The Lycan Queens Dance with the Moon By Lenore Rose

Homeward Bound

Josh stepped up the rickety old steps, vines over grown on the hand rails and the siding on the house. The big dead oak tree creaked in the wind. Nicole moved closer to Josh instinctively feeling watched and nervous.

Josh, Nicole and Mark all stood in front of the door. It had paint chipping off and had a rusty wolf head door knocker ring in the center of the door.

Nicole looked up at Josh and he nodded. She reached up and knocked with the door knocker. It was 1:45pm. They were 15 minuets early.

They waited a minute and just as Nicole was going to knock again the door creaked open. Nicole took a step back almost behind Josh as a man looked around the door. He was old with large fluffy eyebrows, deep wrinkles on his face and a slight hunch back. His blue eyes took in the three of them and he looked a long time at Nicole.

"Josh Stevens of Hollow Moon Pack here to see Alpha Giest."

"OH yes. Come right in." He stepped to the side and the three walked in together. As the door shut the fisad faded away and they were standing in the lobby of a very upscale mansion with golden framed pictures, a huge spiral staircase that joined in the center with black velvet on the treads.

"Wow" Nicole said out load and then regained composure.

The old man smiled at her and looked her up and down. "Follow me." He lead them upstairs and down a long hallway that was lined with fresh flowers and statues. "You can wait here." He opened a room that obviously just a meeting room with sitting chairs side tables. "Drinks?" He asked.

"Sure. That would be great." She smiled at him and liked the feeling she was getting from him. He brought them all water and then left the room.

They all sat quietly as they waited.

"You get that witch here right now! If it's her then we will need him." They heard a booming voice from a different hallway. Shortly after the door on the opposite side of the room opened a huge man with black hair and lightening blue eyes entered the room.

Josh stood up and started to introduce himself and Alpha Giest just put his hand up looking directly at Nicole. Josh started to feel jealous and stood in front of Nicole. Getting the Alphas attention. He saw the look in Josh's eyes and he knew that this was her mate.

Not wanting a fight he looked at him "I do believe you are protecting my granddaughter. I just can't believe it's her. I apologize for my behavior." Alpha Giest regained his composure as Josh stepped out of the way but staying close.

Nicole took a step closer to him and he looked at her up and down with a look of wonder and astonishment. "You look exactly like your mother, but I see my son in there." He came closer and Josh gave a growl.

"Please? She is my long lost granddaughter."

Josh looked over at Nicole and she nodded and he nodded back and then turned his back. To try and stifle the jealously.

He towered over her at almost 7 feet tall he picked her up and swung her around like a little girl. He had a smile a mile wide as he embraced her. "We never stopped looking for you. Never." He hugged her again and then stepped back to look at her. He had tears in his eyes.

"Alpha?" A man interrupted them

"We are having a coming home party for my beautiful granddaughter, her mate Josh and his friend Mark."

The man stopped and looked at her. Josh was feeling sick to his stomach all these men drooling over her. "When?"

"Tomorrow!" He roared not looking at him.

"Theme?"

"Princesses and ponies of course. She is a princess."

"Yes Alpha." The man quickly left.

Then we heard a scream from down the hallway and Mark turned toward the scream. His eyes dilated he began moving toward the scream "Mine!" He roared as he ran out of the room.

"Mate! My mate is here." They heard the female voice.

Then there was silence. Nicole looked after the open door and was going to follow him when Josh touched her arm shaking his head 'no'.

"Please come sit down Princess." His eyes were still looking at her in wonder. She sat across from him and Josh sat right next to her. She felt totally comfortable with him. She the warmest feeling from him. They talked like they were old friends. He wanted to know everything.

"Dinner is ready Alpha."

"Follow me. I had a very special meal prepared for us." They all stood and followed him out. Nicole looked down the hallway sort of looking for Mark.

She was pleased to see him sitting at the dinner table with his mate. They could hardly stop touching each other. Nicole smiled looking him and she got a growl from his mate.

A woman entered the room from the other side. She was tall with blond hair and she looked at her as if she was seeing a ghost.

