Finding the Missing Lycan Princess

Leaving Home

Marcus

As they got to the front door, they were greeted by the sight of Jackson standing with the two injured wolves at his side. If this sight was not insane enough, he had moved the car to the house and all the doors were open waiting for them. Behind him, they could see a large SUV with two other men pulling up and the doors opening. No one said a word as they rushed into the vehicles and, to Marcia’s shock, the wolves dropped their heads, then turned and jumped into the SUV like trained lap dogs, not wild animals.

Knowing that time was short, Marcus tried to nudge Marcia to the door of the car that stood open in front of her. She seemed to be frozen in place, staring at the sight before her. Shaking off the shock, she looked toward him. “What about the wolves? It's not safe for them to be loose in that car. We need to get their kennels and some tranquilizers just in case.” As she spoke she attempted to get past Marcus and into the barn where she kept the supplies she needed.

Marcus was thrown by her words, not sure how to react. “You would tranquilize these wolves after all they have been through? Why do you fear them so? I do not think you realize that they are perceptive creatures and they can tell you mean them no harm. They will not try to hurt you.” Marcus did not understand why she was thinking of going to such extremes so quickly.

As she climbed into the car she looked back, watching Jackson get into the SUV. “It is not me I am worried about! If they get scared and panic, they could reinjure themselves. They were both nearly dead when they arrived and I cannot stand the thought of them being injured. If we sedate them for the trip, by the time it wears off we will be out of the car and safe. I assume there is a safe place for wolves where we are going." Her impassioned words were shocking and thrilling to the men as they listened to her reasoning.

“Have faith, little one, they know what they are doing. I promise that any member of this group is fully qualified to care for wolves, even injured ones. Please let us go, we need to be far away from this place.” Together they got into the sports car and turned down the drive.

Marcus took a deep breath, drawing in the scent of his mate, allowing the knowledge that she was coming with him without a fight to calm his agitated wolf. He did not let himself think of all that was lost behind them. She was here and she was safe, that is what mattered. Through the mind link, he reached out to Jackson for an update.

“Is everyone alright there?”

“Yes Alpha, we are all safe and sound. The two wolves in the barn were cut up pretty badly, dosed with wolfsbane, and infected with silver. Only one was in good enough shape to shift, but the information he gave me convinced me we needed to get out of there. When we get back to the pack house you will have to speak to them in more detail, but it appears that your brother created a safe haven, almost an underground railroad, to help abused wolves escape their packs and get to safety.” Marcus stared out the windshield thinking about this revelation. He was proud of Clint's actions but he still needed to understand what else was going on. His thoughts quickly shifted when, from the other side of the car, Marcia began to speak.

“I have so many questions, but let me start with the most important. Why did we just burn down my home and leave as if we were being chased?” As she spoke her voice started to choke up. She was holding onto her composure by a thread that could snap at any moment.

Marcus’s heart stopped and both he and his wolf felt his' mates distress. He wanted to pull over and hold her but knew they needed to get the injured wolves to safety and she would not accept his comfort yet. Unable to entirely stop himself, he reached across the console to take her hand. “There is more going on than you know. When we get home I will answer all of your questions, but I will try to address those that I can now.”

He had to choose his words closely, he knew that if he screwed this up it could be the end for the two of them. With a deep breath, he thought about the best approach and began to speak slowly. “Quiet Moon was more than just a wolf sanctuary, it acted as a haven for people trying to escape, like an underground railroad. Some of these people had others after them, and we think that one of them got to Clint.” Rubbing, her wrist with his thumb Marcus savored the tingling sensation. “Can you tell me about Clint, how did you meet? What was he like?” Marcus knew there was a touch of desperation in his voice, but he didn't care. He had missed years of his brother's life. Marcia had information about him and the conversation would begin to develop trust between them. He was desperate to learn everything he could about his mate and her past.

Marcia took a deep breath and turned her face away from the eyes that seemed to see too much. “He found me beaten and frozen nearly to death on the side of the road.” Marcus fought back Dax at these words. “My husband had decided that I was no longer worth the trouble I caused him. I am pretty sure he thought I was dead when he threw me from the car, and I would have been, had your brother not been out looking for a lost wolf. I do not remember him finding me, but I woke up in that house. He cared for me until I was able to function and then let me stay when he realized I had nowhere to go. He always said I was special.” The tears were freely falling down her cheeks, shining in the early morning light. She remembered the first moment she woke, terrified by the large man standing over her, her wounds dressed, naked, and wrapped in a blanket in front of the fire. Her terror was replaced with love and respect as she learned about the gentle giant who had rescued her.

The growl filled the small car as Marcus struggled to control his wolf, hearing about the mistreatment of his mate. At the same time, he was filled with awe and appreciation that Clint had found his mate and protected her for him. “Thank the goddess for him finding you in time”. When he heard a quick intake of breath he realized that he was squeezing her hand a bit too hard in light of her revelations. Instantly he relaxed his grip but did not withdraw his hand.

“He was the best man I have ever known, he showed me kindness and understanding, and taught me to be okay with myself.” The tentative tone in her voice made it clear that she did not want to provide information about Clint's s****l preferences. It was clear that she had been told about the lack of acceptance his father had spread in the pack and its effect on the members' lives.

With a sigh, Marcus tries to reign in his temper before discussing a topic that normally draws out his wolf and results in a total loss of control. Before starting, he reminded Dax of what was at stake and concentrated on the scent of her filling the car. The only reply he got was a quiet growl of acceptance, but Dax did not withdraw into his subconscious, standing at the ready to take over if his human side messed this up.

He owed it to Marcia to answer her question, but at the same time, he struggled to expose the horrors of his family history. “I know that he was gay if that is what you are afraid to say. At that time, our father was the leader of our community and when he realized, he took Clint on a hunting trip. When he came back, he said that there was an accident and that Clint was dead. Because of his standing in the community, we never questioned it. I found out that there was no accident and that he killed Clint, or tried to, on my eighteenth birthday and that's when I…..took control of the community away from my father.“ Not sure how to explain their way of life with all of the half-truths between them, Marcus hesitated. There is no way a human could understand how a pack works.

“Our father had been training me, thinking I would lead as he had. He told me signs of weakness needed to be removed without hesitation, and to him, homosexuality was a sign of weakness. Couples were made to strengthen the group by having children. Given that same-s*x couples could not produce children naturally, he felt that they were evil and a waste of space. He knew nothing about who and what I am.” Marcus could not disguise the absolute disgust in his voice at the mere thought he had anything in common with his father.

“Why would he try to kill his own son in the first place? Why not just kick him out?” Looking at the puzzled expression on his mate's face. He felt encouraged to continue realizing that, even with her past, she still did not think of evil in the world.

“Our father felt that homosexuality was a weakness, one that had to be removed through amputation. If he did not get rid of Clint he was afraid it would spread. If he simply kicked him out, he ran the risk of Clint coming back and fighting for control. He knew that when that happened he could lose and our father hated even the idea of losing” The words came out in a growl and his hands tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles whitened.

The early light of the morning allowed Marcus to see the tears slipping down her cheeks. Marcus felt his heart drop as he saw her pain at the truth about his family. Without thinking about the decision, he immediately pulled over. He simply shook his head at the questioning look she shot him. He could not delay telling her everything, but he could not do it while driving. He needed to look into her eyes and pray she was willing to try him in the face of the messed-up environment he was dragging her into.