Sins Among Royals
Chapter 9 BONUS

Noah watched as Indie turned away from him and disappeared into the dwelling, closing the door behind her. He couldn’t help but sigh as a sense of fulfillment descended on him. He’d found his mate, his true mate and though she seemed a little reluctant he knew that things would work out, he would make sure they would.

Returning to his vehicle, he was soon approached by the two security guards, “stay here till I return. She is not to be left unattended. If you need more help, then send for it.” Both men nodded as one stepped back into the trees around the Jones family home.

Without a word or an order, they knew that one was to remain in human form while the other shifted and patrolled in wolf form and although it was foreign territory neither or them seemed at all threatened or intimidated by that thought.

Noah climbed back into the vehicle that he had driven down from the Thornton property and sighed. Resting his head against the steering wheel, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by everything. Indie and her family seemed nice but far from anything he was used to, and Noah found himself wondering just how Indie would fit into his world and his circle of friends. Despite his reservations, he knew that she would have to change things she didn’t want to, there was no other way around it, the life of a royal was complicated.

Before long the passenger’s door of the vehicle opened and he heard someone jump in.

“What?” Noah groaned loudly as his head began spinning. “What do you want Leo?” He had barely seen his third in command the entire evening. After he found his mate in what appeared to be Indie’s best friend Leo had made himself sparse all evening which led Noah to believe, he was taking care of things.

“What’s wrong?” Leo couldn’t help but sense Noah’s distress as soon as he’d asked the question. He had heard whispers about how things had gone down at the Thornton mansion, and though he wanted to give Noah his space he did need to be close to him at all times, should anything happen.

Silence settled between the two men as Noah turned the key in the ignition and started the vehicle. Pulling out of the driveway of the Jones’ home he backed out on to the road before speeding off, tires screeching as he did so.

“Hey,” Leo shouted at him from the passenger’s seat, “what are you doing, you maniac?” He held on tightly as Noah sped through the hills of the Thornton pack’s territory with not saying a word or acknowledging Leo’s presence.

After what felt like an eternity Noah pulled off of the road and into a lookout that looked over an area from Aspen all the way down to Luton and the seaside. After killing the engine, Noah leaned back in his seat and sighed.

“You know you just broke all security protocols right?” Leo heard something vibrating and opened the glove compartment to replace the cell phone that belonged in the vehicle. Swiping at the screen, “yeah everything’s fine. We just need a bit of time then we’ll be back down.” He paused for a moment as Noah heard someone yelling on the other end. “It’s been a long night Wade, just make sure the Alpha’s room is ready and that Madeline Thornton can’t get anywhere near him.” With that command, Leo threw the phone back into the glovebox and turned to Noah who was looking at him with an odd expression.

“I hope you’re naked because you shifted and not because you mated with that girl.” At the question, Noah couldn’t help but take a slight breath in to test the air, “not mated but aroused.” The seriousness of his tone was evident as he climbed out of the vehicle and walked to the railing that separated the lookout from a sheer drop down a cliff.

“What’s going on with you?” Leo quickly followed.

“What the hell am I doing? Why am I even doing this? She’s nothing like I expected, in fact, she is the opposite and yet I can feel myself needing her already. I don’t want to but its there.” It surprised Noah at how much he wanted Indie and how much he wanted to make her happy. “I’ve already made promises to her that I would never make to anyone else, why?” He looked towards his best friend and third in command and tried to keep his frustrations in check.

“That’s how you know the bond is real. That how you know she isn’t faking as Medea did.” Everyone in the castle felt sorry for Noah when Medea’s true intentions were revealed, and though everyone wanted to protect him, he seemed to get over it faster than anyone gave him credit for.

“My issues aside we need to talk about you and your mate,” the tone of Noah’s voice suddenly saddened.

“If it comes to it and my union with Poppy is an issue then I will gladly resign from my position and live as a loyal pack member to you and Indie.” Leo was sure; he had given it a lot of thought throughout his entire life and knew that if he ever found his mate, then he would do whatever he could to make things work for them. Even if it meant stepping away from the only life he knew.

“How can it be so easy for you to say that?” Noah questioned him, annoyance nibbling away at him. How could Leo accept something so life changing, so quickly? What was Noah missing?

Leo chuckled and stood next to his friend as they looked out over the land, “you realise we only get one life right? Have I not always said that if the right person came along, then I would do everything to make it work? If that means stepping away from my responsibilities then so be it.” Leo was sure of himself and sure of the future he had with Poppy, even if they’d met just hours before.

“You make it sound so easy.” Noah groaned as he turned to his best friend.

“It is easy! You just have the misfortune of having to deal with past issues. She isn’t Medea, remember that and give her a chance, she could be everything you’ve been looking for.” Leo felt that Noah was on the verge of throwing his hands in the air and leaving it all behind. “Overcome what happened and do your best to put it behind you, she deserves your full attention.“Leo didn’t know Indie, but he knew that if she were anything like Poppy, then Noah would be alright.

There as an extended period of silence between the two friends as Noah turned away from Leo again and just stared off into the distance.

“Think of the positives Noah,” Leo said suddenly, “you could have ended up with someone like Madeline.” With that, he started cackling uncontrollably at the thought of it. “You gotta admit,” Leo snorted, “that has to be a relief.”

“I didn’t think you’d be so ruthless Leo,” Noah couldn’t help but grin. He was right; things could have been much, much worse for Noah. “Well,” Noah started again, “you seem happy with the mate you have been granted. I will have a word with my father and see if we can bend the rules a little bit. He may let me choose my Beta when I ascend the throne.” Though he was hopeful, he was still doubtful.

“I would appreciate that very much,” Leo responded quickly. “Now that you’ve had a moment to think I would very much like to get you back to the Thornton residence before the sun rises, you have a big day coming up, and I am freezing my ass off.” Leo couldn’t help but chuckle as the pair returned to the vehicle.

Noah felt a little more at ease with the way things have gone, Indie wasn’t what he was hoping for, but they were meant to be together, and he had to change the way he thought and do so quickly. The pair promptly climbed back into the vehicle and returned to the Thornton residence where Noah was greeted with a silent room and no sight of Madeline, but as he lay his head down to rest, there was far too much going on in his head to get any sleep.

It would indeed be a long day to come.