The Lykos Chronicles

2 - Royal Visit

Sooo, here we are! We're about to begin our journey through Lykos, joining multiple characters from past stories. Each story will be short, but no less entertaining! The first story is Moria and Ronan's story - Lycan King Thane's parents. I'm not sure how many stories will be in this book. If there are too many, we'll have to make it 2 books! We'll see how it goes. Please don't forget to comment on the chapters if you're reading, and don't be shy to let me know what you think!

The Lycan Prince's Highland Beauty

Moira

I smile as I stand on the balcony of my chambers, staring down at my family gathered in the gardens to celebrate the new life joining our family. My youngest daughter, Esme, just gave birth to her fourth child – a little boy she named Ronan, after her father. The feast being held to welcome baby Ronan is huge. Our entire family is here today, and I couldn’t be prouder of them all. Whether they are of my blood or my mate’s, we’re a family that sticks together.

My mate, Ronan, is the love of my life, and we’ve been together for two hundred and forty years. Our incredibly long life stems from Royal Lycan blood and a blessing from Mighty Fenrir, who is, in fact, family thanks to him being mated to my granddaughter.

Ronan and I were blessed with nine children, though we were together for many years before our eldest came along. It’s pretty unusual for Lycans not to have children early on in their mateship; it just never happened for Ronan and me. I often wondered if it ever would. But then, Thane came along, and all my dreams of becoming a mother came true.

Thane, Theo, Tyler, Isla, Thorin, Tane, Tristan, Starr, and Esme are my world. Between them, they gave Ronan and me twenty-eight grandchildren, who then gave us forty-six great-grandchildren. They are all here today, along with friends and other family members. There are hundreds of people here today, all related to us in one way or another.

When I look at them all, I smile wider because most of them are here because of Ronan and me. I am so proud that our love for one another created this scene.

Ronan, my wonderful mate. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to be my soul mate. Ronan is kind, caring, loving, and everything a man should be. He was a fantastic King, compassionate and understanding during his reign, and everyone loved him.

All the years we’ve been together, and not one argument between us. Of course, we’ve disagreed, but we’ve never argued. Okay, that’s a lie. We argued once over Theo’s first birthday party, which would be a massive affair because the second son of the King turning one was something to celebrate. I wanted my son to wear a little white suit, and Ronan wanted him in blue.

It was such a silly thing to argue over, and it lasted less than a minute before Ronan pinned me against the wall and fucke.d me stupid. The memory of that day always makes me blush. But that was the day we created our third son.

I sometimes wonder what would have become of me if I had not decided to follow Ronan that day.

Where would I be now?

Who would I be without him?

Then I remember what happened that day two hundred and forty years ago…

Scottish Highlands, Kelt Paw Pack – 1804

“Moira!” My mother called from the porch. I looked up from the roses I was smelling. “Don’t you dare get that dress dirty. Today is a big day for the pack. I want everybody looking their best.”

“Aye, Mother, I know. I’ll not get dirty. I swear to ye.”

“See to it that ye do.”

My mother, Agnes McAlister, Luna of Kelt Paw Pack, had forced the whole pack to bathe and dress for the Royal visit. The Lycan King would be visiting today, and everything had to be perfect. It wasn’t every day the Lycan King came to Scotland, even less since he relocated to the Americas. It was even more special as Kelt Paw Pack, or Clan McAlister as we were known to the humans in neighbouring villages, was the only Lycan Pack around. Back then, there was no way to hide us completely from humans.

We didn’t come across them often; people feared our clan, and Father liked it that way. We didn’t know any Witches who could cloak us. In fact, we didn’t know any other beings apart from humans. The Highlands were vast, and very few people were around back then.

My father had been sent a letter giving two weeks’ notice of the King’s visit. We had been preparing for this day ever since. Mother had forced the whole pack to bathe and dress in our very best for the King’s arrival. Everything looked amazing, but Mother was worried someone might embarrass her, meaning me because I was a tomboy, much to my mother’s annoyance.

But what did she expect?

The pack was three hundred strong, but more than half of them were men. I spent my life training with my father and brother. Father wanted me to be strong, and I was a dab hand at weaponry. I could fire an arrow and send it soaring for a mile before it hit its target. I didn’t want to be one of those females who stayed home and worked her fingers to the bone raising children and keeping house. No, I was me, and I would change for no one!

“I mean it, Moira. Make sure you don’t do anything to ruin that dress. It took me days to make.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Mother did make my dress, and it was beautiful beyond words. Mother always said I looked good in dark green. She was right.

“I’ll have none embarrass your father or me today, and that includes you. Especially you.” She hit me with a hard stare. “This is important. It’s not every day the Lycan King travels so many miles to visit. And go find your brother, Moira. Make sure he’s behaving. The two of you will be the death of me.” She mumbled.

I tried not to laugh because she would have struck me across the face. She wasn’t shy in doing so whenever I annoyed her. Oh, my mother loved me; I never doubted that. But it was a different time, and customs were not as they are now.

