by Sydney Addae
Thiago looked at him and smiled before walking outside. He wrapped his arm around Raven’s waist, pulling her close as the car drew to a stop. Lucian reached the porch just as Zoe ran toward the car, opened the door and leaped inside.
Laughter floated toward them as they all waited for Zoe to finish greeting her mother.
“Tell security this human is to have access of Pack lands,” Lucian told Duke while waiting for Zoe to introduce him. Zoe stepped back with a wide grin on her face and wiped her eyes as the Queen stepped out. Slightly shorter than Zoe, the Queen’s reddish-brown wavy hair, brushed against her shoulders and down her back. Slender with ample curves, she pushed the sunglasses up her nose as Zoe took her hand. Dressed in a pricey canary-colored pantsuit that complimented her figure and complexion, she looked like Zoe’s sister, not her mother.
“Lucian,” Zoe said.
He walked toward them and met the Queen’s sharp gaze. “Mom, this is Lucian my mate and my King.” When she pronounced that title, the Queen gasped and stared at Zoe.
Zoe held her Mom’s gaze a few seconds and nodded. “He is my King.”
Queen Miriam released a sigh as she looked at Lucian. Looked wasn’t the right word, inspected as if he were a bug beneath a microscope was more like it.
“Hello, Queen Miriam. Welcome to Honduras and Central America,” Lucian said as he took Zoe’s other hand. “Please come inside from the heat.”
“It is dreadfully hot here,” Queen Miriam said. As they walked toward the porch. When they reached the narrow steps, Zoe released her mother’s hand and walked up holding Lucian’s. The Queen followed but Lucian got the feeling she wasn’t happy.
“Water?” Zoe asked her Mom.
“Yes, thank you, dear.” She looked around and her gaze landed on Sacha. “You’re here?”
He nodded but didn’t stand or speak. Instead, the two of them stared at each other for a few moments until Zoe returned with a bottle of water and gave it to her.
“Mom, this is Raven and her mate, Thiago.” Zoe pointed to the couple.
“Hello,” Raven said.
“Raven? You’re the one who was kidnapped?” The Queen’s gaze narrowed on her.
“Yes. My sister, Zoe returned me home safe.” Raven smiled at Zoe.
“Hmm.” The Queen took a long sip of water before looking at Thiago and then Duke.
“My brother and Alpha of Honduras, Duke,” Lucian said.
“Hello,” Duke said, clearly star-struck.
“Hello.” She looked at Raven. “Who kidnapped you?”
“We don’t know,” Raven said slowly as the Queen looked at Sacha.
“Sacha? Zoe risked her life to return this young woman home, who kidnapped her in the first place?” Queen Miriam demanded.
“Why are you asking me?” Zoe’s father asked, becoming animated for the first time since they had been in Honduras. “I was told she was in Bogota after she arrived.”
“You asked me to send a necklace with Kirlethanium stones. I had to deal with Helen’s husband which I hated to do, but I promised to help destroy those who damaged my baby girl.” Queen Miriam stood next to the table and slapped it with her palm.
“What? I did no such thing. I never asked for your help to avenge my den. Why would I ask for such a thing?”
“Mom?” Zoe stepped between her parents. “First off, while you’re here we can’t have your human security guards on Pack land. The risk of exposure is too high. Once we take your luggage from the car, send them back into town until you’re ready to leave.”
“What?” her Mom looked down at her as if she spoke a foreign language.
“Seriously, they cannot be here. Send them away now,” Zoe said.
Her Mom pulled out a dining chair and sat down. “Whatever you think is best, go ahead and do it, Zoe.”
Full-blood security brought in her Mom’s luggage and placed it in the hall. “I’ll be right back.” Zoe looked at her Mom and then her sire before leaving the room with Lucian.
“You brought humans onto Pack lands?” Alpha Sacha crossed his arms and glared at her.
“Don’t change the subject,” Queen Miriam snapped, leaned forward and whispered. “Do you think Raven was taken to lure Zoe out into the open so they could take her again?”
Sacha’s brows furrowed. “No. I cannot think those thoughts.”
