22

Chapter 22 – Titus
I opened my eyes and thought I had dreamed the whole thing. But here I was, laying on my back in the big comfortable bed, wearing a bath robe with my hair wrapped in a towel. Diesel must have carried me out of the tub and put me to bed. I looked down at my waist and found Diesel. He was sleeping on his stomach with his arm draped around my midsection. He was topless and wearing dark gray sweatpants.
I had a great view of his sexy back and shoulders. He had the same tribal tattoos covering his left chest, shoulder and arm as Ranger. Even though they had so many mom similarities, I couldn’t help but admire Diesel for their differences. Diesel even made the small scar in his eyebrow look sexy.
“Are you done checking me out yet?” His gruff voice said as he squeezed his arm tighter around my waist, drawing a giggle from me.
There was a knock on the door and Diesel groaned. “Come in Payton.”
She came into the room and smiled wide. “Good morning Lucy. I brought you some clothes and boots for today, in case you want to get out of bed and explore the castle.”
“Thank you, Payton.” I smiled.
“Don’t mention it. Maybe if you’re feeling up to it tomorrow, I could take you shopping. That is, if your gracious mate will spare you and give us his black card.” She gave Diesel a grin with her eyebrows raised.
“It just so happens, that I’ve got business in the city tomorrow. So, if you ladies would like, you can both come with me and shop while I attend to business at the office.”
“YAY!” Payton clapped her hands and jumped on the bed with us. Then she grabbed a pillow and bopped Diesel with it. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“How’s your shoulder feeling Lucy?” She asked. “Much better, I think it’s almost healed.”
“Lucy, my father just mind linked me. He wants to know if you’re up to having breakfast downstairs?” Diesel asked.
“Sure, let me get dressed.”
“Come on, I’ll help you.” Payton picked up the clothes and headed for the bathroom. When I stepped out, I was wearing blue jeans with a black sweater and black boots. Diesel came over and secured the sling on my arm.
We headed down a beautiful staircase to make our way to breakfast. We passed a few pack members who stared at me curiously and greeted the Alpha and Beta. My eyes tried to take in as much of the castle’s beauty and craftsmanship. It was stunning.
We were approached by an older gentleman who appeared to be a butler. “Good morning Alpha, Beta, Miss.” He bowed his head to us. “Alpha Knox is in the family dining room this morning waiting for you.” He raised his arm and motioned towards a big wooden door.
“Good morning Lucy. How did you sleep?” Alpha Knox asked me. “Wonderful, thank you.”
Diesel sat at the head of the table and pulled me onto his lap. Payton sat to the right of us and Alpha Knox was seated on the left. They both had big smiles on their faces and my cheeks flushed red. Platters of food were brought in and set before us, eggs, sausages, bacon, potatoes and toast with three different jams. A young lady poured coffee and set a decanter down of juice next to a pitcher of water.
“Thank you, that is all.” Diesel dismissed them. “Lucy, do you like coffee?” He asked.
I shook my head no. “I prefer the juice please.”
He poured a glass of juice and started to fork food on his plate. I remembered when Alpha Jordan pulled me to his lap and fed me, it seemed a little awkward at the time, but sitting in Diesel’s lap felt so natural. His desire to protect and take care of me drove his behavior. He began feeding the both of us and Alpha Knox broke the silence.
“Lucy, I’m sure your mind is swimming with questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them.”
I thought for a moment, I did have a lot of questions. Where do I start? “Are there others out there, who are elemental?”
He considered the question for a moment. “Possibly, but most have been hunted down and killed.” He paused a moment. “I guess I’ll need to start at the beginning.”
Payton had stopped chewing and was listening to her father intently as well.
“Your father Peter and I were friends since we were pups, he was originally from Crescent Moon and became the best warrior we had. When my brother Titus became Alpha, Peter and I headed south with a few others and eventually took over Dark Moon pack. A few years later, we were in northern Alaska for pack business. We stumbled on a small pack no one had ever heard about. Your father and I both met our mates there. Clair came back and became my Luna. Your mother Alice, was her best friend and came back to be with her mate, Peter.” He stopped to sip his coffee.
