Lycan's unexpected mate

Warm welcome

Atalanta

I knew something was wrong as soon as Carson got up. But it never occurred to me that he would hide it by asking the girls to carry him to the kitchen. "You're too heavy for them to carry. You can't be serious!" I tell him seriously, hoping that he will relent and maybe let me check his wound. It seems to be getting worse the longer he is standing.

However, he says: "But it can happen that the hunters catch a big prey. They must understand the consequences and the idea of always going in couples."

I know that - it's a common practice in many poor packs. Suddenly, I notice Phoebe behind Carson performing something with her hands. I recognise the act as beginners sorcery for non-witches. And then she says: "Tóllit, damnit, tollit."

I can't say what this spell means but it has to be linked to flying because Carson lifts from the ground and rotates to a supine position. Phoebe is frowning, concentrating on Carson.

He wonders worriedly: "Phoebe?"

However, his voice is enough to distract the young girl and send him falling to the ground. He breathes out but doesn't inhale. I immediately drop to my knees to find out what's going on. I check him really fast and find out he has knocked his breath out. I take no ceremony with him because my insides are hurting. Damn amia bond! I pull him into my lap and start massaging his ribcage to ease the pressure. I know it will get alright in a minute or so but I have to calm him down. I only wonder why Zeus isn't helping.

Therefore, I support Carson myself: "It's okay, calm down, Carson, and the pressure will be gone. You must stop panicking, pretty please?" I'm doing my best but it's still in vain and I can feel Carson's growing terror despite my attempts to help him relax. I take a decisive breath and will my voice to stay calm and collected. "Zoë, take them home, please. I'll take care of Carson."

I am glad we don't have any onlookers and I can focus only on Carson. I can hear Zoë take Phoebe and Eris away and breathe out. What is going to happen now isn't anything for children; they could easily misunderstand. I put my head on Carson's shoulder and tell him silently: "Zeus has gone on a vacation, I see. So it's up to me to help you."

Carson looks at me incomprehensibly. I smile at him ruefully and lay him down on the ground. Kneeling, I take a few deep breaths and mutter: "Sorry."

I lower to his face, pinch his nose and give him artificial breathing. I can feel static electricity every time our mouths connect but I ignore the faint feeling. My third breath finally restarts Carson's own breathing so I can move to the other pressing matter - his injured foot. I can feel the heat radiating from the area but it only seems like a serious sprain without fractures.

To take Carson's mind away from my actions, I tell him cheekily: "If this is regular in your pack, I wonder how you have managed to survive until now."

I'm sure he's thinking about this and the right answer, so I catch his ankle and pull it apart. I can feel the bones popping back into their place and his blood flow gets restored. I feel around his ankle to make sure that the injury is ready for Zeus to cure and find it alright.

Carson's breathing is laboured and he tells me tearfully: "Well, welcome and meet my pack."

I don't understand it so I shrug and look around. To my horror, there are people all around us, people whose presence I can't feel. My body stiffens instinctively as I look away at Carson and contact Diana: 'What the hell is going on?!'

'It's the potion you took, dear,' she replies easily. 'You forbade me to get it out of our system faster and these are the consequences. Anyway, you should get back to Carson.'

I blink back as I hear Carson say: "Atalanta, meet my pack."

I swallow thickly and look around. When I focus on those werewolves, I don't feel hostility towards me. They are surprised and curious about me, yes, but they don't seem to hate me. I smooth my hair diffidently and then wave at them. "He-hello everyone," I tell them with a quivering voice. I must keep my façade up and play an innocent young girl. I cast my regard downward as I begin to wonder what personality is the real me. I play the role of the future Luna Queen in the palace, of the future Luna of Silent Heights when I visit other packs and now there is this shy young werewolf who claims to have lost her wolf due to a potion. However, Daniel wanted me to be a mere human. One thing I couldn't do.

'Dear, these personalities are all you. And for them I love you even more,' Diana tells me lovingly and I hug her.

Then I lift my eyes to other people and notice David striding toward me and Carson. "I've never expected to witness a scene like this. You should really become a doctor in the future," he encourages me. Then he looks at Carson who squirms uncomfortably. "And you, Mister, should watch out for yourself, too. That ankle will need a cast."

I exhale and rub my arms up and down. "David, will Carson be okay?" I wonder, my shoulders sagging as if I had no more energy left.

David notices the change in me and gets to the ground to us. He supports me from the side and I lean my head on his shoulder tiredly. I am pretending so that no-one questions me. I am not Alpha's daughter here.

'Don't overact it,' comes Diana's warning voice. 'The adrenaline rush doesn't make you any more tired than this.'

'Alright,' I answer. 'Thanks for the reminder.'

I blink and notice that someone else is here, bandaging Carson's ankle and David is offering me a cup of water. I nod at him and take a sip. It's cold and, if I weren't acting, it would bring me back to my senses.

