Finding the Missing Lycan Princess

Werewolves

Marcus

Mind linking Jackson, Marcus told them that they were switching vehicles and that they needed to pull over. The two guards, Ralph and Dominic, would take this car back to the pack. This would let Marcus and Marcia go to the SUV, letting Jackson drive so they could speak. Marcus knew he needed to be careful with the conversation. “Are you sure, Alpha? The proximity of the wolves might give us away.” Through the link, Jackson voiced his concern about the sudden change of plans.

“Yes Jackson, I need to tell her, and I cannot be driving when I do.” Pulling the car to the side of the road, he ignored her questioning look as he put the car in park but left it running while he unbuckled his seatbelt. After he exited the vehicle, Marcus ran to the other side. He opened the passenger door and held out his hand to Marcia, encouraging her to leave the car and join him.

“What is going on?” Confusion was showing on Marcia's face as she spoke but she did not hesitate as she took Marcus’s hand. That action alone reassured Marcus that this was the right decision and he needed to tell her the whole truth. His heart felt lighter than air as she tentatively placed her hand into his, allowing him to pull her from the car.

Looking deep into her eyes, Marcus answered her question as they walked to the SUV. “I want to tell you everything, and there is a lot to say. To do this, I need to see you and focus on the conversation, not on driving. Jackson is going to drive us in the SUV and Dom and Ralph will drive the GT.” He tightened his grip, stopping her for a moment before adding, “I need you to promise no matter how crazy what I tell you is, please stay, ask questions, and try to trust me. I would do anything to keep you safe.” Marcia could hear the desperation in his voice, but could not understand it. Her instincts were to trust this man and listen to what he had to say, so she quietly nodded.

In his mind Dax was howling and fighting to get out, he wanted to mark his mate before Marcus told her, keeping her from running. While a human would not feel the same instant connection as a were, once marked, their souls would merge and it would be nearly impossible for her to leave. Even if she did manage to leave, he would be able to track her through the bond and communicate with her through a mind link. This connection was more than just a mark, it was a merging of souls.

While he understood his wolf's impatience, he could not do that without her consent. All werewolves are raised knowing that they have a soulmate waiting for them, but many never have the chance to meet them. If they lost her, Dax would most likely die, leaving Marcus a shell, or worse, he would lose his mind. He could not let that happen, he had to make sure this conversation went well.

Without saying a word, they climbed into the back seat of the SUV, Marcia froze when she saw the two unrestrained wolves in the back of the vehicle. “It's ok, I promise.” To prove his point, Marcus reached back to stroke the head of the larger wolf, who lowered his head in a submissive gesture that shocked Macia. She had been around countless injured wolves but none had ever reacted the way these two were. Either they were in worse shape than she thought or these men were magic with them.

Marcus was equally shocked when, instead of sitting in the passenger side seat, she had instinctively moved to the center seat, buckling her seatbelt so that they were touching leg to shoulder. She was human but clearly, she felt the pull of the mate, even if she did not understand it. Taking her hand in his, Marcus took a deep breath and thought about how to start. “Please let me get through this before you ask any questions, and I am sure you will have many”. He waited for her nod before thinking of how to start.

Marcus turned his body to the center of the car and started at the beginning. “Before you can understand where we are going and what happened with Clint, who you call Cain, you need to know that there is something different about our community.” As he spoke Marcus saw both wolves in the back of the SUV turn to stare at the couple, watching intently to see what was about to happen. They clearly knew that Marcia was a human who did not know who and what they were. Telling humans was forbidden unless they were mated to a wolf, so without being told, the two new shifters knew the stakes of the conversation that was playing out before them.

“I know,” Marcia smiled as she thought of better times, “I asked Cain about his ability to fight, his bizarre strength, and his insane IQ. He explained that your whole area trains its children physically and mentally from a young age. I am ashamed to admit I often thought it seemed cult-like.” She blushed a bit as she made that last comment. She did not want to admit that some of the things he had told her scared her, but she loved how close it seemed everyone was to each other. Having been raised without a family, having a giant one seemed like a dream come true.

“That is part of it, but there is so much more.” Looking deep into her eyes, he allowed Dax to take over slightly, enough to change his chocolate gaze to golden and a small growl to slide out of his throat. In that moment, Dax leaned forward, attempting to nuzzle her throat.

Marca slid back away from him, a hand flying to her throat, “What are you?” Her face paled and she started as if afraid to blink.

The words were whispered with so much terror it broke Marcus' heart and Dax let out a heartbreaking whine as he pulled away quickly. He did not want to scare his mate. The pain in the sound must have shocked Marcia because she leaned close and once again grabbed his hand, calming him immediately. This reaction, once again, gave him hope that she would listen to what he had to say and try to give him a chance to prove himself.

“We are wolf shifters, the creatures that created the myth of the werewolf.” Knowing that Marcia would have more questions, he rapidly continued. He wanted to get as much information out before she reacted as possible. “The community that we speak of is our pack, it's our family and we live together, work together, and protect each other, as one unit. The leader of the pack is known as the Alpha and all shifters in the community defer to him or her. Next in line comes the Beta, who is the right hand of the Alpha and acts as his sounding board. There is no one closer to the Alpha than the Beta except for the Luna. Then you have the Gamma, who runs the packhouse and oversees the internal workings of the pack. The Gamma also acts as the leader in times when the Alpha and the Beta have to be away at the same time.” He stopped when he saw Marcia’s small hand raised as if she were in a classroom. The innocent action made Marcus' heart float with happiness.

“So you are saying you are a werewolf? And that your father, the Alpha, tried to kill Cain all those years ago? If he had so much power, why would he consider his son a threat or a weakness? I know you said that he could not reject him without risking himself later, but there must have been a better option. And if this pack is so private and secret, how am I supposed to survive there? There is no way they would welcome any humans into their lives and I am weaker than most. I literally have nothing to offer. What am I supposed to do on the full moon when everyone becomes a wolf? Is this why Cain loved wolves so much because, in a twisted way, they are family? Are they family, I mean are the two species related? I am so sorry for all the questions but....wow, how am I supposed to react.” All of the questions came out in a rush, not giving him time to answer, and triggering a slight chuckle from the front seat. It was clear that the Beta was enjoying his Alphas struggles and his soon-to-be Luna’s curiosity.

A quick mind link to Jackson reminded him to keep his commentary to himself.

Feeling slight relief that she was not trying to jump out of the moving car, Marcus attempted to answer her questions. “We are not werewolves, we are shifters. This means that once we have our wolves, we can change when we wish, but do not need to. As children, normally ten to twelve years old, we are gifted with our wolves, who are our constant companions in our hearts and our minds. The full moon draws our wolves, making us more in tune with them, but it does not cause us to shift or lose control. They are stronger and their senses sharper, but we can still be as human as you that night. The only times a shifter loses control of their shifts is when they are first transforming and during moments of extreme turmoil. My father was the Alpha at the time he ran Clint off, but on my eighteenth birthday, I challenged him and took control for the good of the pack. This is how power is transferred in our society. You will always be safe with our pack and me, always.”

“You expect me to believe this? It’s not possible. You just admitted to getting rid of your father. Is he dead? If you killed your own dad, evil or not, how am I supposed to feel safe with you?” Marcia visibly struggled with the information that was being presented to her. She had begun to scoot away from the others in the car, resulting in Marcus feeling a moment of panic.

From the front seat of the car, Jackson shot her a quick look that spoke volumes. “Yes, and I think you know it is the truth. You lived with Clint for a year. I am sure that there were signs. You had to wonder”.