The Kings Series #1 His Beauty Queen novel Chapter 22

How could he have forgotten one simple rule of the mate bond?

Never leave your mate for a long period of time especially if the bond has not been completed.

Damn! He was an idiot. Nothing in this world was more important than his mate. Yet, he let her down.

Even forgetting their mating ceremony --which was supposed to be the most important event of their lives.

It took them hours to get to the airport since Lucas' estate was an island. When they arrived at the airfield it was late in the morning. Then they had waited for clearance from air traffic to finally take off.

He couldn't relax on the plane because he had to endure ten hours of flight from Greece to NYC. He felt like gnashing his teeth. He would be home by midnight at least.

Didn't even had the decency to help his mate with the preparation. He felt like shit. And right this moment, he was rehearsing his apology speech.

His cell phone broke during one of the raids and he should have bought one sooner. A call or a text would have soothed his mate a bit while they were far from each other.

"Beta, call home, please. I need to talk to my mate. Goddess, she must be so upset right now." The uneasiness surrounding his heart made him clenched his hands.

Nodding his agreement, he saw Michael reached for the satellite phone.

As soon as the call was picked up, he immediately heard Alexie's frantic voice over the phone. He couldn't make out her words, however, the grim look in Michael's eyes was a warning that something was wrong.

His determined strides reached Alexander right away and he handed him the device.

"Alexie," his voice was tight from the unexpected dryness of his throat.

"Anna May left, brother." The sudden roaring in his ears from what she said barely registered her weeping in the background.

"How is that possible? She is well guarded in the royal pack grounds. Have you sent out scouts? Her sisters?Fuck!" This couldn't be happening hours before their mating ceremony.

"Xavier and I are out looking for her. I have the security team with us. None of us realized she's gone until now. I thought she was taking a nap at the library. She doesn't sleep much since you left, I decided not to disturb her." He could hear car doors slamming and Xavier's voice barking out orders.

"Alexie, I can't... I can't lose her." He whispered. Hopelessness in his voice. He needed to get home fast and find Anna.

"She left us a letter. I didn't read yours. But what's in mine... She thought you won't come back. That you left her as her father did. She heard nothing from you. Remember she is still human, Alexander. She couldn't have understood the power of the mate bond like us." He closed his eyes trying to contain the pain he was feeling and devastation stemmed from the fact that he hurt the most important person in his life.

"I will make this right," he took a painful breath. His voice rough with emotion. "I will bring my mate back, no matter what the cost."

His wolf howled in grief with shared sentiments. He royally fucked up!

I am coming for you, mia anima.

____________

Alexie

Where could she be? They had been searching for hours. Nightfall has blackened the sky, the moon and stars illuminated their path.

How Anna escaped her security detail made her smirked. Clever girl. She remembered the CCTV footage. She was dressed as one of the servants, hair in a messy bun, she pretended to carry empty boxes inside the caterer's van. She stayed there until the vehicle left.

Alexie shook her head. She was really giving her brother a run for his money.

Men shouldn't underestimate their women.

Goddess. Please me know where my Queen Luna is. She wouldn't even bother her. She knew Anna needed to think. Her plan was to surround the area with warriors for her protection and let her be.

And let her brother grovel on his knees to get Anna back, go home to Michael, her mate, who will receive a tongue lashing figuratively and literally then go to sleep. She needed to be beautiful in her Dior gown tomorrow.

They had covered the city grounds, even the questionable areas. And looked at diners, pubs, restaurants, motels, hotels, inns, and every nook and cranny. And she was not there.

Where could Anna go? She only had a small backpack with her. Her last scent they traced was at the caterer's warehouse.

On the outskirts of Manhattan. Alexandria took a deep breath to concentrate.

"Fuck! I'm an idiot." She turned to the Vampire King, raising her brows.

"What?" Confused as to why he berated himself.

"What is the second safest place that you think she might go?" Oh. Realization hit her. Damn!

"I never thought..." Because they had presumed she will get away from them as far as possible.

"Exactly. Come on, princess. Let's go to your Luna. I have to go back to my beloved soon."

***

And there she was. Sleeping soundly in her brother's office, his dress shirt covering Anna's cheek.

Xavier and Alexandria decided to let her rest. At least they found her. Their job was to secure the building with their men.

The doors shut silently behind them. Goddess, they can breathe easy now.

"If you ever hurt Anna Michelle like this, Sofia and I are going to castrate you," she uttered warningly, piercing her grey eyes to the Vampire King. He raised his brows at her threat.

"Believe me. I am learning from your brother's mistakes." She snorted her laughter. Clever vampire.

"Yeah. Let's inform that idiot where to find his mate. I believe his jet has landed." She was anticipating to get her hands on Michael tonight.

____________

Alexander

As soon as he entered the room, he was enveloped by the entrancing scent of his mate. It almost brought him to his knees.

The heavy sigh of relief expelling from his lungs was an indication of the uncertainty and tension he had in his body.

Fuck! His stomach churned in tune with the beating of his heart.

Please don't reject me mate.

He sucked in a sharp breath, feeling his wolf's pain.

I am sorry I let us both down.

It is my fault as well, human.

With hesitant steps, making sure he doesn't make any sound, he approached the comfortable divan where his mate's delicate form was sleeping.

His eyes softened, noticing his shirt on her cheek. She missed him.

For the first time in his life, he felt a bit of tiredness. He hasn't slept for almost four days straight. Pushing him and his pack to the limits and find evidence to pin down the traitor.

"Alexander," he stilled --hearing his name on her lips. Her eyelids fluttered and he saw tears fell from them. She was dreaming of him.

"Mia anima," Breathing his endearment for her. With his forefinger, he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. In four days, she had obviously lost weight, there were faint bluish marks under her eyes.

Whatever torment she felt had taken a toll on her. He flinched, noticing her stirring from her sleep. Shit!

Alexander settled his bulky form beside his mate and the cushion wobbled, taking his weight. She dazedly stared at him, eyes misty and disoriented.

"Hi," he greeted, his voice raspy.

"What...your back," Her voice quivered, barely a whisper.

"I will always come back to you," rough fingers lovingly outlined her cheeks, down to her slender neck, goosebumps treaded in its wake. "I'm sorry, mia anima. Forgive me."

She ducked her head. He raised her chin so he can continue to gaze at her amber depths. The window to her soul.

"I...I don't know what to say. I felt...I thought maybe you changed your mind. I was leaving you...and something pulled me back. I came here to be close to you." She hung her head, loathe to admit her vulnerability.

"I'm glad you're here. I thought I'd gone crazy when they told me you left. I can't lose you. Not ever." Leaning down, he buried his face on her neck. Her scent calmed him.