The Delta's Daughter Chapter 355

MIKE

We arrived at Golden Circle and have been here for two days now. Lyric had already set up a control center, upgraded their technology, and linked their systems to the satellite so we had an overhead view of the convoy of vehicles that still sat unmoved approximately 20 miles from the kingdom's border and Golden Circles.

Tobias and I had set up security around the pack borders and were monitoring where the weak points in said security were.

I have to say they were pretty welcoming to the bear shifter once they found out he was a second in command to Mathias and Lamia, alongside Hunji.

That's what we were doing at this moment, running the perimeter with a few of the Golden Circle warriors and the elite warriors from New Moon, checking the range on the coms Lyric had programmed and switched to a secure channel that couldn't be hacked.

*Were in position.* I mind link my mate.

*Copy that.* She replies immediately. Her voice, a sweet sound in my mind reaches Duke who begins to mellow with hearing her voice in our head. Strange, we always thought Lamia's voice was the most comforting sound we could think of until we heard Lyric speak, and even more so now that she can communicate telepathically with us.

I have found myself holding back these past few days from reaching out to Lyric every few minutes just to hear her voice.

I was still confused and still feeling guilty that Jonda was missing. My heart still belonged to my chosen mate, whether it was still reciprocated or not, but I also felt the shift in emotions, those feelings growing the more I am around Lyric. And the more I am around her the more I start to crave her nearness. The more Duke howls and pines for his mate and the more she consumes my thoughts the more I want to consume her.

"Clever little thing isn't she." Tobias startles me from my thoughts and I look at him. Of course, he's wearing a smirk on his face. He always does when he thinks he can get under someone's skin. Especially mine. "Very pleasing to the eye too."

"Watch it werebear," I say half joking but with a low warning growl. "I may not have claimed her, but she is still my mate."

Tobias throws his hands up in the air in a defensive gesture and chuckles, "Hey I was just saying, didn't mean anything by it. At least not too much." He drops his hands but proceeds to run one hand through his dark brown hair in frustration. "Seriously man, I love to give you shit but what's the deal with your mate, why haven't you claimed her yet? Is it because of Jonda?"

I really didn't want to talk about it. Especially not with Tobias. I don't think Tobias takes anything seriously with the exception of war and Mathias.

I groan and rub a hand down my face, maybe someone removed from the situation is who I need to talk to. "I don't know man, I had my heart set on choosing Jonda, then… Well, my mate turned up, who I was ready to reject and have executed. Then Jonda confesses she cheated on me. Turns out it was with Rhett, but even that was fucked up. Because there's no doubt now that they are fated. I still can't believe none of us realized it before." I throw my hands up in the air.

"And now? Are you still ready to reject your mate and claim Jonda?"]

I shake my head from side to side because I'm not sure. "I don't know what I want."

"What does your spirit animal say?" He asks cautiously.

"He loves Jonda, but he wants his mate." I sigh. "I was truly set on marking Jonda and when Lyric appeared it fucked everything up. I was going to reject her. Now Jonda has disappeared and I'm not even out there looking for her. I'm here," I wave my arms around, "with my fated mate who I can't get out of my head. I feel the pull every second of every day. But what does that say about me? How can I just forget about Jonda and pursue my mate?"

Tobias shakes his head, and the same condescending smirk as before takes over his face. "You wouldn't be forgetting about Jonda by claiming your mate, you would be accepting your fate and I don't see Jonda hating you for that." He looks at me and I stare back at him, Tobias really can be a shit but underneath all that boisterous sarcasm, he was loyal and a friend. No matter how much he liked to rile people up, he was someone you could count on.

"I'll hate myself even more if we don't find her," I confess, thinking of how it was probably my fault that she ran off in the first place.

"We will find her. The four kingdoms have some of their best trackers out there looking for her."

"What if…"

"Don't think like that!" Tobias sharply snaps at me twisting his body abruptly to face me. "If you think the worse it will eat away at you. Think positively. You guys found Lamia, and you found Kellen when that seemed impossible. You will find Jonda." His words, although harsh and scalding, made sense.

However, we were lucky to have found Lamia and even luckier to have found Kellen. I just have a bad feeling this time.

*Ready to go live Beta* Lyric says through the mind link. I reach up to my left ear and tap the earpiece I have in.

"Com check," I say out loud.

"Control reads you loud and clear." Lyric replies with a hint of a smile in her tone. I can just imagine those luscious lips spreading wide, showing those perfect teeth, and those deep brown velvety eyes shining with joy over her accomplishment.

