Lycan's unexpected mate

Calling my parents

Atalanta

Oh . . . My . . . God! Who gave this boy such strong lungs?!

'Well, all babies cry, dear. They can't speak, you know?' Diana chuckles while closing her ears as much as she can. 'You should dial your parents soon, otherwise, the whole country will be aware of this displeased baby.'

I nod although I know that she can't see it. She can still sense it in a way. I think it's the same when we are in our lycan form and I am the image in our mind. I can't see Diana in that case but I feel that I know what she is doing, where she is stepping, what she is looking at. I do hope we are even in this. I wouldn't want to usurp her in any way because she's a part of me and I love her like my sister. Annoying, nerdy sister, but still my sister.

I rock the baby boy in my arms some more and I notice that his covers seem wet. "And we have the culprit, Johann, right?" I tell him seriously while unwrapping him. He has peed and he isn't wearing a diaper. Thankfully, the cover was big enough and I could tear the wet part and still have a sheet to keep the baby warm. I can't let him catch a cold or anything.

I use my index finger to caress his chubby cheek and his dark blue orbs lock with mine. At this very moment, I feel I should give him the whole world. I blink and direct my eyes to the side so that I can fish a phone from my pocket. I'm sure Thaumas will be ready soon and I need to make sure I know what to do before that.

I dial my mother's number by heart because I have never been allowed to have it saved on a phone which I took on a mission. There was a chance I could lose it and endanger our existence. Now, I remember both my parents', my brother's and my aunt's number. Just in case.

I swallow a lump in my throat and I press the green button. The phone connects and starts ringing while I put it to my ear, balancing Johann in my other hand. I have to wait for a while as no-one answers. "Come on, come on," I urge her silently.

Finally, the call is accepted and I subconsciously relax. Things will surely be alright soon.

However, my relaxed mood is short-lived when I hear my father's voice instead of my mother's. "Sweetheart, is that you?"

"Yes, dad," I greet him.

"Is everything alright? How are you coping? What about the attack?" he starts asking immediately and I smile. This is my protective father in full swing.

"Dad, Dad, please, calm down, okay?" I try to reassure him. "I am unhurt, a little tired and emotionally down but unhurt. None of our pack members is severely hurt and there are no loose ends to be tied. But the pack isn't doing so good. They've lost many."

I can hear him take a deep shattered breath. Losses like these are affecting both of us.

"We are still in their territory, helping with the wounded and damaged property. And there is one more thing. . ." I start but I don't know how to finish. I want to postpone telling him about Johann as much as I can although I will have to reveal him eventually, otherwise, he wouldn't be allowed across our border.

"What is it? What's wrong?" my father asks suspiciously. "Don't tell me you've turned another wolf? Where am I going to place them anyway?" he rambles a little.

"No, no, I haven't turned anyone," I whisper-yelled to defend myself and not to startle Johann.

"So what is it?" I can sense my father's impatience over the phone.

Suddenly, an idea occurs to me. "Well, the rogues were too potent. They have managed to kill all ranked wolves of the pack. There aren't any survivors from those families." I look at the baby in my arms and decide to hide his true status. "Not even the kids."

My father curses so loudly that I distinguish mother's voice in the background telling him to calm down and tell her what's going on. I get a little desperate to hear her and I choke on greeting her: "M-Mum."

Father must have put the phone on speaker as she knows immediately that something isn't right. "My Tali, dear, what's going on? Is it about the fight? Did someone see the real you?"

"N-no," I answer truthfully because Merdok doesn't count. He saw only my eyes and knew me.

My father tries to explain it: "She has just told me that all the ranked wolves have been murdered."

My mother gasps in shock. "How. . .?" she asks in a trembling voice. Despite being Lycans with great strength and enhanced senses, we are still human in a sense and our emotions can get the better of us.

"And the pack is decimated," I add unhappily, a stray tear leaving my right eye. I wipe it in my sleeve before remembering that I am holding a baby. Johann takes it as an initiative to make more sounds, which doesn't come unnoticed by my parents.

"Tali?" my mother starts questioningly. "Who was that?"

"Eh, a baby," I state lamely. Here goes nothing. I need to face them now.

"We can hear that," my father states coolly. "And whose baby is that?"

"I. . . I don't know," I say before biting my lip from trembling. I have assumptions and the baby smells like Merdok, but unless my dear father uses his Alpha voice, I will not say that out loud. "I found the baby abandoned in a room and no-one from his relatives is alive. Well, I can speak only for those who are conscious."

"And you're having the baby with you because. . ." my father prompts and I can hear a silent smack. Mum probably hit him in the arm to let me talk on my own.

"Because no-one else wants him. And I can't let him die. His life hasn't even started, yet," I explain patiently, wishing for my mother to catch up.

She does. "Tali, we can't keep him in the pack. He isn't like us. And you can't turn a baby."

"I know, Mum, I really do know that. I'm not that irresponsible."

"Don't speak to your mother like that," father growls a little. "And she's right."

"But, Dad,. . ." I plead.

"Let me finish. You said no-one from the pack is willing to take him in. And we can't take him in, either due to our different heritage."

"Correct," I state bluntly. I don't understand where my father is going with this. I only hope that he won't force me to leave Johann behind. I zone out for a minute because the next thing I hear is my father speaking.

"Then there is only one possible chance, sweetheart," he states calmly.

My eyes tear up. "Please, no. . ."

My mother sighs and says slowly: "This is the best course of action, Tali. Trust me."

Father agrees readily and I can't believe they have teamed up on me.

"Look, I can grant you the liberty of choosing which pack you are going to drop the baby in. And I will be so benevolent to give you up to a year for that. But you aren't keeping him. You don't even have a mate, yet."

It is a minute before his words sink in. He isn't forcing me to give him up!

"You . . . Are you sure?" I stammer in astonishment.

"I'm not a heartless beast and I know how female Lycans can bond with an orphaned child." I think I can hear the soft smile on his lips.

"Can I take him home, then?" I ask to assure myself.

"Yes, darling," my mother answers warmly. "Yes, you can."