Lycan's unexpected mate

The Royal training

Triton

The picnic was exactly what everyone needed and I am so ecstatic that nothing has interrupted it. We have talked, played, joked around, laughed and Flora has grown fond of Johann. I really do hope that these two lives aren't intertwined. Johann will be long dead when Flora reaches her maturity. And, what's more, he will consider it strange that she isn't ageing at all.

Late in the evening, as we are driving home away from our waterfall, I realise a few things. First, this year the winter is coming faster because, usually, it doesn't feel chilly by the waterfall just yet. This time we were glad to have prepared sweatshirts and hoodies. Second, Tali will have a hard time sending Johann away. She loves the child as her own. And the last, I should allow her to get trained in the ruling. She is free-spirited and her ideas are sometimes unconventional but her heart is in the right place.

I firmly believe that her mate won't be a Lycan so she needs to know how to rule and guide him to be the King we need. The least I can hope for is that she's mated to a werewolf and that he would be a ranked werewolf who knows how to cope with all the responsibility that comes with leading people. I would like to see her happy but I doubt that whoever her true mate is, he will tolerate her leading support missions against rogue attacks or her having the final word in important meetings.

Therefore, I have to start taking my little Tali to all formal events and teach her how to persuade and play with the delegates to get what she wants. If people recognise her like this, an unknown man, who would happen to be her mate, won't be allowed to silence her. Yes, this is a good plan.

'But it's against all the rules and laws that we have,' Pontus reminds me.

'I know that, however, Tali has taught us that if some rules are broken for good reasons, there isn't much to be worried about. And she's young and knows better the current world that we do,' I argue with him and he reluctantly agrees.

Rhea rubs my shoulder. "Is everything alright? You look tense." She looks back to the road. "We're almost home, is that why?"

"No, honey," I answer, attempting a cheerful tone. I use the rear-view mirror to check on the children. Flora and Johann are fast asleep strapped to their seats, while the older ones are lying one over another, also seemingly in the realm of dreams. They look peaceful as if there wasn't any bother in the world. I envy them but I am glad for them as well.

"I am just wondering what life has in store for us," I admit.

She chuckles silently and plants a kiss on my cheek. "You worry too much. What has to happen will happen no matter what. And I want to believe that we all will be happy in the end," she tells me sincerely.

Pontus adds: 'Fine, do whatever you want, only make sure that she is okay with it. She needs the support, not being thrown into the drama of ruling when she is supposed to be the shadowy figure behind everything, just like our Mate.'

I chuckle silently and Rhea gives me a strange look. I smile at her lovingly and we finish our journey in silence.

Once we arrive at the castle, we gently unstrap the youngest children and hand them over to the maids. In the meantime, Atalanta stirs awake because when we return to the car, she is rubbing her eyes which are still full of sleep.

"Still tired?" I ask her silently, not to wake up the others.

She nods and yawns. I help her untangle herself from Helia's embrace and I pull my daughter out and hold her in my arms bridal style. I ponder whether to take her upstairs and then return for Oceanos or to let someone else bring him inside. Atalanta yawns again but she looks more alert. Rhea nods at me and follows the maids with the babies.

I mindlink my Gamma: "Can you come outside and help me pick the kids?"

"Of course, Alpha King," comes his formal reply and I finish with: "Thank you."

You see, this is the thing with many Alphas - they take the title and think they are something better than the others. But the opposite is true actually. The power vested in them doesn't make them better or greater. It gives them the final word, yes, but they forget to treat others with the respect they deserve as well. And you can take my subordinates as examples. My Beta Thaumas is formal with me only when we are in the office or when we have guests. Other times he opts to call me "Alpha Triton". My Gamma Perses, however, always treats me formally despite our friendly relationship. It's strange. Or maybe it's because we are so old. We have lived through the toughest human era without losing much, thankfully. But we have witnessed numerous reigns and regimes.

Anyway, Perses comes outside a minute after I have mindlinked him. He's a bit more than a hundred years older than me but you would never guess. He's still strong and his mind is sharp. He bows to me slightly and looks between me and Atalanta.

"Here," I tell him. "Take Helia, please."

He gently scoops her in his arms and holds her close. "Shall I take her to her room, Alpha King?"

"Yes, please," I answer and move back to the car where my only son is snoring loudly as if he has had an alcoholic night. I pull him out carefully so that he keeps sleeping, and Atalanta tries to hold in a laugh. I shake my head at her and she bites her lower lip to prevent herself from making any sound.

