“You care for my daughter,” Jillian’s father accused.
“I do sir, very much, and after she graduates high school, I plan on marrying her.”
Jillian gasped and looked up at him. All she saw was love and great promises in his eyes.
“Well, that was fast,” her mother replied, “but if you are happy Jillian, you have my blessing.”
“She does not have mine,” her father replied angrily. “She probably has Stockholm Syndrome, where the captive falls in love with the captor.”
Jillian frowned at her father. “Dad, I think I know the difference. Edric has been nothing but kind, and I kind of like him.”
“I kind of like you too,” Edric smiled at her as he pulled her chair out for her so she could sit.
“This is not a Disney fairy tale,” her father frowned. “You can’t just fall in love with someone you met less than a week ago.”
“You can if they are your mate,” Edric pointed out.
“Mate, right,” he scoffed. “That is a bunch of bogus. There are no such things as soulmates. I love my wife, but I don’t think we are soulmates,” he said, looking at her.
She was frowning. “Henry, shut your mouth,” she warned him.
“No, I will not. This is a bunch of bull crap. He has our daughter hoodwinked, and I will not have it. I want to bring her home with us.”
“You already have your answer, Henry, she said she was staying,” Edric told him. If Henry was a wolf, Edric would challenge him. He didn’t like how he was treating Jillian. Henry glared at him.
“He probably only wants you for his plaything,” her father muttered.
Jillian flushed. “I admit, that is what I thought also father, especially when I was brought here against my will. But I have changed my mind. I like it here. Besides, I told Edric I would give it a month, and if I didn’t like it, I would leave and come back home.”
“You did?” her father asked hopefully.
“I did,” she nodded, looking at Edric, who was smiling sadly. He could not lose his mate. He would try anything to make her stay.
“She did, Henry, and I agreed,” Edric nodded at him.
“Good, that makes me feel better. I just don’t want my daughter here against her will.”
“Shall we eat?” Edric asked, changing the subject.
Jillian’s parents nodded as the door opened and six people came in, each with a plate of salad. They placed them in front of everyone and left the room.
Jillian looked at her salad. Cucumbers, she hated cucumbers. She put them to the side.
Edric saw what she was doing and chuckled.
“You don’t like cucumbers?” he whispered to her.
“I can’t stand them,” she admitted.
“You should have said something, Den would have left them off,” he told her.
“That’s okay, I took them off.”
“Next time if you don’t like something, let the cooks know, you are my Luna after all,” he whispered to her. “You can be catered too, and I will make sure of it.”
She blushed. “Thank you.”
“Lovely,” Jillian’s mother said, as she picked up her fork.
Edric dug into his salad, watching those at his table. Emerson struck up a conversation with Jillian’s father about archeology, and Carla started talking about the fun places to shop in town to Jillian’s mother.
Edric then looked at Jillian, who was listening to everyone visit. She had a smile on her face.
He squeezed her hand under the table, and she squeezed back.
“It’s nice seeing my parents getting along with Carla and Emerson,” Jillian told him.
Edric nodded. “Yes, it is nice, and I hope that your parents realize that you are here because I love you.”
She smiled up at him. “I think I am falling for you also,” she admitted to him. How could someone fall for someone so fast? Was she truly his mate? She had only known him for a few days.
“I am glad,” he said, kissing her cheek.
The dinner was delicious. After the salad came a cold fruit soup, and then steak cooked to perfection, red potatoes with some kind of seasoning, and fresh green beans from the garden. For dessert, Den had made Flambé, which he lit on fire in front of them. Jillian was impressed. She enjoyed the dinner, and Edric invited everyone to the sitting room for a nightcap. Her parents shook their heads. “We don’t drink, and neither does Jillian,” her father glared at her.
“She has not been drinking, I assure you, Henry,” Edric grinned. “I also have tea, coffee, and hot chocolate,” he told them.
They agreed, and everyone headed to the sitting room, which was at the front of the palace, in a large room next to the front door.
Emerson poured tea for Jillian and her mom, coffee for himself and for Jillian’s father. Edric shook his head. “I am fine.”
“Yes, you are,” Jillian whispered to him.
He grinned foolishly. “Glad you think so,” he whispered back.
The couples visited about travels, and Jillian sat on the couch by Edric, laying her head on his chest. He took her cup, setting it aside, and tucked her against him. She felt herself growing sleepy, and soon she was asleep.
Edric could feel Jillian relax, and he smiled down at her as he saw that she was asleep. He tucked his arms under her and stood. “I am taking her to bed, I will be right back,” he stated, and walked out of the room with her. He looked down at her as he carried her up the stairs. He smiled. She was so incredibly beautiful and looked content. He was so glad she was his. He laid her onto her bed, took off her shoes, then pulled the covers over her. He watched her for a moment, feeling such an incredibly deep love for her. He kissed her forehead and closed the door behind him softly. He headed back down the stairs to see that Jillian’s parents were headed out for the night.
“Thank you for coming,” he shook Henry’s hand and hugged Nadine. “I know Jillian was happy to see you, and you can come and visit whenever you like.”