“There’s an old legend that says, the direct descendants of the Moon Goddess shall possess the powers to control the elements. Over the centuries the special gifts have skipped generations and siblings. While Clair did not possess any powers herself, Diesel was blessed with the elemental gift of water. It skipped Ranger and Payton, but it doesn’t necessarily mean their children or grandchildren won’t have the gift. Your mother on the other hand, also had the gift of elemental fire. I didn’t expect it would pass to you, because it often skips generations.” He said.
Diesel gently squeezed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile.
“My brother Titus was the Alpha of Crescent Moon and became obsessed with trying to find an elemental wolf to mate with and create stronger offspring. When he failed to secure one, he set his eyes on your mother. She refused and a war broke out. He shot her with a silver bullet through the heart. We lost a third of the pack in that attack.”
I tried to process what he had just told me. Diesel looked up at me with concern in his eyes. He wiped the tear that escaped from the corner of my eye.
“I’m sorry Lucy. Crescent Moon had nearly fifteen hundred pack members and we had four hundred, half were women and pups. Titus left us alone after that and we continued to build the pack up and forge alliances with other packs. When Diesel turned eighteen, his wolf was stronger than any Alpha I’d ever met, and he discovered his power to control water. He trained relentlessly and as Diesel grew stronger, Ranger became more insecure. Their relationship has never been the same.
A year later my brother paid rogues to attack us looking for Diesel, but he was in the city that day on pack business. That was the day I lost Clair and my best friend. And I believe you know the rest.” He finished with sadness on his face.
We ate breakfast in silence, thinking about what we had just heard. Someone knocked on the door before opening it and two men walked in, they radiated power. The first was tall with dark brown hair styled in a faux hawk, brown eyes and a serious look on his face. The other was a little shorter, about six foot with sandy blond hair, brown eyes and a goofy smile on his face.
The serious one nodded his head to us. “Alpha, the warriors and pack are training at the indoor arena today. Will you be joining us or inspecting?” He asked.
“Lucy, you know my Beta, Payton, already. This is my Gamma, Ezekiel and Delta, Elliot.”
“Please, call me Zeke.” The tall serious one said.
“I will not be at training today.” Diesel told them. “Payton will be there for inspections shortly. I will be helping our Luna settle in.” He winked at me.
Both of their eyes widened in surprise. “Welcome Luna.” Zeke bowed his head again.
“I’m so glad he’s finally found you! If you need anything, Luna, do not hesitate to come to me, your trusty Delta.” Elliot flashed me a toothy smile and bowed his head. Diesel growled possessively and Alpha Knox tried to hide a chuckle.
“Come Lucy, Dr. Ross wants to look at your shoulder again and then I’ll give you a tour.” Diesel set me on my feet, and I waved goodbye to the others. After Dr. Ross examined me and verified my shoulder had fully healed, we went on the castle tour.
The castle had four wings, the east and west wings were pack rooms. The northern tower was the family wing and the southern wing was the largest central wing of the castle. It was complete with a grand ballroom, dining hall, library, movie theater, billiard and game room, main kitchen, formal sitting room, offices, pack lounge and the infirmary.
The basement had a massive, well stocked, supply room for food and necessities, in case of severe weather. There was a full gym and indoor heated swimming pool, as well as an underground parking garage. We reached the last big room in the basement and I heard the familiar sound of washer machines and dryers tumbling. I opened the door and looked at the laundry room. I stood frozen and panic bubbled inside of me. Was he going to lock me down here?
My head was spinning, and my chest was tight. Tears streamed down my face and Diesel pulled me into his chest. “It’s okay baby, you’re okay.” He cooed in my ear. “Look at me Lucy, baby look at me.” He cupped my face and looked into my eyes. “We hire and pay all the wolves who work in this castle. I would never enslave anyone, that is not who we are.”
He studied my face for a moment. “What Ursa and Ranger did was cruel. No one deserves that. Please, please baby, do not let that define you. That
part of your life is over. You are so much more than that, you are strong, smart and beautiful.” He took my hand and placed it over his heart, it was beating wildly. “You are the other half of me and my Luna, little one.”
I looked deep into his beautiful blue eyes and I saw so much raw emotion swimming around. “You are MINE.” He said.
“Yours.” I nodded and his lips came crashing onto mine with such passion and desire.