Chapter 12
1449 Words
Lucian’s POV
Twenty minutes pass by before I hear Derek through the link, telling me she’s awake and he’s on his way. I immediately started to pace, awaiting his return. I need to get out of here. It doesn’t take long for Derek to arrive. He just stares at me with a questioning look. I sigh and motion for him to get in the car so we can head back to Highland Peak. I toss his food in his lap.
“Awe the fries are cold.”
“Chicken and burger should be warm, they’re in insulated wrap.”
“Sweet!”
Once we’re on the road I can feel Dereks gaze intensifying between bites.
“Ask your questions.”
“What was that? Who was she? And why couldn’t you move?”
“It was her.” I replied my voice cracking in relief.
“Her?” He asks, trailing off for a moment before realization hits. “Wait…her…your mate?! So I was right!”
I nod in response.
“Okay but why couldn’t you move? What was that all about?” He repeats his question.
“I don’t really understand it, but it has to do with not having her wolf, I think.” I explain what I think I know.
“Hold on? She’s not 16? Whoa, dude that age difference is….” Derek trails off looking away.
“No…no, she’s 20, 21 soon I think.” I told him.
“How do you know all that?”
I decided it’s time to tell my Beta about my dream, what I know, what I don’t know and how I know what I know. By the end of it his jaw is hanging open and he’s staring out the window in a daze, soaking all the information in.
After a while he finally speaks, “If you know it was a dream, how do you know it’s real?” Derek eyes me suspiciously.
“Trust me, man. It was real. Have you ever remembered every single detail, of any dream, like that before? It’s been weeks. It’s still fresh in my mind. Every detail. Everything the Moon Goddess said. I can close my eyes and relive the whole thing or just parts of it at any time. Like it just happened.
That dream is the reason we left the way we did. It’s been weeks and I haven’t had it since. I don’t know if she will have her wolf when we arrive. I don’t know if she will come after we arrive. I just know that she can’t shift without me. She needs me, Derek.”
“Okay, okay. So, we know she’s in Crescent Moon and they’re the next pack. Now we both know what she looks like. All we have to do is get through the next few days and make our way to your mate. Sounds easy.” Derek says, missing some obvious details.
“Crescent Moon is a massive pack, nearly the size of the main pack back home. She could be anywhere.”
“We’ll find her, Luc.”
“We don’t leave Crescent Moon until we do.”
I press on the gas, intent on making up some time and we race down the road back towards Highland Peak.
Lilly’s POV
When Macy and I got back to the pack I asked her not to mention what happened at the mall to anyone. She only responded with a look that told me I don’t even have to say it. I looked down at my wrist again to see tiny stars have appeared around the Crescent Moon. I count twelve total.
“Macy, look at this.”
“Lil, that’s… it’s beautiful. How did that happen?”
“I don’t really know. I just know that it’s going to keep happening until it’s done changing. I have no idea what it means or why it’s doing that, but it hurts like a b***h every time. Meave says there’s something I need to hear from my parents before she can tell me more.”
We get out of her car and grab all the bags. I help her take her many items into her house before she splits my bags with me and walks me back to mine. Chatting a bit more about my wolf, how she’s excited to meet her when I can finally shift. When we arrive at my house, she pops in long enough to help me take my bags to my room, say hi to my parents and leave once more. Leaving me with my thoughts and the task of putting my purchases in their proper place.
Mom calls up for dinner a little while later. So, I finish up and head to the table. The air is thick with tension when I arrive.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“We just got a call from the Alpha.” My father starts. “As you know the Royal Caravan will be arriving early, instead of Saturday morning, as was the plan, they will be here Friday. The visit to Blue Ridge was cut short due to an issue with the Alpha. He is going to be finishing up at Highland Peak the day after tomorrow, and then head here. We will receive word when he leaves Highland Peak.”
“We knew all of that Dad, what’s the big deal?” My brother Andy chimes in.
“This means he will be here for your party.” My father said, looking at me.
My eyes grow large with shock, I didn’t even put that together at first. Maeve starts to pace in my head listening to our father.
“And?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I’m sure I know where this is going.
“Well, we’re a ranked family. It would be impolite to not invite him when we are including our own Alpha and Beta Families.” My mother interrupts.
“So, you’re saying the Lycan King is going to be at my birthday party?”
“Yes.” My parents say at the same time.
My heart starts to race. I start to hear a ringing in my ear and the conversation fades away. My entire arm starts to burn.
‘No, not again.’ I think to myself.
‘Lillianna, I’m sorry. This… this is going to hurt. And you’re going to need to talk to your parents after this.’ Maeve says before a blast of heat flies through my body from head to toe. Followed by another and another.
I started to hyper-ventilate and my parents started shouting for my brother and sister to leave the room. My father picks me up and rushes me outside. My vision starts to double, my skin starts to glow. I’m laid gently on the ground as pain coats my entire body, my father hisses in pain as he pulls his fingers back looking at his now burned and blistered fingertips. I feel my bones start to crack and
I think I’m beginning to shift for the first time.
‘Not yet. Soon…I'm sorry Lillly’ Maeve shouts over my screams.
‘What is this!?’
‘A different kind of change. All will be explained.’
My mother comes out with her arms full of ice packs. She places them everywhere she can trying to bring the burning temperature rushing through me down. The pain in my body starts to lessen, the heat flooding my body begins to dissipate.
“Mom… what’s happening to me.” I beg her.
“Get through this and I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything.”
My father whipped his head towards her, locking his eyes on her.
“I’m telling her Jerry. She needs to know. It’s time. It’s past time.”
What feels like hours pass, it’s only been minutes, the pain finally stops. My bones ache from all the pain. I take deep breaths to steady myself and calm my racing heart. My body was exhausted from the experience, but at least I didn’t pass out. My parents help me to stand, and my mother lets out a gasp.
I turn to see what she’s looking at. On the ground where I was just laying the grass has been burned, but behind that my mother’s rose bush, that has been struggling these past few seasons, is in full bloom and three times its size.
“Mom… Dad… what the f**k is going on?”
“Lillianna!”
My parents shouted at me at the same time and we start to walk inside.
“Let’s go in. Please.” My mother says as she grabs my hand.
- Writer
