Lycan's unexpected mate

Alpha's quarters

Atalanta

We enter the clearing in front of the packhouse and all I can see is chaos. The only ones who project calmness are members of my pack. I sigh. This is to be expected when the werewolves don't have anyone with authority to tell them what to do. I realise that we need to find their Alpha soon so that he could get things back under the order. But first thing first - the promise.

I look around and find a woman who seems to be in her late thirties. She is surrounded by ten children of different ages and two younger women. I look at Thaumas and he nods before going to the rest of our pack. I approach the group and greet the oldest woman: "Hi, can I keep you for a moment?"

She nods and walks with me a few steps away from the children. "What can I do for you?" she asks me. I know that she knows that I am from the pack that is helping them. "Have you found more survivors?"

I take a deep breath because I am about to let her down, hopefully, she isn't related to the man. "Do you know someone named Merdok?"

She frowns. "Of course, I do. He's our Alpha."

I close my eyes in pain and Diana howls in my mind. We chose to save the Alpha! That's why he was so strong and why he recognised Diana's eyes. No secret has been leaked. Well, one question down, one to go, I think to myself.

As I prepare myself for the next question, the woman beat me to it. "Do you know where he is? Is he alright?"

I clench my fists by my side because I am unsure how to break the news to her. I have no idea how she will take the news of Alpha Merdok White's death. So I start with: "What's your name?"

"I'm Emily White."

'Ooh-ouch. Maybe it is just a coincidence. Right?' I urge Diana to agree with me. This time she doesn't even reply.

"And your name is . . .?" Emily prompted.

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Atalanta Summons . . ."

"Alpha's daughter from Silent Heights," Emily finishes for me. "I can't thank you enough that you showed up when you did." She bows her head slightly to me and continues in one breath. "Thanks to you we have managed to stop the rogues, despite the losses. And we can rebuild the pack and everything will turn out okay, surely." She stops her rant and realises something. "So what is it with my nephew? Where is he?"

"Um . . . How . . ." I hesitate, thoughts rushing a million miles per second. So, at least, she isn't his mother. That would make it much harder. She is just his aunt, but the records of this pack stated that his father doesn't have a sister. So, probably, he has a brother and this is his mate. Well, is, was, I can't say now, I don't know who has survived. Emily scrutinises me and somehow realisation dawns on her when I hesitate. She shakes her head in denial even when I begin speaking.

"Emily," I start, "I found him in the woods, badly injured. His wolf couldn't heal him. And I'm not a magic user to miraculously cure the wounds."

"No," she whispers, her hand covering her mouth.

"I watched him die because there was nothing I could do for his injuries were too serious. But before he passed away, he had made me promise something." At Emily's questioning look, I continue immediately. "I have promised to go to his home and save him the embarrassment of being brought to the pack naked." I lower my head to hide my eyes. "He must have fought in his wolf form and then changed back due to the injuries."

'You cunning liar! How dare you lie to her?' Diana rages in my head, her eye colour prominent in mine.

'I had to. I can't risk exposing Joanne. I don't even know who that is. So, hush.' Then I put walls around my mind so that Diana can't interfere. Next, I look back at the woman in front of me.

Emily is sniffling beside me but when a girl comes to her, she wipes her tears and smiles down at her. "I will be back in a moment, okay? Stay with your sister for a while." The girl nods and returns to the group of surviving children.

"Alpha Summons," Emily addresses me, "I will take you to the packhouse to his and Luna's chambers. We can find something suitable for him. He was always so careful about his image that I don't wonder why he asked that of you."

I give her a polite smile and she motions for me to follow her to the packhouse. The only thing that is demolished there is the front door. Maybe something inside the sitting area and dining room but, generally, this building is untouched. I walk side by side with Emily, turning to find Thaumas with the others.

"I was wondering . . ." I start.

"Hmmm." Emily shows that she listens but I can see cogs whirring in her head.

"Do you know any Joanne?" I say plainly as if it has just crossed my mind.

"Joanne . . . Joanne . . ." she repeats, thinking aloud. "No, no, I don't. Sorry, Alpha."

"And someone of a similar name? I mean, I could have misheard the name," I press as we are about to enter the packhouse.

"Well, our Gamma's son was named John but he died with his mother before your pack arrived. But I can't recall anyone else," she confesses once we get inside.

I shake my head, trying to remember what the Alpha told me. But really, the name sounded like Joanne to me! I let Emily lead me upstairs. We don't talk, each of us lost her own thoughts.

'We will find the safe room, dear. I know we can and we will see who is inside that we are to save.' My lycan Diana calms me down and encourages me. I know our senses are enhanced and I believe in her. If needed, I will transform into her form so that she can sniff the room properly.

We reach the third floor and turn to the left. To the right, I can see glass doors leading to an indoor garden. I guess it was Luna's idea. The garden looks so serene, much in deep contrast with what is happening outside. I wish I could enter and look around but now isn't the time.

Emily opens the door leading to a spacious sitting room. There are two more doors in the corridor which, I guess, lead to Alpha's and Luna's respective offices. Werewolf Lunas have more freedom and help more with the pack than the lycan Luna, and I would love that as well if I am to ascend and take over my father's position.

I look around the room and notice that the room is very tidy. There are a sofa and two armchairs in the middle of the room with a conference table in front of them. The seats are facing a black TV hung on a wall. There is a big window to the left with airy pastel-pink curtains. A rocking chair is situated close by with a lamp and shelves full of books, some of them with worn-out covers as though someone read them a thousand times. In the back, I notice another door and I set to it.

Emily stays in the sitting room and looks around sighing. I want to relieve her of her duty because I can see how upset this room makes her feel. Plus, I would rather investigate the room on my own than to have her know that I didn't come for clothes in the first place. "Look, Emily, I can fetch the clothes myself. You don't have to be here if it hurts."

"What is the use of leaving? I will have to face it later. Better do it now when nobody questions anything." She looks me in the eyes. "I know you can't understand my feelings and I wish you never will."

I blink in surprise. Her resolve is something else. I don't know many werewolves who would be this strong. Then I recall something. "But you have promised to the girl to return to her soon."

"Oh, Diana. I completely forgot." I am surprised that the girl's name is the same as my lycan's. Well, at least my lycan has a normal name, not like my mother's Gaia or Thaumas's mate's Tethis, or my sister's Juno. I'm not jealous of these lycans that they have more regal names. I am a huntress and so I need to blend in with the crowd. With Diana, I can use her name as if she were just another wolf. At that, I hear a displeased huff in my head. I let my lycan feel all my love for her and she just rolls her eyes at me, cursing me under her breath. I laugh mentally.

Emily looks at me concerned. "Wolf talk? Is everything okay?" she asks.

I realise I zoned out on her and I nod. "She feels she is invading another Alpha's territory," I lie through my teeth once more. Ever since I knew that you can tell lies, I've practised them on my family and friends and now I am so good that no-one except my parents can say when I don't tell the truth.

"Yeah, Richard told me that he felt the same when his brother became the Alpha. Anyway, the closet is on the right of the bedroom. I know you can't mindlink me but I trust you to choose something that will suit him well. You can take more and we will choose outside."

"Alright, thanks. Now go so that the child doesn't wait long," I send her away with a polite smile.

She returns it and shuffles out of the door. I wait a little longer, scanning the sitting room, before she leaves the hearing range and then I mutter to myself: "If I were to install a secret safe room, where would I put it?"