us and leans close to me.

“Gideon is a great man. I know what you are thinking about but I can assure you that whatever he did was for a good reason. The fact that Diana loves him so much is the proof you need to calm down. Be patient and we will soon know everything.” He whispers with a serious, calm expression and I groan in frustration.

“Well easier to say it than do it…” I speak back and he smirks.

“Don’t allow your possessiveness to ruin everything son. Diana will react too badly, if you want to gain her trust and have the right to talk and take decisions about her then stay calm and act smartly. You can’t just appear in her life now and act like you have the right to rule her. She is going to react, she is not a fool.” He continues and I growl with my hands turning into fists.

“Father she is my mate and I don’t need any right to…”

“No Daniel!” he cuts me off shortly and my mom joins us already knowing what is happening.

“You were her mate five years ago. You rejected her and from what Robert said last night she is vulnerable because she doesn’t have a mate so she accepted it and you are basically not mates.” He says and my mother nods in sympathy.

“I felt the pull, the bond, the sparks! You are talking bullshit! She is my mate even she likes it or not, even you like it or not!” I reply through my teeth fighting not to lose my temper.

“But you lost the right to decide about her when you rejected her my child. Do you listen to yourself? Diana is old enough to do whatever she wants even if she is or was your mate. You can’t appear in her life after everything that has happened and act like you own her.” It’s my mother’s turn to say obviously annoyed.

“Mom … She is my Queen, some things are mine business to decide about and not hers. Her safety for example is something I have to take care of.”

“Diana is strong and smart enough to take care of herself.” My father states quickly.

“Yeah… Sure, I saw it last night! She stays away from every danger and this is final. She likes it or not I say and she obeys.” I reply and with this I walk away from them ending our discussion.

I have enough of this s**t!

Her safety comes above everything and I do not care what she does or say, I am not changing my mind. If she wants to fight me then she can but in the end we all know that I am going to win, she has no idea how persistent I can be or how many ways I have to make her do as I say.

I know that my parents are right at some point but I am not such an i***t, I won’t trigger Diana’s anger, at least not so obviously. As I said before I have my ways and lots or reasons to make her stay here with me. I will give her time to get familiar with me and the idea of staying here forever, I won’t fight her unless she challenges me clearly. I don’t want to push her away again and I know that interfering so suddenly and dominantly in her life will make more damage that I don’t want so… I won’t be so stuck on her at the beginning and I won’t show her my true feelings. I want her to soften gradually and become more willing to accept me firstly.

I sit again on the chair and look discreetly around me.

Ellie (that came from the forest as she is the second person after Aiden that Diana feels more comfortable with) is staring back at me with a blank expression. I know that she was on my side before and now with the truth coming to the light she is against me and I don’t know why I can’t be mad at her for the outburst she had last night. She loves Diana very much and in our discussions until now she has told me her opinion about mates, she is against rejecting the one that is destined for you and in mine and Diana’s case it’s more than logical for her to react worse. She is her Queen and not only her closest friend here.

Peyton from the other side stayed with Aiden all night as I had told her and now she stayed here with us. I didn’t want to send her in Ellie’s place to help the others find the bastard that shot Diana because she didn’t sleep all night and she can be more useful here. She also knows now… Ellie told her and from her gazes I am sure she is too mad but tries to be respectful to Diana’s condition and me because I am her King.

Jim from the other side is quite relieved now that Diana is better and I have to say that he is very happy with the guards calmer and prouder than ever. Jim is my Delta and I have trusted him with the palace’s security. He may be 20 years old and too young but he is very charismatic when it comes to making sure about everyone’s protection and I like him a lot. His father was my father’s Delta for years until he died in an accident about six month ago and the title passed to Jim because he was more than ready. I love this kid, he is very silent and careful but has a pleasant energy at the same time. He is logical, smart and with one look he can understand more than most of us.

He catches me looking at him talking with two guards and smiles. He tells them something and then turns and walks to me. I motion him to sit next to me and once he does I tap his knee.

“I have to thank you Jim. It means a lot that you were here with her for as long I was missing. I was sure that you would replace me perfectly and the fact that you don’t leave my side now means a lot to me.” I tell him smiling.