"Princess, this is Luna Katherine. She is your Grandmother." Nicole reached out to shake her hand and she shied away. "Luna has some memory problems and does not always know what is going on." He looked sad looking at her. "Mark's mate is your cousin. Your aunts daughter." He waved over towards her or them as it is now. Nicole waved at her and she stood up and walked over to her.

She got very close to her face looking at her closely. "Welcome home" She finally said but Nicole got the feeling she didn't mean it.

"Dinner is served." Then a bunch of people walked in and started serving food as they sat down. Alpha Giest made a toast to both Nicole's return and Rhonda finally finding her mate.

After dinner Alpha asked to speak with Nicole alone. Josh agreed and they showed him to their room.

"Grandfather (he insisted she call him that). Who is Sabrina?" Nicole shifted a bit. She thought it would be best to ask him when they were alone.

He let out a deep sigh "She is Rhondas mother. She went down the same path as Luna did. Her mind wonders a lot. How did you even know her name?"

"We found a letter from her and at first I thought it was Uncles sister but then I realized that couldn't be. He had never mentioned a sister."

"Are you looking for your mother?"

"Honestly I have no idea what I am looking for. I didn't know I was some weird creature until about a month ago or so." She told him all about her Uncle dying, finding the pictures, the mystery boxes, the jewlery. She told him how Josh has been amazing and about being kidnapped.

"Wait, so they caught you. Brought you back to their world and you escaped and you don't even

hardly know your other self?" He was astonished.

"I guess." She curled her knees into her chest.

"You are amazing." He set his drink down "I suppose I should show you to your room. We can continue this conversation tomorrow with Josh." He held an elbow out for her. She felt so good with him, like he would never let anything happen to her.

He stopped by her room and said good night. She watched him walk away. She smiled to herself. She was lucky.

She opened the door and found Josh playing air guitar on the XBOX. When he finished she joined him. She had never played before but it was fun and they laughed at her as she tried different things.

It was the very first time in her life she felt comfortable. They sat on the couch laughing at each other playing guitar or the drums.

"I think I am going to hit the sack." She finally said as she pulled her pony tail out.

"Sounds like a good idea. I am spent." Josh stood up and grabbed his jammie pants and slid into the king sized bed. "Wow, this bed is so soft." He opened her side of the bed for her.

"Are you really real? I mean I never have to be afraid some other woman will steal you away from me? I will always be able to come to bed to you?"

"Pretty much. There might be times I travel for work and such but never for one second could another woman come between you and I." He pulled her close and she put her arm over his and his touch always felt so good.

"Can you believe this is my family? Uncle always told me that he was my only family member. I wonder why it was so important to keep me away from these people? They clearly love me." She sighed. "Do you think everything he said to me was a lie?" She sounded sad.

"I think he cared about you. That wasn't a lie. He didn't torture you or anything. He just seems cryptic. When I was at his house, looking for you, I got the sense that he wasn't totally human either. I couldn't quiet put my finger on it but I could smell it." Josh wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her so all of his body was touching hers. She just felt so good to him.

"I am glad Mark met his mate although I don't think she liked me much." Nicole loved feeling him close, she could feel his heart beat against her back.

"She will come around. Sealing the bond is very percarious time for some, especially if they are the jealous type. Just give them space."

He kissed the top of her head.

She turned around in his arms smiling at him "Did we seal out bond yet?"

"Of course. Do you know when it happened?" He was curious.

"I think it was when I ran into you while out running. I just felt this wierd burning in my entire body and I almost couldn't run away from you. It was one of my top weird moments of my life."

"Mine too." He smiled at her. "But, no, that wasn't it, you left too fast. It was at the table when I was showing you how you feel and smell your mate. That was the moment. You felt me and accepted me." He looked into her light golden brown eyes and touched her cheek with his thumb. "You are so beautiful." He kissed her and it was passionate. He was feeling so many things from her and he could tell she aroused.

He spun her around and he was on top of her grinding into her with the clothing in the way. Kissing her and touching her. He wondered if he was ever going to be able to control himself around her.