Soul Bonded

Where did they come from?

Aurora

By the time I get home, it’s morning. I stayed out all night, running in Lycan form, trying to get the anger out of my system. It worked to a degree; now I just feel hurt. I don’t understand why Levi would do this to me. I thought he loved me, but you don’t lie to the one you love.

I make my way to my room. I need to shower the dirt from my body. I have training in an hour, I haven’t slept all night, and I want to cry. I won’t cry; I never do. Mom always said crying gets you nowhere. However, Aunt Harmony always says that crying purges the soul and releases anger. I don’t know if that’s true, but right now, I feel like standing in a dark room and screaming until I can’t scream anymore.

After my shower, I tie my hair in a high ponytail, dress in my workout gear, and head to the training field. I narrow my eyes because there’s no one around.

Where the hell is everybody?

“There’s no training today, Aurora. It’s Sunday.”

I turn and face my mother. I nod because I forgot what day it was. No one trains on Sunday. Mom also doesn’t get up before 8 a.m. on a Sunday, so I’m confused as to why she’s here.

“Mind telling me where the hell you’ve been all night?”

I sigh while folding my arms over my chest. I should have known Mom would figure out I had left. You can’t get anything past Lyric Knight.

“I just went for a run.”

“What have your father and I told you about sneaking out? We don’t say it for fun, Aurora! There are dangers out there for a Princess. Anything could have happened to you!”

“Please don’t yell at me, Mom.” I cast my eyes downward. I know Mom is angry with me, but I’m not in the mood for an argument.

Mom and I are too much alike, and we often argue. We love each other more than anything in the world, but we clash. I hate upsetting her, though, because I love my mother.

“Aurora?” Mom cups my cheek, lifting my head. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I shake my head, but Mom isn’t going to drop it. “Aurora, don’t lie to me. Something is wrong, and you can’t fob me off with a shake of your head. I know my daughter.”

I swallow hard and wrap my arms around my mother’s waist. She gasps but holds me close. Stroking the back of my hair, she kisses my head.

“Aurora, speak to me.”

“It’s Levi,” Mom sighs as I explain what I saw last night. She listens without interrupting or adding her two cents. “I don’t understand, Mom. Why would Levi do that? Why doesn’t he want to see me?”

“Sweetheart, Levi loves you. I can’t say why he hasn’t been to see you if he’s home now. But it sounds like he’s on a mission of some kind. I think perhaps Mark was giving Levi something that belonged to you so Levi would have you with him somehow.”

“No,” I shake my head and pull away from her. “I don’t know what they were up to, but I will find out. They will not get away with keeping secrets from me!”

“That’s my girl.” Mom winks, making me laugh. “But just remember not to go charging in like a bull in a China shop. Not everything is as it seems, Aurora. Communication is the key, sweetheart. Let Levi and Mark explain what they were doing. You might find it’s something you could help them with.”

I try not to huff. I understand the communication thing, and I won’t lose my temper unless there’s a reason to. But if Levi and Mark were up to something I could help them with, they would have come to me already. But they didn’t; they kept secrets from me.

I think I’m allowed to be angry! But in all honesty, I just want to see Levi. I want him to tell me why he’s been hiding from me. Why he didn’t come and see me when it’s clear he could have.

A noise coming from the left draws my and Mom’s attention. We both growl because something feels off.

Just as we’re about to charge, a young girl runs out from the trees. My eyes widen because she’s carrying a young boy around four. There are two other boys with her. I can’t tell their ages from here, but the girl and the older boy look around sixteen. The other boy is probably around seven. They’re filthy and in rags, and they don’t look like they’ve eaten in days.

“What the hell?” I mumble.

“Dammit!” Mom rushes toward the kids while I call Dad.

‘Daddy, Mom, and I need you out on the training field!’

‘What’s wrong?’ Comes his instant reply.

‘Four kids in trouble!’ I cut the link and run to Mom.

