The Delta's Daughter Chapter 368

LYRIC

We had only been back a week and already King Kellen was sending me out on a mission again. Taking me away from my son yet again.

Even when I was pulling a heist and working for Miko, I had never spent this much time away from him.

I understood, I was the link between those who knew Shadow. The person who knew the workings of the underground more than most. Still, I didn't like the idea of leaving him again, especially as the threat to him was increasing. And especially as I saw firsthand what Shadow could do.

The evidence of his power was probably still scattered around the Golden Circle pack's border, and it still lingered in Jonda. The black veins that plagued her had almost vanished, fading to a deep hue of pink. Not fully gone but receded. Still, she lay unmoving, the child in her womb growing and Rhett by her side.

It didn't look good for the female.

Supposedly, once marked by her mate her wolf was meant to emerge. There is yet to see any evidence of that. Truth be told, I don't think her wolf is there and if her wolf is absent, or her curse is not broken then I didn't see any hope of her healing. The bite from Rhett did nothing. The only reason she was alive was because of Beta Mike. And his enigma of energy.

The king gave us four days, then we were to head out to no man's land, to the boroughs, where I had spent the last three years surviving amongst the rogues and outcasts of the realm. It was fine, I would ask Miko to spill what he knows, he would give us information and then we could come home.

Home.

It was such a strange thought. To think of New Moon, the palace as my home. Only a little over a month ago I was public enemy number one to the king and queen Tala. How quickly things and ideas changed.

Despite the threat to Zane's well-being, Lizzy was happy here and so was Zane. I had already pledged my loyalty to the king and queen. There was no going back now. And as part of my pledge to the kingdom, it was now my duty to help keep the kingdom safe, if not for anyone else, then for my son.

It would just be Mike and I. Alone. On the road. Only for a few days but the idea excited me in a way I couldn't understand. Whenever I thought about the kiss or kisses we shared, my stomach would flutter, and my heartbeat increase. Note would purr in my mind at the remembrance of how our mate made us feel.

Upon coming home, the same night we arrived back at the palace, I found a male's shirt on my bed. It was drenched in Mike's scent. I had smiled to myself knowing he had left it because his scent would help me sleep easier. And it had. I remember thinking how thoughtful it was of him.

Then Zane told me how the Royal Beta had come to the daycare and played with all the pups. And promised he would take Zane around the pack's city and show him all the cool stuff.

All positive notions, except Mike and I hadn't talked, nor had we had any contact with each other. When I turned up for training, I found his father or Tyron leading the session instead of him.

I asked Rogue if he was okay. Rogue waved his hand off, citing that the Beta was fine just knee-deep in paperwork. I could tell it wasn't the whole truth. I just hummed, knowing it really wasn't any of my business. But I wanted it to be.

Those few days in Golden Circle, despite the fight and the deaths, were eye-opening when it came to my mate. And the way he commanded my thoughts and body.

I did something I had never done before the other night while lying in bed with nothing but his shirt. I touched myself. Imagined it was him touching me. Dipped my fingers into my pussy that wept at the thought of it being his hands instead of mine. That tingling feeling came back the more I explored, pushing me to topple over the edge as I did with him rubbing against me.

I surprised myself, coming on my own fingers with Mike's name on my lips and the image of his face behind my eyelids.

At first, I was embarrassed that I had done such a thing, and more so shocked that I enjoyed it.

I could feel myself blush at just the reminder of what it felt like to get myself off. I think I would let Mike explore if he wanted to. But I wasn't sure where we stood. I wasn't sure if I could let him explore, or how I could let him go, even if I thought I wanted him to let me go.

I would only admit to myself that I wouldn't mind finding out though.

Lost in my own daydream I threaded my way back through the palace, making my way to the new suite we had been assigned.

I punched in the numbers to the keypad, a silly smile on my lips as I still thought about the way the Beta's hands felt on me. The enigma of the sparks created between us, it was so… so strange and magical but also, they felt thrilling to not only feel but watch as the light played and arced between us.

So consumed with my thoughts that my wolf and I failed to notice the third scent in the suite.

"Lyri, We have a visitor," Lizzy spoke as I made my way into the heart of our new home.

I look up seeing a well-to-do female sitting in one of the comfy chairs. Her hair was a soft brown, big blue eyes and she was immaculately dressed in a dark blue pencil skirt, soft peach blouse, and matching jacket.

My footsteps faltered, not thinking we would have company. It had always just been Lizzy and me until Zane came along. Then for three years, it was just us three. I never had people at my place and only Zane and I ever set foot in Lizzy's place which was only at the end of the street we had lived on.

The lady in blue stood, offering me a sweet and genuine smile that made the lines around her eyes crinkle even more. I didn't even have to guess who was by the way her smile lit up her face and eyes.

