Chapter 31

***Sam POV***

Once again, I felt my temper flare. I hated feeling like this. On edge all the time, angry at the drop of a hat. I was usually so good at staying on the sidelines. Staying hidden was the only way I had managed to survive the last nine years, after all.I never got involved with other people’s business. Why was I suddenly thrust into this drama? What was so bloody special about me?

The thought brought on another flare of anger. I pinched the bridge of my nose again and sighed.

'‘Alpha Knox, please stop beating around the bush and get to the bloody point!’. Trying and failing to keep the snap out of my tone.

I saw the Alpha walk towards me, his hand came out as he gestured for me to sit down. All I could do was flinch away at his approach. To cover up the awkwardness I felt, I began to speak again.

‘Look, I fully intend to leave here today. This morning if I am able to. I need to get to Katie. To settle down in a pack where I am welcomed and not scorned. All I need to know is which pack Katie went in to. I can then contact some people in the UK. They will join me then.’

I had no idea why I was telling him all this. I knew I was rambling. But the man made me nervous.

***Knox POV***

She was scared of me. Seeing her flinching like that when all I did was walk toward her felt like a gut punch. All we were doing here was going around in circles. There was a lot of talking going on, but nothing was being said. 

I needed to say what I had to say and then, hand her over to the proper authority. Spreading my arms wide, I tried to show her that I had meant no harm to her.

‘Just rip the bandaid off and tell her!’ Was all the help I got from Andras.

‘Listen, I’m just going to say what I need to say. OK. If you have questions, please, wait until I finish, and I swear I will try to answer them as best I can. 

I promise that when I have finished talking, you will have a better understanding of this whole situation. Ok?’

I saw Sam give a small nod, the acceptance of my words surprised me a little. As I had expected a little bit of push back from her. Sam clearly needed the answers I hoped I could give her. I began, trying to keep my voice on an even keel. And my eye’s soft. 

‘As the daughter of an Alpha, I assume you know our laws and hierarchy?’

I stopped for a moment, allowing Sam to concur with my words. I continued.

‘As you're aware, there are different positions within the hierarchy, from rogues and omega wolves, going all the way to the Luna and Alpha. The only law beyond that of an Alpha or Luna, is the law of the Lycans. They have their own system, but it ultimately ends with the King or Queen. The buck stops with them, as it were.’

I watched as Sam’s eyes widened at the mention of the Lycans, then clouded over with the fear she obviously felt.

Seeing this beautiful woman’s eyes darken and knowing I was responsible for that, gave me an unfamiliar squirm in my stomach. I did not want her to be scared of me or anything. But I have to put that aside for now. I needed Sam to understand what I was telling her.

‘The Lycan king and queen are considered as the ultimate power within all the supernatural world. They are peacekeepers. As the only creatures strong enough to withstand attacks from other ware-species. The Royal Army is scattered throughout, upholding the laws and rights of every Sup-Nat out there. Do you know anything about the Lycans, Sam?’ I asked tentatively.

I could see her shake her head slightly. Almost like she wasn’t sure if she knew about them or not. It was strange. Lycans are not easily forgotten once you have been made aware of them. The sheer size of our soul-sharers. And the beauty that they are renowned for. It made them hard to forget.

‘You may not have met any. Even as the law, they keep in the shadows. Only intervening when it becomes apparent that Alpha’s are having trouble controlling their pack members. Most Lycans tend to stay within the protection of the golden city.’

I looked at her as my curiosity got the better of me, ‘Did you ever hear the Lycan tales as a child? The heroic Lycan king or the handsome prince who saved his true love?’ I tried to sound warm and sincere. But I think I sucked at it as I saw Sam get riled up. Again.

‘You seem to have forgotten that I was not raised as a “child” from the age of ten. If I had been told stories about the Lycans, it must have been when I was a lot younger, as I can't remember any. I am aware that Lycans exist. Of course. But as they always seemed so far apart from my own situation in life. I never really gave them much thought.  Why are you talking to me about the Lycans anyway?

I could see that she was losing patience in the conversation between us. I hurried on, taking another deep breath.

