Arlen's POV
"King Arlen, you must eat." My mate's grandfather put some soup on my office desk.
"How long has it been since Brynn has been gone?"

"It's been one day, King Arlen." He informed me. Has it only been one day since the love of my life vanished right before my eyes? It feels like a million days!
I failed my mate. I couldn't protect her, and Goddess, we all fought hard to do so! Since Brynn disappeared I haven't been able to sleep, function, or think straight. Brynn is forever on my mind. Not being able to sense her near me is driving me absolutely mad. Ezra has been sitting with me, trying to help me. But I need my Queen by my side!
Jason is still out of commission and has a long road ahead of him to recover. Dr. Byers said if Tessa Starr hadn't brought Levi here, Jason would have died. The Starr's made arrangements to have Jason convalesce in the Caribbean with Emma at his side.
When Lorenzo laughed in glee after Lombardo took Brynn and disappeared, I killed him in a blind rage. I don't remember much after that, just that the Holt brothers and Ezra had to hold me back from going berserk and harming my guards too.
"Ezra, I can't eat right now. I have to try to find Brynn!" I sobbed, the pain of my mate missing crushing my soul.
"And to help you do that, I need you strong King Arlen. Eat." Ezra pushed the bowl of chicken noodle soup towards me. It did smell very good...

"There you go." Ezra smiled softly as he watched me take some bites.
"I miss her!" I said, feeling the tears roll down my cheeks.
"I know. I miss her too. But your Queen is a smart woman. Brynn is sizing Luca up and figuring out what his weaknesses may be. And when she puts the pieces together..."
"She'll take him down." I finished for Ezra, inhaling my soup. "You know where I can get more of this stuff?" We both laughed as Ezra got up and went to the kitchen to get me some more. I really hadn't realized how hungry I was.

