Chapter 64

Xaden’s POV

I sat in the student lounge, trying to focus on my studies. But the only thing I could think about was Anila, Harley, and that strange dream that I had. Something dark was coming and I could feel it; ever since that dream, I had a feeling something was brewing in this world and the Moon Queen was needed.

If I had any doubts before, they were squashed the minute the Moon Queen came to me during the night and told me that Anila was going to need all her mates. It wasn’t something I wanted to believe; I had just marked her for crying out loud. I needed Anila more than I needed air to breathe; I loved her so much that it physically hurt.

Why couldn’t things just be simple? Why couldn’t I have a mate all to myself; a future Luna to the Bloodmoon pack? The mother of my future children? I didn’t want to share her with others, but at the same time, Anila’s happiness was all I truly craved.

When I thought of Anila and Harly together, I wasn’t jealous. I was more concerned than anything. I was hoping Anila was able to calm him down more than anything.

I think it was because of the mate bond that left me feeling stable and not at all jealous. Like I could feel her emotions and I knew she was happy in this moment. That made me happy, but I was also hoping that Harley was okay too. I was hoping that our friendship was okay; the last thing I wanted was to lose him as a friend.

He was my best friend, my brother.

I thought back to my dream last night, the moment I met the Moon Queen. I was sitting in a meadow, by myself, just watching the sunset across the horizon of the ocean. It was peaceful and I was truly happy. The only thing that would make the dream better was if Anila was there too.

But she wasn’t.

Instead, another woman appeared and sat beside me. When I looked at her, I was shocked to find a familiar face. The face I’ve seen around the school many times; I knew my mouth was hanging open in shock, but I didn’t care.

The fucking Moon Queen was sitting with me.

When she looked at me, her gaze softened, and she let out a musical and lighthearted laugh.

“You’re the Moon Queen…” I whispered, needing that confirmation for myself.

“I am,” she confirmed.

“This one crazy dream,” I said, staring back out at the water.

“I wouldn’t call it a dream,” she told me, also staring off into the horizon. “It’s more like you are asleep, and I plucked your soul out of her body so I could speak with it.”

My eyes widened at her words.

“My soul?” I asked.

She nodded and then turned to look at me.

“Yes,” she answered. “I wanted to speak with you, and this was the only way I could do so.”

My heart started to hammer against my chest.

“Why would you want to speak with me?” I asked, my mouth went dry, and I was suddenly very nervous. It wasn’t a feeling I was used to, but this was the fucking Moon Queen.

She smiled and her smile lit up the entire area.

“Because I sensed there were questions you need answers to,” she answered simply. “And I’m guessing they all have to do with Anila.”

I pressed my lips together, feeling ashamed suddenly. This only made her smile brighter.

“I know it is a lot to handle,” she confessed. “But if you have a heart as big as hers, it can work. It must work.”

“How can having more than one mate work?”

“It’s simple,” she said. “You love her and you trust her.”

“I do love her,” I whispered, staring down at my hands. “More than anything.”

“But do you trust her?”

I thought about it for a moment, unsure of how to answer that. Of course, in theory, I trusted her. But I knew she felt the mate bond with the others too and I wasn’t sure how far she would take things with them.

My stomach tightened at the thought.

“Trust is equally as important as love, Xaden,” the Moon Queen continued. “A queen is nothing without love and each of you carries a piece of her that keeps her separate. But together…”

“We make her whole,” I finished the sentence for her, which awarded me with a gentle smile.

“Exactly,” the Moon Queen breathed. “Do you know what the greatest weapon of all time is?”

After a moment of pause, I shook my head.

“No, I don’t,” I admitted. “Is it dragons?”

She laughed and her laugh was musical; it made me smile almost automatically.

“No, it is not dragons. Though, they are very powerful and dangerous if treated wrongly,” she said, her brows furrowed together as if she was remembering something. “But no, I am not speaking of a physical weapon. I am speaking about love, Xaden.”

“Love?”

She nodded.

“Love is the most powerful weapon in existence. Love is the only thing in the world that can defeat hate. Love can also unlock great things and even bigger power.”

“How can love do all of that?” I asked, skeptically.

“Feel nothing but love for your mate and find out all the great things that come along with it,” the Moon Queen said as she reached out and touched my hand gently. “But do not hold her back from feeling and receiving the love from the others. She needs them, just as much as she needs you. Without them, she is only half complete.”

“It’s hard…” I admitted. “Loving her and knowing that her heart belongs to others.”

“She won’t truly be happy unless she has all of you in her corner,” the Moon Queen said. “Each of you has a piece of her heart. It won’t truly be complete unless she has all the pieces. You had marked her for yourself, yes. But that doesn’t sever the mating call with the others.”

I sighed, feeling a ping of guilt in my chest.

“Are you saying I shouldn’t have marked her?” I asked, not wanting the answer, but needing to hear it.

“No,” she surprised me by saying. I lifted my gaze to meet hers. “In fact, I think you did the right thing by marking her. It ties you to her and her to you. You will understand one another better and jealousy won’t be a factor because of that bond. But she needs the others as well; she needs you all to be fully complete.”

“But the others can’t mark her now because I have already done it,” I blurted.

This made the Queen laugh and then she brushed a strand of hair away from her neck. I gasped when I saw that she had 5 different marks on the nape of her neck. But how was that possible? I had never heard of such a thing.

Sensing my questions, the Moon Queen smiled.

“The Goddess has a way of making things work out for mated couples,” she answered my unspoken question. “I had all of them in my corner and we made one another stronger because of it. I was unable to unlock great powers with my mates by my side. I wouldn’t change a thing even if given the choice, nor would they.”

“Were they couples too?” I blurted, crinkling my nose at the thought of it. I think that was what worried me the most. “I ask because one of Anila’s mates, happens to be my brother, and coupling with him is not on my agenda in the near or far future.”

She laughed again and shook my head.

“They were not a couple in a way that I was with them, or them with me,” she said almost cryptically. “They had mutual respect for one another. Admiration, partnership, understanding, trust, friendship, brotherhood. All with a common goal to support and to love me with all their hearts and me with them.”

I sighed and then I nodded.

“I don’t even see that happening between me and Zach,” I murmured. “He’s kind of an asshole.”

“Is it he is an asshole? Or is he just misunderstood? Has life been fair to him?” She counter asked.

I opened my mouth to respond, but then closed it because truth be told, I wasn’t sure. I knew Zach had it rough growing up and I certainly didn’t help matters. I basically tormented him our entire childhood. It was because I was angry with him. I was angry that his mother took the life of mine. I knew it wasn’t fair, but I hated Zach for that.

“I know it’s not something you want to hear right now,” she continued. “But Anila needs him, just as much as he needs her. She needs all of you. You all make the best of her and in order for her to feel fully complete, you will need to band together and do what is best for her. Only then, will you find your true happiness.”

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.

“There is something dark coming, Xaden,” the Moon Queen continued. “The world needs her in order to survive. It needs all of you because you make each other the strongest. She is here for a reason. Most have suspected this for a long time now, and I’m here to tell you it is true. She is the chosen one. The Moon Queen reincarnates. Without her mates, she isn’t anything.”

“Something dark is coming?” I asked, my voice coming out as a whisper.

“I’m afraid so,” she replied. “This is only the beginning. You must stand by your mate. All of you must stand by her. You mustn’t keep them from her. Once you open your heart to them, you will find your true happiness.”

I nodded, a heaviness forming in my chest as I thought of the others. Had I been selfish?

“What am I supposed to do?” I found myself asking.

She reached over and touched my arm gently. I met her eyes and her smile softened.

“Love her,” she answered. “Love her and trust her.”