The hidden Lycian Princess

Episode 3

*Gabriella’s POV*

I can't believe it happened at school. My change occurred in the middle of the hallway in front of everyone. How will I show face now I will be known as a freak, for heaven's sake.

So when I saw Marco, I ran towards him, hoping he would know what to do and trying to run on four legs. Well, it's more complicated than I first imagined. I am surprised I didn't trip myself up on the way out the door.

Now I am following Marco through the forest to my human parents.

I feel dread find its way to me as I think about the possibility of not graduating because I am a Lycian. What will I do then.?

“You are overthinking”, Roxy chimes in as we avoid fallen branches.

“Easy for you to say,” I snap back at her, and she chuckles.

“Our mate is fine”, she purrs, changing the subject altogether, and I take notice of Marco’s wolf, and I can not help but notice he keeps looking back at me, making sure I am okay.

Then we come to an abrupt stop, and my wolf pushes me back and takes over. I am left helpless and watching from the background.

Marco shifts, then look at me and smile at me, then squats down “you have to change back, Gabriella. We are close to the house, and there are authorities at home.” he scratches between my ears “imagine yourself as you are in your human form.”

He says, then steps back, so I close my eyes and think of myself in human form. Then I panicked and opened my eyes.

I will be naked, and that isn't ideal, not for me; I have never been naked in front of anyone; then I look up at Marco and shake my head, not even noticing if he has clothes on or not that didn't cross my mind. Still, I can't shift back not here, not while authorities are at the house. What will I say? Oh, I am so sorry I went all giant dog in the school corridors.?

So I lay down and rested my head on my paws and sighed.

Marco comes over to me, sits next to me, and sighs.

“Okay, we will want here for the authorities to leave, but you are not safe here. You would be safer at the house under the care of your adoptive parents.” I look over at Marco, and he is leaning on a tree with his hands behind his head, and I notice he has his clothes on. So I close my eyes and pray that my clothes are still on.

I picture myself in human form, and I feel all my bones snapping and shaping back into place, then I open my eyes and look down, and sure enough, I have my clothes on, so I move next to Marco, and he chuckles.

“I wondered how long it would take for you to realise you wouldn't be naked,” he says as he picks leaves out of my hair.

I smack his arm.

It was my first time. How was I supposed to know that I would be clothed.”

Then I looked around to see where we were, and we were on the other side of the lake where I first saw Marco’s wolf. Then I looked over at the house as I saw my school principal at home speaking to my adoptive parents, then I saw Ashton drive up the driveway and get out of the car and hug my mother.

And speak to the principal, which seems happy with what Ashton has said because he gets into his car and leaves, so Marco and I begin to make our way around the lake and to my mum and Ashton.

When mum sees me, she runs over to me. “Gabriella, let me look at you,” she says as she turns my face and looks for scratches or deep cuts.

“I am okay, Mum. I am better than ever. I feel good, and I had Marco with me. He kept me safe.”

My mum pulls me into a big hug when she turns, and she goes to Marco and hugs him, then guides us into the house.

I go up to my bedroom to get a change of clothes and clean myself up.

When I go downstairs, my mum sits at the dining table with her head in her hands, and I go over to her.

“What's wrong, mum” I take a seat next to her and place my hands on her arm “please talk to me.” I wait for mum to talk.

She sighs.

Our plan is for you to stay at school until the end of term isn't possible, Gab. We have to go with what your parents want now that word will get out about who you are.”

I rest my head on my hands and nod. I know she is right; I can't explain what I am to the humans or go around and pretend I never had my first chance in the middle of school. “I know, mum, but I don't want to go live with my biological parents, yet I am not ready to leave you.”

My mum leans in and kisses my cheek. “I don't think you have a choice, so I am telling you to go with Marco. I have also spoken to Ashton, and he will get your items from your locker as I will keep the car in the garage for you when you come back.”

I feel the sadness creeping into my heart. I look around and see Marco with his head in his hands looking at me “your mother is right, Gab, we can't stay here if we do, you will put your adoptive parents in danger. I have spoken to Ashton, and he will bring some of your belongings to a meeting point in a few days. So go ad pack a bag we have to leave before anyone comes looking for you.”

I drop my head, then I go to my room and begin to pack a bag with the essentials and a few changes of clothes and my drawing book. Then I go back downstairs, and I see my adoptive parent standing at the door with Marco. I go to my dad and hug him, then I hug my mum and walk out the door “say goodbye.” Roxy says in my head, but I ignore her. I can’t say goodbye I don't have the strength to say goodbye to my Adoptive parent because I will be back, so I close my eyes and imagine my wold then realise I didn't see my wolf, so I groan “please make us shift, Roxy” I plead and she chuckles in my head then before I know it I am on all fours.

I walk back to my parents and sit at their feet. My mum squats down and hugs me “your Lycian is beautiful, Gab and her colours are the same as your hair in the grey,” I rest my chin on her shoulder and enjoy the warmth of her hug brings me. My dad kisses the side of my face, then steps back and allows Marco past him, and he shifts, then picks up the backpack in his mouth, and we begin our journey to the Lycian kingdom.

*Marco’s POV*

I lead Gabriella through the forest and towards her birth parents. I walk by her side, and I can feel the sadness coming from her, so I stop and then turn to face Gabriella. I walk towards her, then rest my head on hers and let her have the moment to be sad. I know she will be struggling with leaving her adoptive parents.

When Gabriella steps back, she nods at me, and I continue to walk again, following the moonlight, hoping that we can make the distance tonight. I know that she is getting tired the first time your shift constantly takes the strength out of you.

So we stop, and I shift into my human form and squat down to Gab. “I need to call Ashton,” I say, hoping that Gabriella has her phone in her bag. She nudged the bag with her nose, and I opened it and got the phone out and found Ashton’s number and hit call.

“Hey,” he says as he answers.

“Ashton, it is Marco. Can you bring Gab and me some food? We are at the edge of your pack's territory.”

Ashton goes quiet. “I will get some food from the kitchen. Come in and eat and rest with us for the night. We will keep Gabriella safe; I have told my father, and he said we would help get her back home and protect Gabriella's adoptive parents.”

He finished giving me the details, then we began walking to the place we planned on meeting, and Ashton led us to the packhouse, where the Alpha met us.

He squats down to Gabriella and touches her head, then looks at Ashton. “get a room set up on the alpha floor for them. We can not have the prince and princess seen here.”

I shift and nod at the Alpha “thank you for the offer we won't be any trouble. We have to let Gabriella’s mother know we will be in the kingdom tomorrow. “

Gabriella shifts then hug the alpha. He embraces her and then kisses each cheek “we have a room for you, Gabriella, and there is food in the room.”

She steps back then leans on me, and I take the opportunity to put my arm around her waist, we follow the Alpha and Ashton to the bedroom, and we settle in to rest and eat the food.

After we finish eating, Gabriella takes the bag and goes to the bathroom, and I call her parents and let them know that we are okay, then settle in on the bed.

When Gabriella comes back in, she gets under the covers, looks up at me and smiles.

“Thank you, Marco, for being patient and guiding me through all of this mess.”

I move the hair off her face, then kiss her temple “rest, Gab; we have a long way to travel tomorrow. “

She closes her eyes, and I lay down beside her, then look up at the ceiling and smile.

My Lycian is content and happy that we are with our mate that we have been searching for for the longest time, and we will do anything to keep her safe because, without our mate, we will never be whole.

I roll over and pull Gabriella into me, and I close my eyes and get some well-deserved rest.