The Lycan Queen

Chapter Four

Devon’s POV

I met mother and father in the foyer, along with my brother, Darren, and his mate, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is such a sweetheart, and she can keep my little brother in line, keeping him out of trouble. I kissed both mother and Elizabeth on the cheek and bowed to my father.

“Father, I hope you are well this evening,” I said to him, stepping in to hug him. Even though he is the king of Lycans, he is a good father to both Darren and me, stern but loving.

“Devon, I am well,” he answered me. “I hope tonight you find your mate, so I can step down, and focus all my attention on your mother.”

He took her hand, kissed the back of it, and looked into her beautiful, chocolate-brown eyes. Mother blushed and placed her hand on his cheek. After all these years, they still love each other. That is the love I wanted with my mate.

Mother turned her attention to me and frowned.

“Devon, why are you not wearing the Kiton suit?” She asked me, adjusting my lapels.

“Because I didn’t want to ruin it with all the whores pawing me, leaving their scent, makeup, and dirt all over me,” I explained to her, trying not give her a disgusted look, imagining all the so-called socialites all over me.

“Well, we don’t have time for you to go up and change,” she said, sighing.

“Tori, my love, leave the boy alone,” father told her, pulling her close. “As a grown man, he can make his own decisions.”

“Actually, he is the crowned prince!” Mother scolded father. “He should at least act and dress like one.”

Father pulled her close and kissed her, trying to calm her down.

“Calm down, my love,” he told her. “Let’s go to Katie and Harry’s and enjoy ourselves. Leave Devon alone. He will find his mate someday.”

“But your-”

Father placed his finger on her lips, and gently shook his head, letting her know to drop it.

“My health is just fine,” he tells her. “Now, let’s go before I take you upstairs.”

I rolled my eyes, Darren groaned, and Elizabeth giggled. We all went and got into our cars. There were three of them, allowing each of us to ride in peace to Wettin Chalet.

It was a fifteen-minute ride, and I leaned against the window, watching the scenery go by. People would stop and bow their heads towards us as we drove past, showing their respect. The pack loves my parents, as they treated everyone with respect.

“Are you okay, sire?” I hear a voice. I looked over to father’s right-hand man, Christian. He was riding with me to the ball. But there is something about him that is suspicious, like he is always up to no good.

“Yes, Christian, I am fine,” I answered him, and turned my attention to the outside. “This is a waste of time for me. I will not find my mate here tonight.”

“Then, may I suggest you take a tour to the other packs, see if you will find your mate,” he suggested to me.

“It is better than going to these damn stuffy balls,” I told him. “I will mention it to mother and father in the morning once they realize I will not find my mate tonight.”

“Do you want me to make preparations?” Christian asked me, taking a sip from his brandy.

“Get with Mary, and go over my schedule,” I told him. “I also have other obligations, too, so I need to come home a few times.”

“Of course, sire,” he said, bowing his head.

We arrived at the gates of the Wettin chalet, and there was a line of cars. I sighed and leaned back in my seat, ready to get out. It was slow going, but eventually, we got moved ahead of everyone because of our status. My car pulled up behind mother and father’s, and the driver rushed around to open the door.

I got out, and a dozen single socialites mobbed me, wanting to mark their territory. I gently pushed them away and rushed inside, with Uncle Harry greeting me by the door.

“Devon, how are you doing tonight?” he asked, hugging me.

“I’d rather be anywhere else but here,” I answered him, returning his hug. “How are you, Uncle?”

“Well, you know, good days and bad. Katie had a bad day yesterday, wishing the girls could be here for the ball,” he said sadly as he looked over at his mate. She was gleefully welcoming guests, talking and laughing. “It has been eight years, and she still mourns them.”

“We all do,” I told him, placing my hand on his shoulder. “We will find the culprit someday.”

“I know,” he said. “I miss Charlie’s laugh, and Carolyn’s curiosity of the world.”

Remembering his daughters, I stood there with him. They were the light of the chalet, bringing cheer to everyone’s lives here.

I went into the ballroom, and the women swarmed me. They surrounded me, not allowing me any room to breathe. I danced with some, but honestly, none of them were my mate. Even Elizabeth’s older sister, Rochelle, danced with me, and tried her best to seduce me.

“How about we go somewhere quiet, and we get to know each other better?” She suggested, her lips close to my ear.

“Maybe some other time,” I told her. I excused myself and walked out of the ballroom.

Waiting for some peace and quiet, I walked upstairs to the room I had here. As I got to the top of the stairs, Rypere got excited.

“MATE!” he yelled in my head. He took over my body, and I ran down the hallway to where the girls’ bedrooms were. There was a scent coming from one of the rooms — Charlie’s old room.

It smelled of lilacs. I looked around, making sure no one was around, and entered her old room.

The way it was set up remained the same as the day they disappeared. The pink comforter was still on her bed, along with the canopy. Her dollhouse still sat in the corner, and they still had Charlie’s favorite tea set up on her table. Dolls were still there on the shelf, along with her favorite books.

“It is like they are still here,” I heard a voice behind me. I turned around, and I recognized the woman sitting in the rocking chair near the bed. “The Duke and Duchess still think that they are going to come home, but it has been too long.”

I walked over to the sweet older lady, as she was Charlie and Carolyn’s nanny.

“Nan, you are still here?” I asked her, kneeling on the ground in front of her, taking her hand in mine.

“I couldn’t leave,” she answered me, a tear rolling down her cheek. “The Duke and Duchess are wonderful people, and I love them. But we all need to face the truth; Charlotte and Carolyn are not coming back.”

“Maybe they will,” I told her, trying to reassure her.

“It’s been too long, sire,” she said to me, getting up from her chair. “Shouldn’t you be downstairs trying to find your mate?”

“That is just it, Nan, I found my mate,” I said to her. “It’s Charlie!”

“But Charlotte is dead, sire,” Nan informed me.

“No, she is not,” I said to her. “Otherwise, Rypere would not be going crazy in my head. She is still alive, and Carolyn might be, too! I need to find her!”

“Then, go find our girls, and bring them home,” she responded, squeezing my hand.

I kissed the old nanny on her cheek and ran out the door. I rushed out the front door, into my waiting car, telling the driver to drive me home.

Tomorrow, I will start the hunt for my mate.