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— A L I N E
Boulder Creek Pack is located in the valley before the Rocky Mountains and the drive there was very nice and comforting. I stood thinking about all the crap waiting home, losing myself in the picturesque mountain views with above-clouds peaks and never-ending greenery. I always loved going to the mountains, even as a child when my family's trips to the mountains were a mere excuse for one of the boring Fort Williams meetings with Scotland's finest families of hunters. I was always sneaking out of our hotel room to go hiking on Ben Navis. Sometimes Jeremy would accompany me, as he is a fan of mountain-hiking too, but most of the times he let himself be caught up in one of the meetings and let me go all alone.
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere where we can forget about the craziness going on at home," Asher answers me and I still keep my features schooled into a frown. "You looked like you needed a break from the Boulder drama," he shrugs carelessly and continues staring ahead, a little smirk on his face. "And it's our last free days before the competition, the trial and Phoebe and Adam's mating ceremony. And believe me, those ceremonies aren't a vacation for anyone involved. Especially for the mating couple, but at least they have the honeymoon to look forward to."
The smirk fades and I sigh. "I'm sorry we can't stay more in Sydney," I say softly and I bite my tongue so I won't reveal anything I shouldn't.
"It's okay, I know you have to return to Boulder for..."
He frowns and I curse under my breath when a silent question flashes in his eyes and I ignore it. I had a few lies prepared but they seemed to have escaped my mind at the most perfect time.
"I have to go to London, actually," I reply and I try to keep my voice steady. His frown deepens and I think thoughtfully the next sentences, as they hold the power to damn everything.
It's not only my ego that wouldn't survive to quit a hunt, or being forbidden to participate anymore but also because it's a noble cause. There are children kidnapped by those dreadful Darachs and even if I don't believe that the other faes are creating changelings, as I've had Will sneak into my parents' office and take pictures of everything relating to the mission, while they were still at the meeting. And because my friend is so pissed off for not being included in the mission, he was more than in the mood to do some mischief. So besides the mission, he found the papers my brothers told me about, which did disturb me a little, as I was wishing those didn't actually exist. But he also found a file about Thomas and the Wild Hunt, which I only received after the meeting I had with him. It looks like my mother also has doubts regarding the Elf, and I'll discuss this with her when I'll get to London. My whole family has returned home to prepare for next week. Our mansion was selected as the base and I imagine just what hell must be going through our employés and Zoey right now. I'm hoping that Bet is on guest duty.
"For what?" Asks Asher and I slightly shake my head as I return to reality.
"To sign some papers that'll allow me to profess in the States, outside of Yeti's jurisdiction."
"Do you have to sign them so soon?"
"My rehabilitation time is done so I must return home and get these affairs in order. I can't simply say I want to stay in Boulder, Asher. I'm not American or a Lycan."
"But you're enrolled in college here. Isn't that reason enough to let you stay?"
"I was only enrolled because of Yeti. I needed an excuse to be in Boulder, but my place at the university expired along with my probation time. I need to talk with the Dean if I wish to stay, and judging by my record, he won't approve my request," I say and he seems pretty saddened by my words. "Don't worry, I never wished to go to university anyway. It was fine to have the experience, only to prove myself that this is not the life I want. I was never a good student anyway, I asked my parents to let me be home-schooled since I started Year 1, but of course, they didn't care and forced me to attend their posh schools."
"I wasn't an honours student either," admits Asher, a little smirk brazing his lips as he tells me, "I couldn't stand being trapped indoors for too long. And I was restless, I couldn't stand still through the lessons, especially the literature and history ones. I was always the first to pack his things and get out of there when the bell rang."
"Me too," I say, thinking back to my school days. "I was the weird girl that was always hanging by herself on some random bench, while everyone was trying their hardest to show off, to stand out and be in the centre of attention. I hated being the talk of the school, although that happened pretty often."
"I wouldn't have pictured you like anything but a troublemaker anyway."
"I wasn't that much of a nuisance, as it was my family's reputation that forced me into the spotlight. My brothers were quite popular and known for hanging with the 'right' crowd, the finest London had to offer. And all my colleagues were curious about what fancy parties did they attend lately, if I met some new royalty or if they could get invited to one of the exclusive get-togethers at my home. They were sucking the living life out of me. I was so glad I was getting out of there at the graduation ceremony that I strode out of there as soon as I got my diploma and I threw my cap so high into the air that it got stuck on one of the top branches of a tree."
"Drama queen," he mutters and I punch him lightly. He continues laughing and I keep my face away so he won't see that I'm barely containing my laughter. But I return my eyes on him when his voice became serious again. "Seems like the both of us were raised into a life we never seemed to belong to and are expected to continue at trying to fit in until..."
"Until we're no longer us, perhaps," I reply and he slightly nods. "But you're mistaken, I'm doing my best at avoiding that scenario. This is why I need to stay as far away as possible from my family and my home. I won't spend a lifetime pretending I'm someone I'm not."
"At least you can escape this," he sighs and I mindlessly place my hand over his on the gear lever and I smile gently.
He seems surprised but shakes off the shock quickly, perhaps so I won't be tempted to move my hand away. "You can, too, if you wish to." I try to encourage him, but a sad smile crosses his features.
"My father raised me to be the future king. In the whole history of Lycans, only once has been a new king from the same family as his predecessor. King Xanti practically inherited the Throne, as the competition of his generation was a bit weird. Half of the Royal Heirs fell ill before the quarters and didn't get better until the competition was over. After the quarters, four of the remaining Heirs went missing and were never found. The Lycans blamed the werecats for the disappearances and started hunting the shifters that came on Earth from the Other Realm until they were nearly extinct. In the meantime, Xanti succeeded in winning the Throne in a final duel against his younger brother who was a Lycanthrope. It wasn't an honourable win, as his rule wasn't one my kind is proud of, but he still made it into history books due to this weird coincidence.
"For me, it isn't something I can run from, Adeline. I have to win, not only to fulfil my father's wish but also because I have no idea who I am beside the Prince of Lycans. If I'm not an Heir, who am I?" His questions sting my heart and I don't understand why. It's like I can share with him the pain he's experiencing as he revealed his most inner fear to me. I'm fully aware this time when I let my hand wander to his cheek and caressing it slightly. I shift closer to him, as much as my seat allows and I rest my head on his arm, one hand wrapped around his arm and one still covering his hand over the gear. I know it's stupid to hold him like this while he's driving, but I have the deepest urge to feel him as near as possible, to let him know I'm right beside him. For now, at least.
"Maybe we'll take this day to do exactly this," I whisper, smiling at the plan forming in my head.
"Doing what?" He asks and my smile grows even bigger as I reply.
"Finding out who Asher Silveira actually is."