Maddoc POV
I knew from the moment I arrived that my mate was there, I could smell her, but the crowd made her difficult to pinpoint.I made my way to the stage, to speak to the crowd. I had some important things to cover. I just hoped I would be able to keep control of Koda. He was howling to get out and find our mate. "It's not like I don't feel the same way, buddy. Just hang in there as little longer," I told him. He huffed and turned his back, if he had been able to I am pretty sure I would have been flipping me off. I told the kneeling werewolves to rise. I always wondered if any of the older wolves with bad knees hated the whole kneeling thing. I didn't think it was necessary, but hadn't gotten to really looking at changing the law yet.
As if on cue, Tara, Beta William's daughter, almost fell, causing a slight commotion. She was embarrassed, but she shouldn't have been.
She was beautiful, radiant, and I recognized her scent as the one I had been searching for, coffee and caramel and freshly baked cookies. Koda was jumping up and down, howling MATE! I told him to calm down, but he was not listening at all. It took a lot of energy for me to refocus on my speech.
Tara didn't know yet, as she hadn't shifted, but I knew I had to be there when she did, not long from now. I got through my speech, the rogues were really weighing on my mind. That poor pup. We had her back at the castle, and considering all she had been through, she was doing okay. Mila was her name. She spent a lot of time by the lake, painting. She and the geese got along well, which surprised me because those geese were notorious for chasing anyone who got within 100 yards of them. They followed Mila around like ducklings.
I wanted to find Tara before her shift, but she disappeared right after my speech. I found her parents, and her mother gave me a knowing look. I knew of her gift and about Where Wolves, it was one of the most successful businesses in the werewolf world. I figured she had seen the bond flowing out of me, but did she know exactly where that bond went? I had to know.
While William was busy chatting with Alpha Jack Luna Diane, I asked Tara's mother, Natasha, if she had a minute. We walked off to the side, away from the prying ears of others.
"I guess we should talk," I started, and she smiled, cutting right to the chase,
"Tara is your mate," she stated, and I nodded, maintaining eye contact. I could tell she was happy for Tara but there was a hint of sadness and concern, which was understandable. "My baby girl. She's going to be so happy. She has always had a crush on you." That made me smile.
"I want you to know I will not rush her, I of course will want her with me but I understand it is a lot of responsibility and that she is young. It is... a lot." She would be Queen. My Queen. I was talking too fast, thinking too fast. I had to try and see things the way Tara, who was so much younger, might see them.
"I have no doubt that you will love my daughter and make her happy. Keep her safe. You have a good heart, my King." Natasha grabbed my hands, and gave me a reassuring smile.
"If she chooses to come back with me right away, I would like for her to choose a couple of warriors from your pack to take with her. I think it will help. She will, of course, have a whole team of guards, but I think the familiarity might help her feel less overwhelmed." I said thoughtfully.
"Well, I would say her sister, but she is needed here, because of her powers. Are you aware that she may one day take over as Alpha?" Natasha replied, giving me the side eye to gauge my reaction. She didn't need to worry.
"I had heard rumors to this effect, and I want you to know I approve. It is time the Werewolf and Lycan Packs start recognizing that some of our laws and social structure, in particular the way we view our females, need to change. Some of my best Lycan warriors are female. My third in command is a female, and she is perhaps even stronger than my Beta."
She looked surprised and pleased. "I look forward to meeting them all. I have to say I have a good feeling about this. My wolf also approves." She paused before continuing. "Tara has been sheltered from the rest of the world. She's a bit introverted, she likes her music and she loves to curl up in her hammock with a book, she prefers this to some of the more social activities typical of werewolves. She has anxiety, sometimes gets overwhelmed in crowds."
I was glad she had mentioned this, since it was a bit unusual to find a pack animal with social anxiety. What was I getting myself in to? "I assure you that everything possible will be done to reassure her, and that she will not feel rushed to jump right in to being Queen. I'm excited to get to know her."
I hoped that Tara would come back with me, but I would remain a few extra days at this pack, regardless, giving her time to decide. It would be a good chance to get to know her pack, as well, since we would be close allies.
