KATOMI - RISE OF THE FAE QUEEN

CHAPTER 5 – FIRST RUN

WYATT’S POV

I let Kai take control and he shifted into his true form, he shook out his black fur and turned around to our mate. She was so beautiful, never in all my 108 years of life had I ever seen a silver wolf. Her fur shimmered in the moon's light, causing tiny reflections of light to rebound off of her, she was without a doubt the most beautiful creature in either of her forms.

‘We are so lucky’ I told Kai

‘I want to mate her’ Kai pounced around her, nipping playfully at her while the rest of the pack shifted.

‘Stop it’ I growled at him ‘The whole f*cking pack is here, rein it in!’

‘I don’t want to hide it anymore!’ Kai roared ‘I’ve waited long enough, we are telling them tonight!’

‘FINE!’ I shouted ‘I’ll tell her, but it doesn’t mean you can mate her. She’s only 17’

‘We were f*cking at 14’ He reminded me 'Or I should say, you were, I was waiting for our girls!'

‘Shut up and start the run’

Kai sat down next to Remi who came up to our mid-chest and howled loudly ‘Keep up’ Kai linked Remi again before taking off

‘Cheat!’ Remi linked us back playfully before she shot off behind us

Remi surprised us by being able to keep up, though Kai was still the faster one, could she be any more perfect, I hadn’t felt this happy in years, we flew through the woods, Kai kept looking over at Remi to make sure she was safe and still with us, not that he needed too, her scent was still swarming all around us.

Kai was more playful than I’d ever seen him, he kept pumping Remi’s shoulder and nipping at her feet as we raced and Remi was just as energetic. It was clear she felt the bond, I wondered if she would tell Katomi before I got a chance too but I doubted it, Lycan’s usually waited for their human counterparts to feel the bond before acknowledging it

The pack ran behind us as in the moonlight as we completed the perimeter, but I didn’t pay them much attention. I was too focused on my mate.

I got extremely anxious when we ran by the Fae border, especially when Remi slowed down and looked in that direction, I couldn’t read her mind, but I got the feeling like she wanted to go over the border, so Kai barked at her to get her attention and we sped up.

I’d increased the guards this evening and nodded at Seth, Ronan’s Lycan as we passed him by the border tower and he linked me to tell me that all was well and that I didn’t need to worry, so I relaxed slightly.

After three hours, we returned to the starting point, I didn’t want the run to end, I loved having my mate by my side

‘Change behind the screen’ I ordered Katomi through the link, I didn’t want anyone seeing my mate naked. My mother was very confused when I’d demanded screens for the shifters, it had never been done before in the history of the pack, but she set them up, despite her not wanting them, nudity was a normal part of life for a Lycan pack, but I’d insisted, I couldn’t breathe when I thought of the men in my pack seeing her bare.

Remi did as she was told, and I smiled, knowing Katomi was probably telling me off for ordering her around, I guess Remi was the more reasonable one of the two.

I began shifting back before the rest of the pack arrived, pulling on my slacks and shirt, I draped my jacket over my arm, I could hear Katomi moaning as her human form rebuilt.

‘The more you do it, the easier it will become’ I told her.

‘So, they tell me’ She groaned, I smiled, she really was a smart ass ‘I don’t think I have the strength to get dressed’

‘I could always help you’ I said, a little too eagerly

‘I’ll pass thank you, Alpha’ She said quickly, and my heart sank ‘I’ve seen the women you sleep with, you’ll probably give me a disease or something if you touch my dress’

‘Remember who you’re talking to Katomi’ I warned her but I really hated myself for sleeping with other women, I knew it would hurt her.

‘Sorry’ She said quietly ‘Still true though’

‘Just get dressed’ I exhaled and rubbed my face in frustration ‘And for the record, I haven’t slept with anyone for over a year’

‘Why are you telling me that?’ Katomi came out from behind the screen, fully dressed again and looking just as stunning as ever ‘Would you like some kind of medal for abstinence, or is it just because you ran out of pack wh*res’

‘Look Katomi’ I took a deep breath, she really did infuriate me more than any person alive ‘Before the rest of the pack gets back, I want to tell you’

‘KATOMI!’ Her younger siblings came running out of the hall with the other children. They were laughing as they came over to us, perfect timing.