After he brought me the second bowl, Ezra and I made small talk until Anthony Starr came running in. "King Arlen, we have a situation with Emmett Holt and Miranda."
Ezra and I followed him to the cottage we had loaned Miranda to stay in. I had to take a second look at Miranda. Her pregnancy wasn't apparent just a couple of days ago, but it damn sure was now!
"Miranda, I want to be with you, but I can't do this! That monster just kidnapped our Fairy Queen and you expect me to blindly raise his spawn?!" Emmett shouted at her.
"The spawn, as you have rudely referred to this child, is also a part of ME, Emmett!" Miranda fired back.
"But also a part of him!!!" Emmett growled and kicked the coffee table over.
"EMMETT HOLT!" Immediately he bowed his head in submission.
"You will control your temper while you are in my kingdom! I will not put up with you destroying my property!" Emmett took a deep breath and looked at me.
"Perhaps I shouldn't be a part of this Kingdom then. Because I can't live like this!!" Emmett tried to leave, but Ezra launched his gold shield at him and encapsulated Emmett in it! I watched with interest as Emmett tried to use his invisibility gift but was unable to.
"King Arlen, Alpha Ryan Smith from Fire Moon has just arrived with his Luna." Anthony informed me. Thank Goddess for small favors. Two guards escorted the Alpha and Luna of Midnight Moon to the cottage. Jade, ready to deliver herself, eyed Miranda with wonder.
"Your child is special. But you already know this." She smiled at Miranda, who nodded her head.
"And that's why no matter what that monster may have done, I can't give my baby up. I was told years ago I only have one functioning ovary and may never have children! This could very well be my one chance to be a mother!" Miranda started to sob. I looked at Emmett, who had some pity, but more hurt.
"Emmett, did you know my oldest daughter isn't biologically mine?" Ryan asked him. Emmett c****d his head at him.
"I met Jade when she was still a human and about four months pregnant. Like you, I had my doubts at first. I wanted to reject her, but my wolf convinced me otherwise. And I'm glad I listened to him."
"Was your daughter conceived by some maniac!?" Emmett fired back.
"Yes, she was! By my own stepbrother, nonetheless! And no, it wasn't consensual!" Jade snapped, making Emmett look down in shame.
"Emmett, mate bonds aren't always cut and dry. Jade is actually my second chance. I won't get into the s**tshow my fated mate turned out to be, but she caused a lot of issues, on top of Jade's stepbrother wreaking havoc. And then, just as soon as I found Jade, I almost lost her to an attack by some poor jealous wolf! It was then I finally realized I was being given a rare gift. Second chances are so very special. Jade healed me just like Anthony and Tessa healed each other." Ryan looked off at Anthony, who shook his head in agreement.
"How did you get over it? The baby being a reminder of what your mate went through?" Emmett asked him.
"By telling myself it wasn't the baby's fault how they came to be. As I fell in love with Jade, I fell in love with the baby too. I'm the one who sang to my daughter while she was in the womb. I was the one who was there when she took her first breath, the first bath, her first smile, her first steps. I'm the one she runs to if she is scared. I'm the one who chases away all those monsters and kisses her boo-boos. Ria may not be my child by blood, but she IS my daughter! Just like this child will be yours, Emmett." Ryan assured him, as Emmett stared at Miranda.
"Emmett, I won't hold it against you if you decide you can't handle this. But I will tell you right now if you can't and feel it best to reject me, don't you dare try to come back!! Because I will NOT allow my child to be brought up by a man who cannot truly love them!" Miranda's resolve was clear, her words spoken like a mother. Emmett stared at Miranda, who stared back at him with resolve.
"I almost lost you once. I won't lose you again." He grabbed Miranda and held her to him as she broke down. Internally, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I was hoping and praying for the last five minutes that this relationship would not end before it began.
"Miranda, has Dr. Byers said anything about what kind of powers the child may have? Because, if I'm not mistaken, it will have three-quarter witch DNA and one-quarter wolf." Ezra asked.
"I asked him about that, he said the quarter-wolf would only give the child better physical abilities like speed and agility. The witch part will be the most dominant." She informed us.
"That witch part of the baby has to be why you were able to break Sophia's spell. If you could break her spell..." I pondered.
"I may be able to draw upon the baby's power to help locate the Queen." She finished for me.
"How much of your strength has come back?" Emmett asked her.
"Enough that I think I can try a location spell." Miranda smiled softly.
"Do you think it will help to have the wizards here?" I asked her.
"Yes. In fact, I think their magic may magnify my spell!" Miranda said, giving me hope. I texted George and Rafael to meet me at the cottage.
George and Rafael had just returned that morning after assisting at Blue River Pack, which had been hit hard by the witch attacks. Alpha Julian and his warriors were able to dispatch the witches with few casualties. But his frustration with the whole situation, and being away from his mate and infant, was making Julian even more difficult to deal with than usual.
I braced myself to have to reprimand Rafael if he ran his mouth, but one look at his face crushed my defenses. He and Brynn had become very close, and his face was wrought with worry and fear.
"George and Rafael, we want to attempt a location spell to try and locate Brynn. Do you think you can help us?" They looked at Miranda.
"Go on ahead and give us a drop of your blood. Since you are carrying Luca's child, it should work." George brought forth a dagger and pricked Miranda on the finger. We formed a circle around the three of them and watched them begin to chant.
As the three of them chanted, a cloud of pinkish smoke arose above us all. I watched in wonder as it dissipated and a bright trail of glitter took its place.
"That glitter is from Brynn's gypsy side. It means she's unharmed." Ezra told me. All of us sighed in relief.
"He is very hard to find. It's almost like he is hiding in a sanctuary we aren't able to see yet!" Miranda's eyes were closed in concentration as she began to chant some more.
"Wait a second...I got them! I can only see them, but it's definitely the Queen and Lombardo!" George and Rafael knelt down and whispered in another language.
"Hahahah! You go Brynn!" Rafael smirked.
"Is she OK!?" I shouted.
"She just punched that son a b***h in the face for trying to kiss her! He's sulking some toddler!" As frantic as I was about this, it gave me some comfort knowing Brynn wasn't going down without a fight.
"Wait. There is someone else with them!!" Rafael told us. The three of them concentrated, trying to get more information. We all stayed quiet.
"She's young, whoever she is. Luca doesn't know she's there! Almost like she's....holy God Georgie!! ARE YOU SEEING THIS!" I desperately wanted to know what the wizards were seeing, but I couldn't break their concentration.
"I do. The girl...I never thought I'd see the day I encountered one. We need to try and grab them both, Rafael!"
Just like that, the wizards disappeared. Miranda collapsed to the floor in exhaustion. Emmett picked her up with care and laid her down on the couch. Miranda was down for about a minute until she began to shake!
"OH GOD, MIRANDA!" Emmett screamed.
Rafael reappeared suddenly and grabbed Miranda's arms and started to scream. "I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, HAG! COME ON OUT AND DEAL WITH US ONCE AND FOR ALL!"
Whirls of red and black smoke with glitter floated around the two of them. After what seemed like an eternity, Rafael jumped off an unconscious Miranda and grabbed at the air, forcing something to manifest...
"SOPHIA!" Ezra immediately encapsulated her inside his gold shield. I watched as Sophia struggled inside of it, unable to use her powers.
Sophia looked at Miranda with hatred. "That little b***h is a hell of a lot stronger than I thought! Of course, she's breeding a Lombardo, so that's why!"
"I hope you got a good look at your grandchild. Because this is the last time you will ever see them!" Emmett growled, and Sophia cackled.
"That child isn't even..." I watched in relief as Emmett used his magic to create a water wall and entombed Sophia in it. Within minutes, Sophia Lombardo stopped moving. He removed the water, and I used my magic to cremate Sophia Lombardo.
"That child is MINE! Your son will join you soon!" Emmett spit on the ashes.