"Thank you," I tell him gently and David nods.

"You've left quite an impression," David whispers to me. "Everyone is talking about you and your quick thinking." I bite my lip not to whistle in surprise. David takes it as an encouragement to explain some more because he says: "We can maintain the mindlink, you know? And Sorcerers have some enchanted stones that do almost the same thing. Everybody knows about you now."

I gulp and look around once more. There are some children here, too, so I wave at them again, they wave back and hide behind their mothers or fathers. The parents also look at me warmly and they even nod at me. It's a little strange but also strangely calming. I lose my wide-eyed look and start to notice that these people don't look like rogues at all. Hadn't I known better, I would have thought they come from a very very poor pack. Everybody looks in good health and good spirits although they are a little skinny. Men look strong and clear-headed, women aren't on the verge of breaking apart and wreaking havoc. Everyone seems peaceful; however, I also detect hints of pity towards me. It's a completely new sentiment for me and it's difficult to identify due to the potion. I really need it to stop working asap!

'Are you sure?' Diana asks.

'No, no, we can't do that. We must simulate the gradual loss of activity. Carson and David must catch my scent to know how long it takes,' I realise and leave our mind space because David is pulling me to a standing position.

"Is everything okay?" he asks worriedly.

"Yes, it is. Thanks," I reply. I look around and notice Carson still on the ground. The woman has just finished bandaging him. I can feel she isn't a werewolf, but there is something uncommon about her. I find out what once she starts speaking.

"Dominus, your wolf will heal you soon but you should still refrain from any physical activity for the next few hours," she advises him. "Anyway, someone should get you to your room to rest without doing any more sorcery on you."

Carson makes a face and the woman snickers. I don't know her name but she seems awfully familiar but neither I nor Diana can remember where I met her. The other thing bothering me is that she's a vampire and she's walking in broad daylight. Who in this pack is strong enough to cast a shadow for a vampire? I blink and remember Daniel's powers. He seems to be a likely candidate but I don't know how to ask.

David squats down to help Carson get up and I follow suit on Carson's other side. However, my eyes remain fixed in the female vampire's direction, trying to recall anything, albeit in vain, and she notices it. She lifts her right eyebrow and says: "Staring is rude, you know."

I recoil at her words and bite my lower lip in shame. "I'm sorry," I apologise silently.

Carson interrupts whatever the woman was about to say by introducing us in a wheezing voice: "Mia, this is Atalanta. And she didn't mean to be disrespectful, really."

"Oh, I could tell by the way she looked," Mia answers. "Don't worry, lass, I don't . . . bite," she tells me and licks her fangs meaningfully.

I give her a polite smile and busy myself with putting my arm under Carson's to lift him. Many vampires I have met joke like this so I don't feel afraid but the girl I am portraying should be bothered.

David saves the situation by: "Don't tease her like this, Mia. You're likely her first real vampire."

"And with a shadow," Carson adds before grunting as David and I pull him into a standing position. He isn't heavy but we have to be careful about his injured foot. Then I notice that Carson is purposefully leaning more on David than on me. I shake my head but refrain from saying anything. Females are naturally weaker so I mustn't draw attention.

I take a few deep breaths and ask: "What is that shadow, Mia? Is that why you can be outside during the day?"

"Exactly," she answers easily. "It's a gift for my services to our group."

"I see," I answer and swallow back a cheeky response. "You have to be a great doctor then."

I notice a strange darkness in her eyes as I say that, and her lips form a wry smile. "Yes, yes that is why," she tells me in an overly affirmative tone.

It assures me that the reason is completely different. I carefully adjust Carson on my shoulder pulling him to my side so we are thrown off balance a little. Mia helps us steady and she's probably wondering why there is no-one else helping us. I would like to know the same thing, however, it could come out wrong if I said it aloud myself.

David suddenly says: "Alright, let's get moving." He looks at me and asks: "Ready?"

I puff my cheeks and answer: "It won't get any better."

David sighs and offers: "Right leg first."

Suddenly, Mia says: "Atalanta, after you set Carson in his room, meet me in the common area." She doesn't give me time to respond and vanishes into thin air. I blink a few times, knowing very well that vampires move super fast, as I wonder what she wants to talk about.

Carson steps on his good foot, which is closer to me. The static electricity is ever present where our bare skins touch but I keep ignoring it. "By the way, how is Zeus?" I ask Carson as we slowly begin to make our way towards the packhouse.

Carson answers with a huff: "Much better now. Diana has checked on us both already. You have a great wolf companion."

"She has?" I wonder aloud.

'Yes, dear,' Diana tells me. 'Zeus had a small problem after Phoebe's spell but it's fine now.'

'Thank Moon Goddess.' I snuggle to Diana for a second and then leave our mind space. I look straight ahead of me and reply to Carson: "I know she's the best thing in my life. I only hope that my Mate will see her in the same light."