“Yes, Mother.”

I left my little flowerbed and went in search of my older brother. I smiled at the people milling around as I walked by their small brick houses. Being the daughter of an Alpha had its privileges, as it has throughout the generations.

That aside, our pack members treated each other with love and respect. The Alpha may have been in charge, demanding respect, but the love for one another was evident. As the only Lycan Pack in Scotland at the time, Lycans without homes would turn up looking for sanctuary, and my father would grant it if the Lycan passed the Alpha’s tests.

Werewolf packs were a plenty, even then. They hid themselves well because it was much easier to do in a time without cars, television, the internet, and all the things modern people take for granted.

“Are ye ready for the Royal visit?”

I held my hand up to Artair, our resident farmer, who looked cleaner than I had ever seen him. Mother was deadly serious when she said everyone must bathe. The queue to collect water from the well was ridiculous that morning.

“Aye! As I’ll ever be!”

Artair chuckled as I kept walking. I didn’t have time to dilly-dally. The hour was fast approaching. The smell of freshly baked bread and pies filled the air, making my stomach rumble. Soon, I would smell the spit-roasted pig, cow, and all those glorious meats the Beta’s wife would make for the Royal visit. I could hardly wait!

Mother had gone all out for the King and his sons, and I hoped he appreciated the effort not only my mother had gone to but everyone else as well. His journey would be long, six weeks, or it may have been longer. But the letter stated they would definitely be here today. As the letter arrived by carrier pigeon, it must have been sent from the ship.

I also hoped the King would be comfortable in the recently built stone house because it would be his home for the duration of his stay with us. I was unsure it would fit the King and his twelve sons. In fact, I knew it wouldn’t. However, Father rearranged a few things, and we now had places for all of them.

It was strange that in his letter, the King stated that the Queen and the Princesses wouldn’t be in attendance. I had hoped to meet them, and I wasn’t sure why the King would leave his mate and daughters alone for months.

I found my brother leaning against a large tree, dressed in his finest kilt and shirt. He was a fine Scotsman if ever I saw one. My brother was a tall man of six-foot-four. He was twenty-one years old and handsome, with brown hair and brown eyes, a stark contrast to my auburn hair and blue eyes. I took after our mother, Agnes, while my brother took after our father, after whom Duncan was named.

“There ye are. Mother is looking for you. The Royals should be arriving within the hour.”

My brother sighed. “I’m not sure about this, Moira.”

I nodded. “Me either. But I don’t think the Lycan King cares what we think, Duncan.”

“Pity the Princesses aren’t coming. One of them might have been my mate.”

I laughed. “Maybe next time, brother. Your mate is out there, Duncan. You’ll find her soon.”

My brother lowered his eyes, something he never did. Duncan was a proud Alpha male, yet he looked so vulnerable in that moment.

“Duncan, what’s wrong?”

He took a deep breath and looked at me with a smile. “There’s nothing wrong with me. You look lovely in that dress. Green always was your colour.” He laughed. “And your hair… I’ve never seen your wavy hair all pinned up like that. Half up and half down with two braids woven around the sides. Mother really does want the King to know how special you are.”

I chuckled. Mother had made no secret of the fact she wanted me looking especially nice for the King’s sons. There was no makeup back then, so we had to rely on our natural beauty to shine through. Mother hoped one of the princes would be my mate, but I had no intention of finding or taking a mate any time soon.

“My wee sisters all grown up.”

“Don’t change the subject, Duncan. I can read you like a book.”

He moved to walk away, but I grabbed his arm. Perhaps I shouldn’t have because he turned and growled at me. His eyes were amber, showing his Lycan, meaning they were both angry with me. That had never happened before.

“Duncan,” I whispered my brother’s name. “Fyre,” I then whispered his Lycans name. “Please calm down. I did not mean to anger you.”

I was afraid of my brother at that moment. Duncan had not been himself for some time, but he had never snapped the way he did that day.

Duncan pulled back his Lycan, shook his head to clear the fog, and his eyes widened. “Moira, I’m sorry. My wee sister. I would never hurt you. You must believe me.”

I smiled because I was not mad at my brother. “It’s okay, Duncan. I know you would not hurt me. But I also know something is bothering you. Clearly something you think you can’t talk to me or anyone else about.”

I took his hands in mine.

“But I love you, Duncan. You’re my brother. If there is anyone you can talk to, it would be me. You can trust me, Duncan. Whatever you had to tell me would stay between us. I promise.”

My brother brought my hands to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. “It’s Bonnie.”

“McGregor?”

Duncan nodded.

Bonnie was a pack member – a quiet girl who rarely spoke. She hardly left her house half a mile away. People would say she was strange, but I didn’t get that feeling about her.

“What about her?”

Duncan opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a loud horn sounded. I gasped and turned to look beyond the trees.

“It looks like this will have to wait,” Duncan said. “The King has arrived.”