I took in a deep breath as I sat across him, staring at him as he looked extremely comfortable in McDonalds. Luckily, there was no crowd today and we were sitting in a secluded corner. The ambiance wasn't romantic or intimate; of course, it wasn't a posh restaurant with lighting that highlighted the beautiful features of the man sitting across from me.

Yet, we both felt as if we were alone in our own bubble, and the tension between us had remained ever since I sat in the car with him. We hadn't spoken a single word during the whole ride and I was regretting wearing that dress. I was afraid that this same tension would ruin the very purpose of the date, and that was something I did not want.

I was slightly wondering if anything will happen if I was seen with him in public, and that too not in a professional setting. But then I shoved those thoughts aside; if he was not worrying about this, then I wasn't going to do that too.

"I hope you're comfortable with McDonalds. People here have a less probability to recognize me and ask questions." He started.

"Doesn't matter to me," I shrugged, "I just want something to eat; I'm hungry."

He smiled at me, "Can I take your order, ma'am?" He mocked, and even bowed a little.

I laughed and told him what he wanted, and he went towards the counter to order for us. In the meantime, I unlocked my phone and checked for new messages from Liana and was disappointed when I didn't find any.

She could at least tell me that she was fine.

I sent a text to her myself, telling her about the date with Adrian. I was not worried, though. I knew she was in safe hands and Jaxon would protect her with his life.

"Is something bothering you?" Adrian's voice came and I looked up at him, holding the tray containing our food.

I shook my head and smiled, making a grab for my order.

"I don't know where to start." Adrian admitted, before touching his food.

"Well, you can start with your childhood – your family. I know nothing about them." I suggested, starting with my fries.

"I was orphaned at a young age – I don't know much about them. My father was a Guard and he lost his life on duty. My mother didn't live long afterwards. I was, in a way, raised by the Alpha and Luna of the pack I was in." His gaze, which had been fixed on his food, now came back to me, "Do you have any idea about your heritage?"

I shook my head, "I never asked – actually stopped asking after some point of time because my Grandmother, the woman who brought me up since I was a child, never opened her mouth to tell me about my parents. She used to say that I would learn when the time was right, but she passed away before the right time ever came."

"She must have been an amazing woman." He smiled warmly.

I smiled right back, "That she was, definitely."

"You are a reflection of her upbringing – and you are a strong and beautiful woman. With the way you are coping up with this sudden change in your world, it's remarkable. And along with that, you're holding up on your own, despite me trying to manipulate you with my underhanded methods."

I warmed at the compliment, "Thank you very much, but please don't expect me to return the favour and compliment you. I barely know anything except your name, species, designation and wife."

"I'm not that bad, really." He tried to look hurt but he was terrible at expressions and I ended up laughing at him.

I know how terrible it must have been for him, not having parents of your own and having to rely on other families. I had always envied my schoolmates who had both parents but didn't ever value their presence, but then as I grew up, I realized that my Grandma was very precious to me and I focused all my affections towards her.

Adrian didn't elaborate much on his childhood as I expected him to, so I left the topic for that moment.

"Tell me about how you met Delia." I changed the topic of conversation to the one that mattered to me the most.

He sighed, "Being an orphan, I was bullied a lot in my pack and Delia was among the few people who actually had my back since then. We had been tight friends – confidantes – but were never interested in each other romantically. She was a privileged girl, and I was an orphaned boy – I was and will always be grateful for her presence in my life during those days." He took a pause and looked at me, noting my reaction and taking it as a cue to move further with his story.

I just nodded at him to continue.

"Our never friendship never wavered, even when I went along to become and Alpha and she pursued her interests in her various fields of interests. Then came the time when ruling without a Luna Queen had become extremely difficult; the kingdom needed a feminine authority. Luna Queen, Prime and Beta Queen – all three weren't found by then. The pressure was on all three of us, and knowing that getting a Luna Prime and Beta Queen was difficult, the Elders and I decided to bring a Luna Queen who was not my mate. At that time, no one was thinking about me, or about the repercussions of my decision and what would happen in case my mate comes in the picture."

