Chapter Eighteen:

Astor seemed far away as I carried Luca from booth to booth letting people play with him and offer him free things. Luca bounced and giggled as he received yet another thing. which it was a small stuff dragon. Luca shoves it between us and lays on it causing me laugh alittle. I glance up at Astor and he is still looking around.

'I thought you said that we were safe. If we are safe then stop looking around like a paranoid lunatic and pay attention to Luca.' I shot the thought straight at Astor. He smirks and turns toward me with his eyebrow raised.

"Well what would you two like to do now?" My mind zones out as I hear the sound of running foot steps behind me. I drop one of my arms as it begins to burn and itch. My scales were growing. Which meant that there was a threat. The air whips around me slightly. I swing Luca to my hip and swing around arm above my head as a blade swings down ontop of it. I snarl defensively and push my flames outward. The young man stumbles backward but it took Astor no time at all to have his hand around the boys throat and his feet dangling off the ground.

"Arden you may be my Beta's BROTHER BUT. YOU. ATTACKED. WHAT'S. MINE." My mouth drops open. The rage coming off him hit me like a ton of bricks. I watched half stunned still as Astor's jaw clenched. Damn!

My mind wonders for a moment before Astor clears his thought. I sniffle a giggle realizing my thoughts were heard loud and clear.

****ASTOR'S POINT OF VIEW.****

Arden had went over board this time! He was a rebellious kid but he had attacked his Luna and future Alpha. I tighten my hold around his neck. As sudden flashes of me pinning Freya like this crossed my mind. Aro groans loudly against my skull and I clear my throat.

All my rage was gone now. I could hear Freya suppress a giggle. I slowly lower Arden back on the ground but kept my hand firmly in place.

"What is the meaning of this boy?!" Aro was trying to take over and Arden's eyes widen slightly. Then he looks behind me at Freya. I let out a warning snarl.

"SHOW YOUR LUNA RESPECT!" My blood was boiling and all I wanted to do was tare his throat out. But he was Damien's brother.

"Alpha!" Speaking of Damien. I turn my head and he's sprinting up to me. He looks pale. Good.

"My apologies. I swear thisnwill never happen again! Luna I will take his punishment." I turn with Arden still in my grip and look at Freya. She seemed almost confused. She eyes Arden and then arches an eyebrow at me.

"Let him go Astor." I quickly release Arden. Not because she said to but out of my own shock.

"Luna?" Damien seemed surprised as well.

Freya scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"Am I a heartless monster in your eyes?" She looks back and forth between Damien and I. She shakes her head and approaches Arden. His head was lowered and he trembled slightly. Was he crying?

"I don't understand." Freya hands Luca to me before placing a hand on Arden's shoulder. He flinches under her touch. My blood began to boil again. But Freya cuts her eyes at me and glares.

"Arden? My name's Freya. Will you look at me?" Slowly the boy looks at Freya. My eyes widen as she offers him a gentle smile.

"Yes 'Luna'?" I growl at his sarcastic tone. He was disrespecting my mate yet again!

Freya only huffs a sigh.

"You are angry. And I am sorry for whatever happened. You may attack me if you like. But you will not do it when I am holding that little boy do you understand me pup?" Her voice was dangerously low and it had an echo to it letting me know that Shade was on the surface too. Arden's mouth drops open in shock. He glances up at me. But all I can do is smirk.

"Luna?" Arden looks back to my mate. A flash of fear crosses his face. She arches an eyebrow at him and her face becomes blank.

"I don't care for your reasoning. If you think they were good enough to attack me then so be it. I am not going to punish you and neither is Astor. But I will fight back. And if you are gravely injuried because of it then you have no one to blame but yourself." In a flash Freya had him by the collar and she was mere inches away from his face. Her eyes flashed metallic. Aro howls proudly.

"If you EVER do something again that could put Luca in harms way. I'll. Rip. Out. Your. Heart." Arden whimpers as Freya let's go of his collar. I glance down at Luca and he is just staring at Freya in awe.

"Yeah me too son." Freya inhales a deep breath and rolls her shoulders. She turns to me but looks at Damien. He looks so torn. He seemed proud of his Luna but he also wanted to be protective of his younger brother.

"Thank you Luna." She nods and I see the energy drain from her body. I give her a gentle smile and lean down kissing her forehead. Her eyes flutter closed and she gives a small smile.

"Let's go back to the castle." She nods and plucks Luca from my arms nestling him close to her and she breaths in slow deep breaths as she walks.

She was afraid he would have gotten hurt. I couldng ask for a better mate to help raise my son. Luca cuddled into her as far as he could and begin patting her collar bone slowly. I smile. He knew she needed comforting. He was such a smart boy already.

I growl in frustration. She said that I wouldn't punish Arden. I wouldn't go against her and do it anyway. But I was going to have a serious conversation with Damien about his brother.

'Mate didn't say that I couldn't punish him.' I frown.

'She meant you too. And I'm not getting into trouble because you lost your temper.' Aro grumbles but remains silent.

Freya was stronger than I could ever give her credit for. That I was sure of.