“Yes, your Highness,” Nadine smiled up at him. “I cannot believe that my daughter is falling for a King. We had high hopes for her, but this is even higher than imagined.”
Edric chuckled. “So are you feeling better about me keeping your daughter here?”
“Yes, I can see that she is happy.”
“She makes me happy also,” Edric replied, seeing them out the door.
Henry looked at Edric. “Treat her well.”
“I will Henry, don’t worry.”
“Good, I hate to have to come and shoot you if you mistreat her.”
Edric chuckled. “I hope it never comes to that.”
“I do too,” Henry replied and tucking an arm about Nadine’s waist, they headed to their car. He watched them drive away and then headed back inside. Warren and Emerson were there, along with his two most trusted guards, Orson and Wes. They followed him into his office and he closed the door.
“As you know, I marked my Luna today,” Edric told them.
They all nodded. “Which means her life will be in greater danger. I want her protected without it looking like she is being protected.”
The men nodded.
“Good. Gentlemen, I am tired, so I will see you tomorrow. Orson, Wes, you know your duties.”
“Yes sire,” they both said, and headed out the door behind him, Warren headed to his room and Emerson to his.
As Emerson closed the door behind him, Carla was waiting for him in bed. She smiled at him. “Our Alpha is happy.”
“Extremely.”
“That’s good. He has needed a mate for too long.”
“I agree, and Jillian will be a good match for him, keep him in his place.”
“You had better believe it. I can’t see her letting him get away with anything.”
“Which is just what he needs,” Emerson told her, as he climbed into bed by her.
“I just hope that she will love him as much as he does her,” Carla said, as she drifted off to sleep.
“I am sure that she will,” Emerson grinned, kissed her cheek and fell asleep.
Edric went to his room but walked into Jillian’s to check on her first. She looked like she was sleeping okay, her face peaceful as she slept. He was tempted to climb in beside her, but he didn’t want her to be angry with him in the morning, so he went back to his room, promising himself that one day soon, she would willingly have him in her bed, and that would be a very good day.
“A very good day,” Raul his wolf agreed.
Chapter 8
Jillian was not sure what time it was when she woke up, but she felt uncomfortable. She realized why when she found her dress was hiked up past her thighs in bed.
She got up, stripped off the dress, put on a long t-shirt, and headed back to bed, setting her alarm. If she was going to school, she had better set it.
She fell right back asleep and didn’t wake up until her alarm went off. She hurriedly got up, showered and dressed in jeans and a nice shirt, and then grabbed her backpack off the floor. She wondered how behind she was in schoolwork. She hoped Edric had dismissed her for a few days, so she wouldn’t be marked absent with no call in.
Carla brought her breakfast into her.
“Glad to see you are ready. Alpha is ready to take you to school when you are ready to go.”
“He is really taking me?” Jillian frowned.
Carla grinned. “Yes, and don’t argue about it. He is just watching out for his Luna,” she pointed out and left the room.
Jillian hurriedly ate the waffle, chased it down with orange juice, and then headed down the stairs. Edric was visiting with Emerson by the front door, they were waiting for her. They both nodded at her, then Edric stepped up to her and kissed her softly. She didn't think she would get used to having attention from such an amazing looking man, and his kisses were enough to make her want to pass out they were so incredible.
“Good morning Luna,” Emerson said. “Ready for school?”
“Hopefully,” Jillian said, stepping back from Edric. “I just hope that I am not treated like I was before.”
Edric frowned. “People were not nice to you?”
“I’m never a popular one,” Jillian shrugged, “and who knows how it will be now that you marked me.”
“Now you are the Luna, they have to treat you with respect,” Edric told her as he put an arm about her waist and headed outside with her. “If not, I will know, and they will regret it.”
“Will they know who I am? I am human after all.”
“You are human, but they will see your mark, and they will respect you. Don’t worry Luna, I am close by if you need me,” he said, kissing her, and helping her into the limo.
He slid in beside her, and Emerson climbed into the driver’s seat.
“We’ll be back to get you when school gets out,” Edric assured her.
She nodded and sat by him, and he held her hand until they pulled up to the school. Students were walking in but stopped when they saw the limo.
Edric got out, making the girls grin, and head towards him, but they stopped when he pulled Jillian from the car and putting his arms around her, laid a searing kiss on her lips.
She pulled away, her face bright red. “Thanks, for embarrassing me,” she muttered.
“Just letting everyone know you are mine,” he chuckled. “See you after school.”
He climbed back into the limo and it pulled away.
“Jillian!” Kimberly shouted, running up to her, and hugging her friend tightly. “I thought you were gone for good, yet here you are.” She stepped back to eye her friend and then gasped. “No way,” she whispered, touching Jillian’s mark. “He marked you as his Luna,” she said reverently.
“Luna,” Jillian heard the murmur, and then she saw the students who were outside bared their necks to her, swearing their loyalty to her.
“Well, I’ll be,” Ruben chuckled, as he headed to them. “A Luna, it is about time, and our friend Jillian at that,” and then he hugged her.
“Um, Ruben that’s not a good idea,” Jillian said, backing away.
“Why not? Can’t I hug my friend?”