The Beta may look like the spitting image of his father, but he had his mother's smile. Not that I had seen him smile that much, just once after that first mind-blowing kiss.

"Miss Swift, I hope I'm not intruding but I was hoping to meet your pup. As well as yourself." She held her hand out stepping toward me. "I am Olivia, the former female Beta, Junior's mother."

I took her hand tentatively, shaking it. "Uh - Um - nice to meet you?" Was it nice to meet her, or was I about to get the third degree on how I should reject the Beta, or accept his rejection?

Then I remembered Mike's father telling me his mate knew my mother. My whole attitude changed, hoping she was here to tell me about my mother.

"I will just put the kettle on while you two talk," Lizzy said, excusing herself from the room.

I looked around awkwardly because this is my mate's mother and she seemed so perfect. What must she think of me? The thief and former rogue who stole their queen's crown, probably that I wasn't good enough for her son. Then again, I already knew that.

She lets out a laugh, more like a giggle. "Don't be nervous Lyric, I don't bite."

My eyes snapped to hers just to see those blue eyes dancing with amusement.

"I knew your mother, Sing Su, well when we were young." My eyes lit up at the sound of my mother's voice, the older beta female caught this and chuckled. "Su," we called her. I'm from a northern pack myself. Not too far from where you grew up. We met at a shifter camp when we were barely teenagers. I was very envious of her you know?"

The beta female shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable that she even admitted that but still, her smile remained as she reminisced. "She had the most beautiful voice I had ever heard, like a siren, it held everyone's attention when she sang. And then those big almond eyes of hers, she was envied by every female at the camp."

Lizzy came in with a tray, two teacups, a pot, and some biscuits.

"You're not sitting with us?" I asked her.

Lizzy shakes her head no, "I will go pick up little Zane while you talk." She pats my head and leaves.

"You didn't like my mother?" I turn back to the beta female Olivia in surprise.

She chuckles again, "Not at first because I was jealous of her beauty and her voice. However, I wasn't the only one that was jealous of her." The smile drops from the female's face, "Girls can be so mean at that age." She shakes her head. "Needless to say, one little incident changed the way I looked at her and we ended up becoming really good friends. Every year we would look forward to seeing each other at camp. Our packs were not close, so we didn't see each other until summer, but then, then it was like we had spent no time apart."

I furrow my brows; my head is swimming with questions.

Olivia picks up the pot of tea and pours a cup for herself and me. "Cream and sugar?" She asks, peering at me.

"Just sugar," I reply shaking my head. "Did you still talk five years ago?"

She sighs, leaning back in the chair. "After our last summer at the camp, we tried to stay in touch, but life happens. We both turned eighteen and we met our mates. I had come to New Moon on pack business with my father and ended up meeting Michael."

I'm a little stunned when she rolls her eyes at the mention of her mate. She catches that reaction too. "It was a difficult situation, to say the least when I met my mate. It wasn't all love and acceptance at first sight."

She pauses and lifts her cup while taking a sip. "Kind of like you and my son." She deadpans.

And there it was, her eyes scanning me over the lip of her cup as she took another sip.

"He's a good boy Lyric." She sets her cup down "I fought my mate bond hard. Like really hard. I'm asking you to give it a chance. Whatever is holding you back, I hope you can move past it and give my son a real chance, a little patience. He can be moody and bossy, but he truly is kind. I have never seen him so unhappy in life as he is right now. This thing with Jonda has shaken him up, but I also know he has no intentions of giving up on you."

I don't know what to say. I genuinely thought she was going to give me my marching orders and tell me to forget about her son. Not ask me to give him a chance or show some patience.

"You are both young and I would hate to see either of you waste the goddess's gift. Moons knows I almost did." She rolls her eyes, the most down-to-earth expression she has shown since being here.

"You are part of this family now." She states. "Whether you know it or not. You, little Zane and Lizzy, you are part of our family. Just a s much as Lamia and Kellen."

It surprised me to hear her throw around the Queen of shifters' name and the king of werewolves' name around so casually. I splutter, mouth gaping open when she laughs again.

"Sweetheart, I changed both of those children's diapers. Lamia is my niece, though not by blood but she is my family and so is Kellen."

I turn my head and Olivia glances up as we hear the door to the suite open and then close. The sound of little footsteps moving fast comes closer.

"Ahh," Olivia sighs as Zane appears at the entrance and comes rushing towards me, "Is this, my new grandson?"

I look at Olivia, her blue eyes are bright with wonder and awe as she casts her eyes upon my son. "This is Zane. My son." I tell her embracing my little man and kissing him on his head. Not knowing how to feel about her calling him her new grandson.

