Finding the Missing Lycan Princess

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Marcus

After Marcia had fallen asleep in Marcu's arms, he slid back into the seat. Closing his eyes, he joined her in taking a nap, her scent calming him and letting him rest for the first time since he had opened the message from Clint. When they got slightly closer to home, Jackson had linked him to let him know it was time to wake up.

"We are almost home. You might want to wake her so she can regain her wits before we reach home." Looking in the rearview mirror, Jackson smiled at him. "I am thrilled that you have found our Luna. Let's introduce her to her pack."

His response was short and calm, "soon, she needs her rest."

As the cars approached the pack territories, Marcus looked at the amazing woman sleeping peacefully in his arms. They were not over the hurdles yet. He was sure that she would have thousands of questions for him. He had not even begun to explain her place in the pack but, for the first time in years, he had hope for the future. Her willingness to protect the injured wolves, even by risking herself, was a hallmark of a true Luna and he was proud to call her his mate. She would soon realize that she is the future Luna of the Blue Moon pack. Now he just had to convince her that her destiny was to be with him and their pack. If he pushed too hard she would reject him and that was something he could not allow.

Mind linking with Seth, the pack Gamma, Marcus let him know that they were returning with visitors and that they would need rooms prepared at the pack house. “The first should be near the infirmary. We found two injured wolves that needed our help. One can shift and move but his mate will need intensive treatment. The other…..” Marcus trailed off, knowing it was too soon to expect his mate to stay with him, but hated the idea of her being out of his sight.

With only one viable solution, Marcus continued, “Please empty the furniture from the personal library in my wing and bring in a bed and chest of drawers. Also, go to the pack closet and see if we have any new women's clothes in a size small size. Nothing fancy, just clean and comfortable please.” At times like this, Marcus was glad that the pack maintained clothing supplies for visitors. The main purpose was to assist when shifters lost control or ran to the pack house in their wolf forms. While they were all comfortable with nudity, it was considered impolite to enter another's pack unclothed.

The silence at the other end of the link was deafening as the Gamma tried to figure out what was going on. “There are plenty of rooms on other floors, Alpha. Why would you want me to empty...” A harsh growl cut off whatever else the Gamma was going to say.

“Empty the library, now Seth! Do not make me repeat myself.” It did not occur to Marcus that this was the first time he had ever addressed his Gamma aggressively. Typically a kind Alpha, Marcus was known for his exemplary control in every situation. His aggression normally only shows when he is protecting the pack, never toward members of the pack. Some consider this trait a weakness, but Marcus and the members of his pack know it is his greatest strength. It is why so many of his members are loyal and dedicated to the changes he has brought to the pack since taking over.

A chuckling Jackson joined the conversation, ready to poke the bear, or in this case, wolf. “I would just do it if I were you, Seth. Our sweet Alpha has discovered the joys of mating, and to a human who did not know of our existence until we showed up and burned down her home. Oh, and Marcus decided the best way to tell her about us was to allow another to shift in front of her while we were in a moving car! Get the popcorn ready because this is going to be a fun show.”

While Jackson found the humor in the situation, Marcus did not. Mating with a human was always hard for a were because another wolf would feel the bond immediately and act accordingly. It was considered normal for mates to meet, mate, and mark within a day or two. A human would only feel intense attraction and a desire to be together, positive but not what he needed. Marcia would not understand his desperation for his mate and the struggle to be separate. She also would not understand the struggle of keeping Dax back when he knew his mate had been found but had yet to be marked, sealing their bond.

The response through the mind link was immediate once the Gamma realized the situation, “Congratulations Alpha, that is wonderful news. I will set up our new Luna’s room right away. Is there anything else I can have ready for your arrival?” Even through the link, Marcus could hear the excitement in his voice. A pack is only as strong as its Alpha, and an Alpha without a Luna has no balance. They tend to be too harsh, and if it goes too long they can become dangerous to all those around them. This is why so many Alphas give up waiting and instead settle for a chosen mate. This decision prevents the breakdown of their mental state, but there is no one else in the world more well-suited for a wolf than its fated mate. As important as Marcia is to Marcus, she is a key member of the pack and she will be welcomed with open arms.

Lightly stroking his mate’s cheek, Marcus smiled, watching her sleep. “Could you arrange a late lunch? We drove straight through and all of us need food and rest. Thank you, Seth”. For the next ten miles, he never took his eyes off her, still unsure of how fate had brought her to him at his darkest hour when he needed her the most. He had lost his entire family but the Goddess had blessed him with the start of a new one in this beautiful human. With a lot of luck, soon she would take her place at his side, and eventually bless him with pups. Shaking his head at how quickly his thoughts of the future were progressing, Marcus smiled as they passed his sentries stationed on all of the roads surrounding the pack house.

As they pulled up to the front of the pack house he closed his eyes and tilted his face to the sky, “Thank you, Goddess, I will protect her with my life”.The whispered promise was a vow that Marcus would never break. Looking back at his treasure, Marcus lightly stroked her cheek again with a single finger. When she slid her face toward his hand, seeking more contact, Marcus’s heart felt full for the first time since his father returned without Clint all those years ago. The pack had given him a reason to keep going, but his mate would give him the heart to be the best Alpha possible. The depths of his love for her already startled him and he could not imagine how strong it would be once he marked her. His only regret was the fact that unless he changed her she would not be able to mark him back.

Laying his hand on her cheek, he could not resist leaning close and placing a light kiss on her jaw as he lightly spoke to wake her. “Marcia, Marcia, we are home”. As her eyes fluttered open, he was not prepared for the terror of her scream, or the violence with which she fought. Her head flung forward trying to headbutt him while her elbow flew back preparing to hit his stomach. The volume of her screams caused him to recoil and freeze momentarily while he decided what to do.

While he instinctively grabbed her wrists and tried to calm her down, she seemed to fight even harder against the hold.

He lightly shook her shoulders, trying to get her to meet his eyes. This moment provided her with the time she needed to start to wake up properly. As she woke, her fighting died down slightly but she still pulled herself away from him. Her face showed a range of emotions going from fear to understanding and ending in shame.

“Stop, please, it’s okay.” Trying to keep a soothing tone while Dax wanted nothing more than to find her former husband and tear him limb from limb. Her instinctive reaction and withdrawal showed him more than anything that she had lived through hell and still suffered from the effects of it. At that moment, Marcus silently promised her that no one would ever harm her again. He and the pack would always be there to protect her.

“Marcus?” her blinking stare showed that she was remembering whose arms she was in as she quickly pulled away. He was charmed by the slight pink tinge to her cheeks but he wanted to whine like a pup at the new distance between them. His arms felt empty but he could tell if he pulled her close again she would resist. “Where are we?” The soft words seemed to slip from her lips as she looked around, trying to take everything about their surroundings in at once.

“Home” As he murmured the word, Marcus realized this was the first time he had truly meant that in many, many years.