“My King, it’s an honor to trust me with our Queen’s safety. I won’t fail you. Keeping you safe is my duty and I am not planning to let anything bad happen.” He replies truthfully with a passion that touches my heart.

“Jim… Call me Daniel from now on. We haven’t been so close but this is going to change from now. Also… You will have a very specific yet important duty in the near future.” I state with my mind working like crazy as an idea has just popped in my mind.

Okay, let’s see…

He is tall, with muscles, discreet, as I said before he is smart, kind, protective so…

This makes him Diana’s personal guard when the right time comes and she is ready to accept it.

Bingo!

“Um… Daniel can I ask you something?” he asks me nervously and I nod immediately.

“Is she going to leave us?”

I see a wary I have never seen in his eyes and I know he is talking about Diana. He really loves her, like everyone. Diana in only two weeks managed to know every single person in the palace and gain the love, respect and loyalty in a way I still haven’t because this is her role.

Can I be prouder of her and my people?

No!

“I will tell you Jim but I want you to keep it as a secret for now. I don’t anyone to know what I am going to reveal to you. Okay?” I whisper and he nods moving closer to me in agony.

“Your Queen is never going to leave us again. She is taking her place next to me as she should have done five years ago!”

~some hours later, afternoon~

Third person’s pov

Aiden and Robert got out of Diana’s room defeated. Aiden couldn’t protest more than he already had and yet she had won their small fight.

He was too tired and Diana could see it. She had been patient in his arms for hours until she felt better and told him to go and take a bath to relax a bit but he denied saying that he would be with her all the time not wanting to leave her alone. He thought that he could change her mind but he was wrong, Diana was not the same young girl she had been.

Now she was a stubborn, confident and strong woman that didn’t accept to be defeated.

She managed to make him go and rest for a while after Robert checked on her one more time getting sure that she was perfectly fine, she also told him about the other two times she had been in the same situation and she sighed once the door closed behind them leaving her alone.

“Aiden…” Daniel said confused and stood up again with Jeremy next to him as he had returned from the forest as well with no news for Daniel.

“She wants me to take some rest, I couldn’t do otherwise.” Aiden explained immediately and sighed.

“Don’t worry, we will go to stay with her!” Ellie stated and got up with Peyton.

“How is she uncle?” Daniel asked Robert that had a pleased expression.

“Okay, I have to say that I have never seen such a strong organism. Her resistance in the pain is out of every imagination and as I had thought she is not hurting anymore. She is tired but she is too well considering what happened. I have to tell you about her condition the next few days but as she has just told me it is logical and nothing so serious. She has passed through it again and she knows everything but you have to know as well.” He replied and Daniel nodded quickly.

“She won’t be able to eat for the next two days, her stomach is not in the best condition and she will start eating again gradually so don’t pressure her to eat because you will do things worse. We don’t want her stressed and frustrated. Also, she will need more sleep, you understand that she has lost lots of energy that she needs to gain back and it’s better for her not to walk that much. She can go out to take some air but you have to carry her or at least do not allow her to walk up the stairs as it will be too tiring. Her right hand is still in pain and she can’t move a lot for now as her body is a bit sore and I will check on her again tomorrow morning and if she can walk on her own she can leave and go back to her room.” he said simply and they all sighed in relief and excitement.

“Thanks Goddess!” Victoria exclaimed and Jonathan hugged her tightly.

“So can we see her?” Elias asked next.

“Yes but do not get her tired. Don’t stay with her for too long and don’t pressure her.” He replied and they all nodded.

Daniel gave him a big, bright smile and his heart began beating faster. He was too impatient to see her again but nervous yet scared at the same time. He didn’t know how to face Diana as the guilt was killing him and Devon was moving in his mind in agony making things worse for him.

“Jim, go and inform everyone, they need to know.” He said turning on his right while Aiden got ready to leave and go back to his room to get refreshed as Diana had told him.

“Yes my King.” Jim replied and Aiden joined him walking away towards the hospital’s exit.

“I think that Ellie and Peyton have to go in first and tell her that we will also see her…” Jonathan said when Aiden went too far away to listen to them.

“Yes!” Ellie stated immediately in a short way that made it clear for Daniel that he shouldn’t protest and Jeremy opened his mouth to talk but she prevented him.

