Eleven.

Audrey woke up from the nap she had fallen into. She looked around to find herself alone in the room.

She wondered where her mate went. She got up from the bed and walked to the door turning it open and stepping out.

Carson had left his mate’s side when she slept off as they cuddled. He thought about how stressed out and overwhelmed she must have felt throughout the day.

His own day went from waiting for his mate to marking her and a shit ton of things unfolding in the ceremony.

He made a mental note to thank Aerlda for always having his back when it was needed. The old woman sure knew how to keep her defences up and wished his team had someone to learn from her. They could use a young power witch against the Vampire King.

A smiled formed on his face when he noticed his mate walk up to him with a sleepy face. She looked adorable and had her arms open to hug him.

Carson hugged her and rubber the back of her head.

“Hi” she mumbled into his shirt. He could tell she was blushing.

“Hey Beautiful” he kissed the top of her head. “You hungry?” he asked.

“Yes please” she replied.

Carson plated some food for her and warmed it up in the microwave for her.

He placed the plate in front of her and took out a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Here you go sweetheart” he said.

“Thank you” she blushed.

Carson smiled at his mate as she ate. How could he have forgotten she was supposed to have eaten earlier.

Alton stood with his mate in their room and hugged her from behind. They had tried to wait for a better time to mate but they could not keep away from each other.

Hazel gasped at the kiss Alton placed on her mark. He smiled at her before pulling her toward the bathroom. They needed to get ready for Audrey’s training.

While Hazel went in first to dress up, Alton mind-linked Carson.

“Alpha” he called out hoping for a response.

“Yes Alton, everything good?” Carson’s voice rang in his head.

“All good, have you spoken to your father concerning the Luna’s training?”

“No not yet, why?”

“We need to get a move on it Alpha, there isn’t much time”.

“It’s been barely a day since the ceremony, don’t you think she needs a break before then?”

“I’m sorry to say this but she needs to begin with her training as it is, the cold Blooded king could attack at any moment. We don’t even know if there are any other traitors or spies around to give him access into the city. Better prepared than sorry” Alton explained.

Alton understood that everything going on was overwhelming for Audrey. And for her sake he wished she had been trained sooner like he and the warriors were. But since she wasn’t and had a lot to learn, it was best to start immediately.

Carson closed the mind link. He looked over at his mate. She sat quiet beside him and seemed to be in thought. Her eyes weren’t blank so she wasn’t mind-linking anyone.

“What are you thinking about sweetheart?” he enquired running his hand on hers.

“I think I saw the vampire King in my dream during my nap. I’m not sure if he was the one but the man in it was definitely a cold blood” she replied.

“Did he say or do anything?”

“No he just stared at me. It was creepy, it made me wake up”

“It’s alright baby, you’ll be alright. By the way, you need to start off your training”

Audrey sat up at the sound of training and looked at Carson. “So soon?” she asked.

“I know right. I had the same question. But Alton gave a few points that I agree to. He mentioned how we’re not sure if there aren’t any more traitors and spies around that could give access to the Vampire king into the city. And for that, we don’t exactly know when he’ll attack”

Audrey nodded in understanding but frown when she thought of school. She was almost done with it, would they allow her finish or would she have to skip the year.

Noticing his mate in thought again and feeling her discomfort, he pecked her cheek pulling her from her thoughts.

“You’ll be graded academically through the training, so you’ll be able to graduate with the rest of us” Carson declared. He not only felt his mate’s emotions, he also heard her thoughts.

Audrey realizing she left her link opened shut it off. “But it’s not the same thing, I have been going to school and it would not be fair to miss out on the last part” she pouted.

“I know baby, but you hold a responsibility to our people, we both do. And if it makes you feel better, I’ll be there with you all the way. In fact, all of us are”

“what you do mean all of you?” she questioned.

“I meant Ian, Danny and the warriors, we’ll be there to train with you. While you’re learning to control your powers, you’ll need to learn how to fight as well”.

Audrey’s mother paced in their bedroom. At first she had been so proud to know her daughter was the Alpha’s mate. But after listening to the dangers forthcoming, she was worried about Audrey’s safety.

“You’ll give yourself a headache Mona, I told you she’ll be safe with him” Fred, her mate and Audrey’s father said to her.

He took her hand and let her to the edge of the bed.

“I’m worried about her Freddie, what if something happens?”

“Have you forgotten what the prophecy said? She has great power and you saw when she burned into her mate. She just needs a little bit of practice and she’ll be fine. Don’t also forget about the warriors”

Mona ever since she heard the Vampire King’s plan to capture her daughter.

One another end, Aryanna pouted at her mate who thought the idea to tease was a great plan.

“Babe, I’m sorry, forgive me” Chad pleaded with puppy eyes.

He mixed some whipped cream with food colour and smacked it on her face in a game they were playing.

“This is not something you should do to your mate Chad, why are you so childish?” Hazel screamed at him as she ran after Aryanna.

Chad shook the back of his head and bit his lip.

‘Shit, I screwed up’ he thought.

“Yes you did. How did you even think it was a good idea?” Alton asked.

“I don’t know, I just got carried away with the game and you were the one who dared me” Chad pointed.

“So if I dared you to poured a hot pot of oil over her head you would do it?” Alton asked looking at Chad who froze realizing his mistake.

“Well, before they return, we should talk about Audrey’s training”

“What element is she supposed to start working on?” Chad asked pushing the thought of his mistakes away for some time to concentrate on the Luna’s training.

As they spoke, they both were interrupted by a voice in their head.

“Alton, I need you all to come over to my house”

Alton without looking over to Chad stood up the same time he did.

The girls in the bathroom had finished cleaning up and as Hazel calmed Aryanna down, they too froze from the voice.

Normally, a mind link would just blank out a wolf’s eyes but in this case, Carson held authority in his voice and they could feel his panic.

“Is the Luna okay? Did something happen?” Aryanna asked in a panic.

Carson didn’t answer. He cut of the link to focus on his shaking mate.

“Baby, you’re okay, I promise no one will harm you here” he said cradling her in his arms.

After their meal, he took her back to bed to rest knowing they were going to have a long day tomorrow.

Her training was set and she had been anxious at the news. Carson managed ease her anxiety away by trying to cheer her up.

Audrey had slept off in his arms once again and he took doze off when he felt her gasp and shake. She mumbled some words he didn’t catch at first but soon her voice got louder. Seeing the tears fall from her closed eyes, he knew she was in danger.

He felt her distress and discomfort like his own.

“Please don’t hurt me” he heard her cry.

Carson hugged her in his embrace and kissed on her neck. This seemed to have worked as her shaking lessened and she opened her eyes.

By the time the warriors arrived, Carson had calm her completely down.

“Alpha! We’re here” Alton announced in a panting voice.

He and the warriors shifted immediately and took of to the Alpha’s house. Luckily it was not far from where their apartments were.

They shifted back running into the house. They too had felt the Luna’s panic.