Golden Lycan

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Turning back to the door to the office, I see my father and both his beta and gamma standing waiting and watching for my reaction. I am trying to hide my emotions behind a mask of serenity as any good queen would do, never show your hand as my grandmother would say. Nerves and fear will let an adversary know that they have you right where they want you. These three men are not my adversaries, just very good at picking up on my feelings based on my expressions… and unfortunately for me everything I am thinking or feeling always shows up on my face. My dad said my mother had the very same issue, she could never hide how she felt about anyone or anything all someone had to was watch and see the look on her face. And seeing as I resemble mother the most of all of her children, that was a blessing and curse. I immediately put on a calm demeanor. What do I have to be nervous about? I have done absolutely nothing to be reprimanded about, at least not that I can think of at the moment.

Making my way past the three biggest, strongest and deadliest men I have ever known, I find and take the seat in between my grandparents. Turning to hug them both, grandpa first then grandmother. As grandmother gives me a squeeze, she whispers in my ear, “Brace yourself love and try not to react too quickly. We love you very much.” Well, that sounds even more ominous. What could be said that I would need that hug or warning. These two people have helped raise me and my brothers. They have shown unconditional love and support at all times but now I am very suspicious as to why the five top ranking people in our pack are gathered for a secret meeting that apparently is all about me.

Being the only girl with 3 brothers meant I was tormented and protected fiercely. My brothers aren’t bullies but I was treated like one of them our whole lives. I behaved as they did because they were all I knew. Until Issa arrived and we became friends, which was not an overnight process. My brothers and I did all the rough and tumble things boys do, we fought, played in the dirt, climbed trees and played pranks on each other and on Issa. She was such a girlie girl, an easy target, and I was a tomboy. Being two years younger than my twin and I she did play with us at first. Being the daughter of the King’s gamma put her in close proximity to the four of us. She has a younger brother but he is twelve years behind us. She only had us to play with growing up. She was such an easy target, Issa liked to wear dresses and play with dolls, I played with my brother’s soldiers and ran around in dirty pants. I never cared about getting dirty or being pretty.

That all changed on our 10th birthday. The whole family got together and decided to throw a huge celebration for the crown prince and princess. This celebration was also to introduce us to the territory we were meant to rule and protect one day. A grand ball was planned and for the first time I was forced to finally recognize that I was not one of the boys. Grandmother and Aunt Esse, the gamma female and Issa’s mother, took both of us for our first gown fitting. I was completely against looking like some baby barbie doll, until I saw the dresses, they had brought out for us to choose from and there were just some many designs and colors. Boys only get a suit or a tuxedo, that wasn’t nearly as awesome as all of the choices I had before me. Issa was over the moon and excited to try on every dress in the store and I got caught up in her excitement. We twirled and posed for grandmother and Auntie in all of our pretty dresses and by the time we had left the dress shop I had a whole new wardrobe, a new outlook on my life and new very best friend.

Bringing my thoughts back to the present, I am patiently waiting for my father to finish his talk with the beta and gamma, both of whom we refer to as uncle Kevin and uncle Michael. Once they are done both of my uncle’s leave the room closing the door behind them. Father then turns to look directly at me, a small smile tugging at his lips and a gleam in his eyes. Could he already know that I found my mate today? There is no way Micah had enough time to talk to dad and tell him and he couldn’t have heard us outside of the office because his door was closed and every room in the house is sound proofed. Goddess above what is happening and why do I feel like I am in the twilight zone.

“How was your first day of classes, sweetheart?” Father grabs a chair over closer to the couch we are sitting on, sitting down he leans forward with his elbows on his knees, happily ready to hear my answer. This is strange since he was the loudest member of the family to be against me teaching at the human University. He didn’t like the idea of possible over exposure to the human world or the risk to my safety. I wasn’t able to have a security detail surrounding me and Issa while we are lecturing, that would bring even more attention to us and that is the last thing we needed. Daddy asking now how my first day went and with what seemed to be a genuine smile and listening ear, put me on guard instantly.

“My classes were great actually, one of my male students assumed that I was a classmate and tried to flirt with me, it was very hilarious to watch his face change as introduced myself as his instructor.” I go on to describe my day all except the meeting my mate part. I’m not quite ready to open up about that at least not until I find out the real reason I have been brought in here. Still smiling my father’s nods his head and leans back in his chair and says ‘that’s good, Hun. I’m glad it worked out well.” I’m more confused than ever at this point. “Okay, can we cut to the chase here and someone tell me why I am in here?” Meeting the eyes of my three parental figures, I wait until finally, my father clears his throat and explains. “I just got a call from the King of the European territory to inform us that his son, Prince Massimo, will be visiting the area. The King is just following standard protocol and making sure we are aware that another Royal will be in our territory, he was very pleasant I must say. Prince Massimo will be here for maybe 6 months. After speaking with King Niccolò, I extended the invitation for the prince to stay here with us as a guest.”

We have guest all the time, why did dad feel the need to call me in here to share this news with just me and not all of the family at the same time. Something was not being said and I needed to know why he felt this was so important in regards to me. “Dad, what are you leaving out? I know there is more, you wouldn’t call me in here just to tell me we are having a visitor. We have royal visitor all the time. What is different this time?” Looking away from my direct gaze, for the first time in my life I see my father flustered. Beside my grandfather cut into the silence, “just explain your thoughts and why you wanted to tell her first Raymond. It’s not that big of a deal or issue as I see it.”

