The Alpha King's Invitation

Chapter 18: Starting A New

Raelynn’s POV

“Spill what?” Maya asked as I put on my bra.

“You need to tell me everything. What did it look like when Callan and I met? Did I seem like I was into him? Tell me all about your mate. I want to know everything I forgot.” I insisted.

“I don’t know.” Maya said slowly, “The doctor mentioned that we should let you remember on your own.”

I brought out the puppy dog eyes and pleaded with my hands pressed together, me looking up through my eyelashes.

“Ugh.” She groaned, “Fine, I’ll tell you a bit.”

“Yes.” I whispered in triumph.

“Well, William is amazing. He’s got this thing he does where he’s funny and clingy and like a normal guy then he can switch from that to professional prince who controls his emotions and actions. To be honest, we were having a hard time doing this kind of dance where we’d both want each other and we’d be hinting and neither of us would pick up on it. It was actually you and Callan that helped us get through it. We were able to have the best s*x ever.”

I winced in pain as I slipped my legs into a pair of my cargo pants. “You never had anything to compare it to.”

“True.” She shrugged and bent down to help me.

“So what you really need to tell me is how I feel about Callan. I mean surely I must have told you.” I hope I had, I don’t know why I wouldn’t, she is my best friend.

“Well. I know you guys hit it off really well. He took you behind his car and I assume you guys made out until the limo got there. Then, well let's just say that the two of you have been doing it at least twice a day since you met. Maybe more honestly.” Maya grinned at me.

“Really?” I asked, shocked. How strong was the mate bond?

“Yep.” Maya chuckled, “You actually told me you two and a strong mate bond and amazing s*x and when you marked each other you hadn’t even known each other for twenty-four hours.”

“Really?” I let my hands drop after I’d done my pants up. Marking was no small detail. To mark and be marked was to be with that person for the rest of your life. After twelvish to twenty-four hours the mated pair wouldn’t be able to be far from each other.

Maya just nodded and grabbed the gray tank top and helped me into that. “Maya?”

“Huh?”

“Callan said something about me and Xavier. Can you clarify that?” I asked. Xavier had been my friend since we were kids. I remember he’d been wanting something more, I didn’t give it to him did I?

“Oh that.” She shrugged, opening the curtain, “You two made out, cuddled and slept in the same bed but nothing else.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and Maya helped me into some shoes. She helped me because it hurt to bend, tired muscles I guess. Then she pulled a big fluffy pink coat that came to my waist out of what looked like thin air. “Sorry this is all I have for now. I couldn’t find your jacket. Maybe we’ll have to get you a new one.” I eyed it and groaned, slipping it on.

When we came out Callan and Owen were talking and turned around when they heard us.

“Hi.” I said shyly to Callan. I don’t know why I’m nervous, maybe because I don’t feel the same way as he does.

“Wow. You look amazing.” He grinned.

I smiled back, no guy ever said I looked amazing in these pants. The ones that did wouldn’t say amazing; they’d call me sexy or fuckable, something that would tell me they didn’t like me in the pants, they wanted me out of them or wanted in them with me.

“I just gave her some information, anything else she can probably get from you.” Maya chuckled and gently pushed me in his direction.

“So where’s your mate Owen?” I asked, pulling the coat closer around myself.

“She ran to her room to grab her things. We’re going shopping when we get back to get her some things.” Owen said proudly.

“Perfect, we need to go shopping too.” Maya beamed.

“Yeah, Ray needs a new phone.” Callan said, taking a step closer to me.

“Why?” I asked curious.

“Oh right. I was supposed to tell you.” Maya said facepalming, “Somehow you lost your phone at the hotel so the two of you agreed that he’d buy you a new phone.”

I bit my lip, I agreed to this? I mean if we are mates it would make sense that I rely on him instead of my family.

“Well the car should be here. And if we leave soon we should be able to get there before your brother and sister.” Callan said, looking at his watch.

I nod and he put his hand on the small of my back, leading me out to a black SUV.

“Callan, who’s driving?” Maya asked, walking to the back seat.

“Umm….” He said looking from the car to me.

“Princess decides then.” Maya sat in the back seat. “Callan and Ray can sit back here, Owen and Anna can sit up front.”

I shrugged and got in beside Maya and Callan followed in beside me. I was sitting in the middle but I didn’t mind. I felt safe near Callan and Maya seemed to settle in texting on her phone. Probably with her mate.

“Are you cold?” Callan asked as Owen got in and started it up.

“I’m fine.” I said leaning into him.

He moved his arm around my shoulder and I could have sworn I heard him sigh. Not long after the heater kicked into high gear, Anna came out with a suitcase. She put it in the trunk and got in.

