The Lycan Queen

Chapter Three

Thea stood by the window, watching the groups coming and going as the festivities from the night before continued on into the day. Coffee cup in hand, she walked to the couch and sat next to Virion’s sleeping body. His black hair shined in the morning sun, his grey eyes closed, his mind soaked with exhaustion. Thea smiled and rubbed the small child’s head, before standing and walking out of the cabin. Two men guarded the door. She ignored them and stepped outside, vape and cup in hand. Arius could be seen through the crowd wearing the same black shirt from the night before, a different tall blonde hanging from his arm. She didn’t blame him for having fun, she just thought he would wait longer, but she knew that five years was long enough.

“Contact me when he wakes up,” Thea instructed. The guards nodded.

Thea’s baggy sweat pants, that had once belonged to Arius, drug the ground beneath her bare feet. The tank top she wore to bed, leaving nothing to the imagination, sat tight against her small body. Her mother could see her through the crowd, a disapproving glare masked by a pleasant smile. Her mother had always been beautiful, bright red hair with blue eyes that shined so brightly anyone could get lost in their gravitational pull, but Thea became immune to their pull when she sent her away for a year, by the time she came back a part of her was missing and Arius had moved on with his life. Ever since things had been awkward between them, they would occasionally hook up, but once their feelings came into the equation Thea would think of the past and would pull away. After a while they stopped meeting in secret and just saw each other during functions or on the hunt.

Thea brought her cup of coffee to a stand on the other side of the crowded streets. “What took you so long? What are you wearing?” Emmy questioned, creeping up behind her.

“I had business to attend to last night and I’m wearing my pajamas.”

“You must have been having fun with King Kira.”

Thea gagged on her last sip of coffee, but Emmy kept a straight face. “I was busy hunting. Someone was ballsy enough to break into my house.”

“Did you tell Father?”

“No! And I don’t intend to.”

“What were they after?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that someone broke past our patrols. I tried following them, but I lost their scent. So, it’s my fault. I was...distracted,” Thea whispered.

“Arius is with one of his girlfriends again. He’ll find his mate soon, he probably shouldn’t be w*****g around. Doesn’t that hurt you?” Emmy questioned, a look of sympathy flashing across her face.

“I love you, but I don’t want to think about Arius.”

“I take that as a yes.”

“Yes to what?” Arius asked, approaching them from behind.

“Nothing,” Thea whispered.

“Whatever. Do you have to w***e around in front of my sister?” Emmy retorted, her eyes focused solely on him.

“Everyone knows your sister found her mate. Kira announced it while you slept. Nice to know, huh?”

“I have no interest in being his mate,” Thea answered, her eyes focused on the ground beneath her feet. “One day you’ll find your own mate and your life will be easier. You won’t have to worry about the past anymore. I don’t have that luxury. I want my freedom.”

“So what? You’re hoping he’ll reject you?”

“I’m used up. I love you--loved you. I’m working this out on my own. You used to support my decisions, that’s why I fell in love with you. I know that you can’t do that now, but I promise this isn’t just about me,” Thea whispered.

“You were always good at keeping secrets.”

“Arius, so help me god if you flaunt your w****s around her ever again you and I will have a score to settle.”

Arius laughed, “I’m more scared of her than you.”

“You clearly haven’t seen her angry,” Thea responded, filling her cup with coffee and stepping away from the two of them.

The sound of boot prints echoed through the crowd. Thea placed a hand to her stomach, feeling a knot form. Thea looked down at her coffee cup, a bright purple residue coating the bottom. Her world began to spin as she tried to take careful steps down the path, her body swaying against her will. Emmy ran to her side, noticing her stagger forward, just barely catching herself as she tumbled to the ground. The last thing her mind processed was a small child running to her side, placing his head against her as tears spilled down his face.

Thea woke in the packhouse. The local doctor sat across the room, deep in discussion with her mother. “Mom?”

“Thea! We were so worried about you!”

“We?” Thea questioned.

Thea’s father stepped through the door with a distraught Emmy in tow. Emmy looked at her sister and pounced onto the bed, arms reaching around her sister as tears sprang from her eyes. “This little one escaped his guards and refused to leave your side,” Emmy whispered, pointing at the boy who slept in the chair next to the bed. “Something you need to tell me?”

“I’m taking him on as a ward,” Thea explained, glancing at the sleeping child. “I feel like he needs a home and I think I can provide him with that.”

“Theadora, you are doing no such thing!” Parella yelled.

“Why have you always felt the need to take on strays? I mean, him, Alexio, Arius--” Emmy started.

“Leave Arius out of this please.”

“No, you need to listen. You aren’t ready to take on a kid. If you were with your mate and he gave consent that would be one thing. But you haven’t even asked.”

