The Lycan King Saved Me

The Search Continues

Austen

Genesis

The name echoes in my head as Andre wakes me up.

“Sorry, Aus,” He huffs. “But we had to stop so everyone could freshen up,” He explains.

I let out an annoyed groan, “That’s fine.”

“Do you want to freshen up? We are about twenty miles away,” He adds.

I sigh and look down at my wrinkled suit. “I could use a change, I suppose.” I slide out of the car, get my bag from the trunk, and carry it into the rest area. My warriors are all lined up in the men’s room, brushing their teeth and doing whatever else they need to do. Some of them stop what they are doing.

“Just ignore me, guys,” I mutter and enter a large stall.

It’s not an ideal place for the Lycan king to change his clothes, but it will do for now. We could fly to every pack, but I prefer driving to save money. The kingdom isn’t destitute, but I don’t like wasting money if I don’t have to. I would rather money goes to ensuring my people have housing and good schools.

I change into another suit and walk out to wash my face and brush my teeth.

“Are we returning home soon, Your Majesty?” One of the warriors asks.

“We should be heading home after this visit,” I respond.

“I really miss my mate,” he says.

I pat his shoulder, “I bet you do.”

“I hope you find yours soon,” He grins.

“Me too,” I sigh, gather my items, and return to the limo. Minutes later, we are back on the road. I study the information about the pack we are about to enter. “Alpha Myron Johnson,” I say to myself. “Daughters, Allison and Michelle,” I mutter, but neither name rouses Zeidan.

We enter the pack, a lovely place with quaint houses and a small packhouse.

I don’t mind that at all. The people watching on the street all appear to be cared for. I can’t stand an alpha who cares only for himself and not his pack.

The limo stops, and someone opens the door. I step out to greet a round, happy man in a brown suit. I hold my hand out to him.

“Welcome to Blackwood Mountain, King Austen,” He grins. “I am Alpha Myron Johnson,” he says.

I eye three lovely women behind him. He gestures to one I assume to be his Luna.

“This is my mate and Luna, Heather,” he says, and I shake her hand.

I look at the two younger ones, and Zeidan doesn’t notice them. I put on a fake smile as I know neither is my mate.

“These are my lovely daughters, Allison and Michelle,” Alpha Johnson says.

I smile at the two ladies, “Ladies.”

“Oh, my gods, Alli,” The one I assume to be Michelle squeals. “He is so hot.”

“Girls,” their mother turns to them.

I just smile, “It’s lovely to meet you all.”

“Are you hungry, sire?” The alpha asks. “We had a lovely breakfast prepared for your arrival.”

I look at Andre, who nods, “Yes, we are famished,” I chuckle. I gesture to Andre, “This is Royal Beta Andre Marsh.”

Alpha Johnson points to a man with a mop of curly brown hair on his head, “This is my beta, Roy, and he is also my brother.”

Roy grins, “Well, we are half-brothers,” he says.

“Brothers are brothers,” I counter.

“This way, your Majesty,” Alpha Johnson points.

“You can just call me Austen,” I say.

“Oh, then it’s just Myron to you,” He laughs. “You are nothing like I pictured.”

“What did you picture?” I wonder out loud.

“I don’t know. I had heard that Lycans were more on the serious side,” Myron responds.

“Ah,” I laugh. “My father is like that,” I nod.

“Your Majesty,” Allison walks up beside me. She is a lovely young woman with big brown eyes and silky brown hair.

She is wearing an adorable floral dress and smells of roses. “I would make a wonderful queen.”

“I’m sure you would, Allison?” I say, and she nods.

“No, pick me,” Michelle nudges Allison out of the way. Michelle is lovely as well, but she is not my mate.

I sigh as the girls bicker.

“Girls,” their mother barks at them. “Don’t mind them,” she sighs. “They haven’t found their mates yet.”

“I know the pain, Luna.”

We were taken into a modest-sized dining room and sat at a long table.

Omegas come out to serve us egg benedict. Myron drones on about his pack’s achievements and standing. I nod while the girls try to get me to notice them.

After breakfast, I am given a tour of the pack. Myron takes us to the training field, and I watch his warriors train for a bit.