“There were men in the airport, telling her to follow them. I don’t like this. Too many unanswered questions. They cannot take her again. Cannot run tests on her or hurt her. Never again.” She dropped her face into her palms.
Sacha stood and pulled her into his arms. “No one will take our Zoe. Her mate is strong and smart. He is Alpha over seven countries, all Central America. She is safe here. Don’t fear, she is safe.”
Zoe inhaled as security informed them the humans had left. “Sorry about that,” she told Lucian.
“No problem. We’ll work through this.” He paused and pulled Zoe close. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about my search for Raven. I asked a tracker to search Lyrill for her.”
Zoe frowned. “Why? What would Raven be doing all the way in Lyrill?”
“Kirlethanium was stolen, taken from Pack lands in Costa Rica. Plus, Prokam purchased a crystal necklace in Costa Rica and told the clerk I asked him to buy it.”
“Prokam? Helen’s Prokam?”
“Yes. We assumed Lyrill was involved somehow.”
“That’s a leap. We better get inside before Mom and dad go after each other.” She walked ahead of him and stopped in the foyer. The sight of the Queen in her father’s arms blew her away. Speechless she continued to stare.
“She’s upset,” her father said into the silence.
The Queen turned in his arms, looked at Zoe and sniffed.
“Mom, what’s wrong? You feel okay?” Zoe moved close and touched her mother’s forehead.
“I’m not sick. My heart almost stopped a few times over the past week but that’s not important.”
“You were sick before I left the last time,” Zoe said, daring her Mom to deny it.
“What?”
“During your anniversary celebration and several times before that. I smelled it,” Zoe said.
“Eww, don’t tell anyone that,” the Queen said. “I wasn’t sick, sick. Helen was only permitted to return for the celebration to help me create a formula that would allow me to leave the country for extended periods of time. Lots of trials, errors and finally success.” Smiling, she held up her arms.
“That’s great. How long can you stay?”
“When is the wedding?” she countered.
“Mom,” Zoe took Lucian’s hand. “We haven’t decided on a wedding, yet.”
The Queen’s gaze narrowed as she stared at them. “What do you mean you haven’t decided, yet?”
Zoe ran her tongue across her lips.
“You’ve claimed him as your king, giving up your rights and position to the throne something we worked on for years. You’re moving far away to another continent to live with your Alpha king.” She looked at Lucian. “I have been here almost 20 minutes and you have yet to apologize for breaching the walls of Lyrill with La Patron’s Hunter.”
“What?” Zoe said.
“I told you,” Lucian said.
“No, you said you sent someone, not that they broke through. Have you any idea what that means?” Zoe asked.
“If she was a wolf it could be considered a challenge but she’s human,” Lucian said.
Zoe released a sigh. “You owe her. Big time. Prepare to have a wedding because I guarantee that’s the price she will charge for that breach.”
“What can she do if I refuse?” Lucian asked.
Zoe’s eyes hardened as she met his gaze. “Don’t go there and damage my relationship with my mother. You were wrong, accept it and move on.”
He nodded. “Queen Miriam, I apologize. In my desire to find Raven I thought she was in Lyrill.”
“Apology unaccepted. We will discuss that matter
later.” She peered at Lucian. “Why did you think Raven would be in Lyrill? That makes no sense.”
“Prokam was seen, they tracked him and discovered his relationship to you, plus the Kirlethanium in Costa Rica,” Zoe said taking a seat at the table next to Raven, who sat with Thiago, listening.
“That’s a leap, even for La Patron. Lucian, we never found whoever took Zoe from here to Lyrill. When I found her, I shut down Lyrill, no outsiders, not even my cousin or her husband, to keep Zoe safe. When she called the other day from the airport...” She took a deep breath. “To say, strange men, full-bloods said she had to come with her, I ... there are no words to explain the fear that consumed me. I made plans to come here that same day. You understand full-bloods snatched her off the street and gave her to someone, possibly that officer running tests on wolves. From the first, she’s been taught to never blindly follow instructions, no matter who they’re from.”