He sighed, and I felt him getting distant as he remembered those times. "At that time, Delia was the best candidate. I knew her since I was a child, so our bond as wolves was strong. Her mate had run away somewhere and she was lonely. She was trained, and during the training, the Elders decided that she possessed all the abilities and was fit to be the Luna Queen. And so it happened; we were married and began to rule together."

He stopped there and looked at me, finding me staring at him blankly. So far, in the entire story, I could not make out a single excuse for me to angry with him. Everything was decided for the Kingdom and my mate was no ordinary Werewolf – he was an Alpha King and was expected to always think of the Kingdom before himself.

"That's unfair, honestly," I said to him, "Not that think that what you did was wrong – if I had been in your place, I would've done the same. But...were you happy?" I asked him.

I was nervous – maybe his answer would make me realize if he was ever going to leave Delia, after the baby was born.

He didn't have to think much about the answer, "I was happy, Moon. I loved Delia, in a way, and she had been with me through thick and thin. Except for my mate, there wasn't anyone else I would have wanted in her place. I wasn't going to be a lonely, grumpy king anymore and it was a positive change in my life. But there had always been a void in me, a huge part of my heart was waiting for my mate. My wolf was not happy with my decision, but understood why we had to do so. I was about a hundred years, when I married her, and now..."

"You're two hundred fifty something, if Liana is right." I wasn't burning with jealousy before, I definitely felt consumed by it now. "More than a century you have been with her." I couldn't even say her name, "You must be really in love with her."

Slowly, I could see my chances of ever being in his life diminishing.

His brows furrowed, "I thought you would say that I was tired of her by now."

Well, that was one way to perceive the situation.

"I don't know." I shrugged, not meeting his gaze.

"I do love her, Moon, but in a different way, and she knows that. All these years, being a Luna Queen has changed her. She might not be the same, kind woman she was before, but she is the still same woman who has been my only constant all my life. She has a separate place in my heart and she will always remain there." He sighed, "But she had never been able to take the place of my mate, and I want to let you know that I have never loved anyone else as much as I love you. And we don't even know each other well."

He sounded sincere, and I felt like I could breathe again. I didn't know that moisture had been pooling in my eyes when I was listening to him talk about her.

I hated the bitter emotions that took over me whenever she was mentioned when in turn I should have been grateful to her, for always being there for Adrian.

"I hope you understand, Moon. I don't want to be unfair to her or anyone. I don't understand how the entire Kingdom just wants to toss her aside now that she is not needed anymore. It's hurting and her and right now, my support is the only thing keeping her sane. I'm waiting for her to give birth before we take any decisions."

I nodded, in understanding, my eyes still downcast.

"I don't like seeing you so sad, love. I want to know how you're feeling." He said, finally touching his food again.

"I..." my voice cracked as I was staring at my food and cleared my throat, "I am confused – about what is happening around me, with me, what I feel for you, about my heritage, everything. This is sudden for me, like a novel with a very block-y story-line that has no links from one scene to another. I haven't even registered the fact that if things had not been this complicated, I might have been a Luna Queen by now. Luna, Queen; these are huge terms for me, Adrian, for a girl who's lived most of her life sheltered by her grandmother."

"I don't think you were sheltered," he frowned slightly, "You were protected and there's a difference. I had my investigator get details about you and I could very well see that you have done things not many women have even the luxury to dream about. Theatre, gymnastics, martial arts, sports, Ivy League university – many people can only dream of it. I think the only thing you haven't done is travel across the globe."

Background check – how cliché.

I felt my eyes water again as I remembered Grandma, this time, and my hands shook as emotions overcame me. Losing her had been hard, and it was still hard for me to get by when her memories struck me.

Adrian offered me some water and then held my hand, patiently waiting till I composed myself again.