“Do not even dare scold me about the way I am talking because I will start screaming. At least let us inform her that he is going to come as well… She may want to throw up first.” She said through her teeth not caring that Jonathan and Victoria were present.

“Baby… Just calm down a bit, that’s all I am asking.” Jeremy whispered nervously.

“I was trying in front of Aiden but now it is silly to act when we all know that she doesn’t want him in there! In fact he is for sure the last person she wants to see in this life.” She replied angrily.

“Okay… Ellie let’s just go in and see her. I missed her very much. They all have the right to stay with her for a while after all…” Peyton stated and before Ellie manage to protest she dragged her inside the room leaving Daniel sighing panicked.

They got in Diana’s room and Peyton closed the door behind her while Ellie began crying instantly once her eyes met Diana’s that was now sitting on her bed with a pair of black trousers and a white simple top that was leaving her hands out with her right arm that had been shot bandaged. Her hair was down in light waves and her face was pale but not that much, she also had black circles under her eyes but not so intense and her appearance was generally very good.

She seemed more like being sick and not shot with wolfsbane that led her so close to death.

“I will kill you next time you do something like this!” Ellie cried out the next second and rushed to hug Diana with Peyton close behind her clearly touched.

“I am so sorry for lying! I was feeling awful all these days! I wanted to tell you but later, I…” Diana murmured ready to cry for once more but stopped when the girls hugged her together.

“We understand silly! Don’t apologize, in fact you did the right thing! We can imagine how difficult it must have been for you to come here and face him.” Peyton said and kissed the top of her head.

“You had to protect yourself and your pride Diana! We are on your side!” Ellie added and caressed Diana’s cheek smiling.

“Is everyone alright? What happened? Robert told me that you know and only Aiden is unaware of him and me. I couldn’t ask Robert some time ago with Aiden present.” Diana said worried and looked at them nervously.

“You have no idea! Daniel was ready to kill Landon yesterday and Aiden Hunter! Believe me you have no idea what my eyes saw. We are lucky that we won’t have any funeral in the short future!” Ellie began and Peyton nodded.

“Where are Land and Hunter?” Diana asked panicked trying to stand up but they both stopped her quickly and pushed her back to bed.

“Are you serious girl? You can’t even move and you want to stand up? Focus!” Ellie whispered angrily through her teeth with her over protectiveness for her Queen making its appearance.

“They are fine, relax Diana. Landon is locked in his room until Daniel calms down and Hunter is trying to find who shot you with Parker, Andrea and your team. Ellie and Jeremy were with them but they came back some time ago.” Peyton explained in hurry in order to help Diana calm down.

“They are f****d because of me… Damn it!” she whispered angrily and got ready to say more but Ellie cleared her throat and made her stop.

Diana turned and looked at her immediately knowing that Ellie had something bad to tell her and held her breath wishing to had Destiny with her. She wasn’t going to like it…

“Speak!” she ordered losing her patience.

“Get ready for some visitors… Victoria, Jonathan, Jeremy, Elias and… Well…” Ellie murmured awkwardly afraid to say Daniel’s name and lowered her gaze.

“I will kill him! No, I don’t want to see him! Can’t he get lost?” Diana growled realizing the last person Ellie wanted to say.

“Diana try to act maturely for now. I know that he is unforgivable but he saved you, he was worried sick about you. Just be a bit patient, he won’t stay for too long anyway, Robert’s orders.” Peyton said wanting to calm her down.

“Are you…” Diana started but a knock at the door stopped her.

“Of course… He can’t wait to drive me crazy!” she hissed and took a deep breath.

Ellie and Peyton gave each other a worried look and then their interest fell on Diana. Her expression was not so intense anymore and she was trying to smile casually. She had to act properly for Jonathan, Victoria, Elias and Jeremy.

“Ready…” she murmured and sat again back on her pillow at the head of the big bed.

Ellie just nodded and walked at the door quickly. She also took a deep breath and opened the door slowly making great amends to act casually for Diana. The first two that appeared were Victoria and Jonathan that got in after Ellie walked aside to allow them full entrance.

Victoria didn’t lose time and rushed to Diana already crying making space for Daniel and Jeremy to get in with Elias close behind them.

