The Delta's Daughter Chapter 93

LAMIA

“Where are we going?” Mathias asked, as I held his hand and walked through the pack gardens of Golden Circle, towards the cemetery.

We had driven straight through to Golden Circle, arriving late in the evening. Brett and Cyrus had greeted us, they were a little wary of the Bear King and even more so when I told them he was my mate. Cyrus couldn’t hold back the look of shock on his face, whereas Brett, if he felt anything, you couldn’t tell. Both had been nice and respectful towards Mathias. I think that had more to do with his Aura, than just being decent.

Mathias was definitely an intimidating person, his presence alone made shifters want to bare their necks and take a knee and humans cowerd at his larger-than-life stature. I first noticed just how much authority he held when Kellen and his father almost bowed to him.

I wasn’t entirely sure if it was because he was my mate, or if it was because of my genes that I did not feel intimidated, nor felt the need to submit.

But just because I didn’t feel the need, didn’t mean I wouldn’t. In fact, my wolf, Inanna, had already recognized him as our king. I think that is one reason why I have fallen for him so easily and why I did fall for him, despite wanting to reject him initially. The pull of this bond was so strong, stronger than what I had felt with Kellen and so much stronger than what I had with Zane.

After Mathias and I had mated and marked each other in the pools of Avalon, I can’t even explain the love I feel for him, it’s transcendent, unparalleled to anything I have ever felt for anyone or anything.

I smiled up at him, his tall and bulky frame over-shadowing me, and his large hand encompassed mine, offering warmth and security, making me feel small. Not sure what to say, I gave his hand a squeeze, showing it was better than explaining, but I found myself talking anyway.

“I feel like I need to say goodbye,” I started when we stopped in front of Zane’s headstone. Noticing there was a fresh pot of flowers sitting by the large stone. “I also wanted no secrets between us and there was one last thing I needed to show you before I felt like I could really move on.” I wiped the tear that threatened to fall from the corner of my eye and tried my best to hold the sniffle.

“I loved Zane… I do love Zane; he will always be a part of me. You understand, don’t you?” I looked up when I asked Mathias, hoping he would and if not, at that moment, he would in a few minutes. I was met with the alluring gaze of his piercing grey eyes.

There was no anger at my confession, no pity, no remorse, just love. Love for me.

“The way he died, tore me to pieces. I didn’t think I would ever get over him, or his death.” Now I let the tears fall freely as I remembered Zane for who he was to me, to his pack, to his family. “Then I met you. You were everything I hated,” Mathias growled and I chuckled through my sniffles. “And then watching you fight alongside me and the kiss… Oh the kiss, I knew I couldn’t fight the bond, I couldn’t fight what we were.”

“I was an ass, and I’m truly sorry little wolf” He swallowed his words down and I could hear the remorse in his voice, he had fought the bond the same as I tried, both of us, only to give into our counterparts and accept what we truly are to each other.

I huffed, thinking of how I held onto Zane for so long and so hard. “Now... now, the hole I felt right here,” I pressed our hands to my chest over my heart, “It feels less empty. You did that, Mathias, you made me almost whole again.” I leant down in between the two graves and let my free hand run across the smooth texture of the headstone. I sighed before scooting towards the headstone on the left; the one Mathias wasn’t standing in front of.

My lips curved down, and my face scrunched up, heavy tears splashing onto my checks and rolling down past my chin. I didn’t even bother to attempt to hide them. I wanted him to know, I wanted him to see all of me. “This… this was our son, Zander.” I took a deep breath, holding back the entourage of sobs that I knew were coming. I had no control when it came to thinking of my unborn child.

“He never made it into the world, but I still love him with everything I have. They took this away from me.”

I used my sleeve to wipe my nose. I was sure this must be the least attractive I have ever been in front of Mathias, but I didn’t care.

“I didn’t tell you before, but the day I was kidnapped by Silas, I was going to tell Zane I was with pup. I never got the chance.”

“Baby girl, I am sorry this happened to you” The strain in his voice served as encouragement to let the tears fall more and when his large arms circled around me and held me tight against him the sobs wracked through me.