“Please,” The young girl is on her knees, clutching the smallest child to her chest. “Help us. Please!”

Mom crouches in front of the girl. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

“What are your names?”

The oldest boy looks at me. “My name is Ansel. This is my twin sister, Lycia. She’s holding Forrester, and this is Morton.”

“Where are you from?” Ansel swallows hard, keeping his eyes on me, but he doesn’t answer.

“Please help us,” Lycia mumbles as Mom strokes the back of her head.

“What’s going on here?” I look at my dad, but I don’t get to reply because Ansel and Morton drop to their knees.

“My King, we seek sanctuary.”

‘Daddy, this is Ansel and his brother Morton. Their sister, Lycia, and baby brother, Forrester, are with Mom. They won’t say where they came from. But it’s clear something terrible happened to them.’

Dad tips his head. “Stand boys.” They do. “What are you running from?” The boys look at one another.

Goddess, my heart is breaking for them. They are so afraid; they’re shaking, and I don’t know how they’re still on their feet. Ansel isn’t even wearing shoes! His feet are filthy and bleeding. We need to get the four of them to a doctor. Goddess knows what injuries they’re suffering from that we can’t see.

“I cannot help you unless you talk to me.” Dad’s voice is calm and kind, but I know he’s fuming on the inside.

My father hates violence against children. When abuse is reported to the King, he takes it very seriously. Mom is the one who wants the accused killed immediately, and Dad is the one who investigates.

No one should have to suffer abuse. But it’s not uncommon for some to claim their mates are abusive as a reason to bring around rejection. Throughout my life, I’ve known five women accuse their mates of domestic violence. They ran to the King and Queen, claiming they could take no more and wanted to reject their mates. However, said mates refuse to allow it, so the women have no choice but to come to the King for help.

The fact those women don’t realize their King can sense lies is ridiculous. Those poor accused men have their names tarnished unfairly. As you can tell, those women were all liars, and my mother had them imprisoned. They were also publicly shamed as a warning to any woman or man who falsely accused anyone of such things.

There are too many out there suffering and scared to come forward. That’s why Mom checks in with the pack regularly, and Dad has every Alpha under his rule send him reports on pack members. Dad also sends people he trusts to check on packs when and where he can. Not all Alphas are honest.

Mom never wants anyone to suffer the way she and her sister did all those years ago. Locked away from the world by their crazed uncle. I don’t know the ins and outs, and I have never asked because there are some things a child should not know. But I do know that man hurt my mom and aunt in ways that no woman should go through.

I dread to think what these kids have been through. Just looking at them, I know it was dreadful.

“Our mother,” Ansel replies to Dad before he falls to his knees, unable to hold himself up any longer.

I get to my knees and wrap my arm around Ansel’s shoulders. He looks at me through his lashes. “It’s okay, Ansel, you’re safe now.”

“We will never be safe.” He falls against me, passed out and barely breathing.

Sh.it!

AN: And so, the updates begin! Now, there will be multiple POVs, including Marks. But you guys should be used to that by now lol I'll update as I always do when it comes to my primary books I.E this one. Now, as a side note: Not to be a bitc.h, but please, please stop nagging me about updating other books, especially the free ones! I know it's frustrating waiting for updates, but I do have a life outside of writing, including a family to take care of, children, pets, a house, illnesses, and a job. I am not superwoman as much as I like to think I am. I am updating The Alphas Omegas a little more regularly, and I will try to finish off Alpha Dalgaard, Werewolf of Lykos. Once book 6 in that book has come to an end, I won't be posting anymore stories there. I do appreciate each and every one of you for taking the time to read my stories, and you are all so very kind. But I can't deal with the nagging any longer. The only time I will post a free book from now on is if it's already comple.te unless the book is contrac.ted, which the free books I post are not. I post them for your entertainment, not to make money from them. However, I will try and finish that book as soon as possible. Thank you for reading!