“Look, he seems like a nice enough guy. Cocky, but nice. I just don’t need anymore emotional attachments,” Thea answered.

“Thea, you cannot hold out hope for Arius forever. If he cared for you, and I mean truly cared for, he wouldn’t be putting you through this. I can speak to your father and have him cast out of the pack,” Parella chimed in.

“Guys, I’m fine. He’s the best fighter we have. If another pack took him in we’d be at a loss. Does anyone have my vape?”

“You can’t smoke that in here,” Parella scolded.

“Yeah, yeah. Hand it here,” Thea whined.

“I swear the two of you are just alike,” Emmy quipped.

“Shut up!” the two women yelled.

The three of them burst into a fit of laughter. “I’m glad y’all are here.”

Emmy shook her head, her blonde hair floating just above her shoulders. A knock at the door interrupted their banter. Kira walked in, ducking under the doorframe, a bouquet of nine red roses. Emmy glanced at her sister with a small smile. Thea looked away, casting her eyes on the window rather than him. “Peace offering,” he said, a perfect smile on his perfect face. One look from his emerald would make any girl swoon, but Thea refused to put herself into a hard situation again.

“Kira, we were just talking about you.”

“Really? What were you saying about little old me?” Kira questioned, a fake smile plastered to his face.

“I’m sure there’s nothing little about you,” Emmy whispered to Thea, clearly loud enough for Kira to hear. “We were actually talking about what we were going to do with the little cutie over there. Thea wants to adopt him into the pack, but I told her she’d need to discuss something like that with her mate. Which would be you.”

Kira nodded, “I feel like she should be able to do what she thinks is right. If she wants to adopt him, then that’s fine. She has my full support to live her life the way she sees fit. I just hope I can make her see that.”

Thea glanced at him, a tender look in his eyes that she had never seen before. “So, is there anything you need us to prepare for the banquet tonight?” Thea questioned.

Her mother waved a hand in front of her face. “I worked last night to get things set up for today. Of course I had help from...other members of the pack.”

“Mom, you can talk about it.”

“I don’t want to make things awkward with my ramblings.”

“In other news,” Emmy began. “I found my mate as well.”

“What? You didn’t tell me!” Thea exclaimed.

“Well, you have been busy the past few days. You know the whole almost dying thing puts a damper on the mood,” Emmy explained.

“I’m sorry. What kills me is that this happened before, but that was five years ago.”

“Who did it five years ago?” Kira questioned.

“We never found that out.”

Parella offered her a look of sympathy, but Thea ignored it. “What happened five years ago?” Kira asked.

“Thea are you hungry?” Parella said, changing the subject.

“I could eat.”

“Well, get dressed and we’ll go to Ronnie's.”

“Alrighty then. If everyone would exit the room I will change and meet you outside.”

The three of them nodded, Emmy standing and picking up Virion. The two of them made their exit. Thea hopped out of the bed, holding her stomach while ignoring the burning sensation in the back of her throat. Pulling on the sweatpants that she had been wearing before her admittance to the packhouse’s doctor’s office. Pulling her tank top back over her head. Emmy walked back into the room with perfect timing. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, Em. Just some stomach issues.”

“Why did Mom change the subject when you were talking about the time you stayed with the Crimson pack?”

“Em, it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to think about the past,” Thea responded.

“Thea, why lie to me?”

“Because only Mom and I know and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Please tell me.”

“I was pregnant. That’s why I was sent away. I didn’t tell anyone, because I knew it would look bad. I was eight months pregnant when I lost him. That’s why I take in strays I suppose.”

“Thea, you shouldn’t have kept something like that bottled up.”

“I know, but things took a turn. I remember some of it, but one thing rang clear. I heard someone say ‘It’s done.’ Someone else knew, but I don’t know who would go to that length,” Thea answered.

“But why poison you now?”

“I think someone is trying to get Virion. That’s what the lycans who broke into my home were after. If they took me out of the picture then they could get to him.”

“Let’s go meet mom and Kira. You need a break.”

Thea stood and walked to the door, her sister running after her and placing her arm through hers. “You’re so tall,” Thea responded.

“I know,” Emmy smiled, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

Thea shook her head, unable to quiet her mind. “No one in our pack can get wolfsbane. Father had all of it destroyed.”

“It could be one of the other packs.”

“I wonder what happened to Astrid. She was always with the Crimson pack.”

Emmy rolled her eyes. “Nobody liked Astrid, only you.”

“She was just misunderstood.”

Thea looked at the ceiling, her mind reeling at the possibility that one of her pack members could be behind her recent attack. Emmy strolled a few steps ahead to meet their mother. Parella smiled at the two of them, something she hadn’t done in what felt like years. Thea ran up to her and gently pulled on her hand. Her mother’s eyes widened in surprise, before she smiled once again.