"You're right, maybe 'sheltered' is not the right word." I cleared my throat, "But still I don't even know what I would do if it ever came to it."

"It will come to you naturally." He smiled in assurance.

"And then Liana's situation. I feel so strongly for you; I can never imagine hurting you in the way Jaxon has hurt her."

"I'm not going to comment on that. It's Jaxon's story to tell."

I sighed, "Everything has changed for me now. When I'm in the Kingdom, I am angry, jealous – a bitter and irrational woman, most of the time, and that's not me. And when I'm here, in this Kingdom, I feel purposeless. I don't know what to do with myself, and then there's you." I looked at him, "You give me mixed signals all the damn time, Adrian. You first push me away, tell me that there's no chance, and then you're seducing me and making me feel all these things I've never felt. I don't know what to do."

He had a hard look on his face, "What I do is unforgivable, yet I won't ever stop apologizing for it. I lose control, Moon, my wolf loses his control and all I can think of is having you on the nearest surface and marking you. These urges are just as strong across the MoonLine as they are here and they make me do things...which I want to do yet are wrong at the same time. Just know that I respect you a lot, and yeah, there are times when you don't listen to me and the only way to make you stop is seduction. I'll be honest, I enjoy every moment of feeling you against me and in my arms."

I blushed. This man was incorrigible.

I couldn't believe it, though. This was the first time Adrian had said so many words to me – and words that comforted me. There was no secret that I liked the fact that he lost control every time he was around me. These words not only healed my wounded pride, but also made me feel wanted again.

The rest of the date went pretty good. I enjoyed his presence a lot, and the fact that I had all of his attention towards me. He didn't say much after the confessions and was confirming the information he had gotten about me, and not so surprisingly, he knew almost everything about my life events. We pretty much ran out of that topic soon because there wasn't much to tell. It wasn't like we had a very adventurous life, and Adrian didn't look like he was going to be very forthcoming anymore.

We moved on to different subjects – the same old hobbies and favorites. Then we ordered some more food and set out towards my house again.

The car ride was almost silent, but neither was there any tension, nor was it awkward in any sense. In fact, I had a smile on my face which refused to leave and I felt serene and happy after a very long time.

But I was entering dangerous territory - I didn't know that one peaceful interaction might leave me on the edge of falling for the man that Adrian was. He had said he wanted to show me around the Werewolf Kingdom and then his world on this side of the MoonLine; after things settled down, of course.

It was just another thing that excited me.

He dropped me to my home and gave me a small peck on my cheek.

I invited him inside courteously but he shook his head, and I knew why.

I just returned his peck on the corner of his mouth and ran to my house, feeling all kinds of giddy inside.

My sleep was full of good dreams that night.

***************

Two days.

Two entire days, it had been, since the date with Adrian,, and I hadn't heard a single thing from them ever since. No Adrian, no Liana, no Hans. I had been all alone, sulking and gobbling up the snacks in my house while waiting for at least a beep from Liana to let me in on what's happening. Even though she had left her phone in my house, it didn't mean that she couldn't find a way to communicate with me.

I sighed. It wasn't as if I was mad at her.

Okay, that wasn't true, actually.

I was seriously pissed at her. Like, really, really pissed. Couldn't she even send a text, if not a call, if everything was fine or not. Like:

"Hey, Moon, I totally took your advice and am now making Jaxon beg and grovel and follow me like a puppy everywhere. It is so much fun, watching him look so desperate and all for me! I love watching him get a taste of his own medicine! See you soon, xoxo"

Alright, alright. If not that, then at least something like:

"Hey, Moon, everything's perfectly alright here, you don't need to worry at all. I decided against torturing poor Jaxon. We already kissed and made up and he has marked me already. We are so happy and haven't gotten out of the bed since the past two days. It's heaven here, Moon!"

But no! There was nothing! Absolutely nothing! How could she be so busy that she couldn't even leave a message for me?

