Lycan's unexpected mate

Family Chef, part 4

Tyche

The cucumber juice is very tasty, but the story of Evans and Adrianna makes the taste bittersweet. I believe that the men aren't lying because David even corrected Atalanta on the name despite the similarity. What's more, they can't hide their true feelings from me or Acca. Acca has been observing them both ever since we entered this restaurant and she clearly believes that they are trustworthy. However, I strongly believe they are hiding something big from us but I can't get a grip on it and Acca keeps chiding me for being paranoid. I'm not paranoid. I'm happier to be prepared for all possibilities and I live according to the saying 'better safe than sorry'.

I set my fork and knife on the empty plate and look at the guys in front of me. "Can we contact the couple and tell them that we have met you?" I ask innocently.

Carson lifts his shoulders in a shrug and says: "Sure, just tell them that everything is fine, that we aren't arrested in your territory or anything, okay? Adrianna is expecting another pup and the stress wouldn't do her any good."

Oh, so they're still in close contact. Now, this is interesting. Could that be why Carson is hiding his scent? He can enter any territory like this, and no-one would notice his presence unless he lets himself be known. He may be a very dangerous enemy.

'Oh, stop it, Tyche. Try to see his positive sides, too,' Acca pips up and I suppress the need to roll my eyes at her. Her nagging lasts too long for my liking.

Meanwhile, Atalanta agrees to follow the plea. "Of course, you can count on our discretion."

She seems too eager to get to know Carson and his community better and I wonder how much is actually the amia bond and how much is her interest in learning new things and helping people who are in distress.

Before I can ask anything, David throws his own question at us. "Anyway, do you meet with other races often?" I raise my eyebrow and he elaborates: "I mean, you already know something about the covens and well . . ."

Atalanta sips her drink and answers with a shrug: "Not really. We meet with the Royal Covens when they come to the Royal Pack, but that's mostly all the contact."

Carson smiles gently. "Have you ever been to a witch or vampire coven, Atalanta?"

She shakes her head no while Acca pesters me once more. 'You should tell them about Artemissi and her studies. Show them that you're willing to trust them or at least give them the benefit of doubt.'

I think about it while I listen to Atalanta: "No, I haven't been to their coven but I have spoken to the royal children and they're really nice."

I inhale deeply and, I guess that with visible struggle, I answer the question for myself according to what Acca suggested: "Actually, I have visited a witch coven twice when I went to pick up my sister from her studies. It wasn't anything strange or exceptional, you know."

Carson and David look at me in surprise. They are unsure how to react but Acca urges me to say something more, and I comply reluctantly. "My sister has a knack for herbs and extracts and such, so our parents pleaded with the Royal Witch Coven for her to spend a few months there and learn."

Atalanta glances at me approvingly before turning her attention back to the men. But I'm changing the time range as usual because she has spent almost ten years there, with pauses for celebrations or holidays. Anyway, Carson is the first one to compose himself as he coughs and tugs at his collar. The shirt gives him something to play with while sorting out his thoughts. I can see the exact moment when he digests and accepts the facts. Then he speaks up: "Your family must be proud of her, right?"

I snicker. Our parents love us both equally because we both do what we like and we're good at it. I just mustn't tell them how dear little Artemissi blasted me and Atalanta. "Yeah, they're happy that she has pursued her dreams. Ever since I turned eighteen, I had to give up on my wishes because I was bound to our pack's future Luna through my Mate. Something about the laws set by the Moon Goddess about the Gamma family. And that's all I'm about to explain."

I don't tell them that I was preparing to be a warrior and I wished I had become a protector of delegates in witch and vampire covens. I was about to pass my test on the stage the day after I celebrated one hundred and eighty when Iamus passed by and claimed to be my mate. Him being Gamma's son stopped my examination and once it was confirmed from both sides and the parents were informed, I had to give up on my career. Thankfully, my training wasn't in vain because I was assigned as Atalanta's Guardian, which was a position of even bigger importance than a protector. And with what she has managed over the course of her life, it's been quite an adventure, too.

Atalanta nods faintly at me and she even seems pleased that I acknowledge our bond in front of the two men despite the uncertainty about what dreams I have abandoned. Meanwhile, David tries to calm me with: "Of course, we wouldn't pry on your privacy. If you find us worthy, then we can learn something more in the future."

Okay, I admit it, I do. He's a great strategist and speaker. He would have been a great Beta for his previous pack. But Carson's group needs him more, I guess. And the most important part, he seems reliable and responsible when I put all the evidence together. Acca may be right that he would never sell anyone out.

Suddenly, my pocket starts vibrating and a soft tune begins playing. Oh, come on! Now?

I can't hide it because we all have enhanced hearing, so I excuse myself and get up. I look at the phone and freeze when I notice the caller's ID. Atalanta's face turns serious and she asks: "Who is it?"

I ignore her question and accept the call with: "Alpha, how can I help you?"

Atalanta tenses as well and waits for what her father wants to tell us. She'll hear him but the men won't because I have the sound really low.

