The Lykos Chronicles

5 - Torn

Moira

The feast was a joyous event, filled with laughter and song. The long tables were filled with mountains of food of all kinds. Meat, fruit, cheese and bread. There was also mead, but I was forbidden to touch it because Father would not allow it.

The Royal and Alpha families sat around the head table, as families from the Beta down surrounded the other tables. Lower ranking members gathered around, sitting at smaller tables, some standing, and children sitting on the grass. Everyone ate and drank until they could eat and drink no more.

Eventually, the tables were moved, and we danced around the bonfire as Rocky, a pack member, played the flute. Ronan stuck to me like glue, and it didn’t occur to me to mind.

Ronan was fascinated by Kelt Paw’s traditional dance, which saw men on one side and women on the other. Partners generally faced one another, and once the music started, those coupled up would weave in and out of each other.

Ronan was a good sport for joining in, though he didn’t know the moves. But boy, was he a quick learner. Ronan was such fun and didn’t mind making a playful fool of himself. He even played with the pack’s cubs – which is what we called our young back then as opposed to pup – and they loved him.

It was a pleasant surprise because I had imagined all the Royals to be standoffish and unable to let their hair down. But that was not the case. Each Prince laughed and danced all day and into the night. Even the King had fun in a way I never imagined he would.

Ronan held his hand out to me with a bow and asked if I would like to dance.

How could I refuse such a gentleman?

I took his hand and got lost in his ever-changing eyes as he swayed me gently. I felt safe in his arms – safe in a way I never had with anyone else. It was not the same kind of safety I felt with my father and Duncan; this was something else entirely.

Ronan leaned into me, his cheek against mine, and he whispered in my ear, “It’s a wonderful place you have here, Moira. The pack is amazing. They are a family.”

“Aye,” I smiled. “It is surely that, alright.”

“You’ll be sad to leave it all behind, I’m sure. But fear not, we will return to this place as much as possible.”

And just like that, I felt as though ice water had been tipped over my head. I didn’t want to lead Ronan on and make him think anything could become of our mateship because it couldn’t.

How could it when I had no desire to leave Kelp Paw Pack?

But on the other hand, I could not bear to be parted from the man Mighty Fenrir had chosen for me. My heart was telling me one thing, but my head was telling me something completely different.

‘What am I going to do, Morag? Please tell me.’ I pleaded with my Lycan to give me the answer.

‘We go with our mates, Moira. I know you’re scared because Kelt Paw and Scotland are all you’ve ever known. But a mate is a gift that should not be thrown away so willingly.’

She was no help to me at that moment. My Lycan wanted her mate, and nothing would change her mind.

“Are you alright, Moira?”

I blinked as I looked at Ronan. I had not realized we had stopped moving, and I felt rude for spacing out while talking to my Lycan when this beautiful man was in front of me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “My Lycan and I were talking. I didn’t mean to be so rude.”

He smiled while cupping my cheek. “You were not rude. Lucian and I do that often without realizing we are in company.”

“Lucian is your Lycan?” What a ridiculous question!

Who else would Lucian be?

“Yes,” Ronan nodded. “And Morag is your Lycan.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “Yes. How did you know?”

“Your brother told me.”

“You spoke with my brother?”

Ronan nodded. “While you were dancing with the children, he approached me. Duncan is a nice man. I like him very much. Plus, he thinks the world of you, Moira.”

I smiled and turned my head, believing I would see Duncan, but I couldn’t see him anywhere. I narrowed my eyes while searching the throngs of people with my eyes.

Where could he have gone?

“Moira? Is something wrong?” Ronan asked.

I looked at him and nodded. “I cannae see ma brother anywhere. It’s nae like him to disappear. We have Royal guests. Duncan knows how important this is to our parents.”

Ronan smiled at me.

I narrowed my eyes. “What at ye smiling at?”

“The way you speak, your accent, I love it.”

I rolled my eyes but could not stop the smile that spread across my face. “I like the way you speak also.”

Ronan winked. “I would not worry about your brother. When he and I spoke, he confided in me about Bonnie,”

My eyes widened in shock. Duncan had not been forthcoming when I asked him about Bonnie earlier that day. Granted, the Royals arrived before he could say much. But Ronan was a complete stranger. No one could get Duncan to talk if he didn’t want to speak. Yet, Ronan did just that. Then I realized that Ronan could have commanded Duncan to tell him what was on his mind.

“I did not do that,” Ronan chuckled.

My eyes widened further. “Did you just read my mind?”

Ronan shrugged. “Your mind is wide open to me, Moira. It’s not hard to hear your thoughts. It’s also easy for my family and me to hear your mind links with your family.” He chucked as my mouth dropped. He heard what my parents were saying when he met me!

