Part 3 Tears Under the Moon

Just Friends

Zerion

Seven months ago Blaine and Ophelia had stood on the palace steps and announced the Chosen was dead. "My people I stand before you today to declare Catori the Chosen is dead. She died at the hands of our King in a battle amongst the Gods. So today we are here to inform you that Zerion is officially under the rule and leadership of the Nobles." Ophelia declared proudly as Blaine stood by ashamed, yet a stoic look appeared upon his face that no one could read.

Murmurs had gone through the crowd, and hushed whispers were heard all around. "Why did you kill her?" Someone from the crowd yelled.

"It was a grueling battle and our King came out triumphantly," Ophelia responded.

"All Hale King Noble!" One half of the crowd erupted in cheer at how mighty their King was. The other half loved the changes Catori had made to Zerion and decided to voice their opinion. "Murder!" A woman yelled!

"What is Noble about a Noble that stabs a friend in the back?" Someone yelled.

"Catori the Chosen for life!" The crowd began to stir and suddenly a fight broke out.

Blaine said nothing to address the issue. The meeting was Ophelia's idea she could handle the fallout. He was still sick with grief. Unable to eat or sleep he kept hearing his sister's cry in his ears and now remembering who he was made him sick knowing because he had promised to protect them and love them and now he was their greatest pain. He had not even begun to process her death, walking around completely lost when the earth had shaken underneath them. At first, he thought she had come for him but no it was almost worse. The Dragon Lord Kreis had broken through their weak shield and declared war. Blaine had no idea Catori had another mate and better yet a dragon lord. They had been at war ever since.

A fierce opponent he was. His men had held him at bay but not before he destroyed half the city. Zerion as a whole was about the size of the state of Florida. So imagine Tampa and Orlando gone. The worst part about it was as soon as they built it back up the dragon lord would manage to destroy another section. And Zerion was completely open without the book Thai. It was a never-ending battle. All magic kingdoms were given a book and as time passed and each King died they gave their Charisma to the book to honor and protect their kingdom. Although Zerion had the strongest King they had the weakest Kingdom and there seemed to be no way to escape the destruction. They could call on their Allies but then they would be admitting that they were exposed

They were in a very tight position and Blaine just went into it fighting.

They took to the air and their main mission was keeping Kreis from penetrating their border again. However, by doing this Ashfordville a small city mostly inhabited by cyclops was caught in the middle. So As Blaine fought from above Ophelia busied herself with taking water and food supplies to the people of Ashfordville. They were peaceful people and Ophelia felt horrible about the destruction they were causing. She would do anything to stay away from the palace because Aphena walked around like she owned the place. She was rude and disrespectful.

She was once Zerions beloved princess but now all she received was hateful stairs from the people who once adored her and to make matters worse her Amore was off fighting a war still pining for a Shewolf that despised him. Ophelia wanted desperately to have Blaine's child she had done everything to entice him but he had withdrawn and seemed to be stuck in the past. When he did come in for a day or two before going back out he was exhausted and spent more time sleeping than anything.

She knew about the globe in his office that he spent hours with when he was home watching his boys and her. He would get irritable when she would interrupt him, so she began to improvise. When he was away she would go into his office and pull that same globe out studying the Shewolf the way she walked, talked dressed moved. She began to mimic her style. The last time she had seen her she wore a cute off-white belly shirt that barely covered her breast her stomach was exposed you could see her belly ring. She had on army fatigue pants and boots. With her hair in a ponytail, she had bracelets on her arm and a choker around her neck with diamond stud earrings. Ophelia had purchased the entire look she had even curled her hair and used a little magic to imitate Tabatha's curls. She tried to act nonchalant with her new look although it had drawn much attention from the others in the palace. Blaine had barely acknowledged her the night before and was preparing for his next trip out when he noticed her new look. He had stopped and in a rather barbaric way, he had taken her over his desk. He didn't realize what it was about the look that seemed to entice him; he assumed it was because it was different but Ophelia knew and although it hurt her heart she would have him any way she could. This was the technique she used to get pregnant by Blaine which was news she still had not shared. "I have to get that book back, Ophelia. Until I do, my people are sitting ducks." He later said to her as he held her in his arms.