I wish she would smile like that for me. Yet I had given her no reason to smile at me like I hung the moon. Not like how Jonda used to. What I didn't tell Tobias was my mate didn't want me anyway.

I could tell she had an issue with intimacy and it more than likely stemmed from what she experienced when her pack was wiped out. That and her sister's situation probably didn't help any. How was I meant to deal with that?

As it was, and I should feel ashamed about this, Duke and I had such a high libido that I couldn't see her satisfying our needs. It was hard enough not having a sexual relationship with anyone right now. I think I was developing the worst case of blue balls in the history of the realm. Jerking off with my hand just wasn't doing it for me. But I wouldn't betray the bond. I couldn't hurt Lyric like that. I wouldn't even do it when I thought she was for sure going to be executed for murder.

The thought of rejecting Lyric was too hurtful. It physically made me and my wolf feel sick, if I even contemplated it, I would feel a sharp stabbing pain in my chest. Not excruciating, but enough for me to realize I can't reject Lyric. But I also knew I couldn't accept her. We weren't right for each other, she had said so herself, that I didn't want her, that she couldn't be the mate I needed.

I send a mass mind link to the elite warriors, then to Alpha Bret who in turn mind links his warriors to all activate their coms.

Tobias and I pick up the pace while periodically checking the coms distance and signal. Once satisfied that they work long range and are doing what we wanted them to do, Tobias and I head back to Golden Circles pack house.

"I hear Lamia took a real shining to Lyric," Tobias says after walking in silence for some time.

I hum my agreement. She did. Lamia and Lyric connected on a level I couldn't understand, but I believe it was mostly because of the pup.

As if reading my mind Tobias exclaims, "It surprised me that Lamia didn't claim the pup and take him home."

My brows furrow with my thoughts and I scratch the subtle on my chin, "In one way yes, that is surprising, but also you have to think, Lamia would have put the pup's needs first. Inanna connected to the pup's wolf, and his wolf had already formed a bond with Lyric. So even if it broke Lamia's heart knowing that the pup was created using her deceased offspring's DNA, he wasn't hers to claim. The child was still carried and conceived by Lyrics' sister."

"It's fucked up."

"I will agree with that," I say solemnly thinking of my best friend and how she was probably secretly mourning the loss of her and Zane's pup again and trying to sort through her emotions. I know it was difficult for her to walk away from little Zane, but at the same time, she was probably doing the right thing.

In time the pup would know who and what he was, but she trusted Kellen and me to keep him safe. And I had already promised Lyric that I would. And I take my promises seriously.

Tobias and I step out from the tree line of the dense forest, no longer hidden from the cover of the evergreens, but exposed under the trees that had lost their leaves for the winter. The flap of wings has me looking up into the clear sky just in time to watch a large raven take flight and soar through the sky.

I sometimes wonder what our lives would have been like if they were much simpler. If Lamia hadn't been the descendant of some ancient bloodline. Would we have been living in peace or would the shifters always find something to fight over? Would there ever be peace?

"Huh, that's strange."

I frown at Tobias, not quite following his meaning. "What's strange?"

"It's like that bird," He points to up in the direction the raven flew in, "Has been following us. I have seen a raven, and I know it can't be the same one, but coincidently we have had a raven on our tails ever since we left New Moon."

That was strange, and strange for Tobias to notice it. I watch as he shakes off the weird vibe and I do the same. The realm was full of ravens, so it wouldn't be uncommon to see one. But over the years I have learned that if there is a strange coincidence, more than likely it's not a coincidence.

And I also know Tobias, he is very in tune with nature and takes the signs of father nature seriously. So I don't immediately or wholly dismiss his words of unease.

The Golden Circle pack house comes into sight and through my wolf's eyes, I can see in the distance Lyric standing at the front of the large house with two other females.

'Mate' Duke purrs once he sees her and then begins to whine when he catches her scent carried by the chilled wind. 'Stay with mate today.'

I don't argue with my wolf because I too would like her company. She makes me feel grounded whenever I am near her. Except, her presence has also begun to drive me crazy, the need to touch and taste her sends my senses into overdrive. If I don't walk away from her, it becomes harder to control Duke's and my own urges.

If I thought she would allow me to touch her, I may just try. But I know once I get a taste, I will be consumed with the idea of mating her. I lick my lips as we approach them. My eyes trained on the slight figure of Lyric, imagining her bare beneath me, even though she's bundled up in a heavy coat and jeans. She's like a present, all wrapped up just waiting for me to unwrap her and reveal the hidden surprise.