“What do you think of my pack, sir?” He asks.

“It is a lovely pack, Alpha. You have done well,” I assure him.

“And my girls?” He grins, hopefully.

I sigh, “No, neither one is my mate.”

He frowns, “It seems neither one has a mate. But would you consider choosing one?”

I glance at his daughters, who are nudging each other and smiling at me. “Perhaps,” I say, not mentioning that I am now on a deadline to find my mate. “But I must keep searching.”

“Pity,” Myron sighs.

We return to the packhouse, where I am led to a guest room. I sit on the bed and dial my mother’s phone.

“Austen?” she answers it.

“Hello, Mom,” I sigh.

“Oh, what is wrong, sweetheart?” She says in her most motherly tone.

I have always been closer to my mother than my father. She is warm and caring, whereas my father can be cold and aloof. “Nothing. I just needed to talk to my mother.”

“You haven’t found her yet, have you?” She asks.

“You can tell,” I chuckle.

“I am your mother, of course,” She responds. “It will happen, sweetie.”

“What if it doesn’t, Mom?” I ask. “What if I have to choose someone? Zeidan vows never to accept a chosen queen. And then Pop told me about the deadline.”

“Oh, don’t listen to the Council. They cannot make you step down as king no matter how many votes they have,” she says.

“But if the people want it,” I trail off. “Then I suppose they would put Ronan on the throne.”

“Ronan doesn’t want to be king,” she assures me. “He is content with his restaurant and little family.”

“I hope so,” I sigh.

“When are you coming home?” She asks.

There is a knock on my door, and Andre pokes his head in.

I give him a look and indicate I am on the phone.

“Austen, I hate to interrupt you. But Greta just called, and she is in labor,” he says.

I sigh, “Soon. Greta is in labor.”

“Oh, I haven’t heard that,” Mom coos.

“I’ll talk to you later, Mom,” I say. “I love you.”

“Oh, I love you with all my heart, Austen,” she says.

I hang up the phone and look at my beta, “Do you want to leave now?”

“I don’t want to rush things,” Andre sighs.

“Andre, we can put you on an airplane,” I tell him.

“But Austen- “

“Andre, your pups and mate come first,” I say.

“Thanks,” he says with relief.

“We will be returning home tomorrow ourselves. But you go on ahead. I’ll be fine,” I laugh.

“Thank you,” He hugs me and rushes out of the room.

I linger on the bed, looking at my phone for a while. The head warrior, Scott, comes to inform me when Andre leaves. “Thanks, Scott,” I say. “We will leave tomorrow early.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I join the alpha and his family for drinks in the lounge. His girls continue trying to impress me. I do my best to entertain them. I hate being unkind to anyone.

We drive to the nearest airport the next day to fly back to Washington.

While on the flight, Andre called to inform me that Greta had given birth to two healthy boys.

“Joshua and Jacob,” He proudly declares. “They are perfect. Greta is perfect.”

“Congratulations,” I say to my best friend. In my heart, I long for the happiness that he and others have. I want my queen at my side, but she is ever elusive. “Genesis,” I say out loud. “Is that her?” I ask Zeidan.

He doesn’t answer but makes a sound.

We arrived home, and I visited Andre’s newborn pups in the hospital. I bring a huge bouquet for Greta, gifts for the pups, and a new toy truck for Devin, their eldest son.

“Thank you so much for allowing Andre to fly home, Austen,” Greta says.

“It’s the least I could do for my best friend,” I smile at her.

I rest for a week before it’s time for us to head back out on the road for my search. This time, my Gamma Luca comes with me.

“Okay, Luca,” I say as I settle on the plane. “Where to?”

“It looks like Shadow Lake Pack in Nevada,” Luca responds. “Leighton Cunningham is the alpha there and has two daughters.” He mentions. “Esmae and Kinsley.”

Zeidan makes a noise upon hearing the name Kinsley. ‘Genesis,’ He hisses.

“Hmm,” I say. “Kinsley,” I repeat, and Zeidan makes another noise. “I think we might be getting close.”

“I hope so,” Luca grins.

“Kinsley,” I repeat to myself a few times, causing Zeidan to howl in my head.