“Not if you don’t want to be pummeled,” Jillian said, as suddenly the limo came back, roaring to a stop, and Edric hopped out, looking read to kill. He knew another male had touched his Luna, and he was furious.
He headed to Ruben, his eyes black, his teeth elongated, but Jillian stepped in front of him.
“Edric, he was hugging me, as a friend.”
“He knows not to touch my Luna, or he pays with his life,” Edric growled.
“Edric, Ruben is mated, you don’t have to worry about him,” Jillian pointed out, pulling Kimberly forward. “See? This is his mate Kimberly, so just chill.”
Edric growled and stepped back. “You are lucky, wolf,” he growled at him. “If you were not mated I would have your head.”
A crowd had gathered, all of them fascinated that the Alpha would protect his human Luna so fiercely.
“I told you he would go all wolf,” Jillian smiled at her friends. She then kissed Edric. “We are fine, I promise no one else will touch me. They hate me anyway.”
“They had better not hate their Luna,” he said, glaring at the students. They all exposed their necks to him. Even Jillian felt like she needed too, she could feel the power rolling off of him, but she didn’t expose her neck. She kissed him again. “Go, you have better things to do.”
He nodded. “Behave,” he told her, and then getting back into the limo, he left once again.
“Well, I’ve been told,” Ruben chuckled, as they headed into the school, the other students following.
“So, what have I missed?” Jillian asked them as she headed to her first class.
“Not much. The girls are behaving better, and two have found their mates,” Kimberly shrugged.
“Are the girls disappointed that the Alpha is off the market?” Jillian asked.
“Very disappointed, but they will get over it.”
“Good, they had better,” Jillian said.
“You act like a Luna,” Kimberly grinned as Jillian stopped outside her classroom.
“What do you mean?”
“You exude power, for a human, I can feel it, and you look happy even.”
“It must be the mark,” Jillian shrugged.
"That and you are in love," Kimberly stated.
"I don't think so."
Kimberly laughed. "Whatever girl, you have it bad. But that's okay, the Alpha is one hot specimen," she pointed out.
"And here we thought I would be safe because I was human," Jillian laughed.
"I know," Kimberly smiled. "Who would have thought?"
Jillian hugged her friend then. “See you for lunch?”
“Of course, see you later,” she said, as Jillian walked into her class.
Mr. Flynn was getting ready for class when she walked in. He stopped and exposed his neck to her. “Luna,” he said.
“Mr. Flynn,” she replied, finding her seat.
“Have you started your essay?” he asked her. “I know you are Luna, but you still have homework.”
“No, I haven’t started it, but I will this weekend.”
“Good. It is due in two weeks unless you are going on the trip to France?”
“Trip to France?”
“The French class goes every year, I think they are going next week, you will have to ask your teacher.”
“Oh, I don’t know if I can, not where it is that soon. I don’t have the money.”
Her teacher chuckled. “I am sure it can be arranged for you to go. If the Alpha will let you.”
“I will ask him,” she smiled as the rest of the class filed in. All of them nodded to her in respect. What a change a few days made. She kind of liked it.
Her next class was the same. All of the students nodded at her with respect.
When lunch came around, and she walked into the lunch room, all talking stopped, and every student
, and teacher stood, and exposed their necks to her. She blushed as they did so, and nodded at them. They then sat down and she went to get her lunch.
She stood at the back of the line, but the students pushed her to the front. “Luna always eats first,” she was told.
“Oh,” she whispered, feeling embarrassed.
She got her food, and then headed to her table, only to find it had been moved to the head of the lunch room. She felt even more embarrassed as she sat down.
Ruben was chuckling as he walked up to her with his lunch. “Can we join you?” he asked her, making her sigh with relief.
“Of course,” she said, as he and Kimberly sat down. “I am so embarrassed,” she admitted.
“Why?” Kimberly grinned. “You are their Luna now. They have to treat you with the utmost respect, and if they don’t, the Alpha will not be happy,” she stated.
“It’s not like he is going to know if one of them is mean to me,” Jillian said.
“He will,” Ruben assured her. “Once you are marked, he can feel all of your emotions. He will know when you are angry or hurt, or scared.”
“Oh, great,” Jillian snorted, making the couple laugh.
“Do you have the mind link?” Kimberly asked curiously.
“No. I guess it doesn’t work on humans.”
“You are lucky,” Kimberly laughed. “At least you don’t have to worry about him reading your every thought unless you learn to block him out,” she said, looking at Ruben.
He shrugged. “Hey, sometimes it comes in handy. You don’t need to hear every dirty thought I have in my head about you,” he grinned.
“Are you sure?” Kimberly teased.
“TMI, you two,” Jillian said, making gagging noises.
The two laughed. “You just wait,” Kimberly said.
“Whatever,” Jillian said. “So, what is this I hear about a trip to France with the French class?”
“Oh,” Kimberly grinned. “The French class takes a trip every year. We usually go during spring break, which is next week, by the way,” she said, “and we spend two weeks there, learning the culture.”
“Have you been?” Jillian asked her.
“No, but I am this year. I can afford it since both of us work.”
The Alpha King and his Human Mate Page 8