Richard stood looking out the window thinking. At twenty-five, he had come to the conclusion that his mother was wrong. He had yet to meet his mate, and he had just about given up hope in ever finding her. He smiled at the thought of his mother. At the age of 43, she still had several of her children at home. His thoughts quickly turned to his siblings. He missed each and every one of them. And he was glad that most of them had found their mates.
"Sire, the convoy's here." A voice spoke from behind him and he slowly turned around. He'd only been king for the past two years, but things had been good so far. Keeping his thoughts to his-self, he grabbed his coat and followed the man, quickly sliding it on. He caught a glimpse of his reflection and he had to smile. He looked exactly like his mother and father. At the thought of his father, his mood dropped. Jason Bell had been killed when rogues attacked the pack almost six years ago. He had given his life protecting his wife.
Richard knew that his mom was still mourning the loss of his father, but she was still hanging on for her children. She had to be the strongest woman he had ever known. "Did everyone come?"
"No Sire. Alpha Thane's daughter is missing."
The Fire Dart pack, correct?"
"Yes sir. He has no new leads on where she is right now, but he won't give up looking for her. He sends his regrets on not being able to attend this year." Richard nodded and entered the conference room. When everyone realized that he was in the room, they all stood up and bowed their heads in respect. He nodded to them and took his seat. "Alright, I know that many of you have several pressing matters waiting for your return, so I won't keep you very long.
"The rogues have started banding together. We haven't been able to confirm if they're trying to gather an army to start a war on the packs, or if they're just trying to keep what little humanity they have left intact. Each pack will increase their border patrols, pack members as young as 16 will now be trained to fight and protect their packs if the need comes down to it. We will be ready for anything, just in case.
"One other thing, Alpha Thane's daughter has gone missing. He's currently searching for her. Those who are closest to his pack will allow him onto their lands to search for her. If anyone has any information about her, they should pass it along to him as soon as they can. The packs further out should keep an eye open for her just in case she makes it that far. If and when she's found, I suggest that she be sedated and her father called to come get her.
"And then there's the main reason I gathered you here today. In a month's time, I will be holding a ball. Every pack is required to attend. I know how the previous king ran things, but I'm not him. While it is required you attend, if a pack member has a legitimate excuse in not coming, they are allowed to stay home. However, they must attend next year." Everyone started at the young king, but his face gave nothing away. They couldn't help but wonder if this was an attempt on his part in trying to find his mate. For another hour, Richard listened to the alphas and gave advice where it was needed. Just as the meeting ended, Richard's Beta Jon rushed into the room. "You have an important visitor waiting for you in your office." Richard took in the look on his friend's face and felt his heart sink. Something bad has happened, he knew. Standing up, he said goodbye to the men and strode out of the room. Quickly, he made his way back to his office. Opening the door, he entered to find his younger sister Taylor sitting in front of his desk.
"Taylor," he spoke softly and she jumped to her feet. When she saw her older brother, she ran to him, throwing her arms around him. Tommy hugged her back and when she started crying, he knew that the news she had would not be good to hear. "What's wrong Taylor?" He asked her once her tears came to a stop.
"Oh Richard," she whispered softly. The look in her eyes made his body became numb. "No." Tears gathered in her eyes again, but she held them at bay. "Richard, Momma's gone." Her voice broke and she crumpled into his arms again. Richard just stood there stunned. His mother was dead. He thought about the phone call he just had with her last night and he felt the tears fall. But he didn't move to stop them.
He didn't know how long they stood there mourning the loss of their mother. Finally, he pulled back and rubbed his face. Only the hint of red around his eyes showed that he had been crying. "When ... When is the funeral?"
"Saturday; Uncle Sam found her. And he said that she didn't suffer. She was in bed and went peacefully." While he was glad that his mother hadn't suffered in her death, he already missed her. She had always been there for him, giving him advice when he was stuck or couldn't figure out what he should do. "I'll be there Taylor. Do you want to stay the night?" He asked, and smiled when she nodded.
"How about a movie?" Her eyes lit up and he hugged her again. "She wouldn't want you to be said Richard. She missed Dad something fierce. I know she's happy to be back with him."
"I know that Taylor. I always knew that while she loved all of us dearly, she missed Dad more." He gave her a smile and led her to the theater room. They spent the rest of the day watching movies and catching up on the things they had missed. When Taylor fell asleep while they were watching Shall We Dance, Richard noticed that she looked so much like their mother.
Removing his phone from his pocket, he quickly called an old friend. He smiled as he thought about the only human girl who hadn't been afraid of him back in college. The line rang six times before someone answered. "Hello?" He knew instantly that he had woke her. How could he have forgotten that she took a job offer in Ireland just after they graduated? "Laretta?"
"Richard!" She cried out and he could hear the smile in her voice. "How have you been?"
