The King and His Red Wolf Mate

1 How Did We Get Here

Ella POV at Ten Years Old

"Ella why do you think the king and queen were here to meet us" Levi asks. "Mama said that they want us to come to live at the castle. I hope that mama and daddy say no. I don't want to leave the pack and our family. I just hope the king doesn't get mad at mama and daddy." "Me too sissy." I hate to see Levi upset. "Let's play something. I'm sure that we won't have to leave." I pull the game trouble off under my bed and we start to play. It doesn't take Levi long to have forget about what we were talking about. I really hope I'm right and we get to stay here with our family. I hear yelling and I jump up, rushing to the window. Levi is hot on my heels. We watch as our parents begin to fight with a man and woman I've never seen before. I can feel the tears start to run down my cheeks when I see my mother being hoisted in the air by magic. Her eyes meet mine and I know she is pleading with me to hide. I wish I had my wolf in this moment. I grab Levi's hand and try to pull him away from the window. "Sissy, they are hurting mama and daddy" he cries. "Mama and daddy are strong. We need to hide until they come for us." I lock the bedroom door and pull Levi into my closet. I pull him close to my side and say a prayer to the goddess to keep my mama and daddy safe from the bad people.

The door to the closet flies open and the mean lady is standing there smiling. "Well, it looks like Milo is going to be happy" she says as she grips my arm so hard. She yanks me out of the closet and Levi starts to hit her. When the door to my room is thrown open, I'm so happy to see Maverick. He jumps at her and she finally releases my arm. I rush over to Levi and wrap him in a hug. "Sissy, I was so scared she was hurting you" he says with tears rushing down his cheeks. "I'm ok" I say and squeeze him tighter. My mom and Aunt Tabby rush into my room next and I'm so glad the mean lady didn't hurt her. I rush over, wrapping my arms around her waist. "It's alright my little ones. Mommy and daddy are fine. You're both safe. Mommy wants you to go with Maverick." "I don't want to leave you mama." "I know baby girl but you need to go to daddy." She kisses my forehead and Maverick picks me and Levi up. I bury my head in Maverick's chest and cry. I was so scared I wouldn't see my mama and daddy again. I hear the door open and I look up to see my daddy. I jump off Maverick's lap and run over to him. I want to hug my daddy. The bad man was trying to hurt his wolf.

After everyone leaves, my mama won't let me and Levi go. She is holding us so tight. I'm glad because I feel safe on her lap. "Ella and Levi, I know that you were both scared today because daddy and I were scared too. You were both so brave and we are so proud of you. I know we talked about everything the king and queen said and we decided to stay in the pack but we need to talk about it again." I look at my parents and I'm afraid they have changed their minds. My mama looks sad and she kisses my forehead and then Levi's. "None of us want to leave our family or our home, but we have to think about keeping you both safe. After everything that happened today, daddy and I think that moving to the castle is what's best to keep you both safe." "I don't want to leave" I say and fresh tears run down my cheeks. "I have friends here and grandma and grandpa. I won't know anyone there" I say. "Ella, this doesn't mean you won't see your friends or our family anymore. It just means we will get to stay in a castle for a while", my daddy says. "We can come home anytime we want to visit. We have to keep you both safe. That is our job and I can't lose you two", my mama says. She is crying and I hate that she is sad. I don't want to be sad and I don't want my family to be sad.

"Why can't the bad people just leave us alone?" My daddy reaches out and runs his hand down my cheek. "When you get a little older we will explain everything to you and Levi, but for now little one, you just have to trust us. I know it's hard, but we will always be together. Can you be a big girl for us and understand that this isn't forever?" I nod and lay my head on my mama's shoulder. "I will be with you sissy and I'll always protect you", Levi says, and I smile at my little brother. I know most girls my age find their little brothers annoying, but mine isn't. He is the best brother anyone could ever have. I pick up my head to smile at him. "When do we have to go?" "We won't leave until after Ruby and Maverick's Alpha Ceremony and we will come back all the time to visit." my mama says.

The Move to the Castle

We hug everyone goodbye after the ceremony. I hate leaving them, but I won't complain. I know mama and daddy hate leaving too. Levi takes my hand and the king, who told me to call him Micah stands in front of us. He turns with a warm smile. "Are you ready to see the castle kids?" I nod but stay quiet. I trust the king and queen, but it doesn't make leaving our home any easier. He waves his arm and a swirling light grows bigger until we see a room inside. I'm sure my eyes are as big as the pancakes we had for breakfast. Micah steps through and my dad scoops me up to follow him. Once we are through, I look back and Ruby waves before she's gone. I bury my head in my dad's neck. I'm trying to be brave but I can't help being sad. "Ella, I had the kitchen make you and Levi a special lunch. How about I show you all to your new place before we have a welcome lunch." I pick up my head and smile the best I can at Micah. My dad starts to walk and a few minutes later he sets me on my feet. "Ella, your room is on the left and Levi, your room is on the right" he says pointing to a hallway. I look at my mom and she smiles. "Go head sweet girl." I take Levi's hand and we check out his room first. He is so excited. It's his favorite color, green, and there are lots of toys. He even has a game system.