“I was told she was snatched while waiting for her father and assumed my Uncle’s men were responsible. I agree you had a good reason to be concerned when they approached her,” Lucian said as he sat next to Zoe and took her hand as Miriam sat next to Sacha.
“My baby is stretching her wings to fly on her own and I’m scared shitless because I remember what they did to her.” She closed her eyes tight and released a breath as Zoe wrapped her arms around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.
“I love you, always have, always will. The only reason I can fly is that you prepared me for this moment, taught me how to be careful, alert and smart. When I soar, it’ll be in part because of the sacrifices you made to keep me safe,” Zoe said teary-eyed. They stared at each other for a few moments before the Queen nodded.
“You’re getting a Queen, Lucian, an original. I hope you recognize her value and appreciate her,” Queen Miriam said, dabbing the tears from her face.
“I recognized my Queen from the moment I saw her picture. She’s my heart and I will serve and protect her with my life,” Lucian said with conviction.
“Good to hear because those are my thoughts exactly,” Zoe’s father said.
“Daddy,” Zoe said.
“No. In this, your father and I agree. Lucian will protect you with his life,” Queen Miriam said.
Zoe sighed and shook her head. “They don’t mean it.”
“Yes, they do and they should. My life would be over without you, it is the way of mates,” Lucian said as he brushed his lips against her cheek.
Thiago cleared his throat.
They all looked at him.
“Back to Raven’s kidnapping. Are you saying she wasn’t the real target, Zoe was?” Thiago asked.
“I have no idea. Ask Silvia,” Zoe said looking at her dad. “I asked her about the necklace Raven had on, she told me it was a gift, but Raven didn’t have it on when we left. Kirlethanium, Huiblin and Iritad stones were on it.” She looked at her Mom who nodded.
“I sent those to keep her disoriented and to affect her memories. Once the crystals were removed the lethargy would leave with no physical or mental damage.”
“How did you break our links and remove her scent?” Duke asked.
Queen Miriam frowned. “The request was for something to take her into a deep state and no memories of the taking. Nothing was added to impact links or remove scents.”
“Is that something you could do?” Lucian asked.
She didn’t answer.
Zoe patted his hand. “Daddy, can you reach out to Silvia, ask who took Raven and why?”
“She’s not answering me. No one has seen her since we flew here,” he said.
“Well, didn’t see that coming,” Thiago said. “Alpha, when you return home, there are additional safety measures I would like installed to protect my mate.”
“Whatever you need or want will be done,” Sacha said.
“You’re leaving?” Queen Miriam asked Sacha.
“Yes, there are things I need to take care of.”
“Oh. Okay.” She turned to look at Zoe. “Congratulations, baby. You too, Lucian.” She looked at Raven. “Congratulations to you as well and Thiago. Don’t take my part in the kidnapping personally. It wasn’t about you but retaliation to what was done to my daughter. She set me straight on that and made me see my mistake.”
Raven nodded at the half-apology and leaned against Thiago.
Sacha stood. “Walk with me, Miriam.” He extended his hand. She looked at it for a second and then took it. They walked outside.
Duke watched from the window for a few moments and shook his head. “Awesome. Your Mom is awesome, Zoe.”
“Yes, she is.” Zoe leaned against Lucian’s shoulder.
“So, we’re having a wedding?”
Zoe nodded. “And possibly a full-blood celebration for my dad.”
Lucian smiled and kissed her again. “As long as I’ve got you, nothing else matters.”
“You’ve got me and probably some little ones.” She nipped his neck.
“Hard as I’ve been working, we should.” He brushed his lips against her neck. “So... how long will your Mom be here?”
Zoe grinned. “I don’t know. She’ll grow on you.”
He groaned and kissed her again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
SILAS AND JASMINE SAT in their living room in shock over Lucian’s news. Queen Miriam had found Zoe, Lucian’s mate and raised the young girl for the past 14 years? That was the best-kept secret in the world.
“I still can’t believe it,” Silas said closing his eyes as if he had just seen a bad play.
“Asia wasn’t surprised. She admired Miriam’s tenacity and loyalty to her father and their people. The one thing Miriam wanted from both Tyrese and Damian was a child. It shouldn’t be a wonder she has one,” Jasmine said.
