Chapter Four

SIERRA

“May I come in, Sierra?” 

I blinked as I stared open-mouthed at the man standing in front of the porch. The Lycan King in the flesh and I have just rudely spoken to him. 

“Sierra?” he prompted her, gesturing to the door. 

In a daze, I pulled the door open and watched him enter the house. Just then my mom came and smiled when she saw the Lycan King. 

“You’re here,” my mom smiled at him, “And I see you've met Sierra.”

I glared at my mom finally snapping out of my daze, “The Lycan King is your mate?!” 

My mom and the man chuckled as he stared at her fondly and I could see the admiration in his eyes. My father had never looked at her that way before. 

“Calm down, Sierra, I’m just your mother’s mate,” he said to me, chuckling. 

I shook my head still staring at my mom, “Mom, a little heads-up would have been nice.”

My mom rolled her eyes, “Stop being dramatic, and come let’s eat.”

I followed them to the dining table where the table had been set with various delicious dishes including my mom’s signature chicken stew. 

“Mmh, you've outdone yourself, Maya,” the Lycan King complimented my mom. 

She blushed and he kissed her cheeks. I was impressed, she looked so happy. She has never looked this happy in a long time.

Now I understood why she said Alpha Elvis wouldn’t be a problem for us any longer because no one in their right senses would dare come after us with the Lycan King by our side. 

My mom and the Lycan King were giggling and discussing irrespective of my presence. I noticed he sneaked her looks and kisses now and then. I saw the admiration shining in his eyes and I knew he was head over heels in love with my mom. 

“Do you love my mom?” I asked suddenly, wanting to hear his answer. 

They stopped eating as he held my mom’s hands, “With all my heart, Sierra, I love your mom. Maya came into my life like a bright light. After my first mate died shortly after my sons were born my life has never been the same, I never thought for one day that I would ever get to meet my mate. But I’m so glad I did and I’m so glad it’s Maya.”

All through his speech he had maintained eye contact with my mom. Not once did he look away and his eyes were filled with so much love it made me wonder if my father ever loved my mom.

“I’m so sorry about your first mate, My King,” I apologized. 

The Lycan King shook his head, “Everything happens for a reason, Sierra. The plus side is I got to meet your mom, and she's a wonderful woman. I also would like you to call me Thane, if you're comfortable with it.”

My eyes widened with surprise, “But My King, that would be…” 

I trailed off not knowing what else to say. The man raised his eyebrows and seemed adamant about me calling him his name. 

“Thane,” I called the name rolling off my tongue. 

He chuckled as he stared at my mother and kissed her nose affectionately, “I like her.”

I was truly happy to see my mom look so happy. She looked younger than her age and kept blushing. Unlike how unhappy and aged she would always look when with my father. 

For a moment I almost wished to experience the kind of love she had with the Lycan King but I stopped myself before I could get further. There was no point in being delusional. 

My mom stared at me, a small smile forming on her lips. I noticed the nervous creases on her forehead and I frowned. 

“What is it?” I asked her. 

She stared at the Lycan King and she nodded at him like she was encouraging him to speak. 

“Sierra, your mom and I have something important to discuss with you,” he said. 

A sense of deja vú washed over me. The last time I heard this phrase was the last time my mom and I were sold off. 

“No, no, not like that, Sierra,” my mom said immediately sensing my discomfort and knowing where my thoughts were headed. 

The Lycan King stared at me with a concerned look, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn't mean to trigger any unpleasantness, Sierra.”

I smiled at him and nodded. I was glad for his sincerity and his apology. Growing up in a world where men always trampled women it felt good to meet a man who appreciated women and knew how to apologize. 

“It’s alright, Thane,” I smiled, still trying to adjust myself to the fact that I’m allowed to call the Lycan King by his name. 

“What I was trying to say is that I would like your permission to finally claim your mother as my mate and make her my Queen,” he said. 

I gasped, staring at my blushing mother. She was practically glowing beside the Lycan King. 

“There’s no pressure, Sierra, we just wanted you to know and then think over it,” my mom said to me. 

I shook my head, “I’m game! He can claim you, you guys look so good and happy together, that's all that matters.”

My mom exclaimed excitedly giggling as she hugged me before she and King Thane kissed. I looked away happily for them. 

Normally I wouldn't have agreed so quickly to the mating ceremony but knowing that Alpha Elvis could be around the corner at any time I wanted her to be fully protected. 

“I’m so glad you are fine with everything,” King Thane said to me. 

I nodded as something suddenly piqued in my memory. He mentioned he had sons. 

“I do have a question, Kin–Thane,” I said, correcting myself with a slight chuckle. 

He nodded, “Go ahead, Sierra. Whatever you need.”

“You mentioned your mate gave you sons. What about them? Are they alright with you mating with my mom?” I asked. 

King Thane chuckled, “They’re adorable babies, they are quite a handful but I’m sure you can handle them. And I don't believe they have any issue with me mating with your mom, she met them once and they're charming.”

“Yes, they're very adorable cuties,” my mom added grinning. 

I nodded, “Okay, when do you want to do the mating ceremony?” 

“Today,” My mom and King Thane announced excitedly. 

I nodded, it was too soon but it was for the best. The earlier the better. 

“That sounds good. I better start preparing.” 

I went inside the bedroom and my mom joined me shortly after. I stared at her. 

“You’re happy,” I stated.

She nodded, “I am. And you're going to be happy too.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, “Does he know?” 

She knew what I meant and she smiled softly, “He knows enough.”

I nodded, that was good enough for me. 

***

The next few hours were filled with a flurry of events as we were whisked away from our small house to a luxurious palace that would become our new home.

It seemed my mom and King Thane had already planned out everything so even if I had disagreed she would have still tried to convince me. 

My mom was dressed in a beautiful white dress while I wore a peach-colored dress. I was supposed to be at my best today. 

We were standing on the podium in the Grand Hall. I still haven't met the King’s babies. I guess being a big sister to them isn't so bad. 

My mom was standing in front of King Thane as the Elders conducted the mating ceremony. Then he marked her and they became one. 

The crowd went wild with cheers as my mom went from being an Alpha to a runaway slave and now to a Lycan Queen. 

I stared at her proudly as she appreciated the crowd and I saw the light in her eyes again. I saw the way the King stared at her and I knew he loved her. 

They turned toward me, smiling happily. 

“I just received word, Sierra, your brothers are here. They arrived late because they had to deal with a disturbance on the frontline,” King Thane said to me.

“Disturbance? I thought they were babies?” I asked him.

He chuckled, “They are my babies. My fearsome warriors. Come, let me introduce you.”

I followed him out of the hall and then I saw them. 

“Sierra, meet Zane, Kane, and Dane. Your new brothers,” King Thane announced. 

The three boys with silver eyes from earlier. The devils who had attacked Orion and had tried to bully me at the store. I gasped, these handsome devils were my brothers?

Suddenly the sweet-smelling scent of pine and rain wafted through my nose as I stared at their dumbfounded expression.

“Holy shit!” one of them exclaimed.

The scent overwhelmed me and I felt the world slightly tilted and unable to breathe. 

I fell. 

The last thing I remembered before the darkness overwhelmed me was sharp silver eyes staring down at me.