A Guest (Part One)

Mia Jane

"Antonia?" God! She was going to miss her only best friend. She had been putting this off for a few days now but this had to happen.

"Hey, MJ? Are we still on for the weekend?" Their weekend hangouts. With lots of food, movies, and gossips. The excitement in her voice was contagious. Mia Jane smiled despite the sadness she felt.

She was on a private jet, together with her parents, bound to a place somewhere in Europe so that she could get to know more about her wolf. Far away from human eyes.

"Raincheck, Toni? My dad is dragging me on one of his business trips. Mom is here, too." Her friend trusted her so much, she hated lying to her.

"Oh..." Was her lame response. Now, she made Toni sad, too. "You won't stay long, right?" The tone of her voice spoke of vulnerability.

"And miss our Starbucks escapades? Of course not. Listen, I am only using a satellite phone but I will call you from time to time to check on you when we land. Be careful, okay? Promise me you will take care of yourself and mama Lynne." She also made sure to hire an extra caregiver at the hospice for Antonia's mother and deposited money into her bank account. Toni might protest when she found out but Mia didn't care.

"I will miss you." Toni's voice sounded weird on the other line. Then she heard sniffling. Her eyes watered. It's time to go.

"I will miss you, too. Bye. Laters." With a heavy sigh, Mia disconnected the call.

She had made Logan promise that he would take care of her only best friend. And vowed retribution if Toni would be hurt in any way.

Don't worry, she will be fine.

Her wolf speaking inside her head still made her jump in fright at times.

"Jesus. Stop doing that." Having occupied one of the plane's cabins for privacy, she laid down on her bed and started reading the Lycan history book once more.

She felt like a sister to me, too.

"Yeah. I reckoned I could tell her about you. Someday. When we get back. You are a part of me and I don't want to hide you. She would have understood. But until I control my strength, it is better to keep my distance. I don't want to hurt her."

You are a natural luna.

"A luna? How do you know?" Her wolf amused her as well. A good company overall.

Because you care and nurture. That's what lunas do. You will find more of what they are capable of in that book.

"Then please shut up so I can concentrate?" Mia heard her wolf giggle before retracting at the back of her mind.

Finally. The silence was absolute bliss. Her wolf was a constant companion since she appeared. Always giving her two cents about everything under the sun. She hoped she would stay there for the duration of the flight.

Don't worry. I am still here if you have questions. There she goes again.

It only lasted less than one minute. "Okay. Make yourself useful and tell me about the Moon Goddess and her creation, the first Lycan."

Damn! That's my favorite subject. Fire away, Mia Jane!

"You are so dramatic. Just tell me what you know."

And you are so demanding.

"Wolfe," she warned despite grinning from ear to ear. "do you want a juicy, thick steak later or not?"

The Moon Goddess created the first Lycan to avenge the death of her firstborn from the Vampires. She paused. Gathering her thoughts. I want our steak medium rare, human.

Mia rolled her soft brown eyes in exasperation. "Continue, please."

Oh, right. His ascension happened a long long time ago. His only mission was to protect the earth from those blood-sucking invaders who made the humans their slaves. In time, to strengthen his campaign, he created his beta, then gammas, omegas then his warriors. Men and women served to protect their kingdom and the human world.

It took more than a century before he succeeded. But not without trials, Without turmoil. Because his army came from the human villages, there was always a conflict of interest.

It needed to stop or else he will fail. The King asked for help from Selene, his mother, the Moon Goddess.

There was only one thing that would work despite our differences. Love. So the Goddess also created the mate bond between human females and the Lycanthrope world. It was pure and unbreakable. It brought harmony. Then strength like no other.

Our warriors became invincible. Their driving force was their mates. To protect that love they set out to wipe out the Vampires from the world. Drove them to extinction until they were naught but permits beneath this earth. There they stayed and never bothered us again.

The site hunting engine of the jet was the only sound Mia could hear after her wolf's story. She exhaled the breath she was holding. "How do you know all of this? We barely left the house."