“What’s not a big deal daddy? Spit it out already please.” At this point I am starting to stress and sensing my edginess, my grandmother takes my hand into her own… through the mind link I hear her say “be gentle my love, be easy. There is nothing for you to stress about, I promise.” Hearing that calm voice of reason in my head, I take a deep breath and wait as father gathers his thoughts.

“The reason I felt I needed to talk to you before I talk to the rest of the family is because King Niccolò and I think maybe we should consider forming an Alliance between our two nations. Neither yourself or Massimo has found your fated mates and we all know how rare fated mated are for Royal Lycan, we just had the thought that maybe you would like to think about taking each other as chosen mates.” Taking a breath, he holds up his hand to stop what I am about to say to finish his reasoning. I am pretty sure he knows what my response will be at this point. “An alliance between you and the prince would make this family and his own, the most powerful in both of our respective countries by far. Not to mention, produce some of the strongest and fiercest Lycan Royalty ever to walk the earth. Also, it will bring my heart so much joy to see my only princess protected and in her rightful place as a Queen.”

I know he is waiting for an explosion to happen. He knows my thoughts on mate and waiting for my fated mate. Father and my grandparents both know I have dreamed of finding the mate that my great grandmother Moon Goddess made just for me. I want the love and connection my parents had, that unbreakable bond that only fated mates share. How could he believe I would be okay with even the idea of a chosen mate? I have time, Lycans live longer than most supernatural creatures, my grandparents both are close to 150 years old and both of them can still run and fight on an elite level. I am only just about to turn 30 in 3 weeks, what is the rush all of a sudden? “Why are you saying this to me know, dad? What is the hurry, you have never pushed or bothered me about finding my mate before, why now?” I ask him as calmly as I can manage.

It was not my father that answered by questions but my grandmother instead. “Vivy, you are almost 30 years old, your twin has found his mate, we just think it would be best if you also were mated. There are circumstances that haven’t been fully explained to you or your brother, it all has to do with your destiny and the prophecy.” Looking at each of the people I love the most in this world, I am left to wonder why they continue to hide things from us when we are fully grown adults with minds of our own. We are no longer children that need to be protected and coddled. “What is it you haven’t told us? Nothing and no one can tear this family apart but your secrets and machinations will push us further from trusting you. So just tell me what it is you are keeping from me.” My frustration was evident in every word I spoke. Until they tell us the complete truth, I don’t think I will tell them about meeting my fated mate just yet, I can keep a secret also.

I sat waiting for what seemed hours for someone to speak up although I know it was mere minutes of silence and tension. Finally tired of waiting I get up to walk out of the room when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look at the hand and then up at the face of my father, pleading silently for him to tell me everything. “You deserve to know everything. I will call your brother and have him come to the office both of you need to hear this and I do not want to have to say it twice.” I watched as his eyes glazed over and I knew he was mind linking Micah. “He has his block up, I can’t seem to get through.” He says this looking at me because he knows that I can always get through to my brother. I do not use mind link. I hate doing this to my twin but we have to get this over with. Closing my eyes, I picture my brothers living room, I keep my eyes closed because there is no telling what I will see once I get inside. In the blink of an eye, I am standing in front of the open portal and calling out for Micah and Issa. “Micah, I hope you two are decent, father wants us all in his office now.” I can hear rustling and movement and then I hear my brother’s voice from the other room, “does he mean right this minute or can I have like ten more minutes?’ yuck, mated couples are such a pain some times. “I would be here, standing in your living room with my eyes shut, is he was willing to wait 10 more minutes.” As I stand there, I hear more rustling and clearly, they are putting their clothes back on as I wait, I am trying to get the imagine of what is going on out of my head.

In what I hoped was record time, Issa and my brother come around the corner into the living room. My eyes are still closed but I hear Issa say, “We are decent, you can open your eyes now.” Walking over to me and then past me through the portal, Issa steps into my father’s office. Micah stopped on his way through the portal just to tell me how much he hates that I have the gift of teleportation right now and in this moment, I can completely agree.

Walking back into the room I had never really left; I resume my seat but this time I am sitting in a chair opposite my father’s desk while Micah chooses another chair next to the couch and Issa chose his lap to sit in. “Now that we are all in attendance, what is so terribly important?’ My brother opens the conversation. Always one to show very little patience, he liked to get right to the heart of a matter.

“Apparently, there is more to the prophecy than what we have been told and somehow it involves our 30th birthday and me choosing a mate.” As I speak, my eyes never leave my father’s face. I see so many emotions in his eyes, I can now see how much whatever this is troubles him. When Micah starts to speak again, I hold up a finger, simply asking him to give our father a minute to start. Through our connection I explain to him, this isn’t something he ever meant to hid from us. He wants to tell us everything but he fears how it will affect us and the future of this whole kingdom. Just give him a minute. Out of the corner of my eye I see my brother nod in agreement and we wait. It didn’t take long for our King and Father to say the most unexcepted words we ever thought we would hear.