"I spoke with Tabatha, Blaine, she simply does not care. She is angry and bitter and I fear that your son will be caught in the middle of this."

"How so?"

"As long as this war continues the child is better off with her. Why should she care if we all slowly die?"

"Tabatha is not like that. She is upset but she would never see me hurt." Blaine explained.

Ophelia felt like Blaine was delusional about his ex. "Why do you believe she would still care, after what happened with the Chosen and me?"

"Because I still care," Blaine said, gaining a laugh from Ophelia.

"Blaine, that is ridiculously arrogant. I spoke with her. She flat out told me she would not move outside of her pack's territory and she would not return the book."

"Maybe I should go and see her myself," Blaine said.

"Are you crazy! The Lycan King will rip you into shreds."

"I'm not afraid of Zion."

"Maybe you should be. Anger and hurt drive him. Look what her other mate has done."

She had a point there, Blaine thought, "I was able to make it to the cabin undetected if you could tell her to meet me there."

"No, she threatened me the last time I saw her! She is impossible to reason with."

"She is just hurt and lonely." Ophelia snorted and blurted out. "I don't know about loneliness. She seems pretty cozy with Richard to me."

Blaine stiffened and Ophelia immediately realized her mistake she did not want him to know she had been snooping in his offices and discovered his favorite pastime.

"Wh..at no, not Tabatha and Richard. He is not her type and… and why would you say that?"

Ophelia had to think fast, "I saw them kiss when I landed on Mystic Moon last time. Pretty sure they are dating or fooling around." Ophelia lied she had not seen them in Mystic but when spying on her. Blaine tossed the covers back furious. "She has already moved on we just split up!"

"Blaine really it took you only days." Ophelia pointed out.

"I AM A MAN!" Blaine yelled as if that carried weight. "I'm going to Mystic Moon and confront her!"

"About Richard?" Ophelia asked also pulling the covers back.

"We are at war and you are concerned about that!" Ophelia glared at him.

"No damnit about the book." Blaine lied at the moment he was more concerned about who she was sleeping with, "And yes but not because I care but I don't want my son around other men."

"They are around me." And Ophelia pointed out how obvious his jealousy was.

"YOU'RE MY MATE!" BLAINE YELLED.

"IF WE ARE GOING TO MYSTIC MOON WE GO WITH A PLAN! IT'S DANGEROUS SO IT SHOULD BE THE LAST TIME. WE GET THE BOOK AND YOUR SON!"

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Blaine asked.

"By force! The witch is not the only one connected to the book of Thai my father is as well he would be able to sense it. We take him and men to take the book and your wretched mother can retrieve your son."

"No, I will."

"Why so you can see your Tabatha again in the arms of another." Ophelia spat out.

"Stop saying that!" Blaine growled, "your jealousy is unbecoming."

"MINE!" Ophelia laughed, "that is hilarious Blaine. She doesn't want you. And your blatant disregard for my feelings is hurtful." Ophelia went into the bathroom slamming the door while Blaine went barking orders to prepare for their trip. Tabatha was going to forever be a thorn in her side and she was just about over it.

"Mother get off of Ophelia's thrown," Blaine ordered. As Aphena sat lazily with her legs draped over the arm of the chair.

"Oh but it looks so much better with me on it," Aphena smirked as Ophelia walked inside the room. "Get the f**k off my mother's throne!" Ophelia snapped. She was not sure who she despised more Aphena or Tabatha.

"Oh don't be so touchy," Aphena said as she stood. "This kingdom is so boring now. I want to have some fun."

"Have you not noticed we are at war?" Blaine said to her annoyed.

"You promised me I would never have to deal with her! Just like you promised me you would never disrespect me but time and time again. I'm tired of this Blaine do something about her or you will be finding a new Queen." Ophelia whispered and went to walk away. Blaine snatched her back to him by grabbing her around the waist.