Hmmm. Familiar link. When I woke up on your sixteenth birthday, the memories of our history were imprinted on me through that link. Our parents were born before the king's descent from the throne.

"He stepped down? Why?" She was confused by wolfie's revelation.

Uh-huh. He and the royal beta. He had to step down and retire to the mountains because they didn't find their mates and their Lycans can no longer rule. Well, they are idiots if you asked me. I don't agree with their decision. It made the kingdom vulnerable to those leeches again. And yes. It did happen. Our vulnerability. We are on the brink of extinction.

"Wait..what?!"

Um. You didn't know?

"They never tell me anything!" She got up. Began to pace the small confines of the cabin. "What else do you know?"

That we have four Alphas. Tasked by the king to be the caretakers of the kingdom while he was in exile. Alpha East, Alpha West, Alpha North, and Alpha South. Your cousins? Though it is not completely true since Logan, Alpha East is our Alpha. Our parents were warriors from Eastern Pack.

Jesus. She was kept in the dark. It was all a lie.

No more. She needed answers and she will get them now.

***

"Where exactly are we going?" She was back in her seat, facing her parents. Her gaze was sharp while she waited for them to answer her simple question.

Her father avoided her gaze and went back to his laptop. While Jane, her mother smiled again guiltily.

"Logan and Marcus left two days ago. So I assume they will be there when we land because they promised me they will guide me through my transition. They always keep their words so I know they will be there. Wherever THERE is. You and dad have not told me anything. You always kept things from me. Why? I am not some naive weak girl who faints at the slightest nonsense. I am strong. You brought me up that way." She was out of breath after her tirade.

"Mia," her mother implored. There was guilt written all over her face.

"I am so tired of this secrecy. What aren't you telling me?"

"We're going to the capital. In Norway. Where our kingdom is." Surprisingly, it was her father who answered. A warning in his eyes not to pressure her mother. "You will begin your training there. You will also meet more of our people."

"Are there a lot more species like us? What about extinction? My wolf has told me about it. I've read the book but it does not contain a lot of information that my wolf gave me." Mia made herself more comfortable in her seat. She knew she had won and revelations will come forth from her parents.

"It's true. We have enemies. Because of them, we are on the verge of extinction. That's why we are here. To save us. To save our species. And you my daughter will be our salvation." Warrior Ron, her father was waiting for her reaction.

"I...how? Why me?" Of all things she was expecting them to tell her, this one was off its mark.

"Because of a prophecy. That is also the reason why we moved to the human world more than two decades ago. According to the Moon Goddess messenger, the chosen one, the mate of the Lycan King will be born among us. Only twenty pairs had survived the wars. Nineteen had given birth to nineteen male pups. Your mother and I gave birth to a female."

Shocked. Mia could only stare at them. No one can be fated to just anyone then that would be it and they would live happily ever after. Love takes time to grow and it does not come overnight. "I am part of an arranged marriage? I knew it! I've heard phrases from you before, dad. I just didn't think you would go through with it. Well, guess what, I don't want to be part of it. Not now. Not ever. If you insist on marrying me to some ancient god then you are wrong. I'd run away from you and you will never find me ever again." Having said her piece, she escaped the confines of her room once more. She meant every word she said. She would not be part of any scheme. If it was her duty to help their kind then so be it but marriage? Absolutely no.

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Warrior Ron

"What have we done, my love?" His mate's beautiful face was ticked to his chest seeking comfort.

"Our duty, Jen. We owe it to our kind. We were the lucky ones who survived." He could still remember the things the Alpha had to do to keep them hidden. To keep them safe.

"But what if she didn't feel the mate bond? None of the newer generations had. None of them found their mates."  Jen raised her eyes to his. Seeking strength.

"The Alphas and I believe the mate bond is dormant. That's the reason they could find their mates. Our king needs to find his first." He touched his lips to her forehead, easing the lines formed on it. "Trust me. I am doing this for us. For our family. We need to trust the prophecy."

