Chapter 32: I Must Leave

Marcus

After making plans, the group had dinner together before leaving the Alpha and Luna. The meal was filled with jokes, laughter, and love, but periodically, Marcia would notice a look pass between her friends. They were supporting her, but they did not know how to act around her all of a sudden. When they left, Marcia felt slightly deflated that everything was changing.

Looking at his beautiful mate, Marcus knew that she would probably be sore, but he found that he was unable to stop touching her and spent the entire evening finding ways to be close. Not that he had to try very hard. She seemed happiest curled in his lap, and could not stop stroking his mark. By the end of the night, they were both too tired to move, and they drifted to sleep wrapped in each other's arms.

Marcus woke to find himself in a tangle of limbs. It looked like even in their sleep, they could not bear to have space separating them. Being careful not to move and wake her, he watched Marcia sleep and thought of recent events. Not only had he found and lost his brother at the same moment, but he had also found his mate, whom he had thought was human. Now he was mated not to a human but to a lycan, and possibly a royal one, and his pack was being targeted by someone they knew nothing about. Tightening his hold, he swore that he would allow nothing to get to her before carefully sliding away from her.

Today was Friday, the day he and Jackson had an appointment with the Council to ask about the prophecy of the White Lycan as well as the princess. Travis had already reported back that no testing was needed to determine if Marcia was, in fact, the lost lycan princess. He learned that once they turn, a lycan develops its scent, which can be used to identify the family line.

He had also discovered that whoever had taken the princess had gone to great lengths to hide her from everyone; there had never been the slightest clue as to the culprits. They found her baby clothes, soaked with blood, near her parents' bodies, and the entire lycan community had determined that the child had died shortly after the kidnapping. This meant that they would have to face the king of lycans and tell him that not only was his granddaughter alive, but that he had stopped looking for her, leaving her to grow up alone, thinking she was human.

No matter how they approached this meeting, odds were that it was not going to go well. In the best-case scenario, they would get help in rescuing the innocent from the Delphin Pack, learn about the legend, and let the king know his granddaughter was alive. In the worst-case scenario, the King would not believe them, and they would be imprisoned for attempting to commit fraud. Taking a deep breath, Marcus remembered the innocents he was going there to protect, including his mate.

Dressing quickly and quietly, Marcus pecked Marcia's sleeping cheek, having no desire to leave her but knowing he had to go. He knew if he woke her to say goodbye, leaving would be even more difficult. Standing, he rushed to the door, eager to complete the trip and return home for the trials and Luna Ceremony.

As he opened his door, he was shocked to see that four of his best guards were lined along the wall, fully equipped and waiting. This confused Marcus as he had not called for them to attend the meeting; it was only supposed to be him and Jackson going. Given the sensitive nature of the information, he did not want additional people to hear it.

“Don, why are you standing outside of my bedroom at this hour of the morning?” The question came out with more force than he intended, but he was annoyed at the delay. He wanted to get to the council and get home to see Marcia. Just the thought of leaving his beautiful mate sleeping in his bed put Marcus in a sour mood.

Lowering his head in a sign of submission, the guard replied. “Alpha, last night, Travis told us you and Jackson would be gone for the day today. He asked for a guard who was not assigned on duty to volunteer to shadow our Luna.”

He looked at the men standing with him, who all nodded in agreement. “Every guard not on duty volunteered, Sir. We have stationed ourselves around the inside and outside of the pack house.” He hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say, before he continued, “I was at the Pack meeting. I have never been prouder than I was when our Luna was announced. From the moment she arrived, it has been clear that she wants to help others and protect our people. Every member of the pack failed to protect her that day, and we nearly lost her because of it. Nothing will happen to our Luna again. I will give my life to ensure it.” The fierce words showed how angry the attack on Marcia had made the pack. They had been waiting for their Luna for years, and they would not let anyone take her from them.

The other three guards nodded their heads in agreement. They were all here to protect the Luna while the Alpha and Beta were gone.

Marcus stared at the man with a touch of awe. The Moon Goddess had gifted him the woman who was perfect for him, but now the pack was telling him that she was perfect for them, too. Their actions today were not out of loyalty to him or the pack; they were for their Luna. He was overwhelmed with pride that they would care for her with him gone, not out of loyalty or due to the Alpha’s command, but because she is the Luna. “I cannot express my thanks to every one of you enough, but be warned, your Luna might fight you about the protection, and she is more stubborn than even I! Please be strong in the face of her resistance.” The last words were delivered with a touch of humor and the beginnings of a smile.

The men were surprised to see the Alpha joking about the Luna’s security. After the attack, most of them expected him to be so hyper-aware that he would not allow her out of his sight. The fact that he was able to joke showed the men that he trusted them to protect the most important thing in his life. Their chests puffed with pride, and they all stood a little taller at the thought.

Don grinned in response to the joking warning. “I do not believe it, not possible, no one is more stubborn than you, Sir. I have trained with you. Additionally, I grew up watching you refuse to give up on anything.” The words landed with a smirk, “Jackson is waiting for you downstairs. We will take care of your Luna, safe trip, Alpha.”

Marcus placed his hand on the guard's shoulder as he nodded his thanks to each man before turning toward the stairs.

Chuckling at the tenacity of the guard, Marcus made his way downstairs to grab his Beta and leave. The sooner they left, the sooner he could return to his mate. With a smile on his face, he greeted those who worked in the castle and a spring in his step. Once he took care of this trip, he would not have to leave her side again for as long as he could avoid it.

Every few feet, Marcus would encounter another off-duty guard or warrior. They lined the halls, filling the pack house to the brim with aggressive shifters ready to fight to protect Marcia. Even in his absence, she would be as safe as the pack could make her.

The happy thought would have quickly disappeared had Marcus seen the hate-filled eyes that watched him from a distance. Their owner was waiting for the right moment to act. Sitting in the shadows, the eyes watched as the Alpha made it to the bottom floor before they turned and slowly returned to wait for a better chance. As they walked away, they passed many guards who lowered their heads with respect.

Seeing Jackson waiting at the foot of the stairs, Marcus did not speak or slow down, just walked directly past the man and out the front of the pack house. Outside sat his fastest car, the GT, with the keys in the ignition. Looking over his shoulder, he said, “Let's go,” and jumped in for the two-hour journey to the council meeting place. Jackson jumped in the car, barely having the opportunity to close the door before Marcus peeled out of the driveway at a speed that was just on the edge of being safe.