"Royal Beta," Halley, Zane Noirs' little sister greets me. "Thank you for bringing Lyric to Golden Circle, it has been years since I have seen her. And it's good to see her."

Halley had taken the news about little Zane quite well. She was the last surviving member of the Noir family. Well, not now that little Zane has been discovered but still… She was a remarkable young woman. She handled her brother's death and her mother's like a true leader, a true Luna. It was a shame she had not met her mate as of yet.

I had a feeling Alpha Bret and Beta Cyrus had something to do with her doing so well. They were like brothers to Zane, and when Lamia decided to move on to MacTire she made Bret the Alpha of Golden Circle. It was only a year ago that she released Golden Circle from her control and put the pack back under the protection of the New Moon Kingdom.

"Beta Mike," A sickly voice purred in my ear and I cringed as I looked down at Jody. She was the cousin to the Golden Circle Beta and a pack whore. I had heard the stories and first-hand encounters with the Alpha and Beta.

Tobias catches her hand as she attempts to weave it through my arm and latch on to me. "Hey little lady, he shakes his head at her "He's not the one for you." His eyes quickly glance at Lyric who is standing there watching, her eyes slightly darkening with her wolf.

"Oh! My apologies Beta Mike, I did not know you were mated." Jody says her eyes wandering to my neck looking for a mating mark. Her nose twitches trying to find the scent of another female. But she won't find anything. You can see the moment she doesn't find what she was looking for as she looks at me with confusion.

"It's complicated, " I tell her my eyes trained on Lyric's, holding her in place as I explain to the she-wolf Jody. "I have a mate, but she has yet to accept me."

"Oh, I'm so sorry Beta! It's just… I," Jody bumbles.

"It's okay," I tell her not needing an excuse or explanation. I move past the women into the pack house.

"Jody shut up!" I hear Halley scold her, "You are such a whore, I swear!"

"Leave me alone, I can't help that I am unmated and find him ridiculously attractive."

As I disappear inside I hear Tobias say something to the effect of keeping her entertained. I had no doubt in my mind that Tobias would wholeheartedly entertain her for the duration of our stay. Tobias was just as hormonal and loved females as much as I did. And to my understanding a few males too.

"You didn't have to do that for me."

I whirl around to face Lyric her words like a knife to my gut. "Do what for you?" I say stepping in front of her and not leaving much room between us.

Lyric folds her arms across her chest in a protective manner and her gorgeous eyes slant down and away from me as she steps back out of reach.

I step forward. "Do what for you little thief?" I ask again. Using the nickname I had grown to associate with her.

"I know male wolves have urges." She says shyly still not looking at me.

I crowd her. Pinching her chin between my fingers, dragging her head to turn and look up at me. I get lost in the depths of her eyes and the sweet scent that solely belongs to her surrounds me. Urges indeed but not for anyone else. "Your right, I do have urges. But I'm not thinking of anyone else when you are around."

She holds my gaze, seemingly as lost as I am. Her breath is quicker and her tongue darts out to lick her lips. I track the movement and blood rushes south making my cock thicken with desire.

"So I'm distracting you from being with other females." It's a statement. One that is way off base.

I shake my head and chuckle at her, "No little thief, You don't even have to be near me to distract me. Besides I wouldn't hurt you like that." I lean in, eyes on her lips. I wet my own and watch as she takes a shuddering breath anticipating my lips meeting hers.

I want to kiss her. I want to feel her soft thick lips on mine. Lyric's arms drop to her sides. I'm so close I can taste her breath as it fans across my face. Her eyes close and so do mine.

*Beta we have movement.* A warrior jars me from making my move on Lyric, his voice coming through the mental connection panicky and jittery.

My head drops in disappointment and I tap the com in my ear, "All warriors report." It's easy to mind link but I need Golden Circle Warriors and New Moon's elites to communicate as one.

"Beta we have movement in the forest on the southwest side of the border."

I look at Lyric the moment ruined. But maybe for the best. "I'm on it." She says shuffling around me and heading to where she set up the control room.

Alpha Bret comes from the direction of his office, "Mike," He motions with his head to follow him into the control room.

"Beta, the convoy hasn't moved. Nothing has changed." Lyric tells us.

"They must have moved out on foot." Alpha Bret states.

"Alpha, we have unknown wolves in the forest." A Golden Circle warrior communicates across the coms. "Shit, there's more. What he fu… Arghh."

The screaming of the warrior followed by another and then another pierces our ears.

"I got nothing on visual!" Lyric says panicked, hearing the same thing we are.

I share a look with Brett and the two of us hustle to move out the door. We were under attack.