“Oh sweetheart! Thanks Goddess you are alright! You have no idea how scared I was!” Victoria almost shouted while reaching and pulling Diana in her arms for a tight hug.

Diana couldn’t resist that hug, she needed it because she really loved Victoria and she was feeling her like a mother. The past years she had her aunt to replace this vacuum but now she had Victoria and she was feeling very happy about it, Victoria was too special for her.

“I am sorry. I didn’t want to worry you.” She whispered and hugged her back in any way she could as her arm was still hurting her a lot.

“It’s okay now, it is over! Nothing will happen again, you are safe and it is more than enough!” Victoria whispered back and kissed her forehead.

“My child!” Jonathan said timidly and walked to them smiling emotionally.

Diana gave him the warmest smile she had and blushed. She really loved the previous King, he was a great man with honor. She knew how much she had hurt him and Victoria and she was feeling bad. They didn’t deserve it despite what their son had done in the past.

“I couldn’t have been more relieved than I am Diana! Welcome back!” he told her softly with pride and took her hands in his to caress them.

“Thank you my King, I am alright now, don’t worry!” she replied and he gave her a firm look annoyed.

“I am Jonathan for you… You know that calling me King is stupid, right?” he whispered leaning closer to her with a meaningful expression.

Diana didn’t reply, she couldn’t do it in front of Daniel and also she was tired of the whole thing of her being the ‘Queen’. She just wanted to ignore it and continue like she hadn’t heard it.

She was trying to find something to say to break the awkward silence when Jeremy cleared his throat obviously annoyed and pushed Daniel forward with Elias’ encouragement. They could both see how nervous Daniel was and that he was shaking and sweating so they decided to catch him out of guard and make him make a move.

But in fact…

That made things worse as Daniel stopped breathing and lowered his gaze on the floor not daring to look towards Diana’s direction and Devon pushed him up to his limits to gain again his self-control. He forced himself to breathe feeling everyone’s eyes on him and slowly lifted his head up. He felt his heart ready to explode once his eyes met Diana’s and pushed himself further to speak in any way he could.

“Um… I am glad you are alright.” He almost whispered trembling and made even Ellie feel sorry for him but that didn’t mean that Diana got touched from his condition.

She got mad at him, she thought that he was acting and he didn’t mean his words. For her Daniel was a hypocrite that still hated her but wanted to seem good to everyone now that she was at the palace and they all knew who she was. He didn’t want his people against him for the way he had treated the rightful Queen, that’s what she was thinking.

She turned her head again in front of her trying to avoid looking at him and getting madder and did her best not to show her emotions. She had to be patient.

“Thank you for everything Your Royal Highness!” she said coldly and the atmosphere got heavier immediately.

They could all feel that she didn’t want him next to her, even the fact that they were breathing the same air was driving her crazy and her disgust was obvious. She was standing him because she had to and not because she wanted and it was awkward for the others as they didn’t know how to behave.

Daniel just felt his heart breaking into small, sharp pieces that were cutting him deeply. Her dark, cold, emotionless expression was worse than he had imagined and her so deadly tone was something he wished he had never heard. Devon was howling in desperation from the pain and the thought of losing his mate forever was making its appearance steadily.

“I think it’s our turn to hug you my lady!” Jeremy stated hitting Elias with his elbow and smiled nervously.

“Oh, yeah! We missed you!” Elias added and walked to Diana passing by Daniel that was standing in the middle of the room like a statue with his head lowered.

“I am happy you are back commander!” he joked some seconds later when he reached her and she laughed as a response.

“Just try to stay out of troubles every time you go in the forest from now on! Show us some mercy!” Jeremy said teasingly walking next to Elias and leaning to kiss her.

“I think I am going to avoid this forest from now…” she replied with a smirk that made both of them laugh.

“You better…” Ellie murmured in frustration.

“Okay, so how are you feeling?” Jeremy asked her as Victoria pointed for them the living room next to Diana’s bed at the right side of her.

“I am good. Nothing I can’t deal with.” Diana replied shortly as they all walked and sat on the couches facing her and Victoria sat on the bed next to Diana wrapping one arm around her carefully.

“Your wolf?” Peyton asked next remembering that Robert had told them nothing about it.