I hoped, along with Koda, that she would come with us. Koda was ecstatic over finally finding the mate we had searched for for so long. But if she needed time, she would get it. Her happiness was the most important thing.
"I will see you in about half an hour, my King," she said, "I am sure Tara has gone somewhere to clear her head." She smiled and walked back over to her mate and friends.
I mind linked Alexander, telling him the news and asking him to send 3-4 warriors to meet with me, that I would be watching Tara's first shift. He was, of course, curious, so I told him, 'I have to be there. She is my mate.'
'Your mate? You mean to tell me we are finally going to have our Queen?'
'Yes, we are. She is young, and I am not going to rush things. She will probably be a little overwhelmed. She's young, and struggles with anxiety.'
'Well, congratulations, Maddoc. This is great news and I know you have waited a long time."
That I had. My heart was full, knowing I didn't have to wait much longer. Then it was time, I met with Alexander and three of my best warriors and headed to meet our Queen.
She glanced nervously at me as I entered the clearing, I tried to put a friendly smile on my face, I am not sure if I succeeeded. She looked scared. When she started to shift, screaming out a string of curse words, our eyes locked and time stood still for a moment, recognition flashing in hers as she got through the agonizing moments and shifted very quickly for a first timer.
When she shifted in to that gorgeous wolf, seeming to realize in the midst of it all that I was her mate, I was overcome with pride and delighted when her wolf raced towards me. I signaled to my guards to stand down. Her wolf, Trinity, stopped and cocked her head to the side, studying me. I shifted, Koda would not let me hold him off anymore. She launched herself at me and at first I thought she was going to barrel right in to me. I growled at the guards who shifted again, into their lycan forms. They got the message and stood down once again.
Our wolves collided mid-air, then she took off into the woods. A chase! Koda took off after her as she ran deeper into the woods. 'Mate, mate, let's go to her now!' We wasted no time, and headed after her as she ran faster, she was damn fast!
Koda told me her wolf was named Trinity, and that she was a good wolf. "We will love and protect her forever."
"'Yes, we will." I assured him. I almost lost sight of her a few times, amazed that this newborn wolf could outrun the Lycan King.
An hour or so later, after our wolves ran until they were both panting and intensely thirsty, stopping at the river for a drink. Trinity was exhausted, tongue flopping out of her mouth, about to pass out. She lay down on her side and looked into our eyes, then shivered. Koda was more than happy to let her use him as a pillow. He licked Trinity's nose, rubbing up against her.
A bit later, Koda watched as a fast asleep Trinity shifted back into human form. Tara lay curled against him, taking his breath away. She was tiny compared to him, in this form, but her body was curvy and her skin was lightly tanned.
Her wolf, on the other hand, was huge! "Mate," Koda said to Maddoc, "she is so perfect, keep her warm."
Koda curled himself around her body, purring as she snuggled into his fur. He watched her sleep, amazed at how protective he felt over her. His lycan beast was an extension of Koda mentally, just manifested in a different physical form and with a more feral nature than the wolf. He felt complete for the first time ever. All of his forms content and focused on a common goal, to keep Tara warm.
He mind linked his Beta to bring clothes and a blanket. Somehow Tara had lost her shifting dress while running wildly through the forest. Probably due to Trinity being much larger than anyone expected. As the moon shone on the water in front of them, Maddoc and Koda had never felt so at peace.
'Headed that way with the items you requested,' Alexander linked him after a few minutes. He arrived quickly and dropped off the clothes and blanket before hastily making his retreat. Male Lycans, especially with an unmarked mate, were known to be fiercely protective. He doubted Maddoc would lose control, but better safe than sorry.
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Back at the party following Tara's shift, word spread quickly, resembling the old game "telephone." Details remained sketchy. The Lycan King found his mate, and she was from Blue Moon. That was common knowledge within an hour. No one knew his mate was Tara. Rumors that Tara had found her fated mate also circulated. When Jake heard this, he was furious. His fury grew and grew until it became a black haze over his thoughts. Many also didn't know that Cindy had filed charges against Tara, ones that Tara would have to face when she got back. Serious ones, and she had witnesses to back her up.
Trouble was already brewing, and it was not going to end well.