Chapter 14
1455 Words
Lucian POV
It’s the final day at Highland Peak. This has probably been the most productive of all the visits I’ve made so far. Not only did we keep to the original alliance, but we added some training additions, protection clauses, and made some additional trade deals between his pack and the Royal Pack. While it was a productive two days, I am ready to get out of here and find my mate.
My insistence on leaving now, coupled with the issues at Blue Moon, means we’ll be arriving at Crescent Moon pack this afternoon instead of tomorrow. It’s nearly an 8-hour drive from Highland Peak to Crescent Moon and I am eager to get started, I didn’t need another night in Highland Peak, I needed my mate.
No one met their mate in this pack, but I am happy for the 5 warriors that have found their mates along this journey so far. Knowing that I’ll have mine soon has made this trip even more worth it. Finishing up with the Alpha, I stand and head out to find my Beta. He should have a report from home for me and then we can hit the road.
‘Mate.’ Axle growls at the thought of seeing his mate soon.
‘Just remember, if she doesn’t have her wolf yet, and if we find her, can we get near her?’
Axle growls and tucks himself away.
The caravan is loading up the last vehicle as I arrive, meeting Derek at the bottom of the pack house steps. We exchange good-byes with the Alpha and Beta Families. Promising to keep in touch. Their son is ascending next year so we’ll be back for that of course, as is tradition for the King to swear in the new Alpha’s under an alliance, which right now is every pack.
“All is well at home. Jules kicked Jace’s ass the other day because he tried to bake a frozen pizza and almost burned down the kitchen on the Gamma floor.” Derek said with a smirk. “They got the fire out, repairs have been made. Everyone has decreed that Jace is not allowed near a stove again.”
I shook my head at the news and smirked slightly.
“Are we sure it was a good idea promoting him to Gamma?” I chuckle as we get in the car and begin the 8-hour drive to Crescent Moon.
We’ll have to stop for fuel, and we may as well eat lunch since we won’t arrive at Crescent moon until around 3. I sent ahead one of our warriors late last night to let them know of our earlier than expected arrival. They should have the news by now.
“He’s an i***t, no doubt. But loyal to a fault. He’s going to protect the hell out of the Luna Queen once you can officially claim and present her.”
“Shit.”
“What?”
“I forgot about the presentation. I hope it doesn’t make her change her mind. It’s a little archaic, and extremely dated.”
The presentation is an old royal custom that every king and queen has adhered to for as long as legend says. There’s a ceremony and banquet, typical of any Luna ceremony among the packs. Only at the end of the banquet do the elders call upon us to enter a private chamber, where we must perform the marking and mating in front of the council of elders. They stay until both parties have marked the other, which comes at the end of the mating, and then make their exit. There is absolutely nothing private or romantic about the ceremony but it meant to consummate the binding and officially name my mate as the Luna Queen.
“It’s going to freak her out, Derek.”
“You don’t know that.”
I shake my head putting my focus back on the road. I know my Beta is trying to look on the positive side of this, but he’s not considering the fact that we were raised in this life. My mate was not. It’s going to be a huge culture shock for her, and that’s if she accepts me as her mate and if she agrees to the ceremony.
‘She will.’ Axle growls.
‘What about everything else?’
‘Trust Maeve.’
Four hours into our drive, the caravan finds a place to pull off and fuel up. A group of warriors’ head to find us somewhere to eat. It doesn’t take long for them to return and for all of us to load back up. The closest diner is five minutes up the road. It’s a bit early for lunch but I know we’re all tired of being in the cars already, it’s been a long couple of weeks.
Once all of us had parked and exited the vehicles, our group of twenty entered the diner. Five of the warriors will stay with the vehicles and we’ll order something to have the server send it out to the cars. As we enter the diner the conversation noticeably dies down and a sea of eyes starts to look our way, curious at the large group that entered, feeling our presence, our importance.
Derek and I pull in our auras so that we don’t give away exactly who we are. The hostess notices our large group and starts to panic.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have any area’s suitable to seat a party your size together. Is… is it okay if we spread you out among the diner?” She asks, gathering the menus for our group.
“Of course. We’re not picky. Just hungry.” Derek responds with a smile.
The host lets out a breath, smiles, and waves for us to follow her. Seating us in groups of 4. Derek and I ask for a booth of our own and the two remaining warriors take a seat at the counter instead of a table. The way we’re spread out is efficient as well, three servers for our five groups and one behind the counter. Within fifteen minutes we’ve all ordered, and the men outside have to-go orders being prepared.
“So, what’s the plan?” Derek asks after a few moments of silence.
“Which plan?”
“Come on, man. Your mate.”
I let out a sigh and run my fingers through my hair.
“When we get settled, I need you to discreetly see if you can find out anything with the details we have.”
“What if we don’t find her in the time we’re there?”
“We will.”
Derek arches an eyebrow.
“Axle isn’t going to let us leave without finding her.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. So, what’s the plan?”
“I don’t know. Cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“No, no. We don’t need Axle going halfcocked because he can’t find his mate.”
“He won’t”
“What about what happened at the mall.”
‘He’s right axle.’
“I WON’T BETA! But I WILL find mate!” Axle seizes control to growl at Derek.
Derek bares his neck for a moment and nods.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Axle pulls back as our food arrives and we dig in. My plate filled with honey barbeque wings with Baha Ranch dipping sauce, a juicy, triple stacked bacon burger and a side of loaded fries. Derek opted for the all-day breakfast platter, covering his plate of French toast, eggs, hash browns, crispy maple bacon and sausage links with so much syrup I feel my teeth ache at the thought of all that sweetness. Don’t get me wrong, I like syrup, but not that much.
Half an hour later, I settle the bills and our group heads back to the cars. It’s time to get this trip finished and get to my mate. Axle is pacing back and forth, huffing at how long this trip has been taking. He’s been on edge since Blue Moon, and he’s not alone.
“Double time gentlemen. Let’s get this drive over. This is the last pack on the tour, we will have a little over a week to rest and relax some while we’re there, which I expect all of you to do. The trip home will take four days. We will stop along the way as needed, but I intend to drive straight through if we can,” I said to my men as we loaded up.
Once Derek is in my car I peel out of the lot, speeding down the road. At this rate we’ll be there in less than 3 hours.
- Writer