Carson's muscles stiffen and I think he has hit his injured foot a bit. We should be more careful. However, in a hoarse voice, Carson attempts to support me: "Of course, he will. He would be a fool if he didn't."

I chuckle. This was exactly what I needed to hear. And surprisingly, I open up to him even though David is right next to us. "You know, my father needs me to take over our pack as soon as possible. He even wants to have an exception from the Alpha King so that I can hold the Alpha position." I sigh. "But for that, I need more than just training. I have to present my Mate to the Royal family. And I haven't found him yet. I have less than one year to find the right one or to choose him. And I don't want to hurt Diana."

Carson gulps. David shudders and puts more of Carson's weight on me. They are both shocked to the core. I close my eyes and apologise: "I'm sorry to burden you with this. But our bond makes it easier for me to forget."

Carson turns his head at me. "Look, isn't amia bond right about this? Supporting each other and all that?" he inquires.

I nod my head. "Yes, it is. And it's also so much more." I look at Carson's face and realise that he understands the burden Alphas face all too well. He stops, puts all his weight on his healthy foot and catches my shoulders. He looks at me and then he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into a hug. It takes me a moment to reciprocate the movement but when I do, I hug him quite tightly, relishing in the feeling.

Carson whispers: "I am here for you no matter what. I will always support your decisions and I hope we can stay close even after the amia bond is dissolved."

I am very moved. Men rarely tell me something that I yearn to believe. Carson's vow is simple and direct without any garnish. And, what's more, it's not about getting to me. He promises himself and expects nothing in return. The feeling of wanting him comes to me in full force. But I can't claim him. I can't bind him to me like this just because I feel attracted to him.

We pull apart and he keeps his hands on my arms. I lick my lower lip unsure of how to respond verbally. I can only hope that my eyes show how I appreciate the sentiment.

Suddenly, there is a cough and the atmosphere is broken. I look behind Carson to see David with a fist in front of his lips. Carson scratches his head diffidently and says: "We should probably go upstairs so that I don't keep you away from Mia."

I realise that we have reached the main building and we are by the door. Their hospital is the other building and I can still see my big bag with things sitting next to the entrance. I suddenly realise that I don't have my backpack anymore. "Guys, do you know where I have left my bag?" I inquire all of a sudden.

"You left it in Amanda's room," Carson replies kindly.

And David offers: "I'll pick it up for you later."

I nod with a smile and snake my arm under Carson's. "I would appreciate that, David, thank you."

Together with David, we help Carson inside and to the third floor. There are many rooms on this floor, not like in usual packhouses where only Alpha and Beta families share the floor. We go to the back to the right and reach the final door. It leads to a small room with a double bed, one nightstand, and a door probably leading to the bathroom. There is no heater in the room, well none that I see, and it feels cool. The temperature isn't high enough for optimal living. I can't say exactly but it feels like only 15 degrees Celsius (59 F). I wonder why Carson willingly stays in such a place.

David smacks his lips in unhappiness. "You have turned the heater off again. It's of no use to do it, you are only going to tire Zeus out by keeping you warmer. How many times do I have to tell you?!" he scolds Carson like a small naughty boy.

"I don't need such a warm room, it makes me feel choked," Carson argues back. He carefully sits down on his bed. "It was so hot in that room," he complains and touches his neck as if something invisible was really strangling him. But the motion is gone fast as if he didn't even realise it. It forces me to think about his past some more.

Without thinking, I pull Carson up his bed easily. He doesn't fight me as I adjust his pillow under his head and fold his blanket under his ankle. It looks less swollen and it's also cooler. I look around for another blanket so that I could cover him but find none. Therefore, I ask: "David, where can we get some spare blankets? Carson must stay warm now."

David purses his lips and turns to Carson: "We have already distributed those to others according to your order, Alpha, right."

Is it only me or is David mockingly blaming Carson?

Carson doesn't meet our eyes and I sigh exasperatedly. "I have packed a warm blanket in my bag. Go bring it here and make sure that Carson covers himself" I order David tiredly.

He salutes and replies: "Yes, Luna."

With that, he runs away and leaves me staring at his back agape. Carson coughs and tries to save the situation with a stony façade: "Well, you do have all the prerequisites to be a great Luna."

"However, such a sedentary lifestyle isn't for me," I confess unhappily, noting that Carson's eyes sadden a little.

"And I doubt you would survive being confined into a small area." Carson swallows thickly and tries hard to hide the tremor that shakes him. He just won't admit that he's cold. "Anyway, Mia is waiting for you. You should go meet her," Carson tells me with a small smile.

"I will," I answer but linger in his room. He raises a brow and I shrug. "Right I'm going," I complain and walk to the door. " Take care and rest. I'll meet you at dinner."

With that, I walk out of the room and down the stairs.