The Queen Within

Chapter 8

Charlie

I was ecstatic to be going on this trip. Of course, I was saddened by the reality that I would be gone from my two bestest friends. Not to mention one of them is pregnant with my godchild. I just had to remember that I was doing this for Alandra and the baby. They both deserve to know where they come from and what their people are like. Yes, Alandra has some of the Adairs, but none of them truly know about the way of life of Lycans since the majority of them were babies or children when they were saved.

The dinner Jonathan and Alandra hosted was delicious and sad. They announced to everyone that I would be leaving to find answers again, and that apparently they were leaving too on some sort of research mission to Roy's pack. That left Jonathan's parents in charge till one of us returns.

Currently, Danny and I were in our room, trying to pack for the trip. I was lucky to have Danny. She was up for anything and demanded I take her along. I would've taken her even if she didn't ask to of course. I couldn't imagine one day without her. Ever since I found her, we have been inseparable.

I was watching Danny try to shove a shirt into her haphazardly packed suitcase. I watched as her hair cascaded around her face and her nose scrunch up as she tries to threaten the piece of clothing in. I chuckled softly and walked over to her side, placing my hands on her waist. She sighed heavily and stepped to the side so I could get it in.

"You know, more would fit if you would just fold the clothes."

"Don't you talk to me about folding clothes Mr. I leave paper everywhere."

I laughed at that, something that she always picked on me about in return for me picking on her never wanting to fold clothes. She told me once there was never a point since it was just going to be worn again. I took all her clothes out and started folding them one by one, carefully placing them in her suitcase. Danny watched me intently and I could see her mumbling under her breath.

"I thought I was the one that talks to themselves?"

"You are. I'm just doing it for you." She said and stuck her tongue out. Danny was always poking fun and she had a childish side to her. That's what I loved about her. I'm always stuck in my own head and in too deep into my research. She pulls me out of it and brightens my day, helping me relax. Right now, I could tell something was bothering her.

"What is it Danny?"

She didn't answer me right away. She chewed on her lip and looked out the window. I let her think about whatever was bothering her, willing to wait till she was ready to tell me. I had finally finished getting her suitcase organized when she came up and wrapped her arms around me. I wrapped my arms around her holding her tightly.

"Are we doing the right thing? Can we trust this person? What if this is a trap?"

I stroked her hair softly and kissed her forehead. "I'm not sure, to be honest. But, I have to do this. If this could be the answer Alandra is looking for, then it's worth the risk."

She sighed softly and nodded. "For Alandra."

Danny had a soft spot for Alandra since they met. The fox shifters learned of everything Alandra did, and naturally, since Danny was a top warrior, she respected Alandra. When she found out how kind and caring Alandra really is, well, just like me, Danny couldn't help but melt into the kindness that is her.

After we packed our bags, we headed downstairs. It was already dark out and our flight was in two hours. It would take us at least forty-five minutes to get to the airport. Jonathan and Alandra were waiting for us when we went downstairs. Alandra smiled and handed us both a lunchbox.

"I figured you would get snacky on the plane... I know you could buy, but at least these are made with love."

"Thank you."

I hugged her and then hugged Jonathan.

"Please be safe. Come back home soon." Jonathan said as he pulled away.

I nodded and promised him that I would keep him updated. We said our goodbyes and went out to the car that was waiting for us. An omega by the name of Terry that I was friends with offered to drive us to the airport. Of course, I wasn’t looking forward to the long plane ride, but at least I'll have my Danny.

The car ride was interesting, to say the least. Terry had death metal on full blast and it sounded like a dying goat was singing, but he was jamming to it so I guess it was a good song. We bid farewell to Terry, went through checking and baggage, all the tedious things you do when you need to get on a plane.

Once we boarded the flight, a lady walked up to us with a huge plastered smile and handed us the itinerary.

"Complimentary champagne?" She said as she handed us both a glass. We thanked her and Danny chugged hers, and mine down. I didn't like to drink since it dulls my thought process, and Danny hated flying so it works for both of us.