‘I’m talking about the Lycans, as I wanted, needed, to know your knowledge, if any, of them. I now know that you don’t know anything about them, so what I'll say next will be a big shock.’ 

I held up my hands. ‘Please don’t run away, I can help you through it all, as can my sister’s. We want to help you. OK?’ I waited, needing to know her answer before I carried on.

‘Do you recall when you woke up in the hospital and was all confused? You went looking for answers and ended up scaring a group of Dr.’s and nurses. A Lycan had to restrain you. Do you remember that?

My traitorous dick twitched, as I watched the splash of red, spread over her cheekbones. Making her face achingly beautiful. I had never wanted her more. Fortunately, what I was about to tell her would put an end to that nonsense.

‘Have you given any thought at all to how you managed to break free from the Lycan holding you? Have you given any thought to why the staff were so scared of you? Sam.’ I said her name softly now and got closer. Not touching. But very aware of how close she was to me.

‘Sam. Only another creature, with that kind of strength could break free from a full Lycan hold. Do you understand what I’m saying to you? Think about it for a moment. Please. You pulled out of that hold with ease. How? How were you able to do that?’

***Sam POV***

A million thoughts were running around my mind, my subconscious was making little connections and sending them to the forefront of my mind. I was almost dizzy with the information being sent across my synapses.

Jet was getting excited, I could feel the wolf stretch inside me, almost like she was standing proud. Puffing out her chest and saying, behold the Ly…

I spun around so I could face Alpha Knox. I’m sure I looked comical, as the penny finally dropped.

Knox was staring at me so intently now, watching to see my reaction.

‘Jet and Me. We, are Lycan. We, we…’

‘YES, yes you are Lycan. I don’t know how you never realized this. I don’t know how that was concealed from you. But I promise, I will find out.’ Knox stated, vehemently. I was about to thank him when I noticed him looking down and fiddling with his hands. It was such an anxious thing to do. It shocked me to see this Alpha display such behavior.

'There is one other thing…… I believe that you are not just a Lycan. I believe you are the lost princess. Kidnapped as a newborn and hidden away from your parents, King Rigas Telikos and Queen Vasilissa’.

I looked at Knox, just looked at him. Then burst out laughing.

I laughed so hard and for so long that I could barely catch my breath. Every time I looked at Knox and the annoyed look on his face, it made me laugh even harder.

Suddenly feeling claustrophobic, I walked over to the French doors, pushed them open and proceeded to hold myself up with the aid of the balustrade that ran the full length of the balcony. I finally hiccuped into silence.

Seeing this, Knox took the opportunity to say a bit more. ‘I understand that this is a lot to take in, I do. I didn’t expect this reaction from you, though. Can you please stop laughing? Sam! Please. STOP LAUGHING’!

At his command, I felt a weird sensation creep over my skin. As if something was trying to cover me. I recognized the command. I just didn’t agree with it. The realization that the Alpha had unwittingly used his Alpha Aura on me.

And that it had no effect on me, did stop me laughing.

I’m sure that Alpha Knox thought he had commanded my response. But he hadn’t. That shouldn’t have happened, he was an Alpha. I was on his land, with his pack, so his aura should have made me submit to him. But it didn’t.

Sobering up from the hysterics that had just burst from me, I frowned at Knox.

‘You're serious, aren’t you? You really believe I am a Lycan. And a princess to boot?’

Alpha Knox nodded his head at my words, I could feel the laughter coming back. Biting down on my lip, so I wouldn’t start laughing again, I spun round to look at the garden. Not trusting myself to look at him. I heard the soft words leave his full lips, asking his question.

‘If you let Jet out, you will see for yourself, that you are not a wolf shifter. I would also like the opportunity to talk with Jet. If you allowed it.’

Hearing Jet say she wanted to speak to the Alpha too and get answers of her own, I understood. We had both been lied to. We both needed to know why this was happening to us. Jet, especially in her form, would be the very incarnation of the beast.

I told Jet that I didn’t know how to initiate a shift. I was most relieved when Jet told me she would take care of it. It was a strange sensation, being pushed to the back of one’s mind to allow a stronger force forward. I was aware of everything being said and done, I just had no control over it. Jet was in full control. And at the moment I was completely okay with that.