Calling from the Mist

Let's Talk

Misty would have been lying if she didn’t enjoy herself at the bonfire, hell, even listening to drunk Barbara ramble on and cling to Duncan was entertaining in it’s own way! She also got a chance to talk with some of the Shifters, feeling closer to them than she could have ever imagined.

Micheal drove her home early that morning before the sun was even up, commenting that Misty needed to drink water and go straight to bed. Of course she was listening to her best friend, but thoughts swirled around her brain and refused to stop even if she wanted them to. Misty thanked Micheal when he pulled up outside of her place, letting her out of the car with a bit of a frown. She already knew for a fact that Jake had driven behind them and was currently parked across the street even though she had explicitly told him not to do so.

“I’ll be fine Micheal, I just need some sleep…” Misty answered her friend’s unspoken worry before closing the door and heading inside.

As soon as she entered her room she kicked off her shoes and immediately crashed face first onto her bed, not worrying about changing or anything since that was morning Misty’s problem. She conked out soon after, falling into a dreamless sleep as if she was dead to the world.

The late morning sun beamed through Misty’s open window and the next thing she knew the door was bursting open. Misty screamed, sitting up and nearly falling off the bed in shock but it was her parents that stood in her doorway, staring at her with such deep emotions.

“Sweetie you’re back!” Misty’s mother went to rush forward but paused, drawing back in fear of scaring her daughter. She could see how conflicted her parents truly were as unshed eyes welled up in her mother’s eyes.

“Michael dropped me off last night…” Misty explained as if that answered all of their questions. It seemed as if Misty’s father wanted to say something but in that next moment they all heard boots striding down the hallway towards Misty’s room.

“What happened, are you alright?!” Jake entered the room with his eyes scanning each nook and cranny before settling on Misty’s form now sitting cross-legged on the bed. “Were you attacked?”

“No, my parents just barged in a bit too forcefully…” Misty rolled her eyes and noticed how Jake seemed to relax some of the tension he had been holding. This seemed like the perfect time as any to get some answers. “You three, sit. We need to talk!”

~

Misty slipped off the bed and wandered over to her closet, opening the door so she could change behind it while her parents settled down on her bed and Jake leaned up against the far wall. She had told him to sit, but she wasn’t going to get angry over semantics.

“Okay, let’s start off with an easy one! Why did you think it was a good idea to sell me to a stranger?” Misty furrowed her brow as she asked, her words clipped and on edge as she practically spit them. She was still facing her closet, pulling a pair of black leggings and a black sports bra on in anticipation for a run.

“We didn’t sell you sweetie…” Misty’s mother was the first to speak, surprising the young woman as she moved away to stand in front of them with her arms crossed. She raised a brow, letting her mother know to continue. But it was Misty’s father that spoke next.

“Everything started when I took you to work one day. You were probably six years old, begging your mother to come visit me at work. Of course it wasn’t the first time, but I happened to be working up in the Marabelle Villa that week…” Misty’s father had never been a hard man, he was usually quiet but still loving and personable. But in that moment he seemed almost shy, or embarrassed as he spoke down towards his lap and refused to make eye contact with Misty.

“I know I shouldn’t have taken you up there, but the hotel said that the owners hadn’t arrived yet and we could pop in to see your dad for a couple minutes at least. Wires got crossed, and the family had already arrived when we walked through the front door.” There was a pause after Misty’s mother had chimed in, an awkward silence that Misty wanted filled with answers but it didn’t seem as if either of her parents would speak up.

“The Lycan King was there, although he was only 12 and a prince at the time. He immediately recognized who, or what you were. As soon as his parents, the past King and Queen of the Lycans, realized what was going on they ushered all of us into a near-by room to discuss what would happen next.” Jake spoke up from his place leaning against the wall as he watched Misty’s reaction. Of course she was surprised to learn that Jake had actually been present, but those questions could wait until later. “It was decided that you were to be raised by your parents as a human and live a normal life until the age of 21.”

“And what the f**k happens when I’m 21, hmm?” Misty almost growled out, gritting her teeth and watching as Jake flinched in reaction.

There was a stretch of silence for what felt like forever as Jake’s gaze finally found Misty’s own with set determination to answer her questions.

“That is when you will be Claimed by the King.”

The room was silent again as Misty mulled over exactly what Jake had just said. She wasn’t screaming with rage and fury, nor was she breaking down and crying. She needed all of the facts first and foremost before finally coming up with a plan of action.

“Am I able to say no, or is this a forced marriage sort of deal?” Misty’s voice lacked all emotion as she held herself tightly together for the moment. A growl fell from Jake’s throat as he stood up from the wall and walked closer to her.

“Never! The Lycan’s are Royalty and would never do such a thing!” Jake fumed, although he was probably holding back for Misty’s sate. She c****d an eyebrow and rolled her eyes.

“Okay, then do I have to end up with anyone? Is that a requirement for helping those animals… those Shifters in the clinic?” Misty spoke softly, uncrossing her arms and showing Jake that she didn’t want to upset him anymore, that she just wanted answers. He seemed to calm himself down, then scrunched up his face almost adorably as he thought about what Misty had said.

“I… I don’t think so? It is unheard of for a chosen Mate to a Lycan not to be Claimed?” Jake’s words were more in the form of a question since he had never heard of anything of that sort happening.

There were a few more minutes of silence as everyone seemed to think through the situation, but it was Misty’s mother who slipped off the bed and walked over to her daughter to speak first.

“Sweetie, what if you meet with them and get some more answers? As far as we are aware there will be no harm coming to you, right Jake?” Misty’s mother turned to glare at the Shifter before looking back at her daughter. It made Misty smile softly and relax at the gesture.

“No harm will ever come to her, you have my word as her personal escort. That includes being forced into anything you do not wish, Misty.” Jake strode forward to stand closer as he spoke with assurance that he would, in fact, keep Misty safe from attack in any form. She needed to hear that, and freely admitted that her mother was right.

She wanted some more answers about what she was, and what she could do to help. Misty had always wanted to help in some form, but after speaking with the Shifters at the bonfire the night before, and seeing how many were suffering at the clinic, she wanted to do something.

“Alright, I’ll meet with them but just to talk okay? When are they arriving?" Misty sighed, bringing a hand up to run through her long and messy hair when she waited for an answer.

“The Royal Court made a last minute change and were supposed to be arriving next week.” Misty’s father cleared his throat to speak up, a flushed look on his face that he tried to hide behind an innocent chuckle but Misty knew better. Her father had a terrible pokerface, and Jake instantly confirmed her suspicions.

“They will be arriving this evening.”

Well f*ck.

~