We go across the hall and when I open the door, I'm shocked. My room is different shades of purple, my favorite color. There is a big bed in the middle with a beautiful doll resting against the pillow. "Sissy, your room is great." I smile at my brother as he rushes across the hall to his room. A little while later, the door opens and my mom comes to sit next to me on the bed. She places her arm around me and pulls me to her side. "I know your sad sweet girl, but I promise it will get better. Sometimes in life we need to make hard choices, but I always want you to remember that you are loved. You and Levi are the best gift your dad and I have ever gotten and we will always protect you. Are you ready to go have our first lunch in the castle?" I nod and she kisses my forehead before we leave my room. Once we are in the dining room, I take a seat next to my mom. I look across the table at a boy that is about my age. He smiles and I can't help but smile back. "Ella, this is our son, Jacob. Jacob, this is Ella, Serina, Levi, and Nicholas." "Hi, Ella, I can show you the game room after dinner. It has lots of cool stuff", Jacob says, and I smile. "I would really like that." I've met my first friend, I hope.

Three Years Later

Ella POV

Levi is playing video games with some of his friends, so I head down to the game room. I still miss my family, but living in the castle has been amazing. I've made friends and Micah and Loreli feel more like family than the king and queen. Miranda is my best friend even though she is two years older than me. I just turned fourteen. I was really hoping I would have gotten my wolf by now. My parents won't tell me why, but until I get my wolf, we can't return to the Scarlett Rose pack. I love being here but I still want to live with my family. Honestly, the only bad thing about the castle is Jacob. We were great friends for a long time, but when he turned sixteen, he turned into a different person. We aren't friends anymore. He hardly speaks to me. He yells at me if I do something he doesn't like, especially talk to his friends. All he cares about are the girls that like him because he is going to be the next king.

Flashback

"Hey Ella, how have you been", Bryce says. I turn and rush over to hug him. He is Jacob's best friend and he has always been nice to me. "I'm good, I missed you while you were gone." He is like an older brother and watches out for me. "I'm sorry I missed your birthday. Did you have fun at the party?" "What the hell is going on in here" Jacob's angry voice sounds from behind us. Bryce sets me on my feet. "Nothing is going on man. I was saying hello to Ella. What's your problem, Jacob?" Jacob shoots Bryce an angry look before his eyes settle on me. "She is a little kid and you don't need to pretend to like her Bryce. Just because my parents brought her here for whatever reason doesn't mean you have to act like you care about her. She needs to go play with her little friends and stop talking to you." I can feel my heart breaking at his words. Could he really be pretending to care about me? I look up at Bryce and I see sympathy on his face. I rush from the room without a word to either of them. I don't turn when I hear Bryce calling my name. I find Miranda and I tell her everything that Jacob said. "He is such an a**hat" she says, and I can't help but laugh. "I don't believe anything he said Ella. Bryce is sweet and he wouldn't pretend to be your friend." We spend the rest of the afternoon eating ice cream and watching movies. I manage to avoid both Bryce and Jacob as I head back to our wing. I don't need their friendship. I have my family and best friend.

End Flashback

I reach the game room and something feels off. I turn the handle and push the door open to find Jacob and one of his many admirers making out like dogs in heat. He growls when he sees me. I close the door and rush back toward our wing. "Ella, what's wrong" I hear Miranda's voice from behind me. "Nothing, I'm fine." She gives me a look like she knows I'm lying. "Jacob the jerk is what's wrong" I say and she bursts out laughing. We have called him that since the incident in the kitchen with Bryce. Neither of them have spoken to me since. "What did the a**hat do this time?" I laugh this time. She is one of the only girls that doesn't fall at his feet. "Growled at me when I caught him playing tonsil hockey with Hailey in the game room." "Why does it bother you he growled at you? He would never hurt you physically despite being an idiot." I can see she is not going to let this go unless I answer her. "I hated seeing him with Hailey." Her face softens and she pulls me into a hug. "I knew you liked him. I'm sorry he is being so stupid. He isn't worth getting upset about Ella. He is self-absorbed and his mate isn't going to be happy when she finds out he makes out with everything on two legs." I laugh again even as my heart hurts at her words.