The doorbell rang, and snapped me out of my thoughts. For a moment, I thought if it was Liana, but then the visitor rang the doorbell again, repeatedly and impatiently.

Of course it was Adrian, here to fulfil his word about keeping an eye on me. I went to the door and opened it up, reluctantly. No matter how much Celeste and I had sassed him about being a coward and not being able to confront us as a human, I was very well aware that I was as much powerless in front of him within and beyond the MoonLine.

Just like the time when he had come to pick me up for the date - when I had tried to seduce him with that dress of mine and that plan had backfired in the most delicious and frustrating way. That evening had been lovely, but it didn't mean that I wanted to see him again and again. It was pure torture for me.

Adrian was standing there, looking at me intently, and looking sinfully handsome in the same attire that he had worn when we met the first time. I still couldn't forget how inappropriately I had behaved that day.

"How are you?" He asked the moment the door was completely open.

"Fine and bored. Now that you've seen that I'm alive and breathing, will you go away?" I teased him. I couldn't be mad at him, not when our last interaction had been so...peaceful.

He smirked and teased me right back, "No. Now let me inside. Don't make me drag you to your real home and tie you up to my bedpost with a gag to shut up your stubborn mouth."

I let him in but couldn't help being bitter, "The same bed where you and Delia sleep together?"

His jaw clenched for one single moment.

He looked at me, "Delia and I have been sleeping in different rooms ever since she has been pregnant."

My brows furrowed, "Now that's weird."

He shrugged and sat down on the couch as if he owned it. I rolled my eyes and sat across him with a huff.

"This is the first time I'm sitting inside your house and looking at it. You have given it a beautiful touch." He said nonchalantly.

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

My eyes narrowed immediately, "How much are you going to lie, you sly bastard? I know you've thoroughly checked out my house, twice and both the times in my absence."

He tried his best to look surprised, "How did you come to know of it?"

"Oh, shut up! You weren't being really sneaky when you rummaged through my entire closet and stole a lot of stuff from my underwear drawer. I can't believe you took away my favourite lingerie." My face was completely lit with embarrassment.

He fished in through the pockets of his suit pants and took out the same set I was talking about. He smirked as he toyed with the laces of the thong and I blushed further.

"If you don't remember, let me remind you that I am the one who bought these for you. I can take them whenever I want to and can make you wear them whenever I wish to." Adrian smirked again.

"All the male werewolves, you all are stupid." I grumbled.

"I understand when you say that about me and Jaxon. Now what did your loyal Hans do?" He raised a brow.

I scowled, "When he dropped me that day, I - being that grateful soul that I am - said that I could never be able to repay how much he helped us. He replied by saying that the only way I could repay him is by returning back to the kingdom and being "The Luna Queen."

"Of course he wants that. We all want it to happen, but things are slightly complicated." He scratched the back of his head.

I merely shrugged, "It's not my fault. I told him that I couldn't help him with that."

His face gave away no expression, "You're never going to let it go, aren't you? Even when things get better?"

I was about to scowl at him again, but then I gave him one of my most flattering smiles, "I can't tell about the time when things are better, but If I ever let it go, then understand that - mate or not - you no longer matter to me. You will just be like nobody to me."

His eyes turned dark when he heard me and he was dead serious when he said his next words, "Then I'd rather have you annoy me and hold on to it our entire lives."

My heart skipped a beat and I didn't say another word for some time. He was still staring at me as if I was the only woman in the entire world who could set his blood raging in his veins.

"So." I tried to kill the silence, "How is Jaxon? He must be so happy -"

Adrian snorted, "Happy? Quite the opposite of that. No matter what you think of him, he really does love Liana. He had been drowning himself in alcohol."

My brows furrowed yet he continued, "Speaking of that depressed Jaxon... Where's Liana?"

Blood slowly drained from my face and my heart skipped two beats.

"What do you mean where's Liana? I thought she was with Jaxon."