The Lycan Mate's Souls

Chapter 2: The start of Canto del gallo

Luis POV

Watching my brothers rush around, chaos swirling as they dart from one end of the room to the other, my nerves are on edge. They think they can handle themselves, but my brother Carlitos and my mate—especially with our little one on the way—need protection, even if they don’t realize it yet.

I grip Carlitos by the shoulder, catching his attention before he can follow the others. “Stay here with Giovana and Solimar. They need you to protect them, Carlitos. You have to keep them safe.”

He blinks at me, surprise flashing in his eyes. I repeat myself, softer this time. “They need you, Carlitos. Can you do this for us?”

He nods, struggling to form the words. “Co… sssiiii… Sssi!”

I can’t help but smile at his effort. I’m proud of him—proud of his dedication to our family and to the pack, even if our father doesn’t always see things the same way. It’s funny how perspectives can differ so much, but I’ve learned that seeing things from different angles doesn’t make any of them less real.

I approach Solimar, her belly round with the promise of our future. Our baby girl, still a month away from meeting us. Without Jose’s wolf, I might never have found her.

She holds my gaze, determination shining in her eyes. “I’ll keep an eye on him and the other kids, Lu. But you better mindlink me when you can. I need to know you’re safe.”

I lean in, pressing a kiss to the tear slipping down her cheek. “I promise, Solimar. I’ll keep you safe. But more than that, I’ll keep our little girl safe too. She needs us to be here for her.”

She places a hand over her belly, her voice trembling with emotion. “Selene will protect you, Papa. Just come back to us.”

I brush my lips over her forehead, then kneel beside her, whispering a prayer to Selene to watch over us all. She’s the one who pushed me to learn self-defense long before we ever marked and mated, and it only made me love her more.

Standing up, I turn to my warriors. “Troops, report in!”

“We’re twenty-seven strong, Luis. What are the orders?”

I scan the area, knowing we’re short on numbers but confident we can hold our ground. “Seven of you, stay here in the bunkers. The rest, form a perimeter outside. Protect the area.”

Their voices rise in unison, acknowledging my command. As the second-in-command, they follow my lead, just as I follow the Delta. My mother always said, ‘A life is worth preserving, whether it’s a person, a memory, or a feeling. It all has value, even if it’s not what we expect. It’s what gives us hope for tomorrow.’

Solimar is my strength, my constant. She’s everything I need to keep fighting, even when the weight of the world bears down on me. She gasps for breath as I kiss her, letting out a small growl when I pull away. But I can’t help it—I’ve got a battle to face.

I lower myself to her belly, kissing where our pup kicks. I glance up to see my father on the bunker’s roof, carrying toddlers on his back as he jogs toward the entrance. He sends me a quick mind link before cutting off completely.

“Get the kids inside the bunkers!” Jonathan shouts to Mario, his voice full of urgency.

I raise an eyebrow, smirking at my father. “Oh, look at that, the baby twin’s giving orders now?”

Dad chuckles through the link. “Yeah, they have one badass mama to thank for that.”

I shake my head as I help him unload the little ones from his back. Once the kids are safe, I dash to join Jonathan, who’s still barking orders.

He spots me and rolls his eyes. “Took you long enough, Luis! What, do I have to die to get some help around here? It’s tough enough being gay!”

I pull him into a quick hug, unable to resist his dramatics. “Goddess, Jonathan, your drama’s going to be the death of me, not your sexuality.”

He scoffs, but a smile tugs at his lips. Before I can say more, I catch sight of a rogue wolf moving toward us, muscles rippling under its dark coat. For a rogue, he’s in decent shape.

Jonathan tears into him, ripping through muscle until the wolf’s heart is exposed. He’s brutal when he needs to be. I let out a growl as I glance around. “Where’s Mario?”

Jonathan shrugs. “He was supposed to be here, but we got hit by rogues. He’s probably in the bunkers, helping out.”

With a nod, I leave Jonathan to handle the rogues and rush to the bunkers, my wolf Luismi itching for a fight. Let’s find little Kiko, he urges, his voice a low growl in my mind.

“I’m on it, Luismi. Let’s follow Jona’s scent.”

We take off toward the pack house’s daycare, where Mario’s scent lingers. Luismi’s nose twitches, catching a trace of Kiko, and he lets out a satisfied growl. Got him. Let’s move.

We reach the daycare just in time to see Mario facing down a rogue. His voice is low, dangerous. “What do you want?”

The rogue demands his name, but he refuses. “Never going to happen! Leave my pack! You’re not welcome here!”

The rogue lunges, but Mario dodges, sending a bookshelf crashing down on them both. I stay hidden, waiting for the right moment to strike, watching as Mario wrestles with the rogue.

As soon as he signals, I leap into the fray, shifting and letting Luismi take control. We tear through the remaining rogues, ensuring the safety of those inside.

With the area clear, I mindlink Mario. Kiko, get a knife and protect the Luna!

He responds quickly, On it, bro!

I watch as he rushes to Luna’s side, and I stay behind to finish off the last of the rogues. If Mario can hold his own like this, I can’t wait to see what he’s capable of when we’re fighting together as brothers.

Marisol POV

I don’t have the patience for another warrior drama today, so I make my way to the pack house, distancing myself from Jose. The tension between us has been thick, and I need a break. As soon as I step inside, Beta Juan clears his throat, catching my attention.

He raises an eyebrow, glancing at the spare room. “So, I take it that you and Prieto aren’t on the best terms again.”

I let out a groan, rubbing my temple. “The fact that you said ‘again’ just reminds me that I did the right thing. Selene is with him now.” I dismiss his curiosity with a wave of my hand. There’s no time for idle gossip, but as usual, he doesn’t give up.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to know what happened?” he presses, his tone full of curiosity as he follows me down the hallway.

