The Lycan Queen

Chapter Seven

Devon’s POV

“Devon!” I heard my mother screaming the next morning. She came charging into my room and yanked my covers off me. Now, I love to sleep naked, and here I lay in my bed, in all my glory. Mother gasped and threw my comforter back on top of me.

“What the hell, Mother?” I yawned, looking at my phone. It was six in the morning. It is too damn early, but Mother must be on a mission if she is up this early.

“What the hell were you thinking of leaving the ball so early last night?” She asked me, screeching. “I worked hard to make all the arrangements to help you find a mate for you, regardless if it is your fated or chosen.”

“Mother, you invited all the socialite whores,” I told her, sitting up in my bed. “I want nothing to do with them.”

“You need to find a mate to take over the throne,” mother reminded me once again. She is always reminding me several times a day.

“I know that mother,” I growled at her, fed up with her shenanigans. I slipped out of bed, slipping on a pair of shorts I keep close to the bed for intrusions like this. Mother quickly turned around while I got somewhat decent. I went up to her and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, hugging her from behind. “You have to understand; I don’t want a chosen mate. I want my fated,” I explained to her. “There is something I need to tell you, but I want father with us when I tell the both of you. Meet me in the dining room in an hour, along with Darren and Elizabeth. I want my family together when I tell you the news.”

I heard mother gasp and turn around in my arms. “You found her, didn’t you?” she exclaimed.

“I’m not confirming anything, mother,” I told her, kissing her cheek. “Now, leave my room so I can get ready.” Mother was smiling, practically skipping out of my room. She has already started to plan my wedding, but I have yet to find out where Charlie is and bring her home.

An hour later, everyone was in the dining room, enjoying their breakfast. Father already has a busy day scheduled ahead of him, so I will make this quick.

“I have an announcement to make,” I announced to everyone, standing up from my chair. Mother was practically jumping up and down in her seat. Father had to reach over, taking her hand in his, his touch trying to calm her down.

“Where is she?” mother blurted out, no longer containing her excitement. “Where is your mate?” I hung my head and shook it as disappointment washed over me.

“Mother, calm yourself,” Darren hissed at mother. “Let him speak first, then you can get all emotional afterwards.” He looked back at me, smirking at me.

“Mother is right, I have found out who my mate is,” I started, and mother screamed in excitement. All of us glared at her, giving her a warning to contain herself.

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “Continue.” Everyone turned their attention back to me.

“As I was saying, I found my mate,” I continued, stopping for a few seconds for any more reactions from mother. Father pulled her onto his lap, trying to keep her calm. He smiled and nodded, letting me know to continue. “But with the circumstances of my mate, we all know what happened.”

“Who is it?” my sister-in-law asked excitedly.

“It’s Charlie,” I announced. There was a round of gasps for everyone, and mother jumped out of father’s lap, marching over to me.

“That can’t be!” she screeched, grabbing my arm and turning me to face her. “Charlie is dead, along with Carrie! It is impossible for you to be mated to someone who is dead!”

“That is the thing, mother, Rypere and I both believe she is still alive,” I explained to her. “If she were dead, Rypere wouldn’t have gone crazy last night at Aunt Katie and Uncle Harry’s house, feeling the mate bond. I need to find both her and Carrie and bring them both home where they belong.” Mother huffed and marched back over to father, swinging her arms all over the place.

“See, your son has gone delusional!” she screeched once again, this time louder. Darren, Elizabeth, and I all cringed, as mother was getting on our nerves with her dramatics this early in the morning. “Charlie and Carrie died in that fire years ago! There is no way they both could be alive!”

“Now, now, Tori, there is no need to get yourself all worked up,” father said to mother, getting up out of his chair. “If his Lycan is getting worked up over Charlie’s scent, then she could still be alive.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. “If our son believes she is alive, and is his mate, let him find her.”

“But she could be anywhere!” mother exclaimed, trying to pull out of his hold. Father held her tight, trying to get her to calm down. “She could live with the humans, on some Goddess-forsaken town with no knowledge of our world!”

“Then, let me look,” I told her, walking up to her, placing my hand on her back. “She has to be out there. I have to bring her home. It would bring so much closure to Katie and Harry, too. They have been mourning for years for their daughters, and it would heal them.” Mother sighed and nodded. She knew that finding their daughters alive would mean the world to her best friend and her mate. It would bring so much closure to them.

“Where would you start?” my brother finally said. Elizabeth reached out and placed her hand on his. I shook my head, not sure where to start.

“I honestly don’t know,” I answered my brother. “My best bet is to start at the local packs and towns and work my way out. I can have Mary do some research, check into any reports of any little girls inexplicably showing up somewhere, with no clue who there are. Perhaps a local family took them in and raised them.”

Mother scoffed and turned to me. “If that’s the case, they probably didn’t have proper manners when they were growing up,” she said.

“And the way you are acting is no manners,” my brother scolded her. “You have been acting like a child throughout breakfast.”

I turned to my father, hoping he would agree with my plan. “Father, with your permission, I would like to travel around, try to find Charlie, and hopefully, her sister, and bring them home, where they both belong,” I asked him. Father thought for a few minutes and then looked down at mother. They were linking each other, and mother was getting upset. But she calmed down and nodded.

“Go ahead, son,” he finally agreed. “Bring home our sweet Charlie, and quiet Carrie, and make her your mate.” I took his hand in mine, excited he agreed with my plan. “But under one condition: you have a few years to find her. That is how I got your mother to agree.”

“And if I don’t?” I ask. I was dreading the answer mother gave me.

“You will take Rochelle as your chosen mate,” she informed me. My shoulders slumped over. My worst nightmare coming true. I did not want to take Rochelle as my chosen. All she cares about are money and title. She doesn’t care about love. “I have already made arrangements with her parents that the two of you will become mates and become king and queen together.”

“That will never f*****g happen,” I snapped at her, Rypere coming forward, growling at my mother. He has never done that before, but this has pushed him to the edge. “The only mate I will take is Charlie! If I can’t find her, I will give up everything before I take that skank, Rochelle, as my mate!”

“But Rochelle would be perfect for the role!” Mother exclaimed. “She is from a great family, and the kingdom would be in harmony with all four of you running it.”

“No, mother, Rochelle will run it down to the ground,” I explained to her.

Then, I looked over at Elizabeth, as Rochelle is her older sister. “I am sorry, Beth, but I do not want your sister. She is rude and condescending. Also, with all the gossip, and what I have seen with my own eyes, she is a w***e, willing to sleep with any guy to get what she wants.”

“It’s okay, Devon,” she said sadly. “Daddy spoiled her rotten, giving her everything she wanted. I am embarrassed to call her my sister.” I sighed as I was relieved my sister-in-law was not upset with me.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to prepare for my trip,” I announced to my family. “Hopefully, I will come back with not only my mate but also with her sister as well.” I bowed to my parents and left the dining room to prepare for my search for my lost mate.