The Wolf Twins' Royal Mates

Chapter 2: MATE!

Lorelei

“Can I please just go for a walk?” I asked Emmett, my glare belying the politeness of my words. Technically, the only person I should ever have to ask permission from was my dad, the Alpha King, but since my dad was the one who put Emmett in charge of my safety, I had to listen to him, too, at least a little bit.

The threat was real, unfortunately, and I did listen and rely on him when it came to danger and safety, but the whole reason that we moved to this tiny pack was that no one would think to look here. Going for a walk in the middle of the pack grounds—not even in the woods, just down the street! —was perfectly safe. I was not going to stay holed up in this house all the time. I knew I couldn’t shift into Rhiannon, my wolf, while we were here because she would be too recognizable, but that didn’t mean I was going to let Emmett force me to stay indoors. Wolves weren’t made to be indoors for long periods of time. I should know that better than anyone.

My dad, the King, was extremely overprotective, especially given my . . . condition.

I had stood up to argue with Emmett, but it had been a mistake, and my cane was by the door. I didn’t want to sit down, though, despite my body begging for it because it would just be more proof to Emmett that I shouldn’t be allowed to take a walk.

To be fair, walking was difficult for me, just like standing, but that didn’t mean I wanted to atrophy in this little cabin! It was perfectly safe for me to go for a short walk with my cane as long as I rested once I got back, and Emmett knew it.

“No,” Emmett grunted again, meeting my glare with an equally formidable one. It made sense that our glares would match, given that he’s my cousin and therefore also of royal blood, but still. It only made him more infuriating.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved Emmett. He was probably my only friend, but when he was given official duties, he switched from being a friend to being a jailor. He was just trying to keep me safe, but that didn’t mean I had to like it.

To my utmost frustration, though, my condition got the better of me. Please sit, Rhiannon whined in my head. I frowned, crossed my arms over my chest, sent a final glare at Emmett (ignoring the spots that had started swimming in my vision), and stomped back to my room . . . where I promptly and ungracefully collapsed on the bed, scrunching up my eyes and trying to control my breathing.

It's so goddamn annoying to be literally forced off my feet by my own body. Once I start seeing spots, I know I have approximately two minutes to sit or lie down before I faint completely. Who ever heard of a werewolf—a werewolf princess¸ at that—who couldn’t even stand up? It was ridiculous. Of course, my father had searched far and wide for any doctor or witch who could find a solution, but we stopped hoping for a cure years ago. My dad made sure everyone at the palace was tight-lipped about my condition because he didn’t want anyone to see me as an easy target.

Unfortunately, that happened regardless. Bane Bloodriver, the Alpha of the second-largest pack in my dad’s kingdom, has aspirations of taking the throne after my dad passes. The only way to do that and be unequivocally recognized as the true king is to marry me. My mate will become the new Alpha King . . . at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.

Bane is a cruel, demanding tyrant who runs his pack like a military camp. I would never marry him, even if I did find him physically attractive. He certainly thinks he’s the Goddess’s gift to women. There’s a little loophole he can exploit in the succession rule, though. Whoever marks me will be the next king . . . even if he marks me by force. Two months ago, Bane made an attempt to kidnap me and forcefully mark me. Thankfully, Emmett and my dad’s men saved me. That’s why we’re here, actually, in Thunderflood Pack. Thunderflood is the smallest pack in my dad’s territory. As the future ruler, I’m supposed to have every pack memorized, and even I didn’t know about Thunderflood before I was shipped off here. Bane was on the run, looking for me, and until my dad and his men caught him, I’m stuck here. Gotta keep the future Queen Luna of the Eastern Territory safe, after all.

I don’t actually expect to be the future Queen Luna, though, due to the teensy-tiny fact that I’m gay. Really gay. A complete lesbian. Even just thinking about men in a romantic manner makes me gag. I could never.

Packs have varying acceptance of LGBT relationships, and my dad allows that to “keep the peace.” His pack, the capital, is actually a safe haven for gay and trans wolves. But lesbians ruling the whole Eastern Territory? I think there might be riots in some of the less progressive packs. My plan, from the moment I realized I would never marry a man, has always been to step down and allow Emmett to take the crown. He’s next in line and would be a good monarch. The exact character traits that make him so frustrating to deal with are the ones that make a good Alpha and king. The only other option would be to be queen but never mark a mate, but I wanted to find my mate. The girl I’m fated to be with. I wasn’t going to give that dream up just to be queen. Emmett would make a wonderful ruler.

At that moment, however, I was not feeling so charitable towards my cousin. After I recovered from my dizzy spell, I sulked in a very unladylike manner in my room until 5 o'clock. At 5pm every day, Emmett goes to the pack house to make a report to my dad. The only ones who know that Emmett and I are here are the two of us, my dad, and Alpha Adam of Thunderflood.

We came up with a fake backstory to tell the people here, that Emmett and I are some of the few survivors of a pack takeover that killed the rest of our family. People don’t ask many questions when tragedy is involved, and the people of Thunderflood welcomed us with open arms. I’d love the chance to get to know them better, to actually get to be out in a pack instead of locked up like I had in the palace as I had my entire life, but of course, Emmett didn’t allow that.

Which was exactly why, as soon as he was out of sight and headed to the packhouse, I grabbed my cane and waltzed out the front door.