"Thank Goddess at least you picked up. Is Atalanta with you? I tried to call her several times over the last half an hour but she never responded." There is unhappiness and worry in his voice and I wonder what is going on because we have informed him about our today's trip.

"Yes, she is here with me. We're having lunch right now. She must have left her phone in the car because she navigated us here," I explain what the most likely scenario about what happened to Atalanta's phone is. She couldn't have lost it anywhere because we drove straight here.

"Good, okay, I was worried that you had an accident or something," he admits with audible relief. Does he have any suspicion or information that we could be in danger? We're Lycans, we can take care of ourselves.

"Anyway, when are you returning home?" he asks shortly after. Atalanta frowns at me and I shrug gently.

"Should we hurry, Alpha?" I address him with a title so that he knows that we can speak freely and there isn't anyone eavesdropping on us.

"Probably yes. There is something I have forgotten to discuss with Tali about a meeting in two days. It's necessary for her to think it through and we barely saw each other yesterday with all the preparations."

This is surprising. I know that there will be a big Alpha meeting in two days because I'm in charge of security for their Betas and Lunas who have a special program with Luna Queen Rhea. Truth to be told, I have no idea where Atalanta is supposed to be. Maybe Alpha wants her to choose what group she wants to join - be it with him or her mother.

"Then we'll finish eating and rush back. We'll inform you about the arrival time along the way, Alpha," I suggest and Alpha Triton hums in agreement.

"Oh, and tell Tali to find her phone so that we don't have to change yet another number," he says in the end before disconnecting the call.

I can hear the tone and lower my hand. Then I return to the table and place the phone on it. I sit down and project an apologetic face. "I'm sorry to cut our rendezvous short but our Alpha needs us both back asap. It is something about the Royal family but he didn't want to elaborate."

"Sure, okay," Carson agrees, rubbing his hands together. "It's a pity but when the duty to the Royal Pack calls, you have to obey."

I can distinguish a hint of regret in his voice as well. It seems that he's unwilling to let Atalanta go after today's meeting. I only hope that the amia bond won't draw them too dependent on one another. Atalanta sounds reluctant, too, as she answers: "This isn't a farewell, it's a see-you. We'll definitely meet soon." Then something occurs to her and she quickly looks around. She takes a pen from the counter and a napkin and she writes something down. Then she pushes the napkin toward Carson. "I realise this looks cheap, but this is my phone number. It's better to call than to send strangers into my room when I'm not there," she says with a wink and renders Carson speechless.

I look at the number and recognise it as Atalanta's personal number. She uses it for her family, me as her Guardian and Thaumas as her future Beta. Then I frown because she didn't tell me how she learnt about this meeting beforehand, and I assumed that she received a letter or something. I had no idea that a stranger broke into her room. Our security is super tight because if anyone gets to her room, they could find out that she's the actual werewolf Princess and the problems to follow . . . I don't want to think about that but I will need Atalanta to tell me everything into details.

Carson accepts the napkin with religious care and studies the phone number, surely memorising it as fast as he can. Then he looks at Atalanta with a look I can't completely understand, and that annoys me. He still remains a partial mystery to me and I don't like it at all together with Atalanta's limitless faith in him.

I notice that David nudges Carson lightly and then he touches his hair. Carson blinks and turns to Atalanta. "Atalanta," he says carefully, "can I beg you for a favour?"

Oh, here he goes! I knew he had ulterior motives!

"What favour?" Atalanta asks with perked-up interest. Surprisingly, she doesn't expect anything bad.

"Now that I've met you again and we both know how hard it will be to separate, I'd like to ask you to give me a strand of your hair or something to remind me of you and to know that this meeting wasn't just a dream."

He gives her a pleading look full of innocence and I feel internally ashamed. He wishes for something that has her scent on, something to smell and touch until they meet again. If he weren't so strange, I would find this plea rather cute. There are different ways to express one's longing and he chose the simplest truthful one. Atalanta glances in my direction and I give her an infinitesimal nod. It's not like they can find out that she's Lycan just from her hair because, genetically speaking, we are almost the same as werewolves and the differences can be considered random mutations. But with what we have found out about Carson's people, they have just enough to get by so the gene thing is irrelevant to them.

Atalanta turns to Carson and says: "Okay, but I want something in return, too."

Carson's joy is cut short with the second half of her statement and he seems embarrassed or even dismayed. "What can I give you? I only have what I am wearing . . ."

She interrupts him quickly: "Let's make a deal. I will give you my hair and you will bring me to your group of rogues as soon as I tell you to, no excuses."

"Atalanta!" I exclaim together with Carson, although in my case it's more in astonishment than in fear in Carson's case.

"You can't mean this seriously," I tell her pointedly, but she just shakes her head and looks back into Carson's eyes.

Carson doesn't speak up but he's possibly going through all the scenarios of what could happen if he accepted. Atalanta doesn't want to wait and prompts him with: "So, do we have the deal?"

