In The Beginning, Chapter 78
“But the King is the only one who can link everyone, if their Alphas’ accept him as their King, he could command the entire army.” I informed him of what he already knew.
“It’s not that simple, and there are other ways. Kasa and I can link, we can do the same with Landers. We will all be responsible for directing our wolves, and working together, it will work, so please drop it?” He almost begged, and I knew there was no point in pushing further right now.
“Okay, okay.” I soothed, taking his face in my hands. “I just didn’t want you to decide against it just for my sake. I know I freaked out when your mother first talked about it, but I’m not even Luna yet, so being the Queen could wait a while... until I feel a little better prepared. Besides, what would it even mean? Right now, it’s just 3 packs, and you don’t have to stay King after...” I babbled until his lips brushing against mine caused me to lose my train of thought.
“Charlie?” He pleaded, but for what I had no idea, and couldn’t think about it as his lips captured mine and he stood, taking me with him until my feet left the floor. My legs wrapped themselves around his waist as he walked us to the nearest surface, his lips and tongue moving with mine until everything but his body against mine disappeared. It could have been hours or minutes later when a knock on the door disturbed us, and despite still being fully clothed, and engaging in nothing more explicit than a make-out session, I blushed furiously as I realised Kathy had heard every gasp, moan and pant. Daniel sucked my bottom lip between his teeth, holding it there, daring me to pull away so one of us could respond to the gentle raps as they repeated on the door. I maintained his gaze as I refused to move, my eyebrow cocked to get a rise out of him. Instead, he slowly ground his hips against mine, his throbbing erection stimulating my clit as I grit my teeth in an attempt not to make a sound. My nails dug into his scalp and bicep as he completed his rotation and began a new one, a soft growl of appreciation rumbled in his throat as my chest shuddered with the effort of remaining silent.
“Alpha? Luna?” Kathy’s voice called; he sped up his movements until I couldn’t take anymore.
“Daniel! Please?” I pleaded into the link, his hips froze, the head of his stiff shaft pressing on my small bundle of nerves. “Daniel?” I asked again, but his eyes were frozen on my lip, like he came around from a trance, he released my lip and let me sink down his body slowly.
“Yes Kathy, we will be done shortly.” Daniel called, his hands still holding my body to his. He ran his nose along mine. “I love you.” He murmured, sealing it with a tender kiss.
“I love you too.” I pulled him back as he tried to turn away, and I felt the hand on my back tremble slightly. Then he was gone, the loss of his hot body pressed against mine made my exposed skin goosebump as I watched him sliding his shirt over his broad shoulders. He held his hand out to me, striding back out of the small room, and out into the kitchen, he breezed past Kathy without so much as a glance as he made his way into the living room where Hyacinth was sat.
“You don’t have to say it, I won’t bring it up again, for now. But if it looks like a battle is looming, and I still believe it is our best option, I will say it again, loudly.” She set down her teacup and held her hands up in defeat, but her words were anything but a surrender.
“I’m not interested in discussing it ever, so save your breath.” Daniel replied with a scowl. “I haven’t informed my mother of our family connection. I thought that was a conversation you should have, if you choose to.” He informed her, and she looked genuinely surprised by his announcement.
“Yes, well, I must confess I hadn’t thought of that interaction... I had thought you might send her and your father to her home pack at the least. Her brother or nephew would join our cause, surely?” Hyacinth asked, and Daniel squirmed uncomfortably.
“Maybe when Ben and Maria return, I cannot be without both Ben and my father while I have to take a step back at work to train with the warriors. This war is too important to screw up by spreading anyone too thin.” He reasoned, to which she merely nodded.
“Oh Charlie, I have a few gifts for you.” Hyacinth said as she stood and took my hands in hers.
“That’s so kind, you didn’t have to get me anything!” I laughed as she led me to an enormous collection of luggage that almost filled the den that led to the library.
“I didn’t, I found more books on Lycan mating rituals, a book of ceremonies, a Luna diary, a book of histories, fables and stories, and my own journal detailing some aspects of the Luna’s role in ceremonies when she has no wolf. I had hoped to publish it one day, but when Thomas died... I couldn’t stay in the Lycan world, there was no place for me there without him.” Hyacinth smiled, but it was sad and full of longing.
“I can’t imagine how hard it has been without your mate.” I admitted, as I pretended to inspect a tag, giving her a moment, and I heard Hyacinth sniff, before she collected herself.