"Good, good. And you?"
"I have been doing okay. Things have not worked out for the most part. But I know that you did not just call me at two in the morning just to ask me how I am doing. What's up Bell?" Spit it out." He laughed softly. That had been one of the things he loved about Laretta. She could always sense when something was off with him. But to her, it was just a brotherly type of love. He thought that she would be like the others, but she had always proved him wrong. She did not care that he looked like a walking mountain.
"My momma died." He said softly and he heard her gasp. "Oh, Richard, I am so sorry. Your momma was an amazing woman. I know you will miss her."
"I know you are probably pretty busy over there, but I wanted to ask you if you would come to the funeral. It's this Saturday."
"Richard, honey, you do not have to even ask. You should know that I would be there. You are my best friend." Suddenly, the sound of a door being slammed shut on her end of the phone rang out loudly. "Is everything alright there Laretta?"
"Yes. Could you hold on for a moment Richard?" She asked and then silence fell on the phone. He listened as hard as he could, and was paid off as he heard arguing in the background. The sound of a fist connecting with a body was loud enough for him to hear and he froze. He waited, but dread quickly filled him. What happened, he wondered. The phone started moving and he let out a breath he had not realized that he had even been holding. "Richard, are you still there?"
"I'm still here. You know that you cannot get rid of me that easy." She laughed, but Richard heard more than that. He heard her wince from pain and anger at the man who had hit her flooded him. "What just happened?" He demanded, yet his voice was kind and gentle. "He ... I ... He was drunk Richard. He did not mean to hit me. It only happens when he has bad days at work ... "
"So, he has hit you before then, I take it?"
Laretta's silence was his answer. "Listen, I want you to pack your things. You are not staying there anymore. I cannot allow you to live where your life is in danger."
"Richard, I can't just leave everything because my boyfriend hits me a little." Richard growled softly as her tone. "I will get you a job here Laretta, better than the one you have now. I will not let you stay there. You know what happens in that kind of relationship." She sighs softly and he knew that she gave up. "All right, I will bring my things with me. But I don't have anywhere to stay."
"Do you honestly believe that I would let my best friend. Fend for herself? You will be staying here at the pack house with me."
"But Richard, I do not fit into your world. The others … They won't accept it."
"They'll have to." Richard said with a smirk on his face. He had told Laretta the whole truth about him and his kind their last semester of college. He remembered that night very well. They had been studying for a major test when she started talking about what werewolf movie was the best. He couldn't remember exactly how, but he blurted out that he was a werewolf. Richard had felt bad when he thought she would run away from him. But Laretta had managed to surprise him yet again when she just sat there looking at him.
She had thought it was the coolest thing in the world. They spent the rest of the night talking about it. And she wanted to know everything about his world. "And why is that?"
"I'm the alpha king." His title just fell off his lips without him even thinking about it; sure, he had told Laretta that one day he would be the king, but he forgot to mention that he had been crowned the last time they had talked. "No, you're not!" She squealed, surprised. "Yes I am, have been for the past two years now."
"And why did you not tell me this sooner? You know what, no. This is not a conversation to have over the phone."
"And why is that?" He asked, laughing at her sudden change of direction. "I need to be there to Gibb slap you for not telling me sooner, you moron." Richard just laughed harder. "I've missed you a lot Lolo."
"And I have missed you too Richard. I will send my things ahead of me and I will grab the first plane that I can find.
Is that alright?"
"It sure is. You just let me know when your plane is supposed to arrive and I will come pick you up." They said good night and Richard slowly hung up. Looking down at his sister, he gently picked her up and carried her to the guest room that was across the hall from his. He was looking forward to seeing his friend again. He just wished that it was under different circumstances.
Suddenly, his mind when back to the man that had hit Laretta. With a determined set to his jaw, he went looking for Jon. He found him in the library. "Jon, I need you to do something for me."
"Sure. What's up?"
"I need you to do a little digging. Find out who Laretta O'Neil is living with or dating." Jon looked up in surprise. "Sure Richard. When do you need the information?"
"Just bring it to me as soon as you get it." Richard turned to leave and Jon watched him go. He hadn't heard that name in a few years. He thought back to the first time he had met the girl. He and Richard had been late for football and Jon had accidently tripped the girl, causing her books to go flying into Richard's face.
Instead of being scared like most human girls would have been, she had just picked up her things slowly, sent a glare at him and walked away, yelling to Jon to watch where he was going. Jon knew that she was not his mate, but the girl had intrigued him. The whole incident stumped Richard, and Jon had spent the next several weeks teasing him about it. Never in his life had he seen Richard become speechless at the sight of a girl, and a human girl on top of it. Putting the book he had been reading down on the table, Jon hurried to his office. Something about the tone of Richard's voice told him that he was not going to like what he would find. Jon did not know just how true that would be.