“What they did to me, the torture, the abuse, the drugs they pumped into me, my wolf couldn’t protect the pup and neither could I. Odeia took the pain of losing a mate away, but she could never take away the pain of losing a child.” My hand dashed at my tears, roughly wiping them and my nose. His hands came up to cup my face and angled my head so I had no where to look but into his steely eyes.

“This is a part of you, Lamia, and I love you for who you are, all of you.” His lips brushed mine “Every. Single. Part. Of you.” He said between the light kisses he pressed to my lips and then drew me in against his hard, warm chest, the sound of his steady beating heart, comforting me enough to calm my mind and body.

“They will always be a part of me Mathias, I could never forget.” I mumbled against him, “I need you to be OK with that.” He kissed the crown of my head. I leant back and looked up at him, craning my neck so I could read his eyes and expression. “I wanted to bring you here, so I could move on. A war is coming and I maybe young, but I am ready to face it. With you by my side, I feel I could face anything.”

His eyes crinkled and narrowed on me, the corners of his lips turning up to show me that panty melting smile “Together, I have no doubt we can win. You are my savior Lamia, my everything. Before you came along, my beast ignored me. I hadn’t shifted in over a year since I killed Annalise. I didn’t ever think I would have found another mate, never mind my soul mate, my Queen.

The gods have smiled upon us and have faith that we, together, can defeat Orion.” He paused and glanced at the graves. “Their memories will serve as a reminder of what you have lost. We will make new memories, memories we, together, can be proud of.”

His words were gentle and I left a weight being lifted from my chest. Mathias let go of me and walked to the cemetery gate so he could give me a moment alone, to say goodbye.

The tears had stopped now, but I felt them resurfacing as I spoke to Zane, “I will never forget you my love,” I whispered, “I lived for you and our son and now I must live for another. The goddess has chosen me, trusted me to fight for our realm. Mathias is a good man, I love him and he will take care of me. Please do not be jealous, be happy for me, I beg you.” I kissed my fingers and pressed them to the top of the cold stone. “Look after our boy. I will meet you both again in the afterlife.” I repeated the motion, kissing my fingers and laying them on Zander's headstone “It’s time for me to let go of the past and fight for our futures.”

***

MATHIAS

It was wrong for me to be jealous of her dead mate and child. I knew this, but it didn’t change the fact that when I heard her whispered words to their graves, my heart pinched a little. I knew she would always have a place for them in her heart and I would have to learn to accept this, just like I accepted her. To accept all of her would be to accept that she still held love for them.

I knew she loved me with everything she had. I could see it in her face, her eyes; I could feel it every time she touched me or looked at me, those green eyes softening when she met my gaze. And I would give her everything I could, everything I am.

A few minutes later, she came walking to where I stood and laced her fingers in mine as we walked back to the pack house.

A small and slight girl with jet black hair and pale blue eyes came bounding up to Lamia, wrapping her tiny arms around my mate, who hugged her back just as tight.

“This is Halley.” My mate introduced me to the young girl, who surprisingly came and hugged me too. I stiffened at the contact, not sure what to expect, when she stepped back and tipped her head up to look at me.

“You look after her, she is my only family left and I refuse to lose her too!” She chided while waving a finger at me.

I looked at Lamia confused. I thought she was an only child.

*Zane’s little sister* Lamia's voice filled my head through our bond. I nodded at the explanation.

“Very nice to meet you, I promise I will do everything to make her happy and look out for her” my words weren’t empty, the opposite, they held so much promise to this little girl, knowing how important they must be to each other.

A few hours later, after meeting with the acting Alpha, Brett and the acting Beta, Cyrus and Halley, we were on our way again. This time we were in for a day and a half of driving as we made our way to MacTire, Lamia’s home. Only stopping to fill the car and grab food, we otherwise, drove straight through and reached her kingdom around midday.

*****

When we pulled up to the medieval-looking castle, Prince Kellen, his Beta, Tobias and Xander were waiting for us along with 5 other people, only one of them being female.

Our ride here was fun, we talked and listened to music, stopping only 3 times to fuck on the side of road when I couldn’t hold back, she was just that damn sexy. Every little thing she did made my dick hard. The last time was because of the way her lips wrapped around a straw, making me think of them wrapping around my cock. I felt like we truly knew each other now.

