Once Rejected, Thrice Accepted
Chapter 21

"How did the training go with the King and his men?" I asked Duncan as the three of them came in almost falling over one another into the living room. "We... have..." Leo took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off of his face. "train harder. They kicked our asses."

"Even the King. He made us look like chumps." Lucas growled stomping over to kiss me before heading down the hall.

"The only good thing was that we explained what all you had said and how you came upon knowing it and he didn't freak out. He did ask to talk to you after lunch if you were up for it." Duncan kissed my cheek before taking my water and guzzling it down. "Hey that was mine." I tried to grab it back but he just held it over my head laughing at my shortness.

"And the head guard got taken down by your brother in one and one." Leo bragged. "So totally worth getting my a*s handed to me by one of the other guards."

I grumbled until I got my drink back, empty now of course. "Good. What was his name anyway? I keep calling him names I shouldn't repeat in my head."

"Our girl likes her cuss words and name calling." Duncan teased flopping down on the seat beside me.

"I never got to at home. Any mean word about anyone other than myself got me more bruises or cuts." I shrugged my shoulder. I knew I should be a bit more traumatized by now but being with the guys made me feel safe enough to let more and more of it go. Duncan growled pulling me onto his sweaty chest with my legs straddling his. "Never again baby girl."

"Agreed and I think we should visit her old pack again. But this time use more force." Leo growled out punching his fist into his hand.

"Calm down. We will handle them later but for now let's discuss where the king wants to meet me and the name I asked for?" I leaned back off of Duncan. "And then you both shower. Your sweat is getting all over me."

Duncan snorted and pushed me back onto the couch. "Fine. He wants to meet with you here. He even invited us and Draco to come with them to make you feel more comfortable."

"And the jerks name is Eric Shining. His family has been leading the guard for generations." Leo answered hopping up. "Lucas is done in the shower, and I vote I am next."

He ran off before Duncan could even stand up not that he was trying. "Does he realize there are three bathrooms here? I just didn't want to miss more time with you." "Awe, someone is sucking up." I teased him eyeing him up and down sternly. "What did you do wrong?"

"I

may or may not be a bit jealous of last night." He reluctantly answered. "I know I shouldn't, but I miss you. I miss touching you, kissing you, being inside you."

I groaned. "Me too.

"But no time for anything other than a quick cuddle." Duncan groaned longingly. "We gotta scarf down some grub before they get here."

Oh, crap. I thought I would have more time. I gave him one last big squeeze and booked it upstairs. I yelled back as I ran that their lunches were in the oven, ready to go, and that I needed time to pick an outfit.

"I could help!" Lucas offered as I ran by him. I flipped him off before making it to my room and slamming the door shut.

I still didn't understand what clothing items were appropriate for what situations, but I had a feeling it should be comfortable. Just thinking of Katherine and the talks we had brought tears to my eyes. She was in a lot of pain and had gone a bit crazy by the time I had made it down there but the few moments here and there she was lucid she comforted me when I confessed about my beatings and shit family and told me about Charles and their sons. She really loved them.

Goddess, I was so lucky to be out of there. Never again will I let that happen.

By the time I changed my clothes a few different times and landed on a simple flow green shirt and pants they were here. My brother and Allie made it there right after so I knew going down I would have enough supporters to boost my confidence. It still felt a bit weird to have people who would have my back and stay loyal to me, to top off how nice they were to me.

I tried to sneak down so that maybe I could ease into the conversation but the head guard, Erin, noticed me with a smirk. He whispered something into the Kings ear moving his attention to me. Jerk.

"Oh, hey guys. Thanks for coming over." I wrung my hands together doing my best not to fidget anymore. "King Charles I am so sorry for dropping that bombshell about your mate on you last night. I just thought since I would have wanted to know what happened to one of my mates that you would too."

"One of your mates?" Erin looked shock.

I looked between the guys with some confusion. "Did we not tell them?"

Leo smiled at me. 'Nope, wanted to see their reaction. It isn't of the norm and we didn't want anyone extra to show up. I don't want to kill the king on his first visit!

'Good idea.' I agreed with him. If having more than one mate was rare I didn't need to add to the flames and be gawked at like an object by strangers.

"That will be something we need to discuss." The King eyed everyone in the room sternly before landing on me. "Can we have a private chat? The others can be close by if it makes you more comfortable.

Draco growled walking to stand in front of me. "She won't be going anywhere without me. I heard some of your guards talking earlier and I already have half a mind to show them what real pain feels like."

Charles looked at the few guards he had in the house with him and shook his head. "I didn't know. I bear no ill will toward your sister. I just wish to hear more about my Katherine and talk about the things she knows about this attack on me."

I hugged Draco from the back, hard. I fought the emotions squeezing him harder, whispering 'how thankful I was for him.'

"Thank you, big brother." I stepped around him keeping an arm around him. "I think I can handle this by myself as long as everyone else stays close by?"

I looked around the room and everyone nodded. My nerves were on high alert but doing this would help Charles replace closer and probably myself along with him.

I led Charles onto the porch with Erin staying by the door. I felt like that was a bit protective since I had never fought someone or hurt someone a day in my life but oh well.

"I want to apologize for leaving the way we did yesterday." He took a deep breath before continuing. I could hear the pain creeping up in his voice. "I never knew the full details of what happened to her but when they told me she was killed I didn't believe them. I didn't feel the bond snap or die. I didn't feel the pain that others described until almost three years later. That was when everything broke...I broke." He let his head fall in his shame and pain.

Pain and sympathy panged in my chest. I hated that this man, this strong man, had to go through that just because my parents and former ruling couple wanted to be able to sell females for who knows what while inflicting pain on others. I hated them...I loathed them.

"I am so sorry. I hate that this happened to you and to her." I carefully put my hand on his back ignoring the growl coming from the guard. "She helped me out as much as I tried to help her. She told me stories of you, of her sons, and of the strength it took to keep fighting each and every day. I felt like I was part of your family when she spoke of you. I wished for years that I could have taken

her place."

Charles turned toward me in surprise. "Don't ever say that. She would never want someone to die for her. She was a strong and proud Luna. Just like you are going to be."

I shrugged. "We will see."

Erin cleared his throat and pointed to his watch. I saw Charles roll his eyes causing me to giggle.

"Now lets discuss everything you heard so we can figure out how to let them hang themselves with their plans."