The Lycan Queen

Chapter Six:

When we enter, the Sharps are already seated at Aaron’s desk and waiting for us. For the first time since I met them, they look nervous. They avoid eye contact with us, and it’s not until Flynn and I settle into the seats facing towards Aaron’s desk that he speaks.

“In less than fifteen minutes, you will both be eighteen. I know that you understand that means you’ll officially become adults and get your wolves, but there are some things we still have to tell you. Things we couldn't tell you before,” he says. He makes eye contact with me before he focuses his gaze on Flynn and continues. “Tomorrow will be the first time you appear before the pack as Alpha. In accordance with pack tradition, you must take an oath of loyalty to the Crescent Moon pack before shifting for the first time in front of them. It's a blood oath. Once that is completed, you will officially become not just a member of the pack, but the Alpha. From that moment on, every decision will come from you. From that moment on, Nick, Jordan and I will guide you, Noah, and Jordan through the transition of leadership. From that moment on, the needs of the pack must always come before your own. Every action you take must be in the best interest of the pack.”

As Aaron continues, I sneak a glance at Flynn, whose expression is a mixture of excitement and earnestness. He has spent his entire life preparing to take over this pack. He’s finally ready. Tomorrow is supposed to be the greatest day of his life, the day he officially becomes the pack’s alpha. And I’m about to ruin it. Knowing the conversation was about to turn, I shrunk into my seat and tuned back into Aaron’s speech just in time.

As the first shrouds of truth spill out, it’s as if it’s happening in slow motion. Aaron barely gets the words, “Alex will not be taking the oath or participating in the pack tradition of shifting” before Flynn cuts him off. He launches onto his feet, slamming his hands onto his father’s desk and screaming about how my background stopped mattering the day they adopted me. That I’m his sister, and it’s my right to be included. How unfair it is for them to treat me differently now, all these years later. I thank the Moon Goddess this office is soundproof, because Aaron and Noel say nothing, they do nothing, and it only enrages Flynn further.

“Alex has every right to be furious!” he growls. But at that moment, as he opens his mouth to continue, he must realize that I haven’t said anything. His brow furrows as he looks towards me, still sitting calmly in my seat. He’s confused by my lack of reaction and he should be. There isn’t a single pack member who isn’t eager to turn eighteen. Eager to take their oath and officially become a part of the pack community, a member based on their own choices, not the status of their parents. If I was a normal girl, I would be outraged that I wasn’t getting to participate. I would be hysterical as I pleaded my case. I would be reacting like Flynn just did. But I’m not.

“Alex…why aren’t you reacting? You don’t even seem surprised,” he asks before continuing, “I don’t under — did you know about this?”

Then he drops back into his seat, staring at the ground with a look of defeat. At that moment, I knew it was time for me to take control of this conversation. That it was time to explain everything and stop pretending to be someone that I’m not. So, I shut my eyes, took a deep breath, and, for the first time in eight years, recalled my royal training. I square my shoulders, stand and face him. But as I open my mouth, everything I rehearsed over the years leaves my head, leaving me with no choice but to wing it.

“I did know, Flynn. I’ve always known this was coming. This was not a decision your parents made. In fact, it’s a decision by people who far outrank them. It was not meant to hurt you, and we hated lying to you. Please, I will explain everything. I will answer all your questions. The only thing I ask is that you let me finish before you make a decision about what you’re going to do.” I promise.

Slowly he nods his head, and I take that as him acknowledging my request. So, I spent the next ten minutes telling him everything. I told him who and what I am, how I would eventually inherit the Lycan throne. I told him who my parents were. How it was their decision to send me here, under the guise of being an orphan, for my protection and to give me a chance at understanding what it was like to have a normal life. How his parents were following the orders of the royal family. How they couldn’t tell him any of this. How I could never join this pack. I correct every lie we’ve ever told him; clarify every truth we’ve ever omitted.

When I finish, he says nothing. He sits there, his mouth open and staring at me like he has no idea who I am. Like I’m a stranger. But in his defense, I am. I just obliterated everything he thought he knew about me, altered most of his memories, and destroyed the trust he had in his family. With less than three minutes until midnight, I glance at the Sharps, hoping that they might step in and fix their son, but they seem as concerned as I do. It seems we all expected Flynn to overreact, to scream and flip tables like he did when this conversation first began. Screaming, smashing, and howling are all normal responses to angry or hurt wolves. It’s typical of Flynn to react like that. But instead, it's as if he’s frozen in time. I stepped closer to him, lowering myself to his level and placing my hand on his shoulder.

“Flynn?”

I searched his forest-green eyes, looking for a response within them. I don’t find hatred or resentment in them, but I catch a flicker of pain before he shuts them. Seconds later, he opens his eyes and stands from his chair. His sudden movement startled me, and with the way I was positioned, it takes everything I have not to lose my balance.

“Is there any other life-changing news you have to tell me? Are you two even my parents? Am I even going to be the Alpha?” he asks, his voice emotionless. When he’s met with silence, he simply nods before turning towards the door. Shaking his head, he crosses the room in five long strides and his hand is on the door when I call out to him.

“Flynn...?” He stops, but doesn’t turn around. He doesn’t say anything. His body language is practically screaming to leave him alone. With the gravity of the situation, I should just let him walk away. Just let him be alone. There are so many things I want to say to him, need to say to him, even though I know nothing will make this better. No amount of words can fix this. But my eyes catch the time on the clock in my peripheral vision and “Happy Birthday” finds its way out of my mouth without permission.

"Back at ya, sis. Oh my apologies, princess." he spits, before flinging the door open and slamming it shut behind me.

Well, that went well.