“Emmy knows,” Thea whispered.

“I knew she would eventually drag it out of you. Do you think the one who poisoned you today did it the first time?”

“I don’t know mom. I would really like to find Astrid, but I know she probably died with the Crimsons.”

“Don’t worry about any of that. We’re going to go to Ronnie’s and snack. Just don’t worry.”

Thea nodded, taking a deep breath. “Should we really go to Ronnie’s before the banquet?”

“Probably not, but his food always cheers you up. Not to mention he has the best coffee in town,” Parella whispered, winking at her daughter.

“Mom, there’s a group of people outside. They are freaking out about the attack today. Some don’t even want to stick it out for the banquet,” Emmy said, but Kira was already outside, dealing with the chaos.

“Just explain that I was the target. That should calm them down,” Thea whispered, just as Kira was walking back in.

“I tried that. It just brought on more fear. They want to know who would target the alphas' daughter.”

“I’ll deal with this,” Thea responded, stepping around her sister and mother. Kira placed a hand at her back, his warm touch soothing her tense back. “Hello everyone,” Thea shouted. “Before anyone asks any questions I want to go over a few things. None of you are in any danger. This attack was aimed at me and me alone. I don’t know who among us would do such a thing, but the deed is done. We are taking all precautions and we have no intention of letting anyone else get hurt.”

The crowd seemed to calm down, their panic dissipating at the affirmation that they would be okay. Thea looked at Kira, who had taken her hand into his own. For the first time, she felt calm. Kira smiled down at her and lifted her hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on the palm of her hand, a notion that said ‘We’ll figure this out.’

Thea gently pulled her hand away and waited for her mother and sister to make their exit. “Sorry! The doctor had your labs, so he stopped us.” Emmy whispered. “You were right, wolfsbane.” Thea nodded as the five of them walked down the stairs and out to the small diner that sat on the other side of the village.

The diner was full of patrons when Thea took her seat. Mozzarella balls, potato skins and jalapeno poppers covered three plates. Thea looked at her mother with an awkward smile. Emmy began stuffing mozzarella balls in her mouth. Everyone else turned and watched her, Kira smirked before popping a jalapeno popper into his mouth. Thea glanced at her mother, who took a mozzarella ball and cut it up with her fork, clearly ignoring her daughter’s actions. Ronnie appeared from the back to make small-talk with Parella. Emmy grabbed Thea’s vape from the counter and took a drag from it.

“What the hell are you smoking?” Emmy questioned.

Thea burst into laughter, “It’s my special blend.”

“Of what? Ass?”

“Ember!” Parella exclaimed, covering her mouth.

“Sorry mom. Seriously though, what is that?”

“I mixed ice cream, blueberry and cotton candy.”

“You have awful taste buds, Miss I Can’t Eat Cilantro,” Emmy quipped.

“I can’t eat cilantro either,” Kira added.

Thea smiled down at Virion, who’s cheeks were puffy with food. “What’s cilantro?” Virion questioned through bites of food.

“Soapy salad,” Kira whispered.

“Oh, look at the time my loves. I have to go get ready for tonight’s special dinner. He’s a little young to be there,” Parella said, pointing at Virion.

“Then I’ll stay with him.”

“Thea, you know you have to be there.”

“Then who will sit with him?”

“I’ll send some members who aren’t going to be there to watch over him.”

“He’ll be fine. Besides, I’m looking forward to dressing you up,” Emmy said with a smile.

Thea frowned, “I really don’t want to be there.”

“Just think after we can go to your house, eat some snacks and watch some movies. Just like when we were kids.”

Thea nodded, “That does sound fun. Meet me at the house with whatever you want me to wear.”

“I’ll go with you to Viola’s boutique.”

“No sir. You can’t see the bride before the wedding or the princess before the ball. Whichever phrasing you want to go with.”

Their mother walked by them, patting them both on the shoulder as she made her exit. Thea looked down at the wooden bar, staring at the rippling in the wood, returning to that night. Kira glanced at her as she lost herself in the curves and notches in the oak. Emmy glanced in her direction, poking her arm with her pointer finger. Thea jumped, turning her attention to her little sister.

“I was gone again, wasn’t I?” Thea questioned.

Emmy nodded, “Let’s get out of her. I only have a few hours to turn you into the belle of the ball.”

Thea glanced once more, pushing her memories into the abyss that was her mind. Kira walked to her side, taking her hand in his own and helping her down from the bench where she sat. Emmy watched them, smiling to herself, but refused to intervene. Kira placed a hand on her head and stepped out of the diner with the two of them trailing behind.