A Hidden Crown

Chapter13: Staying with Me

Lyla

Even though I used to live here, I felt uncomfortable with everyone staring at me as we entered the pack house. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been here before. I wasn’t sure if they were staring because they could smell my heat or staring at the fact that I was walking in with a suitcase behind the Alpha. I was five seconds away from running back to my house.

“You’re okay,” Michael said. His voice calmed my nerves. He took the suitcase from me when we reached the stairs. I could hear some pack members asking if I was going to be their new Luna. Some even hoped I would be. When we got to the second level, Michael walked toward the door that led to the Alpha and Beta floor. I had hoped I would stay in one of the empty rooms on the warrior floor. There would be no hiding that we were mates if I followed him upstairs.

“Michael, where are you going?” I asked, watching him input the code.

“You’re staying with me,” he said, his tone leaving no room for debate.

I rolled my eyes and continued to follow him. I started to feel pressure in my head, and I knew there was only one person who would mind-link me.

Girl, shut the freak up. Michael is your mate! Shantel screeched in my head. She must have been downstairs somewhere, but I didn’t see her.

With an eye roll. Unfortunately, yes.

Unfortunately? Have you lost your mind, Lyla? I’m sorry, Luna, I’m just so excited. She squealed.

Don’t apologize. You can still call me Lyla. I’m not even Luna yet.

Yet? So, there will be no rejection? Shantel never liked how my dad wanted me to live my life. She thought he was being dramatic and didn't understand why he didn’t want anyone to know I had a wolf.

Shantel, you know I’m different. I stated

That makes you special. You deserve happiness. I now understand what that feels like.

Something doesn’t sound right. Did you find your second mate? I was curious; she had never pushed the issue of me keeping my mate this hard.

I did, and I am so happy. He loves me beyond all measures. He has shown me true affection and what it really means to be first.

I was happy to hear she had found someone better than Logan. “In here,” Michael said, interrupting my thoughts.

I closed the mind-link before saying goodbye. No wolf equals no mind-link. Though I’ve heard there have been cases of wolves who could mind-link with their human mates. It’s rare but possible.

I followed Michael into the suite. It was huge, with its own living room, dining room, and kitchen. It also had two bedrooms. There was another door a few feet away from the main door.

“Both rooms have their own bathroom, but only one has a shower. You can have my room,” he said, pointing to the door on the left past the kitchen. “I will need to come in to take a shower if that’s okay?”

“It is your room. Who am I to tell you no?” I asked.

“It’s your room now, and if my mate,” he said, letting me know exactly who I was to him, “doesn’t want me to come into her bathroom to take a shower, I won’t.”

I shook my head, rolling my eyes. “You can come take a shower when I’m not in the room.” Following him to my new room. “Where does the other door lead to?” I asked.

“Oh, that door leads to our private garage. My dad has a nice car collection down there. It’s supposed to be an escape route if we need it. Wait, didn’t your dad have one? I thought our suites were set up the same.”

“No, our second door was the safe room, remember?”

He shook his head in agreement.

This book is written by Mercedez Steward.

“Well, if this is your room, where did your parents sleep? I know there is no way they gave you the only room with a bathroom,” I questioned.

He stepped into his room and placed my suitcase on the bed. I could tell he was uncomfortable, and it made my chest feel constricted seeing him that way.

“Their room is upstairs. I haven’t been up there since the day they passed away. I covered the door to their room with a bookshelf,” he said, turning to face me. “I would like to take you shopping before our date Saturday. Then Sunday I want to announce you as my mate to the pack.”

He had deflected from talking about his parents. Even after all these years, the pain was still heavy for him. I wasn’t going to force him to talk about them. I just went along with the direction our conversation had turned in.

“You don’t think they know that already? Half the pack was downstairs when I walked in and followed you to your wing.”

He smirked at me. “Not everyone was downstairs. I want everyone to celebrate this bond. To celebrate with us. Some of them know how long I have waited for this.”

“I don’t know, Michael. Things are just moving too fast. You would be telling the pack that I am their Luna. I agreed we would date first. I didn’t agree to be your...” The words died on my tongue. I could see the panic in his eyes. He stepped closer to me, taking my hand into his and placing it on his heart.

He spoke softly. “Ly, you are the person I have been waiting for. Not just a mate, but you, Lyla Walker. I won’t fail and you will be their Luna. I will show you how much I love you.”

He said it again. Those four words fell out his mouth with ease. His confession cleared up the questions I had left unasked from last night. He wasn’t just in love with the thought of his mate. He was in love with me. Hoping that I would be his, and here I was holding back because I’m scared, he’s going to hate me when he finds out I have a wolf. He leaned in to kiss me, but the sound of someone pounding on the door stopped him.