The Moon Child (Book Two of the Alpha Mate series)

Unexpected Surprises:

     "How can you possibly be my mother? Why do you address me as a Moon Child?" Emma asks as her eyes fill with tears. The woman closes the distance between them and pulls her into a tight embrace.

"I had to give you up on the night of the waning crescent moon. You are a moon child my darling. You are my child. You have a birthmark similar to a paint splatter or a warped turtle on your right waist." The woman says. Emma instinctively grabs where her birthmark is.

"Why?" She whimpers sadly.

"Why did I give you up? It wasn't easy, but I found a perfect family for you. They already had children a few years older than you. You would have playmates." She says.

"I don't have but one sibling and she loathes me as much as my . . . adoptive mother does." She whispers.

"I never intended for that to be so. The family must have not found you. In which case, they must have went on a trip that I didn't know about and some stranger came along and took you. I was going to give you a better life my dear." the woman says.

"I don't even know your name." Emma says taking a step back.

"Laura, Laura Collins, or mother if you would like." she tells her.

"Laura will suffice for now." Emma says turning to leave.

"Surely you aren't leaving already? I was hoping to get to know my child." Laura protests starting to follow her. Emma pauses when some guards appear.

"I will decide when this happens. Please respect my decision." She tells her biological mother. She nods and backs away until Emma returns to her own room.

     "Well, my love. Your instinct is already kicking in quite nicely." Krista says when she hears her recount of the conversation. Emma gives her a questioning look. "Okay, okay. So I may or may not be an alpha of a pack that also attends classes here at Draemorth. Thus making you an alpha as well." She explains. They look at each other when they hear trumpeting. "Why are they here? How are they here?" She whispers.

"Who Krista?" Emma asks confused.

"The High King and High Queen. They usually try to avoid appearing here in Draemorth to keep the peace. The Hunters don't like already that the Headmaster has more power and strength ten or even twenty of their highest trained hunters." Krista says. "We must hurry and go to the right wing corridor. The meeting will be held in the 'cafeteria' area in the right hall." Emma scurries to follow her mate almost stumbling when they reached some stairs that Krista didn't warn her about. "Be careful as you walk down the stairs love." She says a bit further ahead of her.

"What do the other students who aren't in the Darkspawn Dorm think about all the fanfare for royalty? Who will they see because surely they won't see the High King and High Queen." Emma thinks to herself as they reach a set of double doors.

     "Thank you for allowing us to visit for a short time Leonidas. There are rumors that there is a new member to be added to the family." The High Queen says looking directly at Emma.

"Yes, mother. There is." Leonidas says also looking at Emma.

"Step forward little one." The High King orders. Emma nervously steps forward. "State your name." he says.

"Emma Reynolds, sir." She says softly.

"No longer. You are now Grace Elizabeth Crystallo, daughter of the High King and Queen, Alpha of your mates' pack, and a princess." The High King says. Emma bows her head in respect.

     "Wow that was intense. Congrats baby." Krista says kissing her softly.

"Thank you my love." Emma says softly as they finally reach their room after waiting hours for the departure of the High King and Queen to their own chambers and then Leonidas and his wife. Emma slowly undresses blushing knowing that Krista is most likely watching her with no shame. She slowly turns to look at her fully undressed. "Does my body meet your approval?" she asks shyly looking at the floor her blush growing into a deeper crimson.

"Very much so." Krista says looking over her bare figure with a lustful gaze unashamed of her apparent interest. Emma turns to grab her pajamas as Krista grabs her hand pulling her to her chest. "I would like to take you. . . . but only if you are okay with it." She says huskily the obvious want lacing her voice as she takes in the new scent that Emma can not yet describe or put a name to. She nods slowly. "Say it, Emma. I won't take you unless you tell me to." she says losing herself in Emma's eyes.

"I want you, Krista, to take me tonight. . . ." Emma says before locking her lips on Krista's.

     "Emma, Krista? You two should already be up and attending classes. Why is your door still shut?" an oblivious student asks turning the doorknob causing Emma to squeal shyly and hide against Krista. "Oh! I'm . . . sorry. I didn't know." she says embarrassed backing out of their room quickly. Krista smirks growling protectively noticing the love marks along Emma's jawline.

"Mine." she growls pulling Emma closer. She giggles softly pressing closer to her mate as a note is slid under their door. When she reads it, it is a permission to miss the day's classes only to attend the late night and early morning classes. "Hmm... looks like we can for round whatever." Krista says smirking unashamed of her relentless desire.

"Hmm... i think that we should bathe then eat and rest for classes later." Emma says tracing circles on Krista's shoulder distractedly.

"Emma, what is it?" She asks noticing her far away gaze.

"Nothing my love. I'm going to take a shower while they're empty." She says getting up to gather her clothes with Krista looking after her worriedly.

     As Emma steps into the shower she hears an odd noise and looks down to discover a rattlesnake had slithered up to her. Instinctively she freezes hoping that maybe it will go away or Krista would come in looking for her. As she is sending up a prayer to the gods, the door opens and she hears Krista calling out her name. When she sees the reason that Emma is not responding to her calls, she decides to throw a towel over the snake. Luckily she managed to cover it's head quick enough to get Emma away from it. "Are you okay? Did it bite you? How did it get in here? When did you notice it? Has it been here the entire time?" She fires off rapidly as she envelopes Emma in a tight, protective embrace.

"I'm fine baby. It didn't bite me. I don't know how or when it got in there. It wasn't there originally when I stepped in. Someone must have snuck in or been hiding the entire time when I came in." She whispers shaking slightly. Krista buries her face into the crook of her neck.

"If I had lost you . . ." she begins when Emma puts a finger to her lips looking deep into her loving yet worried brown eyes.

"You didn't so let's not worry about the what-ifs." she says before kissing her softly. Krista kisses her back defeatedly.

     "So you mean to tell us that someone snuck in the showers during classes to place a snake that was never recovered from the shower room where you just happened to be?" One of the professors says after Krista carried Emma to their room and dressed her so that she could tell of what happened to someone.

"Yes. I don't know who it was or how they got it out." She says.

"It was likely a toy snake. Nothing to truly worry about or perhaps an illusion. Our minds play tricks on us all the time. Surely no one would have the audacity to place a rattlesnake in the showers where the new princess is." he says nonchalantly.

"Are you going to do nothing about it?" Emma asks filled with rage as Krista grabs her hand tightly.

"Watch your tongue little one. Be grateful for my mercy. This may be a "school" for you foolish newly awakened ones, but I am hundreds of years old. I am an official of the next High King and a King in my own right." He says standing to his full height. Emma turns away irately.

"If you will do nothing, then I will go to the Headmaster himself." She says walking away not bothering to look over her shoulder as Krista hurries to catch up to her.