Children of the Moon

Problems

Alain's POV:

Attila did not look too happy as he walked over with the others. I frowned at him and looked over to Jessie.

"What's going on?" I asked him. "Anything happen?"

"You can say that again," he answered. "We had just started to pack up her things when a banshee and a wereleopard walked in and wanted Jessie. Your feelings were spot on." I took Jessie's hand in mine.

"Are you all right?" I asked her and she nodded at me, giggling.

"I am fine but they won't be fine at all," she said and laughed some more. Attila grinned at her

"I don't suppose they will be," he said and laughed, winking at her.

"What did you do?" I asked.

"I just made them fall in love with each other," he answered. "Whoever sent them won't be able to find them easily and they will not get their hands on Jessie." I thought about what he just said and laughed out loud. So did everyone else.

"So the first faction has made their move," I said and looked at Jessie. "You seem awfully calm about someone trying to kidnap you, especially from the supernatural community."

"She has a werelion boyfriend," Attila stated. "I had asked her the same thing in the Tahoe." I raised my eyebrow at her.

"But you are still human? Are you afraid to become what he is?" She looked over at Attila and looked down at her lap. He cleared his throat.

"The opposite, my friend," he said and sighed. "She asked him and he refused to turn her. I think he is afraid because he has no Pride, no protection for her. He is alone."

"He is not in any faction here?" I asked her and she shook her head.

"No one wants him because he is alone. If he had a Pride, they would fall all over him," she said and looked sad. I looked at her with compassion in my eyes.

"Will it be ok if I talked to him?" I asked and she looked at me, startled.

"But why? He already has made up his mind about me."

"I want to get to know him if he is with you," I said. "I don't want him to get hurt just because he wanted to be with you."

Timothy leaned over and touched her temple, then disappeared.

"I guess we will be having another guest for lunch," I said and shook my head. I raised my eyes to Attila and smiled at him. "And I thought you were the romantic one." He laughed at that.

"All of us are romantic, Alain," he said, grinning. "Our mates can attest to that."

"What just happened?" Jessie asked. "Where did he go?"

"You'll see...Oww," he yelled and jumped up, grabbing his arm. Fresh blood flowed between his fingers and dripped on the floor. His brothers jumped up also and rushed to him. His eyes had a far away look in them. "Timothy?" he asked quietly.

"Is he ok?" I asked, my eyes starting to glow.

"I am f*****g fine," Timothy's voice came from the door, his arm bleeding. "I can't say the same thing for him though." He was carrying an unconscious young man over his shoulder. Jessie let go a distressed squeak and rushed over.

"What did you do to him?" she asked, shaking.

"I just put him to sleep," he answered, looking pissed.

"Please don't be mad at him," she said pleading with him. He looked confused.

"I am not mad at him, sweetie," he said and moved a lock of hair from her face. "I am mad at myself. I knew he was a lion and still I startled him and he got me. I swear I am not angry at him." He sat the guy down into a chair and his eyes flashed. The young man jumps up and roars, claws unsheathed. Chamdra growled loudly and flames licked across her skin.

"Enough," I shouted. "Sit down." He looked at me and sat back down. He took a shaky breath and looked around. When his eyes fell on Jessie, he jumped right back up and embraced her. He then proceeded to push her behind him and growled at us uncertainly. When none of us moved towards him and Jessie, he turned to her.

"Did they kidnap you too?" he asked her and proceeded to check her for any injuries. She shook her head.

"No, they didn't," she said and took him back over to the chair. She then sat beside him and took his hand. He still was wary of me. I smiled at him.

"I am Alain Deveraux and I am glad you are a doctor," I said and pointed to Timothy. He frowned, got up and checks Timothy's arm.

"By the Moon Goddess...I am so sorry," he said. "These will need stitches."

"Don't worry about it. I only need my twin." Attila walked over and they grabbed each others injured arm. Their arms started glowing blue and they held on to each other until the glow faded away.

"Why have you brought us here?" the werelion asked and sat back down with Jessie. She smiled at him.

"This is my new boss," she told him. "And he wanted to get to know you. I am living here now."

"You are? But you could have stayed with me."

"I don't know, Brad," she said and looked at him sadly. "I want to be with you but I want to be wholy yours."

"I know but I can't do that," he said.

"Why not?" I asked him. "You love her, do you not?"

"I love her more than anything" he stated and looked over at me. "She is my mate. But I am afraid for her. I have no protection so she will not have any."

"That is where you are wrong," I said. "She is under my protection. She is safe with us and so are you if you want it."

I looked him in the eye and felt the tug. I also noticed that his eyes were a light amber in color. By the Moon Goddess, I thought. He is a prince, a future King of his kind. I was floored by the knowledge. I had thought the royal lions were all extinct.

"May I know your full name, please?" I asked.

"Bradley Blackmane of the Blackmane Pride, which is no more," he said proudly.

"Welcome, young king," I said, bowing my head to him. "Eat and rest easy. Will you accept my protection?"

"What will I have to do?" he asked warily.

"I want you to run my clinic," I answered. "I will set you up with it all."

"But that would cost millions," he said. "Will you be able to afford to set It up?" I laughed at that.

"My family is very rich," I answered. "But even then it will cost me nothing." I looked at Altewen and he nodded. His eyes turned glassy and a few minutes later he blinked, looked at me and nodded. I looked at Bradley and smiled.

"When can you start?"

"Woah now," he said and stood up. "I just can't quit my job like that. I have a lot of patients."

"Work with them and put in your notice then." Bradley started to shake. Jessie hugged him and he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead. He then looked down at her and she gave him a small nod.

"Will I get to stay here with Jessie?" he asked, looking at me pleading with his eyes.

"If that is what you wish, that can be arranged. Will you turn her?"

"If what you are offering is legit, it would be up to her," he said. Jessie squealed and threw her arms around his neck.

"It is legit and I think you have a confirmation of the other," I said and everyone laughed. He kissed her hard and grinned at her. He then sat down and Chamdra put a full plate in front of him and Jessie.

"Eat," She said and everyone else laughed.

I sighed and thought about my own mate, wishing she was here. Attila noticed that I was playing with my food and not eating.

*What is it?* he asked and I looked at him.

*I have found my mate,* I told him. He grinned at me.

*Congratulations,* he said. *Where is she?*

*Out there somewhere,* I said. *I was not able to claim her at the time I first saw her.*

*Why the hell not?*

*For three reasons,* I said to him. *One... she and her partner were pointing weapons at me. Two... she was working and three... I didn't want to embarrass her in front of the other officers. I was standing there stark n***d after all.* Attila roared with laughter and I glared at him. Chamdra looked curiously at him and then at me. I sighed.

"I have found my mate today," I told them all. "But I haven't been able to claim her yet. For reasons that I just told him about, if you all are wondering why he is cracking up." Attila shook his head.

"And I am not going to tell you why I was laughing," he said as the others looked at him. "I will not embarrass him like that."