I look around and notice that a young Lycan is on guard. He's Telemos, I think. "Telemos?" I try to mindlink him.

The man I am looking at blinks quickly a few times and starts walking to us. Good, but I have to practice the names more.

"Telemos, can you park the car? And clean the things in the trunk, okay?" I say using the mindlink.

He nods and says: "Yes, Alpha King. The keys are in the ignition?"

"Yes. Thank you, Telemos," I mindlink him with a smile. Then I turn to Atalanta. "Tali, go to your room as well. I will see you there in ten minutes."

"Father?" she whispers in surprise.

"Go," I order her silently and she shrugs and obeys. She, Perses and I walk inside the castle and to the respective rooms. I really can't understand how come Oceanos snores like an old man. I set him down on his bed, which isn't even made, and I take off his shoes and cover him with a blanket. I'm sure he will wake up once he feels too hot.

Checking my watch, I know that I can slowly start going to Atalanta's room and, suddenly, I don't have the right words how to let her know what is on my mind. Pontus just laughs at me. Damn Lycan.

'You could be useful and help me,' I spit at him angrily but I know he doesn't want to hurt my feelings.

'Fine,' Pontus grumbles. 'Tell her everything. That you have been thinking, that she is capable of great things, that you want to support her and that maybe she could learn the ropes so that she can help her future Mate because you think he won't be a Lycan. Is this enough?'

I sigh and rub the back of my head. I blink tiredly and shake my head to wake my mind up. I reach Atalanta's room in no time and knock. She opens the door and lets me in without a word. She leads me to her table and we sit opposite each other on the chairs. There is a moment of tensed silence before we both speak at once: "Tali . . ."

"Father . . ."

We share a smile and she motions for me to begin. I turn my head and catch her hands in mine. "You start."

She shrugs and takes a deep breath. "Dad, I want to know why you have been acting strange lately. Is it because of Johann? Or because of the rogue attacks?"

I close my eyes. Well, of course, she would be afraid for me. "No, no, darling. It's just that I have been thinking about you, about your future, and I am worried about you," I admit.

"About me?" she asks in astonishment.

"Yes, Tali. About you. You will soon find your Mate and we need to be prepared for anything," I tell her.

Her mood turns sour and her eyes gain a sad glint. "You mean that I will have to become an obedient Luna, right?"

"Absolutely not!" I shout out indignantly. Her fearful eyes stop me immediately and I continue in a calmer voice: "Atalanta, I actually wish the opposite." She frowns and I explain further. "I don't want you to do anything you don't want to. In fact, I came here to offer you lessons on leadership, we can say. I want you to become our next ruler, not your husband who won't be a born Lycan." Atalanta's eyes dilate when my words gradually sink in but I go on: "I know how you have bonded with Johann and I know that you may want to use the child as a bargaining tip to see if your Mate has a good heart. I can understand all that. But I want you to consider a chance to be the main person who issues orders and solves cases. You can be given the final word because I know that you have a great heart and even greater mind."

Tali's eyes grow moist and, for the first time in her adulthood, I don't know what's going on in her mind. She sobs once before engulfing me in a hug. I pat her back as she sniffles in my shoulder.

"Do you mean this for real, Dad?" she asks with her face buried in my shoulder.

"I do, Tali. I couldn't choose a better person to represent us," I answer sincerely. I let her calm down a little bit before asking: "Does this mean you accept my proposition?"

She pulls away slightly and nods her head vigorously.

"I take that as a yes," I say with a chuckle. "And next time, use your words."

She hiccups and nods, then adds: "Yes, Dad." She wipes her eyes and demands: "When do you have time for me?"

I think about it and suggest: "How about the afternoons? We have already scheduled our warrior training for then, we can add the Royal training and mix the two of them?"

"This sounds great," she claims and I can feel her happiness.

I get up and kiss the top of her head. "We can talk more in the morning. Have a good night's sleep, my dear daughter."

"Good night, Dad," she answers and walks me to the door.

I walk outside and she closes it. I make a few steps when I hear her elated yelp and I know that this is worth any possible problem in the future. Other reigning families like her and she knows how to behave. She will be alright with our support.

'I am one hundred per cent sure, Triton,' Pontus chimes in. 'She's the best choice of the King.'