‘Hey guys’ She smiled and lent down, hugging them both

‘You shifted!’ Jerome pointed out the obvious as Kat leaned back and rubbed her shoulder. She must have still been in pain from the shift

‘You’re so pretty Kat!’ Mia smiled, looking nervously at me.

‘Pretty!’ Kai scoffed ‘She’s beautiful’

‘Remi’s pretty’ Katomi corrected her. Did she really not see how beautiful she was or was she just being modest?

‘I’ve never seen a silver Lycan’ Another little girl with black curls said as she reached us ‘Beta Katomi, was your mommy silver too? Daddy said I’ll look like my mommy when I shift’

I noticed Katomi’s eyes fill with pain as she looked down, I’d only ever heard her talk about her mother a few times over the years. One of the times was when she was little and her father had decided to marry Shay, and I’d comforted her, other than that one time, she would always change the subject when her mother was brought up, the only thing I knew was that she was killed on Katomi’s 3rd birthday by a Fae, her birthday’s must be extremely difficult for her, but she never let it show.

I knew too well the pain of losing someone you loved on your birthday, it took me a long time to get over my younger brother’s death on my birthday.

‘Well, I’ve seen how beautiful your mommy’s Lycan is Tammy’ Katomi smiled and touched the little girls face, it must have been extremely hard for her to look so at ease ‘So I’m sure you’ll be just as beautiful when you shift’

‘Does it hurt a lot, Beta Kat?’ Another boy asked.

‘Like you wouldn’t believe’ She answered truthfully. This surprised me. She didn’t sugar coat things for kids ‘But it doesn’t last long’

‘I’m going to be the strongest Lycan ever when I shift’ One of the other boys announced proudly ‘Just like Alpha Wyatt’

‘Is that so’ I smiled at him ‘Well keep up with your training and I’m sure you’ll get there’

‘I’ll be your son’s Beta’ He announced proudly, I smiled and looked at Katomi who was fussing over her little brothers hair while he shoved her away.

‘Well, my son will be in good hands then’

‘Will you have lots of sons and daughters, Alpha Wyatt?’

I smiled ‘As many as my mate will let me have’ I joked, again looking at Kat with longing.

‘But you’re the King’ A red-haired boy said in shock ‘Can’t you just order your mate to have lots of babies’

‘As if’ Kat laughed and rolled her eyes and I smiled, if only she knew.

‘Not even a King can have his own way all the time’ I told the boy who looked surprised by my words, and it made me laugh.

‘Will you have babies too, Beta Kat?’

Again, I noticed pain in Kat’s eyes, but she hid it from the children quickly

‘Me?’ She smiled ‘What about you Toby’ She knew this little boy's name too. Did she know all the children’s names by heart, not even I knew them, she really was made to be my Luna ‘How many kids do you want?’

Before he could answer, the rest of the pack began to file back in, shifting and re-dressing.

‘Come on guys’ Katomi stood up and took her siblings by their hands ‘Let’s go find the parentals, excuse us Alpha’

‘Kat wait’ I reached out but quickly pulled my hand back when she flinched away, was she scared of me? That idea really killed me inside.

‘Is something wrong?’

‘No’ I ran my fingers through my hair and looked around at all the children ‘I um’ I cleared my throat ‘I need to talk to you later in private’

Katomi looked panicked. Did she suspect what I was going to confess? ‘Um, yes Alpha’

‘NO!’ Kai screamed ‘TELL HER NOW!’

‘Let’s just let her enjoy the night first’ I told him ‘We’re about to change her whole life’

She quickly turned and walked through the crowd towards her parents who were getting dressed, her father quickly pulled her into a hug before leading the entire family away from everyone else, once at the tree line and out of everyone’s ear shot, he grabbed his daughters arms and looked like he was yelling at her.

‘KILL HIM!’ Kai growled furiously ‘HOW DARE HE YELL AT MY QUEEN’

I took a step towards them when I started getting rushed by pack members, talking excitedly about the run and about how unique Remi’s colouring was. A few of the elders thought it was a good omen. My father’s old Beta Andrea thought it meant change was coming and that Katomi and Remi must be very special, he had no idea how correct he was.

Over the years, the elders had brought Katomi up during meetings. They suspected she would be a white Lycan due to her hair coloring, but never did any of us imagine a silver Lycan existing.