Rolling my eyes, I sigh. “Fine, but remind me to have a word with Giovana before I leave. I’ve got a bone to pick with my daughter-in-law.”

He gives me a questioning look. “Why’s that?”

“Because I want to know whose business she thinks she’s spreading around. Last I checked, our personal lives were our own. She has no right running her mouth, and I’m going to teach her some manners if I have to.”

Juan grins, clearly amused. “You got it. But, actually, my question is the same as everyone else’s. Is it true?”

I give him a flat look, not wanting to engage but giving in. “Yes, Juan, it’s true.”

He lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. “He must have dropped like a rock.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Oh, he did. Literally. I had to call our oldest, Luis, to come and drag him out. Poor thing was a mess.”

Juan chuckles, slapping a fifty-dollar bill into my hand as we head up a small hill. “Man, that had to hurt.”

I pocket the bill, still chuckling. “I told you he’d fall if I had to end his tantrums.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less from the head doctor,” he replies with a smirk as he guides me to the room where a young woman is waiting. She looks like she’s been through hell—her skin bruised and purple, scratches lining her arms, and her neck marred with burn marks. It’s a sight that pulls me into doctor mode immediately.

“Beta, tell me about her,” I ask, pulling out my small flashlight to check her pupils, which are unnaturally dilated.

He clears his throat, looking uncomfortable. “She’s my niece. She’s been missing for two years. Last seen in Texas. They found her in a wooden cargo box addressed to the docks, but no indication of where it came from.”

His tone shifts, filled with a tension I can’t quite place. As a doctor, I know how to ask the right questions until I get the answers I need. “Who came to see her?”

Before he can answer, the girl surprises us both by speaking up. “My uncle…”

Her voice is barely a whisper, her eyes wide and haunted. It’s clear she’s been through unimaginable trauma, the kind that leaves deep scars on the soul. I focus on her, trying to ease her nerves. “Alright, sweetheart, let’s start with the basics. What’s your name?”

She looks down, almost like she’s afraid to meet my gaze. “Diana,” she whispers.

“Hi, Diana. I’m Marisol Soza, but you can call me Dr. Soza. I’ll be your primary doctor here at the pack hospital, alright?” I keep my voice gentle, hoping to build a bridge of trust.

She nods, her voice barely audible. “Okay.”

I push forward, knowing we need to get to the truth of what happened. “Can you tell me who took you, Diana?”

Her gaze flickers to Juan, and she looks terrified. “I don’t want him to know.”

I shoot a hard look at Juan. “Please wait outside, Beta. If I need you, I’ll call you.” He nods and steps out, though not before giving me a glance filled with unspoken questions.

As soon as he’s gone, Diana suddenly bends over, retching into the bucket beside the bed. It’s a rough sight, but I’ve seen worse. When she stands back up, I notice the slight bump in her abdomen. “Honey, are you pregnant?”

She hesitates, her voice trembling. “I think so?”

The uncertainty in her response catches me off guard. “You think so? Are you late? When was the last time you went into heat? Have you taken a test?” My concern deepens—she’s in no condition to carry a child.

Diana shakes her head, her expression dazed. “I was trapped… they used me… I lost two puppies.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I have to fight back the urge to lash out on her behalf. “Who did this to you?”

She shivers, barely able to speak. “My college teacher… and others… I don’t know them.”

I bite back a curse, quickly grabbing a test kit from my bag. “Diana, I need a urine sample. Please drink some water, it’ll help.”

She returns with the sample, and I dip the test strips in, watching as each one turns positive. My heart sinks. Rabies, an STD, and traces of wolfsbane. The combination is lethal.

I call out to the Beta. “Juan, inform the front desk that I’m bringing a delicate patient. I’ll need a private room.”

“On it, doctor!” he replies from the other side of the door.

Turning back to Diana, I try to give her a reassuring smile. “You’re safe now, Diana. I’ll make sure of it.”

She looks up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear. “Please, can you be the one to treat me?”

I squeeze her hand gently. “You’re stuck with me, honey. I run this hospital. No one else will touch you.”

She nods, and I help her get cleaned up, letting her lean on me as I guide her to the private room. The entire time, my mind is reeling—thinking of what she’s endured, how much she needs to heal.

As I settle her into bed, she whispers, “I’m so happy I escaped…”

Her words make me swallow back tears. I’m determined to be the protector she needs, to make sure no one ever hurts her again. Diana deserves that chance at peace.

Later, as I step out of her room to gather my thoughts, I find Juan waiting with a guarded expression, holding two bottles of water. He hands one to me. “We need to talk,” I say, meeting his eyes.

He holds up his hands in a mock surrender, his usual smirk playing at his lips. “Alright, alright. But whatever it is, I’m not the one you’re mad at. It’s probably Jose.”

I smack his arm lightly, trying to keep my emotions in check. “You i***t. Listen, Diana’s pregnant. She’s terrified and wants an abortion. Legally, she needs a guardian’s approval. I think it’s the right choice.”

He surprises me by pulling out a set of documents. “I just got the papers for her custody. My brother and his wife… they died when she was taken. I… I didn’t know she was alive.”

His tone lacks warmth, but I’m too focused on getting Diana what she needs to dig deeper. I hand him the clipboard. “She needs this, Juan. Please, sign the papers.”

He signs without hesitation, but there’s a strange smile on his face that makes my skin crawl. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but for now, I’ll focus on Diana. I return to her room, knowing that whatever comes next, I’ll be ready to fight for her.