“Sorry I took so long.” She said.

“Not at all, you were right on time.” Owen smiled.

I looked at Callan and rolled my eyes and he smiled in response.

Anna introduced herself, her name was Annabelle but everyone called her Anna. Owen asked if he could call her babe and she giggled. I wanted to throw up. I wondered if Owen had felt repulsed by Callan and I being affectionate before. I'm sure he was, if not repulsed he would have been irritated at least because I am his little sister.

Owen and Anna started asking questions then both of them answering. I thought it was a pretty good idea so Callan and I started to play it too.

I learned his favorite color is green, favorite food is pizza. Favorite flavor of ice cream is mint chocolate chip. Favorite song was Stressed Out by Twenty-One Pilots. Best friend is Maya’s mate William. And that if he could do anything over again it would be me. I couldn’t help but blush at the last one.

I learned not only a lot about the man that is supposed to be my mate but I also learned that my brother got a good mate. She was generally soft spoken but would fight viciously to protect those she loved. She had a lot in common with both me and Maya. Maya got her number and promised to give it to me when I got a phone.

Callan held me close the entire time. A few times I wanted to unbuckle and climb onto his lap but both he and my brother would freak out considering my injuries. The more I got to know him the more I liked him. We didn't agree on everything, like he likes pineapple on pizza. Ew. But he did check most if not all of my boxes for what I wanted in a mate.

Most of the ride Maya was texting and listening to the questions but other times I thought I saw her moving something between her fingers. When I asked what she was doing she said nothing and picked up her phone to start texting again.

When we pulled up to this giant hotel there were men waiting for us. The minute that we came to a stop Maya jumped out and ran to the men. The rest of us got out like normal people. I recognized two of them, it was Xavier and Alex. The other four I had no clue.

“Ray, this is William.” Maya said cuddling up to her mate.

“Call me Will, Raelynn. I’m glad that you’re ok.”

“As ok as she can be.” One of a pair of twins said.

“This,” Callan said, gesturing to the man beside Will. “Is my Beta, Nes.”

“Hi.” I mumbled and he bowed.

“These,” He gestured to the pair of twins.

They abandoned the introduction and hugged me. “Ray we’re so glad your alive.” One said.

“Yeah, we would have died if you weren’t. The Alpha would have gone crazy.”

Callan growled, “Get. The. f**k. Off. My. Mate.”

The twins released me and bowed to Callan. I looked at him, he seemed on edge.

“He’s rather possessive and protective over you Luna.” Nes explained.

I nodded and grabbed his arm. As I expected he calmed down mostly at my touch.

“Those are the twins Robbie and Bobbie.” He said again.

“Which one is which?” I asked. I must have said something funny because the twins started laughing. “What?” I was confused.

“You said the same thing when you first met us.” Robbie said.

“We just laughed because we’re relieved to see the same you back.” Bobbie chuckled.

“Well sort of, but we’ll talk about that inside.” Callan put his hand on the small of my back and began leading me towards the door when Will stopped him.

“Her brother and sister are almost here.”

Callan nodded and stood behind me holding me close by wrapping his arms around my middle. It was really comforting.

Not long after, Brett’s Nissan Armada pulled up and parked in an empty parking spot. Eve looked the same as last time I remember seeing her. Brett looked tired. His blue eyes exactly like Eve’s were alert but he had bags under his eyes. His dirty blonde shoulder length hair pulled back in his signature man bun. He’d trimmed his beard so it wasn’t as long.

Eve ran straight to me and pulled me out of Callan’s arms. “Oh my baby let me look at you. Are you ok? They let you out of the hospital so that’s good. You don't seem to have any lasting injuries so that’s good. Does your head hurt? Have you been resting? What have you eaten today? What the hell are you wearing? Forget it lets get you inside so you can tell me everything.”

“E. Release Ray.” Brett said his voice was just as deep and commanding as I remember. As soon as Eve let me go I ran into Brett’s arms. “Good to see you pumpkin. But I think you should go calm down your mate.” He whispered.

I turned around to see Callan shaking slightly. I walked over and he opened his arms, lifting me off the ground. I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through his hair. It was a little greasy but I didn’t mind it.

“Yeah, let's go inside and we can make more introductions.” Maya said, turning William and they led the way inside.

William used his power as the Prince or Future Alpha King to get them to allow Brett and Eve to stay in a room, since they had a ‘no opposite s*x pairs unless their mated’ policy. Then we all went up to Callan’s suite and sat down to chat.