"Never let threatening words like that escape your lips again my Queen. You belong to me and only me and I will see you dead before I am without you or see you with another. I will handle my mother. I know she is a lot. Please be patient with me I can handle only one fire at a time." Blaine whispered back into her ear. As he took in her wonderful scent. Ophelia never realized having an Amore would be so complicated. Wanting to be close yet far away from someone all at once.

"I'm sure I taught you it is not polite to whisper in front of others, Blaine. Where are your manners?"

Aphena said interrupting the two. Ophelia snorted, "Manners coming from a woman that carries on like that of a pig!"

"Oh I'm sorry," Aphena said looking around the palace, "Did you say something? I do often confuse you with the servants since you are no more powerful than them."

Ophelia's mouth dropped open. Blaine glared at his mother, "Mother once again I will not tolerate you disrespecting Ophelia. She is the Queen of Zerion."

"She is a bedmate! The Queen has power and she has none. She is good at nothing other than being the dog's stand-in." Aphena said, referring to Tabatha. Ophelia lunged forward to grab her but Blaine pulled her back.

"Ouch, the truth hurts. Sorry sweetie my goodness you are upset." Aphena laughed, Taunting Ophelia as Blaine struggled to hold Ophelia back, "Oh stop it Ophelia I have more power in my pinky toe than you have in your entire body. You don't want this smoke." Aphena laughed as she watched Ophelia with disgust. She simply could not comprehend why her son had such horrible taste in women. She constantly questioned him on his choices hoping he would change his mind. "Why won't you give the rat-faced girl from the second family a try son? She is ugly but her power is impressive."

Ophelia just looked at her with disgust "She is a child! And she has a name!"

"Mother please just don't talk." Blaine looked past her to his grandfather Patrick who silently stood by the window observing.

"Grandfather the four men that returned to Zerion with me and I along with King Odysseus will be traveling back to Mystic Moon. We have tried to be kind but we will now take the book by force." Blaine announces as he snapped at Aphena who he could see in his peripheral taunting Ophelia with an obscene dance as she mouthed "age ain't nothing but a number."

"The Lycan King-" he turned to glare at Aphena "Stop it!"

"The Lycan King," Patrick said bringing him back to the conversation at hand,

"Zion can not handle me, he is just a wolf," Blaine said sounding like his mother he realized and frowned.

"Oh, I want to go! Sounds like fun!" Aphena said cheerfully.

"No mother you will simply complicate things," Blaine said.

Aphena pouted, "Blaine come on I'm bored and I promise to be on my best behavior."

"No! My father will not help if she comes along and we need him to sense the book's whereabouts." Ophelia pointed out. Earlier she recalled her saying his mom could fetch BJ but he understood her not wanting to deal with his mother. Aphena could be a handful.

"Oh, nonsense who needs him any way I can sense the books as well as anyone, Besides he is as weak as you. Also, you may want to start moisturizing Dear, your father is not aging well." Aphena said.

Ophelia turned to face Blaine her face was red with anger, "This was my plan! I don't want her included."

"Fine if you're going to be a crybaby about it!" Aphena went strolling out of the room.

"That was too easy," Blaine said

"Entirely." His grandmother agreed as she to stood next to Patrick observing

"Oh, Aphena is fine you do worry too much. We just need to find a project for her. As she said she is bored." Patrick said, defending his daughter as always.

"I will go get my father." Ophelia pulled away from Blaine and headed for the exit, not looking back.

"I will be in my office. Let me know when everyone has assembled and is ready to leave." Blaine entered his office and locked the door behind him. He went straight for his desk and pulled out the globe gifted to him. "Tabatha." He whispered as an image began to form.

There was his beautiful Tabatha standing outside of Mystic Moon talking to none other than Richard.

Back and Mystic Moon

"You really thought I would tell everyone about it." Richard looked a little hurt. Tabatha felt bad as she looked at him. "I'm sorry Richard I guess I'm a little wound up. Um, do you remember anything about last night, Richard?"