I headed away from the packhouse to avoid Emmett. There’s the closest thing that passes for a downtown about a 10-minute walk (for me, probably half that for a normal wolf) down the road. It’s not really even a town, but there is one diner, a park, and a general store, all run by pack members. That kind of thing is normal in all packs, but with the tiny size of Thunderflood, there are just those small few businesses.

I had my sights set on the park. I saw when we drove past on the way in that it’s full of huge live oak trees with beautiful twisting branches and bright green leaves.

It only took about ten steps before my breathing started becoming labored. Rhiannon whined in my head, warning me, though I didn’t need it.

This is ridiculous! I told her, I should be able to walk farther than this. Do you think being stuck inside has affected my strength so much?

Rhiannon thought for a moment, no doubt cataloging all my past episodes. I don’t think so. It’s something else.

I was sweating and huffing before I got halfway there. It felt like an elephant on my chest. My vision was swimming.

You should’ve brought some electrolytes, Rhiannon said worriedly.

I definitely should have, even without predicting such a bad reaction, but I was so ready to get out that I didn’t think to grab any. Electrolytes help me keep my stamina along with excess hydration and salt intake.

I leaned heavily on my cane as I hobbled to the nearest bench, right on the edge of the park. There were people out and about, and I desperately tried to hide my struggles. I didn’t want anyone to come try to help me.

Even with the most well-meaning people, it’s embarrassing. We’d told the few pack members that we’d met so far that I was injured in the attack that killed my fictional parents. Even the Alpha, who knew about our real purpose here, didn’t know the details of my condition.

Most people think it’s an injury, not a heart condition. Few people would assume an 18-year-old had a bad heart. Plus, as wolves, fighting injuries are common.

Rhiannon was very agitated in my head. I wasn’t thinking clearly, trying to steady my breathing and heart rate, so I wasn’t really paying attention to her stress.

Lorelei! Rhiannon snapped, Lorelei! Pay attention!

What? I demanded, rather annoyed at her interruption while I was trying to calm down. She certainly wasn’t helping calm my heart.

Just pay attention, Rhiannon repeated.

I frowned but took a steadying breath, glancing around. Is there danger? I asked warily.

No, I think it’s—

Just as Rhiannon started speaking, my eyes locked on a girl going into the pack diner across the park. I only saw half her face as she turned to follow her family into the diner, but even from 30 feet away, I could see that she was gorgeous. She had chestnut hair that fell in loose curls down her back. It was the prettiest hair I’d ever seen. I wanted to run my fingers through it. I wanted—

I caught a whiff of the loveliest scent I’d ever smelled, pines deep in the forest. It reminded me of the last time I’d been deep in a forest before my condition got worse, and I was basically locked inside. I sighed, smiling to myself. Do you smell that? I asked Rhiannon, almost in a trance.

Instead of answering, Rhiannon uttered a word that would change my life forever. MATE!

I jumped to my feet, startled, unable to help myself. I wanted to run to the girl, but my body betrayed me.

I swayed side to side, my vision going blue and then black.

Sit! Rhiannon ordered me, my physical distress outweighing her frantic energy.

I sank back to the bench, unable to do much else. Damn, I wanted to go run after the girl, my mate.

I couldn’t, though. No matter that I can’t run very far in the best of circumstances, but certainly not after all the strain I’ve put my body through since I left the house.

Rhiannon was whining, but she came to the same conclusion that I had. I couldn’t barge into the diner. In werewolf circles, it wouldn’t be considered that strange to chase after a mate on your first meeting, but I could faint in an enclosed space (assuming I even got into the diner before going unconscious). As soon as I go out, Rhiannon takes over, and I shift into her. It’s for my own protection, and she can’t control it either, but not only would shifting in the middle of a diner cause chaos, it would also out my identity to everyone. Rhiannon’s royal lineage is clear in her bright silver fur, large stature, and brilliant blue eyes. Beyond that, she’s powerful, and any nearby wolf would feel her royal aura and know immediately.

I couldn’t risk that. No matter how much I chafed under Emmett’s strict rules, I did want to stay safe, and if word got out that I was here—as it no doubt would if anyone saw me shift—Bane would be here with his men before we could get far enough away to evade him. He had trackers that knew my scent. Anonymity was the only thing keeping me—and everyone in Thunderflood pack—safe from an attack.

That includes our mate now too, Rhiannon added solemnly. I could feel how much Rhiannon was itching to get to our mate, but we couldn’t. Not now.

She lives here, I said to Rhiannon encouragingly. We’ll be able to find her tomorrow. It’s a small pack.

Rhiannon reluctantly agreed. We should go back before Emmett flips out.

I frowned. Still not sure I can yet.

It must have been the infernal heat that was affecting me so much. I knew that heat made my condition worse, and this place was certainly hot. Thunderflood was located in what the humans call Alabama. Not only was it hot, but it was humid, almost like breathing through water. My sweat didn’t evaporate; it just stayed on my skin and trickled down my back. I was definitely losing too much salt.

I closed my eyes and rested my forehead on my cane, taking deep breaths. My heart was still pounding irregularly, which was probably a combination of my condition and the fact that my mate was less than 100 yards away, and I couldn’t run to her. If only she had been upwind of me, she may have noticed herself. Still. The pack was small. I’ll find her. Even Emmett wouldn’t interfere with a quest to find my mate.

I let out a sigh, my vision slowly coming into focus again. I’d have to come out to Emmett. He doesn’t know I’m gay. No one does. Everything just got so much more complicated.