“It is.”
Jasmine laughed at his surly tone. “Outsmarted by a woman, huh?”
He rolled his eyes at her.
“Kirlethanium had nothing to do with Raven at all.”
He didn’t say anything.
She pushed his shoulder. “Come on, admit it, Raven deserves a mate.”
“Everyone deserves to experience the same euphoric bliss I receive from you,” he said in a dry tone.
She laughed. “You were so sure Miriam was behind it. To make peace with his mother-in-law over Storm breaching her security, Lucian agreed to a Lyrill wedding and a Pack celebration.”
Silas snorted. “Miriam claimed Zoe was next in line for the throne and refused to consider any apology Lucian made until he agreed to the wedding for the people of Lyrill. More like for herself,” he murmured.
Jasmine laughed again. “I’ll give her credit for being sharp and it sounds like she trained Zoe to be the same. Lucian needs someone like that to stabilize him. Maybe he won’t be so dependent on his litter-mates now.”
“Dependent on Raven you mean?” Silas looked at her.
“Yes.”
“He’s a good Alpha.”
“Without question, but he needs to stand on his own, believe in himself, more. His mate will help with that.” Jasmine took Silas hand and kissed the back of it. “That’s just one thing we mates are good at doing.” She winked at him.
“You’re right, Sweet Bitch.” He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her hard.
The next moment they were in the presence of the Goddess.
“Silas. Jasmine,” the Goddess called out with excitement.
Shocked, they stood next to each other, dressed in white robes looking around. This wasn’t the area they normally met the Goddess. This place looked more personal with muted colors and soft lighting.
The Goddess smiled brightly at them, drawing Jasmine’s attention. “You are safe. It is finished.”
“Safe? Us? Was there a problem?” Jasmine asked without thinking.
Grandfather walked in smiling and holding a tray with glasses.
“What’s going on?” Jasmine asked Silas.
“I’m not sure.” He took one of the
glasses from Grandfather.
Jasmine took one.
Grandfather took the other.
The Goddess materialized one in her hand and changed her appearance so that she looked human and walked toward them. “Long live Silas and Jasmine and the Wolf Nation!” The Goddess said and drank.
Unsure what was going on, Jasmine and Silas took sips from their glasses. “Um, this is delicious.” Jasmine took another sip without taking her gaze off the Goddess and Grandfather. Something strange was going on, they looked entirely too happy. She didn’t trust it.
“It is a blend preserved for special occasions. This celebration qualifies,” Grandfather said, taking another sip and bowing to the Goddess. “To your incomparable genius and large heart.”
They all took another sip to toast the Goddess.
Confused, Jasmine bit the corner of her lip to stop from speaking again.
The Goddess looked at Jasmine and laughed. It held a tinkling quality that raised goosebumps across Jasmine’s arms. “You are such a delight, dear Jasmine. I will not keep you in suspense any longer.” She released her glass. It disappeared and her throne appeared. She sat on it and nodded at Grandfather.
“Remember the time the Shershrine began separating the two of you? The Goddess made a plea on your behalf.”
Jasmine would never forget and held Silas’ hand tighter.
Grandfather continued. “Although She expressed the need for your services, told them of your goodness and how you worked together to save the Pack, they were not impressed or moved.” Frowning, he paused. “Still can’t believe they planned to killed you both, as well as all half-breeds... until She spoke of a compromise.”
Heart in her throat, Jasmine dropped the glass as she grabbed Silas’. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. That was not what either of them expected to hear.
Grandfather continued as if he hadn’t just said there had been plans to execute them. “When they scanned Angus and Shyla, they were slightly appeased but still wanted to destroy half-breeds and replace them with full-bloods.” Grandfather shook his head. “That would’ve created problems everywhere. Millions of full-bloods had already sired half-breeds.”
“What?” Jasmine whispered feeling faint. Her babies? They would’ve killed her babies? Dots floated in front of her eyes as her knees buckled. Silas held her tight, keeping her from falling as tears filled her eyes. Silas was in that number. “What compromise? What happened?”