"Nah to be honest I remember crawling in and chatting a while but outside of that I don't remember shit."

Tabatha rocked back and forth on her heels, "Apparently we were loud. My dad heard…a lot." Tabatha said blushing. Richard frowned, "what did he hear?"

Tabatha just looked at him awkwardly, no way was she sharing what Rose had told her.

"Tabatha we can't even remember it let's just pretend it never happen." Richard offered which was clearly what Tabatha wanted. She gave him a weak smile.

"Are we okay?" Tabatha asked.

"Yeah, nothing's changed. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Loved seeing you dance the other night. I think the entire pack missed seeing that." He tapped her shoulder as they both spotted Chastity flying in on her log.

She landed next to them placing the log on the side of the pack house in case she needed it again. Richard gave a quick bow and said, "talk to you later friend." He said as he walked away.

Chastity came to stand directly in front of Tabatha.

"Where have you been and why do you have that weird look on your face?" Tabatha asked.

Chastity could not quit smiling and the goofy look made Tabatha laugh, "I had s*x with Aquaman." Chastity blurted out.

"What! When?" Tabatha laughed as a total shock covered her face

"He likes me. We joined the mile-high club that's what Janette calls it. " She said, giving a goofy laugh.

"Well, how was it?" Tabatha curled her arm around Chastity and led her inside the pack house to the kitchen.

"Fun." Chastity said as they sat at a table. Zara came out of nowhere and grabbed a seat beside them.

"Chastity had s*x with Aquaman," Tabatha said to Zara.

"Wait before you say it I already know you're talking about the hunk that was with Janette's mates."

"Yes. He likes me." Chastity said.

"Goddess I am jealous, seriously when am I going to meet my mate? Everyone is getting it in but me. I can't give it away " Zara complained.

Chastity snorted, "Are you kidding I would think that he would have liked a girl like you or Tabatha."

"Wait why do you say that," Tabatha asked.

"Y'all have curves I'm just blah." Chastity said.

"Your kidding right?" Zara asked, "girl you are hot. You got those green eyes and red hair. And your lips are so red looks like you already have makeup on, your hot and supermodel skinny."

"Guys don't like skinny they like curves. Look at Cat, Zion can't keep his hands off her."

"Chastity you have been in that cave too long. Men like a variety of different things and everyone is into something different. There is a guy for everyone.." Tabatha explained.

"I disagree I think men like anything with a whole they can shove their c***s into," Zara said.

"Zara!" Tabatha gasped.

"I'm serious, anyone that could sleep with Izzy or Lizzy." Zara began,

"Where are those bitches I haven't seen them in a while?" Tabatha asked.

"I don't know and don't care. All I'm saying is I can't wait to find my mate. Just out of curiosity since your banging Aquaman does that mean River is no longer off limits?" Zara asked.

"Zara!" Tabatha gasped again.

"I asked first! I don't want to date him! He is f*****g hot though and I am horny as hell he or Richard is going to get it."

"Richard." Tabatha swallowed a lump in her throat, frowning.

"Yeah, don't think he's hot? He is always so funny and I love how he makes me laugh. Plus he isn't off limits." Zara pointed out.

"River isn't either. I'm over that honestly knowing my true age I kind of feel like a pervert for sleeping with him." Chastity said, "and now I know that it could have been much better."

"Oh, shoot are you saying he's a sucky lay?" Zara asked as she and Tabatha leaned in.

"I use to have a thing for River to the boy is delicious looking and he gets finer with age."

Tabatha pointed out.

"Well, I hope his s*x gets better too. I think we just both had no clue what we were doing." Chastity said and the girls all began to laugh.

"He does have a very fat p***s though, and long to that's good." Chastity was still saying as River walked in he spotted the girls and came over. They all turned red as he approached so he knew he was the topic of conversation.

"What did I do now?" He asked huffing.