“Oh… Doctor Robert told me that she is just weak and that’s why she can’t communicate with me. I was scared at the beginning but some time ago he told me that soon she will start making her appearance again.” Diana explained in excitement and they all sighed relieved with Devon screaming ecstatic in Daniel’s mind who smiled clearly calmer.

“And… Did you find anything useful about the attack and the one that shot me?” it was Diana’s turn to ask still not giving a single look at Daniel with her eyes traveling to everyone else.

“Um no… And don’t get yourself troubled with the attack now. We are trying to find who shot you but the weather is not helping, it hasn’t stopped raining until now.” Jeremy said disappointed.

“Do you remember anything my child? What happened out there?” Jonathan asked sitting up impatiently in agony.

Diana just sighed and pressed her lips nervously. She tried again to think but in vain, nothing was coming in her mind.

“No, no matter how many times I have tried I can’t remember something unusual, a noise, a scent, a move. Nothing. I didn’t even hear the gunshot, I was just running when I felt a sharp pain, fell on the ground and shifted back in my human form with my senses leaving me.” She said and lifted her head up to look at the ceiling in frustration.

“You are lucky you managed to mind link Landon and Hunter. How did you do it?” Ellie asked with curiosity.

“No idea, I don’t remember this. Destiny was already gone, all I remember is closing my eyes and then black.” Diana murmured and got ready to say what she had been wanting for some time.

“Where is Landon? He is not in the forest so… I thought that he would have been here to see me!” she said on purpose knowing that in this way she was hurting yet trying Daniel’s ego.

They all turned and looked at Daniel that lifted his eyes and met Diana’s cold gaze one more time. He didn’t seem angry, just hurt and annoyed. He didn’t try to look away, he found his strength. The last minutes he was fighting with his own demons and now it was time for him to become again the strong man everyone knew. He had to fight for her like the proud King he was. Acting like a coward was not an option for him anymore.

“We can tell him to come of you want to!” he stated quite calm and confident a second later making her raise her eyebrows in a challenging way.

They all froze from the tension and the scene in front of them but no one dared to move or talk.

One thing was certain and they couldn’t doubt it, the King and his Queen were going to have a big battle with the final being too uncertain and in any way not peaceful.

They were too same and too different at the same time, they were strong and stubborn, they were smart and brave, difficult personalities with no fear.

Diana didn’t seem scared or surprised from Daniel’s sudden determination, she was waiting everything from him and he was just proving her how right she had been. She was not the girl he had met five years ago and she wasn’t willing to lose again, not from Daniel.

“Good… Call him!” she said smiling victoriously with a dose of challenge and Daniel got ready to reply but right then someone knocked the door again making him groan in annoyance.

Victoria sighed grateful to whoever was knocking and interrupted such an awkward moment and got up to see who it was and what he wanted. Some seconds later and Victoria was opening the door to find Jim with John and Libby who had been informed that they could see Diana and rushed to thank her.

Libby was wearing a long dark blue dress with her hair down and a bouquet of yellow roses in her hands with John right behind her formally dressed holding a box that was probably a gift for Diana. Jim was also holding a big bouquet with lots of types of flowers in his hands as a gift from the palace’s guards.

“I think that we have some more visitors here…” Victoria stated smiling and motioned for them to get in the room.

“Iris!” Libby yelled running to her and making everyone except from Daniel laugh.

“There you are!” Diana shouted enthusiastic as Libby was jumping on her bed with the roses still in her hands.

She opened her arms and hugged Libby that quickly kissed her cheek and laughed in joy trying not to cry again. She was feeling so happy that Libby was safe and sound in front of her laughing and full of life that she forgot that Daniel was in the room with them.

“How are you Princess?” she asked her pulling back.

“I am fine! Thank you, you save me and these are for you Iris! I am so sorry, it’s my fault!” the little figure replied handing her the roses.

“Um… I think that we have to tell you something young lady…” Victoria said and walked next to them.

Diana understood what Victoria meant and nodded nervously.

Well, it was a bit difficult to explain and Libby would make lots of uncomfortable questions like the curious kid she was but she couldn’t do otherwise.

“Yes, Victoria is right Princess… You can’t call me Iris anymore. Um… My name is Diana…” she said forcing a smile watching Libby stiffening confused.