My ears register shallow laboured breathing and I realise that David isn't taking all this very well. He seems stressed but he's trying not to influence the discussion at all. I kind of feel sorry for him that he's so afraid to intervene, while on the other hand, I admire his dedication for the cause. He's a great Beta, indeed.

Carson closes his eyes and gives a painful sigh. "Alright, it's set. But you will come alone. I will pick you up at set coordinates, blindfold you and make you drink the scent-covering potion. Then I'll bring you to our pack."

I hit the table with my palm. "Come on! You can't be serious!" I tell him.

"Accept, or let it be," he says with his eyes focused on Atalanta, his jaw ticking lightly. She contemplates her options, then looks at me apologetically.

"I accept your conditions," she announces plainly and offers Carson a hand. He shakes it with a tiny smile and then gets up. Atalanta follows him so I have to get up as well. I look at her reproachfully and she mindlinks me: 'I'll explain it to you in the car.'

I shrug and answer: 'You'd better. There's no way I'm letting you go to the rogues without a back-up and a solid rescue plan.'

She smiles tightly and follows Carson behind the counter. He picks up scissors and she turns her back at him, exposing her neck. Carson gently trails his finger along Atalanta's nape, giving her goosebumps. Her breathing quickens before he takes a strand and cuts it about two centimetres away from her skin. Then he sniffs her hair and his expression changes to a very content one. He carefully wraps the strand in a plastic bag and puts it on the counter.

"Thank you," he whispers and Atalanta hugs him in return. I notice that she has thrown something on the counter but the movement was too quick to register what it was. I will ask later then.

They part and she goes to me. David gets up as well and offers us a handshake. "It was nice meeting you, Atalanta and Tyche," he says genuinely.

"Likewise, David," Atalanta answers while Carson shakes my hand. I press his hand harder than needed and mindlink him: "If you ever do anything bad to Atalanta, I will make your demise very, very painful and very, very long."

He gulps thickly and tries to keep a stoic face, partly failing at my threat. But then I hear Acca's voice tell him: "She's all bark in her protective mode, but I know you will be fine because you care about Atalanta and Diana. It was nice meeting you, Carson."

At that Carson's mouth opens wide as he stares at me. I release his hand and smirk at him. Then I take Atalanta by her shoulders and gently push her to the exit. I can feel Carson's stare on my back as we make our way to the front door. There, Atalanta turns around and waves back before we both leave the restaurant.

"Now, that was quite interesting to stomach," I point out at the parking.

Atalanta chuckles and then she asks seriously: "You didn't break Carson's hand, did you? I noticed his expression."

I shake my head a lead us to our car. "He may have bruises." At Atalanta's disbelieving expression, I add: "He pushed my buttons with the last request and I needed to vent up a little."

She sighs and waits for me to open the car. I fish my keys and unlock the car without a word. We both sit down but Atalanta's expression is sour. She opens the compartment in front of her and finds her phone. There are several missed calls from Alpha Triton. She purses her lips, then she looks at me. "Well, maybe it's for the best that I forgot the phone here. We have found out some more about Carson and David."

I heave a sigh, willing myself to calm down. Then I turn at her and ask: "What made you agree to the request? It's too dangerous. You have no idea how many rogues there are and if they saw Diana because you would need to protect yourself, the consequences would be unfathomable."

"I kinda believe Carson wants me to take the potion because he worries about me. Without my typical scent, people will have trouble recognising who I am and they might even think that I'm a human."

Atalanta gives me her puppy eyes and I roll my own and start the engine. I can't quite understand how the amia bond works but I know one thing - I would hate to form this bond with anyone due to this . . . this . . . Hell, I don't even have the right words for the current situation. I focus on the mirrors and say matter-of-factly: "Do you realise that I won't be able to track you down, either, if you drink that potion? And they may hurt you and even kill you?"

Atalanta stays silent and I chid myself for being unable to see her face. I get out of the car park and to the main road. Then I cast a glance in her direction only to see her deep in thought. Then she unlocks her phone and searches for a number. She takes a deep breath and starts the call. She puts the call on speaker and waits. The tone goes off several times before a female voice answers: "Midnight Pack, Luna Elizabeth Witek speaking."

"Good afternoon, Luna. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak to your Beta Evans. Is it possible?" Atalanta asks politely.

I nod my head and concentrate on both driving and listening to the call. When she refuses to talk to me, we might as well get other things done. She sounds serious and I know that she wants to find out as much as possible because I have put a bee in her bonnet. Hopefully, she won't make any rushed decisions.

"Of course," comes the reply. "Just one question, who's looking for him?"

Atalanta apologises immediately: "Pardon me, please. My name is Atalanta Summons, I'm . . ."

". . . Alpha's daughter from Silent Heights pack. Greetings, Alpha," Luna Elizabeth says with a trembling voice. "I will get hold of him in a second, I need to page him," she then adds and makes me frown. Why does she need to page him when werewolves usually mindlink one another?