Chapter 86 – Kidnapped by My Mate Series II: His Lost Queen

Filed To Story: Kidnapped by My Mate Novel (Belle & Grayson) Online Free by Annie Whipple

I didn’t think I could handle another fight with Grayson right now. Each one was so unbelievably taxing and forced me to fight more and more against nature that demanded I forgive him.

I didn’t want to do it anymore.

“Come here, baby,” Grayson said. He grabbed one of my folding chairs that was leaning against a wall and carried it to me, setting it down in front of me. “Sit down.

You’re starting to sway.”

For once, I didn’t argue. He was right; the room was starting to spin around me, and my knees felt weak. I let my body fall into the uncomfortable chair, dropping my head into my hands.

Knowing my mate was near, my stomach roiled inside of me, and my mark burned, begging for Grayson’s touch and affection.

As if he could hear my thoughts, Grayson knelt down next to me, placing one of his big hands on my leg, letting his thumb run over my bare skin in the way he knew made me turn to mush.

I didn’t have the energy to push him away.

“Please let me explain, Belle. Please,”  he begged.

I sighed. Tears of frustration were starting to form in my eyes once again. I couldn’t seem to keep my tears back when I was around him.

“I don’t get it, Grayson. I really don’t. Why do you even want to explain? The way you treated me…” I shook my head.

“You gave me up. You made it clear you didn’t want me—that you wanted to hurt me. So I don’t see why you would come back. What changed?”

“So much,” Grayson said. “So much changed—and, at the same time, nothing at all. I came back because I love you. I love you so much that it hurts. I can’t lose you. That is why I’m here.

“I need you to know that because I can see how much pain it is causing you to think that I don’t. To think that I don’t want you. It isn’t true. None of what happened at my pack house was true.”

A single tear dripped from my cheek and onto his hand, still on my knee. I heard Grayson’s harsh intake of breath and saw his nostrils flare.

My eyes found Kyle’s. He nodded encouragingly at me, giving me a sympathetic look. “It’s important you hear this, Luna,” he said.

“So you’re on his side?” I asked Kyle. “You think what he did to me was okay?”

Kyle immediately shook his head, looking horrified by the idea. “No! No, Goddess, of course not. No one should have to go through what you did. But the alpha has an explanation—and a good one.”

When I didn’t answer right away, still hesitant, Kyle continued. “You can trust me, Luna. I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that.”

I licked my dry lips. “I thought the same thing about him,” I said, looking at Grayson.

Grayson’s expression flashed with so much pain that I almost regretted what I said.

His eyes were completely green right now, and I found myself falling into them.

I missed his eyes so much, and I hadn’t seen them in so long since his wolf had been in control basically the entire time he’d been here.

I missed Grayson. I missed my Grayson so, so much.

Part of me wondered what the harm was in letting him explain. It’s not like I had to agree to be with him after hearing what he had to say. I was just…scared. So scared.

After everything he had put me through, self-preservation was my number one priority. I would not let him hurt me again.

After a few more moments, I finally answered. “Okay.”

Grayson’s breathing stalled. “Okay?” he repeated, hope and shock lacing his tone.

Honestly, I was a bit shocked too. I nodded. “Okay. You can explain. Tell me what happened.”

I could practically see the extreme relief traveling throughout Grayson’s body.

“But,” I continued quickly before he could say anything, “you have to promise me something.”

Grayson responded with apprehension. “All right.”

“If I let you explain… and the explanation isn’t good enough, you have to leave me alone. No more following me around. No more showing up at my work.

“No more asking my old friends to come here to manipulate me into talking to you.

You have to let me go. For good. I can’t handle any more of this. Okay?”

Grayson studied me for several long seconds before answering. “Okay.”

I leaned back in my chair, taking in a deep breath. “All right. Let’s hear it then.”

GRAYSON

Finally,  I thought in relief.

Fucking. Finally.

Belle was going to let me explain. I could fix this—I would fix this.

“Thank you,” I said softly. I reached out and tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear, seeing the way she had to resist her need to lean into my touch.

“Thank you for affording me just a little of your trust. I know it’s hard, but it means the world to me.”

She didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. I knew she still was hesitant and wary, but I also knew she wanted this all to be over just as much as I did.

Even now, her body was gravitating toward me, so desperate for the comfort she knew her mate could give her. And I was desperate to deliver. Soon I would be able to.

“Kyle is here because I betrayed you, and you need someone you trust with you for this conversation.”

She glanced up at Kyle, who gave her a lopsided grin. “I’ll always be in your corner, Luna,” he said.

Belle smiled weakly back at him, but I could see her discomfort grow at being called her title. I gave Kyle a look.

I knew it was in his nature to call her Luna, but I had told him not to call her that before he had gotten here. He mouthed his apology.

Here goes nothing.

I gripped her knee gently. “Belle, look at me. I need you to hear me when I tell you this.” She turned her head to me, her gorgeous blue eyes glossy with unshed tears.

“It wasn’t me. Everything that happened to you at the pack house—it wasn’t me doing any of it.”

“I don’t understand,” she replied quietly. “What do you mean?”

I glanced over at Kyle, who was standing quietly against the wall. He shrugged.

Fuck. I had gone over this conversation so many times in my head, but now that the moment was here, it felt like the words wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

How the hell was I supposed to explain this to her? What was the best way to make her believe me?

“I was being controlled,” I continued. “By a vampire.”

Belle stared at me for a while, processing, searching my eyes for the truth. “I can’t tell if you’re joking or not,” she finally said.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t believe you either,” Kyle interjected unhelpfully.

I glared at him.

“Sorry. It just doesn’t sound very believable,” Kyle continued, raising his hands in defense. He looked at Belle.

“But it is true. He was being controlled by one of the most powerful vampires alive.

He…The alpha started a war over it.”

Belle looked between the two of us, her brows tugging together.

“Do you remember the first night I brought you to my pack house?” I asked her.

“When I had to leave you late at night to deal with vampires on my territory?”

She nodded tightly. A sweet blush took over her cheeks as she probably remembered what we had been about to do right before all of this happened.

“That was the last night things felt normal,” she whispered, the sadness in her voice nearly tangible in the air. “You changed after that.”

“Exactly. The vampire attack was a trap. The former vampire king, Azazel Mortar, was waiting for me. He used dark magic to take over my body. I was there, witnessing everything, but I had no control.”

“The vampire king?” Belle repeated stiffly. “You’re trying to tell me a vampire king took over your body?”

~“Former vampire king,” I emphasized. “The throne was taken from him, and he was replaced by his brother, Zagan Mortar. He wanted to take over my pack to regain control of the vampire kingdom.”

“That’s why the alpha was acting so strange,” Kyle cut in. “Do you remember me telling you he was thinking of letting vampires onto the territory?”

Belle nodded.

“Well, that’s why. His body was taken over.”

She looked back at me. “I…,” she mumbled. “I don’t…”

I took one of her hands in mine, pressing my lips against her fingers in what I hoped was a soothing gesture. It pleased me when she didn’t try to pull away. “I know this is a lot to take in.”

She nodded. “If what you’re saying is true…H-How do I know you’re not still being controlled by a vampire?”

“Because you can feel the mate bond between us,” I said, squeezing her hand gently. Even I could feel the powerful tingles traveling between us, demonstrating our bond.

“You can feel it when I touch you. Or when I talk to you. You couldn’t feel it before when Azazel was in control of my body.”

She thought about it for a second, looking down at our conjoined hands. I could tell she knew I was right.

“The sparks weren’t…they weren’t as strong when I was staying with you back at the pack house. But I thought—I just—I thought it was because you didn’t”—her gaze dropped—“want me anymore or something.”

I tucked my hand beneath her chin, lifting her head until she was looking at me again. “I will always want you. Do you understand me? Always. You’re my mate. My other half.

“There isn’t a world in which you’re out there, and I don’t want to be with you.

We’re meant to be together. I can’t survive without you.”

More tears fell from her eyes as she really let my words set in. I didn’t know if she believed me or not, but it really didn’t matter. I would prove it to her.

“The vampire is gone now. He’s no longer inside of me. That’s why I’m acting normal again. He gave up control of my body the day you ran away.

“He’s gone now, and he’s not coming back. I can promise you that.”

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