As soon as the plane took off, Danny started flipping through the movies on the screen. One of the perks with first-class was that every seat had its own screen. I pulled my tray out and got my notebooks out to go over what information I did have on Sarki and the pack. Which honestly wasn't much.

The only information I did have was a vague location and documents that traced this specific pack for generations. The only thing I couldn't figure out was this word that didn't fit. Mawu. They talked like it was a person but I couldn't find who that person was or what that person was. There was a record, but all it had was the name Mawu, and according to any documentation to it, this person or being was revered like a queen.

Unfortunately, anything that could confirm this or shed light on who or what Mawu is, was destroyed. When I traveled to Sweden, the only place that has the biggest record keepings on all supernaturals. The only thing they had on Lycans was the different original pack names and then this name. The document that has Mawu was half burned though. It was like someone wanted to erase the history.

It was frustrating, to say the least. I'm hoping that by going here, we get the answers we are looking for. I couldn't help but agree with Danny though. What if this was a trap? What if they weren't what we thought? I'm riding all of it on this one person and I'm terrified. It was different when it was just me. But now it's me and Danny. I could risk my life at any time. But could I risk Danny?

Secretly, a part of me wanted her to stay behind. To stay in the safety of the pack borders. But I knew that was just me being selfish. Danny was a warrior and worked her ass off to be one of the top warriors in her pack. She can handle herself. The idea of her being in harm's way sets me and Blake on edge.

“Babe? You ok?”

I looked up from my notes and Danny was looking at me with concern with a drink in her hand. I smiled softly at her trying to ease her mind. “Yeah, baby I’m fine. You know, work work work.”

She c****d an eyebrow at me and pursed her lips. "You're a terrible liar."

I chuckled at that. She was right of course. I reached out to her and she gave me her free hand. When we touched the sparks that ran through my body felt like an ignition. I wanted to take her right here on the plane, but I knew she was far too nervous for it.

"Just worried. I don't know what the outcome will be. Yes, this is an answer to one of my theories, but, now that Alandra is pregnant, I'm worried about what this will bring. Is the answer worth it?”

"I know love. I'm worried too. But we are doing this for her. I've discovered something. I wanted to wait till we were on the plane to show you. Away from prying ears and eyes."

Danny got out her carry-on and dug through it for a few moments. When she found what she was looking for, she pulled out a piece of folded paper. I took it and unfolded it carefully. Looking at it, it seemed like a family tree of some kind. At the top was Mawu, and then under her was four names, Mwangi, Otieno, Juma, and Adair. Under each of the names branched off others, but they all stayed intermingled. Except for the Adairs. At some point, their line was no longer recorded. It just stopped.

I studied the paper over and over again and looked up at Danny.

“What could this mean? Why did the Adair line stop?”

”I don’t know. But maybe this Mawu person is the origin. The first.”

”It’s possible… But that Doesn’t answer about the Adairs linage stopping. It hasn’t, Alandra is alive and her family line goes back centuries. Is… Is what we have on the Adair’s fake? Is this their true history?”

My head was whirling. These could possibly be the original Lycans, the original families. If that’s the case, that makes the Adair’s line an original, the creators. What does that mean for Alandra? What does that mean for all of us?

Wait a second.

"Where did you get this?"

Danny took a swig of her drink. "It was in the letter. When I opened it, this fell out. When I saw what it was, I had to keep it hidden. With everything that's going on, we don't know who to trust."

I nodded as I continued to wrap my head around all of this. This gave us some kind of answer, but it just left us with more questions. There is so much that we do not know. So much uncertainty. One thing was certain though, we had to find these other families.

If there are still survivors, they will have the answers Alandra has been seeking. At first, this was just about finding other lycans out there. Now, this is about finding out who the Adairs really are. Obviously, we will still be able to find other Lycans, but man oh man. This changed drastically and I am ecstatic for it. I mean, for my friend. I'm ecstatic for my friend.

I just hope that this doesn't bite me on the ass.