I was so embarrassed, but Ronan told me not to be. He found it amusing, and he was not mad at anyone for what they said. That settled something within me, but I had to remind my family to be careful what they said through the mind link in front of the Royals. I only prayed the King wasn’t annoyed with us, but he didn’t seem to be, so I dropped it.

“Anyway,” Ronan tucked my hair behind my ear, sending pleasant sparks rushing over my skin. “I convinced your brother to speak with Bonnie in private.”

“But that’s not allowed! It’s against pack rules for unmated males and females over the age of sixteen to be alone, Ronan. Father will be furious with Duncan because as future Alpha of the pack, he should know better!”

Ronan took my hand. “Come with me,”

“What? I cannot. My father…”

“Will be just fine,” He smiled. “My father will keep yours occupied for a moment. Please, Moira. Nothing untoward will happen. Tradition is important to me, also. I would like to show you something.”

I swallowed hard. I knew it was wrong to be alone with the Prince until I made up my mind whether or not to be with him. But I also didn’t refuse. I nodded and allowed Ronan to lead me away from the party.

I did not know what he wished to show me, but I knew it must have been important for him to practically beg. As he led me further away from my home, the more nervous I became.

“Ronan, where are you taking me?” I was confused about how Ronan even knew his way around.

But he chuckled and said, “I’m following your brothers’ scent.”

It wasn’t long before he pulled me behind the oak tree on the hill. “What are we doing?”

He clutched my hand tighter in his own, and I gasped when his eyes turned a deep shade of purple. I had never known anyone who had eyes that could change colour before. With every new colour, he grew more handsome.

How was that possible?

I gasped again when his voice filled my head. ‘This is one of my gifts, my love. Your brother is over there with Bonnie. We are too far away to hear what they are saying. But my gift will allow me to hear them, and while you’re holding my hand, I extend that gift to you.’

I was in awe of my mate right then. Not that we should have been spying on Duncan and Bonnie. But Ronan wanted to share something incredibly special with me, and it wasn’t like my brother and Bonnie were doing anything but talking.

“Bonnie, please,” I heard Duncan plead. “I cannot do this any longer. I gave you time to think about things,”

“Please don’t do this, Duncan. You don’t need me.”

“Yes, I do!” He yelled. “I don’t understand why you think I would just walk away.”

“You could have anyone, Duncan. Why me?”

My eyes widened when my brother took Bonnie’s arms in his hands. She looked at him with sad eyes.

“Because I want my mate. I want you, Bonnie.”

I gasped because this was what Duncan had been keeping to himself. Bonnie was his mate, and by the sound of things, she didn’t feel worthy of him. That was crazy. Bonnie was a quiet girl who kept herself to herself. But she was perfect for Duncan. Bonnie was loyal to the pack, and she was sweet and kind. She would be the perfect Luna for my brother. I was happy for them. I only hoped Duncan could talk Bonnie around.

“Do you honestly feel nothing for me, Bonnie? Tell me. If you want to reject me, I will not stop you. But I love you, and it’s killing me not being with you.”

Bonnie hung her head, and I could hear her crying. My heart hammered in my throat. The anticipation was driving me insane! I couldn’t have borne seeing my beloved brother go through a rejection that could kill him.

No one could force Bonnie to accept Duncan. But pack law stated any rejected Lycan would be cared for by the pack while the one doing the rejecting would be banished. They would no longer be welcome at Kelt Paw by order of the Alpha. Throwing away such a gift was highly frowned upon, which was another reason I was so afraid. If I didn’t accept Ronan, my father would banish me, and I would be a rogue with no home or family.

But this wasn’t about me; it was about Duncan and Bonnie.

Bonnie looked at Duncan. “You love me?”

“So much, Bonnie,” Duncan replied.

“The mate bond is making you think that way, Duncan.”

“You know that is not true, Bonnie. You know I have loved you since we were children. That love grew into something beautiful. Fenrir answered my prayers and gave you to me. You once loved me, too. Has that love died?”

I was even more confused. I knew Duncan and Bonnie were once friends, but I believed their friendship had ended since she refused to leave her house and Duncan had not been to see her.

Had Bonnie locked herself away because she loved my brother and couldn’t bear not being with him?

If so, why was she hiding from him now that he was her mate?

“I have always loved you, Duncan,” I held my breath. “I will love you until my dying day.”

“Then why are you hiding from me?”

“I do not know,” She whispered as Duncan wiped a tear from her cheek. “I didnae think I was good enough for you. Not just that, but the pack. I would be a terrible Luna.”

“You would be the best Luna, Bonnie. You are perfectly you, and you have my heart. Please,” He pressed his forehead to Bonnie’s. “Dinnae leave me.”

“I couldnae if I tried because I love you with every piece of me, Duncan. As long as you believe in me, that is all that matters. I will never reject you, my mate.”

I held back the urge to scream when they kissed. My brother had his mate, and I had mine. All I had to do now was decide if I could leave everything I had ever known for pastures new.