Throughout my other conversations, I kept a close eye on my girl, I watched as her stepmother carted off the twins directly after the run. She looked upset. She kissed and hugged Kat for a long time before walking away with tears in her eyes, her siblings copied their mother, hugging and kissing Kat before leaving.

Katomi’s father continued to speak to his daughter in private for a few more minutes. He looked guilty about something, I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t hear their conversation. Finally, her father walked over to a group of other warriors, perfectly at ease, but I noticed him looking back at his daughter and give her a pointed glare, Kat nodded, and her face changed instantly, going from scared and upset to happy as she ran over to her friend, what was happening with her family?

I tried a few more times to get Katomi alone throughout the night, only to be blocked by the elders wanting to talk or Kat would get pulled off by one friend or another. She seemed happy, laughing and drinking with her friends, we allowed our children to drink at 17 after their first shift but I couldn’t help but think Katomi was putting on an act, a good one but still an act.

Whenever she thought no one was watching her, the happy carefree mask she was wearing would drop and I could see true sorrow in her eyes, was she upset because it was the anniversary of her mother’s death or was something else going on? I hated not knowing, I wanted to know everything about my mate.

At one point, I overheard her talking quietly with her best friend in a tucked away corner of the hall, she told Bronwyn that she loved her and that she would really miss her. They both had tears in their eyes, was Bronwyn going on a trip? I don’t remember her parents asking for permission for her to leave the packs territory and I know Kat hadn't asked to leave this year.

After being cornered by a drunken Beau who had his arms over the shoulders of two Lycan females, I lost track of Katomi, I got free of Beau and followed Kat’s tantalizing scent. It was leading to the very back of the hall to the smaller function rooms and I thought it would be the perfect time to talk to her, it wasn’t until I opened the door that I realized another boy’s scent was mixed with hers.

I was instantly on edge, if someone was touching her, I’d rip his throat out

‘FIND HER!’ Kai demanded, just as furious as me ‘MINE!’

I walked past several shelves and saw Kat sitting on one of the desks we’d shoved into the room to make room for the party tonight in the main hall, she was holding a cup in her hand and her cheeks were flushed, that pr*ck Logan from earlier was standing in front of her, he took the cup and put it down on another table before he moved between her legs and lent in to kiss her.

I growled in pure rage. I was on the verge of shifting, Kai and I wanted him dead but I held myself back, he was still just a kid and the space was small. I couldn’t risk hurting Katomi if I attacked Logan, both kids gasped in fear and looked over at me, Logan stepped back and showed his neck in submission while Kat jumped down from the desk, pulling her dress down and showing her neck, I hated that, she was the only one who didn’t have to show weakness to me.

‘LOGAN!’ My Alpha tone seeping out ‘GET OUT!

‘Yes Alpha’ The boy whimpered. He looked at Kat for a second before rushing out

‘I’m sorry we came in here Alpha’ Kat apologized, not knowing the real reason. I was angry to find them in the room ‘We didn’t know it was off limits, I’ll leave’

Kat went to walk around me, but I grabbed her around the waist and pushed her gently back in front of me. She looked up with wide confused eyes and pulled out of my grip, stepping as far away from me as she could, a look of fear on her face. Did I really scare her this much? I took a breath and tried to calm myself down.

‘I’m not upset that you were in here Katomi’ I said through my teeth ‘I’m upset that you were in here with Logan’

‘Why would that upset you?’ She asked.

‘I told you to stay away from him’ I took a step closer to her

‘I can talk to whomever I want’ She looked up at me angrily.

‘He doesn’t just want to talk to you Kat’ My voice rose again ‘He wants to f*ck you!’

‘SO’ She shouted ‘So what if he does?’

‘You should wait for your mate!’ I shouted back ‘And not spread your legs for any Lycan who shows you the slightest bit of interest!’

‘You are such a hypocrite’ She spat angrily ‘You’ve slept with half the damn world, just mind your own business, just because you’re the King, it doesn’t give you the right to tell me who I can and cannot sleep with!’

‘YES IT DOES!’ I shouted, and my eyes darkened ‘IT IS MY BUSINESS WHO TOUCHES YOU!’

‘WHY!’ She screamed back, angry tears filled her eyes.

‘BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE!’

We both froze, I was in shock that I’d finally told her the truth and Katomi was in shock as she looked up at me, keeping eye contact with me for the first time since she was child.

‘What?’ She asked, her voice trembling, her eyes wide.