I also noticed how a dark cloud seemed to have lifted from her aura. Her whole demeanor became lighter, airier, she looked happier and there was a constant twinkle in her eye, especially when she looked at me. That was how we ended up needing to stop the first two times, just her giving me that sexy as fuck side look while licking her lips.

Lamia jumped out of the car as soon as we pulled up, not even waiting for the car to be put into park. She ran up the steps towards the small crowd. She first flung her arms around Prince Kellen, then Beta Mike.

Before she could hug any of the other males, a little voice started yelling “Alpha, Alpha!” I was thankful for the little voice because Arcas was getting irritated with her putting her hands on so many other males. She would have their scents on her and he wanted to erase those scents immediately.

Lamia scooped the little girl up into her arms, hugging her and burying her nose in her neck.

“I have missed you so much Petra!” She sighed, pulling her head back to get a good look at the little girl. “Have you been good for your uncles and Mrs. Brown?” she asked.

“Yes” and then the little girl's head dropped, her face holding a sadness that had me wanting to reach for her “But uncle Hunji tried to eat me. It scared me, uncle Travis saved me from his wolf.” Her little fingers curled in my girl’s hair.

Lamia handed the little girl off to the other woman standing there and then turned to the four men I had not met yet. Her eyes began to glow and her cheeks heated as the air around us became palpable. I rushed to her side in a bid to calm her wolf.

“You did what!” She seemed to scream at the Asiarian-looking man. I assumed this must be Hunji. “You attacked a child? Hunji, what the hell happened?” The anger was still there, but her voice was understanding and laced with more concern than anger.

“My queen,” he bowed to her, then stood straight and looked her dead in the eye. “I am not having this conversation in front of the pack.”

I raised my eyebrows and moved towards the disrespectful wolf, until her hand came up to stop me in my tracks. I halted. This was her kingdom; she would handle it how she saw fit. I took a glance around and saw there was a large crowd behind us, pack members who had come to welcome their Alpha home.

Lamia then turned towards the gathered pack members. “Pack!” She called out “Your Alpha has returned. Tonight we celebrate with bonfires and food. Spread the word!”

Cheers and whoops sounded before they started to disperse, every single person chatting excitedly.

“Come.” She nodded at me and I followed her into the castle, which looked nothing on the inside like its medieval exterior. We all followed her through the main hall and into another larger hall.

In one of the halls stood a single lone throne, made from black stone and trimmed in gold and deep red velvet. She made her way up the two steps onto the platform and took her seat, facing everyone. I stepped up, taking my place beside her. As her mate, I was her equal.

“I call for court to take place in two hours. I want all heads of clans, packs and clowder’s in our territory to attend as well as all council members and head warriors. Travis,” she addressed the wolf directly, “I want a video conference set up, in here with our other packs and heads of cities. We are all under attack and I will not be caught off guard again. Plans need to be made and procedures put in place.”

“Yes my queen.” The wolf named Travis replied. “Before that, I wish to speak with you in regards to Hunji and Rhett.”

“Of course, I want to know exactly why you,” she glared at Hunji, the Asiarian wolf, “attacked a child?”

He bowed his head. “Of course my queen.” The older looking wolf, who seemed to be closer to my age, cast his head down, shame and embarrassment clouding his eyes.

I could tell what ever happened, whatever he did was not a usual characteristic of his. Probably why my mate hadn’t ripped his head off and instead was being more than patient. She held a high regard for this wolf, she had told me much about him; he was her second in command. And although she may be pissed at him, I could also feel the love for him through our bond. She would hear him out first before casting judgment.

A true ruler, was my little wolf.

I hadn’t seen this authoritative and ruling side of my little wolf yet. I can’t say I disliked it. If anything, it was a huge turn on.

From my position, I could see Xander and Tobias and only really noticed them for the first time. I furrowed my brows when I looked at Xander, his body almost shaking and beads of sweat lined his brow.

*You ok brother?* I asked through the link, worried about his state.  

His eyes caught mine, their usual honey color now a dark deep brown as his beast pushed to the surface. *Mate* his voice squeaked in my head.

Tobias and Xander had arrived earlier than us with the prince and his Beta. Who was this mate of his?