“Do you have two names?” the young girl asked innocently.

“Um… Well… You could say that, I suppose…” Diana murmured and turned to look Victoria asking for help.

“Diana is her first name honey and she is more used to it.” Victoria said calmly and Libby opened her eyes widely surprised.

“So, no Iris anymore?”

“No baby… Diana is much better!” Diana said smiling and caressing Libby’s hair.

“Okay then! Oh, I have more gifts for you, right dad?” Libby yelled again already forgetting about Diana’s name and John approached them touched.

“Thank you… I own you!” He told Diana emotionally wanting to call her formally but knowing that it would be a mistake he decided not to call her somehow at all.

“Don’t thank me John! I couldn’t leave her out there alone, I did the least I could.” Diana said taking his hand in her and giving it a squeeze.

Daniel smiled in Diana’s view with Libby and his heart melted, his body relaxed and he breathed again without suffering. She was so sweet suddenly and her face was shining. The way she was looking at Libby, touching her and speaking to her was making him imagine how it would be to have their own kids.

It was the first time in his life that he was thinking about having kids with someone and for once more it was something Diana had caused. She was the one that was changing him without even trying, with her everything was new for him and his feelings and love for her were getting stronger second by second.

He could see himself as a father too soon with Diana on his side, he knew he would be happy, it was too early but he knew it and the idea was breathtaking for him.

“Do you want to see your gifts now?” Libby asked bringing him back to reality and Diana nodded but the next second she seemed to remember something and looked at Libby worried.

“Sweetheart, why did you leave last night? What happened, where did you want to go?” she asked her and Libby lowered her head ashamed.

“I… I found in my room a painting for Annie… And she was also writing me that she would want me if I was taking her to the waterfall. I left to find the way…” the young girl replied and stiffened.

Diana narrowed her eyes confused and turned to look at everyone that seemed too surprised. Daniel at first thought that it was weird but kids are too innocent so it could be expectable but a voice was telling him that something was wrong and it was same one that was also telling Diana that things were not so simple.

Libby and Annie were too young and they didn’t know how to write yet so…

Daniel jumped up suddenly making everyone worry even more and walked to Libby and Diana in hurry. He did his best not to scary the young girl and once he reached close to them he kneeled and gave her a forced, impatient smile.

“Libby do you have the painting? Where is it?” he asked her quickly.

Diana blinked her eyes with her mind working like crazy and observed the girl in her arms putting her hands in her dress’ pocket and taking out a folded piece of paper. Her heart began beating faster in her chest and when Daniel took the paper from Libby and opened it his expression made her skin shudder.

He was scaring as he was reading what was written on it and he growled loudly with his eyes darkening dangerously. He left the painting fall on the bed and Diana took it immediately in her hands while John was taking Libby from her lap and everyone was gathering around her and Daniel panicked.

The painting had a waterfall and two girls next to it not very well drawn but it was still understandable and not suspicious but when Diana’s eyes landed on the letters she froze.

Those weren’t a kid’s letters or not a kid’s in Libby’s age.

“We will become friends again if you take me to the waterfall to play.” Diana read but gasped when she saw something like a signature in the end.

A star that was drawn in a rare way that was too familiar to her.

She turned and looked at Daniel breathless shaking uncontrollably. She knew what Daniel was thinking but he didn’t know something she did…

“I have seen this sign of star before. I have surely seen it somewhere!” she said shocked and his eyes turned instantly black.

“Diana… Someone planned it! It was a trap!”

Hello my friends!!!

And yes the 14th chapter is on and it is too long... I did it because you are asking more and I wanted to show you how much I appreciate your love, support and comments!

Also you can go and find me in w*****d with the same name and photo and be friends and there as well.

And now back to our story as I really want to know your thoughts and opinions! How do feel about this chapter? What is going to happen next? Who is behind what happened to Diana? 

As always at this point I would like to thank you very much for your love, support, commends and impatience in order to read the chapters.I am trying my best so continue showing me how much you want more and commend and tell me your opinions and thoughts, or even share the story.

This is it for this week, see you again in the next chapter. Be safe and happy until next time! 

I love you all,

                                              Marie...