Brett sat next to me and Eve settled next to him. William sat in the chair across from us with Maya on his lap ,and the same in the other chair just with Owen and Anna, who looked extremely uncomfortable with the situation. Callan’s Beta and the twins were standing behind our couch, behind their Alpha and Luna. Xavier was sitting in a third chair and he’d excused Alex from the meeting. I still had no idea what happened with that situation but now wasn’t the time.

“So I have amnesia.” I said as an ice breaker.

“Might as well get down to it, that’s my girl.” Brett said, patting my hand before withdrawing it.

I felt Callan tense up but I started to rub circles on the back of his hand like he had when we were in the hospital.

“So what actually happened?” Eve asked, looking towards Callan.

He took a deep breath and began the story. How I’d insisted on trying out snowboarding, how I’d pumped myself up and then my disastrous snowboarding experience. He stopped when he got to the part where he and Nes found me. Nes had to take over from there.

I brought his hand up to my lips and kissed it. Trying to show him I didn’t blame him. It didn’t seem to work.

“And then they wouldn’t allow anyone to go in so we were all waiting at the door.” Nes finished.

“I really shouldn’t have been up there. I won’t be doing that again any time soon.”

“Damn right.” Eve said, “I knew I shouldn’t let you come, it’s clearly too dangerous-”

“E.” Brett admonished, “It doesn’t matter what you were thinking Ray, it just matters that you're alright and that you’re more careful moving forward.”

I nodded, “Of course.”

“We could always wrap her in bubble wrap.” Eve suggested.

I rolled my eyes at her, I knew someone would suggest it. “That’s not an option Eve.”

“Well what did the doctor say?” Brett asked me.

“She said that I could do what I felt like, but that I shouldn’t push myself and if I throw up, get dizzy or faint, to call her.” I relayed.

He nodded, “Alright. Well Eve and I will be around for a few days.”

“The rest of the-” Eve interrupted.

“A. Few. Days.” Brett said glaring at Eve.

She shrank under his gaze. Eve had always been strong but she was no match for Brett’s natural authority.

“You can stay as long as you want.” William said.

“Thank you, but I have responsibilities back in our pack and there’s no way I’m leaving Eve here alone.” He smirked.

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Eve grunted.

“No you really do.” Owen chimed in.

“It’s fine. I’m going to be perfectly safe with Callan.” I said moving and sitting on his lap. Honestly I was feeling a bit left out.

“And I’m so happy that you’ve found your mate sweetheart.” Brett sighed, “But can he protect you from more accidents?”

“Can you?” Callan challenged.

“Neither of you can. This was really a freak accident.” Maya stated.

I smiled at her, she was always on my side. “Callan is good at protecting me.” I said sitting up taller, “And I am perfectly capable of defending myself.”

Brett sighed again and looked to Xavier, “Xavier what-”

“Don’t look at me.” He said his hands raised in surrender, “As of now I can’t do anything. See when she mated with Alpha Callan she instantly became one of his pack. And it was cemented further when they marked each other. So my only connection with Raelynn is that we’re friends. That’s it.”

He smiled at him and he gave me a slight smile back.

“In any case,” William said, “She is here to spend time with her mate for the remainder of the week. If she does go home it would be to pack and move to the Red Nightwalker Pack.” He raised an eyebrow, “I’m sure you’ve heard of them.”

Brett looked a bit taken aback and turned to Callan and I, “You’re the Alpha of the Red Nightwalker Pack?”

“Yes.” He nodded.

“And I’m the Luna.” I said proudly. Maybe if I say it enough times and refer to myself as it, I’ll get more used to the idea and it won’t be so scary.

I felt Callan pull me closer to him and Brett’s eyes darkened a smidge. “Right.” Brett said through clenched teeth. He couldn’t argue with it, but he clearly didn’t like it.

“But you know,” I said slowly, “Owen and Maya found their mates. That’s something to be happy about right?”

Brett eyed me but nodded, “You’re right.” he turned to Maya, “I’m so glad you’ve found your mate Maya, not you truly are a princess.”

She chuckled, “Thank you Brett, that’s nice of you.”

Brett turned to Owen, “I’m proud of you little brother. Welcome to the family young lady.”

“Thank you.” Anna whispered. I saw that she was playing with Owen’s hair again. Maybe it calms her?

“This is Anna. My mate.” Owen announced proudly. Anna smiled at him.

“William, this is the rest of my second family.” Maya smiles.

“A pleasure.” William says, nodding his head.

“Pleasure is all ours.” Brett said bowing. “Honestly I just wanted to know the story and if she was alright. But I would like to speak with you alone if I could Alpha Callan.”

“I’ll stay too.” Eve said firmly.

Brett didn’t object. Both the royal couple and my old pack members left for their own respective suites while Callan dismissed Nes and the twins.

“Alone means you too precious.” Brett smiled softly at me.