“I hope you never have to endure it.” She said with a genuine smile that made me want to cry, neither of us spoke as I helped her dig through the luggage. By the time we were done I had ten books to work my way through, we each grabbed a pile and climbed out of the obstacle course we had made for ourselves with the many cases, giggling and cursing our lack of planning. My smile faltered when I saw Daniel in the living room, standing by the fire, his arms supporting his weight as they held onto the mantle, outstretched before him. I placed my books on a table and rushed to him, wrapping my arms around his waist, my cheek pressed against his spine.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him, hoping to relieve whatever had him so stressed.
“I forgot you were coming to stay, and with so many new arrivals, we don’t have many options left. You are of course welcome to stay here, in the pack house or I could book you a hotel room. I should be able to find you somewhere in a few days.” Daniel informed Hyacinth, turning in my arms so he could also wrap his arms around me.
“That is fine, I have already seen the cottage you prepare for me, it is beautiful. But I am a patient woman, I can wait.” Hyacinth said with a wave of her hands to indicate she was not offended in any way, but I felt Daniel stiffen slightly at the mention of a cottage.
“What is it?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“The only empty house on pack grounds... I have been renovating it and it’s not finished.” Was all Daniel said, but there was something else, I could feel it.
“Okay, why are you renovating it? For what purpose?” I asked, sure I was narrowing in on whatever was bothering him. After a long pause, and a deep sigh he finally spat it out.
“For your mother.” He said, resigned.
“For my mother?” I repeated, confused, he gave me a pained look before rolling his eyes at me and chuckling.
“I wanted to surprise you both, I know you want to buy her somewhere, and she might want to stay where she is. But I thought even if she only uses it when she comes to visit, she will know she always has somewhere and you could have her close by, if you wanted that is. But it’s not ready, or even furnished yet-” Daniel babbled, his cheeks pink, until I pulled his face to mine, silencing him by capturing his lips, and pressing my body to his. He seemed momentarily stunned by my attack; his arms slowly wrapped around me as he surrendered to my advances.
“Thank you for thinking about all these little things. Thank you for wanting to make this my home too.” I whispered, our foreheads touching as he held me close. Probably at a loss for what to say Daniel kissed me softly, brushing my cheek with his knuckles, which always felt like he was checking I was real for some reason. “And if my mother decides she wants to stay where she is maybe you could sort a timeshare!” I added to Hyacinth who smiled her approval, before turning back to Daniel.
“If you don’t want Hyacinth staying there-" Daniel began in the link, but I cut him off with another soft kiss.
“Can I see it?” I asked aloud, and saw Hyacinth perk up in my peripheral vision.
Even with Hyacinth joining us, Daniel refused to leave the pack house without Bailey. The men sat in the front, Bailey driving, while Daniel silently scanned everything through the windshield. Hyacinth and I were in the back, and while she was making small talk about the pack as we passed through it, I found myself unable to muster any enthusiasm, feeling slightly suffocated by Daniel’s protectiveness even if it was becoming increasingly necessary. We drove through the entire pack in a large circle, until we reached our first destination. I tried to picture it from the sky as Daniel slipped from the car and into the treeline at the end of the street. The pack house was in the North, with the garden and surrounding fields to the south, and the forest on the three other sides, with an incline to the North, to the west of the property was the converted barn and the drive that ended in a T junction, North-West to the city, and south-east to the pack. The route we had taken had travelled around the fields, and the centre of the town, and were now essentially on the other side of the forest to the East of the pack house... I think. It was a quiet normal street, the only thing that set it apart from most other streets, was the very few cars, and that rather than ending in a cul-de-sac, the end seemed to have been swallowed by the forest. As I peered around I saw several streets with a similar abrupt end, even the tarmac at the end of the road was slowly being reclaimed by overgrown plant life. Every lawn was clean and neat, and all the houses were taken care of, regularly painted and maintained, like you would expect in a higher end neighbourhood with a homeowners association enforcing an aesthetic. Except, there was nothing overly expensive about this neighbourhood, the houses weren’t mini-mansions, and the few vehicles were trucks on drives with various services printed on the sides. Daniel snuck back to the car so quietly, and so concealed I actually jumped when he appeared outside my window.
“The squad is in place, you check the house out first.” Daniel informed Bailey, who just as silently slipped from the car, and my eye line quickly, melting into the shadows of the trees. When I turned back to Daniel he was still trailing Bailey with his eyes. “Most of our Zetas have put any personal items they weren’t taking with them into storage, allowing us to put a family in their home. The single males have all been given a room in the barracks, and young couples without pups have been given apartments, and some will be given an empty house we built over the summer in preparation for those that find their mate. Some were taken by couples who mated at the Fall Equinox, the rest we have furnished for the families arriving today.” Daniel explained, and I could tell he was nervous.
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