"Nothing sit down Buddy, we missed you," Tabatha said tugging at his shirt.

River wasted no time, "so what secret are you and Richard keeping?"

Tabatha's cheeks turned red, "What are you talking about?"

"You said you told when you walked up to us earlier yesterday." River pointed out.

"Did I miss anything yesterday after I left?" Chastity asked

"No, and If I answered that River it would not be a secret," Tabatha said nonchalantly.

Chastity and Zara stared her down but she pretended not to notice. Richard and Kade came in with a few other warriors and walked over to their table. Omegas came out and began to serve them.

"Zion seems to be much better today. He seems a little on edge though. And he is royally pissed about the Night Walker pack." Kade said.

"I'd be pissed too." Richard said, "who do they think they are?"

"They have those things though under their control," Tabatha said.

"So what we have Chastity and Zara. Which is almost like have Cat." River said. Zara smiled she thought River could be sweet he was always throwing her compliment.

"Do you think Zion will want revenge?" Chastity asked.

They all turned to look at her. As if to say you really just asked that.

"Zion has not been Zion since Cat left. No way he will let this ride." Tabatha said.

"Yeah, so I have work to do. You guys excuse me, I better get to work. I want to be ahead of things when he makes his announcement." River said excusing himself. River had been made war general After Tippy the pack's last war general died, who was also Zara's stepfather. He took his role very seriously.

"Hey, want some help," Zara asked.

"Sure." River said as Zara followed him out. Tabatha scooted over next to Chastity.

"She's not much on girl code is she?" She whispered to Chastity.

"Yeah but I don't care, I don't want River." Chastity responded.

"I wouldn't think any girl would with all those kids," Tabatha mumbled. Chastity shot her a look. "What's up with you?" Chastity asked.

Tabatha shrugged "nothing really."

"Tabatha, would you like extra ketchup on the side as usual? Also, I made your boy's favorite if you wanna take them some?" The Omega said. "Oh thanks," Tabatha said as she tossed a smile toward Richard and Kade.

" Well, I hope this goes by quickly. Vanessa is still out there." Kade said.

"Kade, we will find her," Tabatha assured him.

Kade abruptly stood. I need to check on Zion.

Tabatha watched as the Omega stopped to flirt with Richard. He laughed along with her for a moment before excusing himself too.

"What's up with those too?" Tabatha said pointing toward them.

"Who, Richard and her? He is a flirt who knows." Chastity whispered back.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I'm going to work on my concentration. I want to be ready to help find Vanessa when he starts the search again."

Tabatha jumped up to follow her. She did not want to be left alone with Richard and have to have any more of those awkward conversations. "Tabatha, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Tabatha looked around, "Yeah sure."

"Why are you making this so awkward."

"No, it's not that. Do you ever feel like someone is always watching you? I don't you I'm freaking out what up." She scanned the room again.

"No, but anyway I felt like I owed you an apology for the other night. I should have been a gentleman and left Tabby and it would not have happened. Now things feel weird between us." Richard said.

"It's cool Richard really I love you you are one of my best friends. I don't want to lose that." Tabatha admitted.

"Richard smiled and then he said, "Still wished I remembered though. Ya know so I could have alone time with the memories." he laughed as her mouth fell open.

"Are you saying you want to masturbate to me, oh my goddess you are so gross?" She punched his arm.

"No I'm kidding a little I mean I have wondered about it all my life and thought I might have tasted you again and I don't even remember."

"Again!"

"Don't play girl," he stepped closer to her and his husky voice whispered, "I spent two days sucking on my fingers after the kitchen incident happened. You taste like sweet honey Tabby."

Tabatha's eye's narrowed as she looked at him. She felt the heat begin to rise within her. Richard sniffed the air catching her scent, he let out a low growl and said, 'You better run girl that's what got you in trouble the last time."

Tabatha was no fool she high-tailed it out of there thinking how much she would love to let him taste her again, as her juices between her legs began to stir she admitted to herself how hard just being his friend was really going to be.