I was still hesitant about any of us becoming comfortable here. Though with each day and watching the way Zane was growing and how happy he was here, it was beginning to feel more like our home than I ever thought possible in such a short amount of time.

"You look just like your father." Olivia beamed at my son. "He was handsome too." She winks at him.

Little Zane's face furrows and his nose scrunches in a way I had watched Queen Lamia do. "You knew my daddy?" We hadn't talked much about his biological father, he knew he was named after him, but that was all.

"I do," Olivia said with pride. "He was a fierce Alpha and loved by his pack." She tells him.

"Then how am I your grandson?" He questions the beta female. Such a smart pup, so observant.

Olivia's smile falters briefly before it's back in place. She shifts her eyes to me. "Well, I know you have Aunt Lizzy, but I was hoping, maybe, you and your mom would allow me to be your grandma?"

I see sincerity and hopefulness in her eyes but when her smile falters with fear of rejection. My gut tells me to let this female love my son. Werewolves become very protective of their own and I am her son's mate then, Zane then becomes her kin, in her wolf's eyes.

It means they have accepted me and my son as their own. I should be happy, touched, by her endearment and the way she is showing her commitment. But how can I be when I know the mate bond between her son and I is already fractured - at best.

How can she claim him when her son hasn't even claimed me, nor I, him?

I look to my boy, my heart. He's smiling up at her, eyes sparkling ready to accept the love Olivia is offering. How could I deny him the right to be loved? What kind of mother would I be and what would that say morally about me?

I clear my throat and choose my next words carefully. Though they don't come out as confident as I thought they would, "I - uhm - I think, the more people Zane has in his life that care, is wonderful." Not what I was trying to say.

But I'm really not great at expressing my feelings. Or talking. Or with trust.

So, for me to be able to let go of just a slice of control over Zane and Note, not go berserk in my mind, is a first. So, I went with my gut. What felt right.

Olivia claps her hands together excitedly "Wonderful!" She says to Zane and I. "Now that it's settled that I have a new grandson, which you can call me grandma whenever you feel comfortable," She says to Zane, "We shall set up play dates and I can't wait to show you and your aunt Lizzy around the kingdom and pack. We are going to have so much fun!"

Olivia stays for too much longer, talking and playing with Zane. It shocked me that she even got down on the floor in her suit and played building blocks with him.

I left them to bond and wandered into the kitchen to find Lizzy preparing snacks for Zane. I was still stunned that I had agreed to let her into our small family. But how could I not? Under normal circumstances, if Mike and I were in a normal mate relationship, Zane would become as much a part of Mike as he was to me.

Maybe that was it. Maybe Mike didn't want to take on the responsibility of Zane. Maybe his wolf didn't want to claim another male's child. Mike didn't have the connection to Zane that I did, understandably.

"You're overthinking things again," Lizzy says as I walk in and take a seat on the stool.

"How am I and Note okay with just letting this happen?" I groan, propping my chin in my hand as I slouch over the countertop I sit at.

I search for Note, stirring her, and ask what she thinks. 'Mate loves our pup. Grandma will be good for him and you.' She tells me with certainty.

I wish I could be as confident as my wolf.

I like things to run smoothly, with no outside interference. When things are out of my control, I become restless and my OCD kicks in. I slide off the stool and walk around to the skink, stooping to pull out cleaners and sponges.

"Oh no, you don't." Lizzy scalds me, snatching the bottle of bleach from my hand "I am not smelling that stuff for the rest of the week. Go train or something if you are feeling antsy."

I groan just when Olivia comes into the kitchen. "I have to head out now, but maybe I could come by and take you all around the city?"

"We would love that!" Lizzy says, giving me a death glare but a warm smile to Olivia.

Olivia's perfect brows furrow, "Did I interrupt something?" She asks, looking between us, obviously catching on to the way Lizzy looked at me.

"Oh no. Lyri here gets antsy when she can't control something," Lizzy offers, "Then she goes into overdrive and her OCD kicks in it." Lizzy says with a giggle.

"Oh?" Olivia looks between us. "Is this because of me?" And she truly looks concerned.

Lizzy answers for me, "No," She shakes her head. "It can be everything and nothing. The smallest or the biggest of things. It's her way of sorting through the mountain of crap in her head."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Moons she's so nice!

Though I could see her being a total bitch if you got on the wrong side of her. Much like her son. Super nice and all that shit until you piss them off then the wolf comes out.

"Thank you, no." I reply, "Lizzy usually kicks me out to go train when I get this worked up." I admit. Not sure why I'm telling her all this.

"I hear Tala, sorry, Queen Tala was sneaking out to the indoor training grounds while Kellen and my son work late." She winks at me.