"What about the nightwalkers? She will be in danger if they find out. The oracle and Orion will do anything in their power to stop that their union from happening." That much was true. Their enemies were ruthless.

"We are ready if they come. The King will protect her with his life."

"I am praying your right, Ron. I can not lose my only child." He took a deep breath and held her closer. Closing his eyes, he uttered the same prayer.

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Mia Jane

"Mia? Can we talk, sweetie?" Her mother's voice on the other side of the wall was as clear as if she had spoken near her ear. She could also sense the love and desperation in them.

She sighed. "Come in, mom." On her side, her back facing the door. She heard it open then close softly. The single bed shifted to accommodate the added weight.

"I am sorry we kept so much from you, MJ."

"I can understand why you and dad did it. What is so hard to comprehend is why you so readily hand me off to some stranger and expect me to accept it without any question. That is so unfair. I have a life." She intended to live it on her terms. Leaving the words unsaid, she grew silent.

"I know. It is so hard to explain because this is our way and I accepted it at birth. But for you, I will." MJ changed positions and laid on her back. Kore or else facing her mother this time. She nodded. "I know you believe in love. How could you not? You were brought up with so much love in our household. You have a best friend that you love like a sister. Now, your wolf, who so accepted. But do you believe in soul mates? The pure bond it can give to each person, irrevocable and true. Once it grew into true love, it is unbreakable. And that is true power, MJ. A power to build a wonderful future. Don't you at least believe that?"

She does not know what to believe anymore. Her world had turned upside down overnight and now this bomb dropped on her lap. Aside from being a wolf, according to a prophecy, she was also to be mated to an old king, God knows how old and she to spend the rest of her life with him to save their kind. How fuck up was that? What about college? And Antonia? "I don't know, mom." That was true at least.

"Yes. It is so much to ask for. But can't you give it a chance at least? Get to him. Spend some time with our people. If at the end of this vacation your heart is still set on going home, I promise to do everything in my power to make it happen. Please, MJ." Jen's fingers gently comb her daughter's dark hair. Her eyes were imploring yet love shone through.

Their gazes met. "You promise?"

"I do. Not even your father could stop us." It was reckless making such promises to their headstrong daughter however it is the only way.

"Okay. Two weeks."

Jen frowned. "You are on a sabbatical. Two months."

"One month." MJ's lips twitch.

"Six weeks and that's it. No more bargaining. You also promised to cooperate and give the mate bond a chance to work."

"Five and I promise. I will be on my best behavior." She would be polite when necessary. If the king proved to be a pompous ass the bye-bye mate.

"Deal. Come here." Jen pulled her daughter in a tight embrace. Just not ready the let her go. She knew the strength of the mate-bond. Her daughter will not stand a chance as soon as she and the king laid eyes on each other.

***

Familiar faces met them at the private airport except one.

Is that my mate?

Her wolf stirred, peered then burst into laughter. He is a great specimen but sorry to disappoint you, human. He is Octavius. The Royal Beta. His strength is equivalent to an Alpha.

A pity. The man, tall, dark, and hideously handsome with sky blue eyes, was a good girl's hidden fantasy. One she was dreaming of every time she uses her vibrator. MJ swallowed her snort. Then where is he?

Sorry, human. He is not here.

Oh. Nice first impression, wolfie. Apparently, she was not that important enough for him to be here. Well, damn! He was not that important to her, too.

Mr. Tall, dark, and handsome, with the Alphas, made their way towards her. She welcomed them with a stiff smile.

"Queen Luna, a pleasure." Octavius, her crush, bowed low. She smiled broadly then they shook hands. When his words registered, her pleased features turned into a deep scowl.

"I am not a Luna. Let alone a queen. Please, just calm me, MJ." There it was again. Her voice sounded too bossy for her own good. She feigned a cough to cover the uneasiness she felt.

A tap on her shoulder made her look up. Her eyes crinkled at the corners, realizing who it was. "West!" She jumped in his arms. One of her cousins. The devil may care one. She had missed him.

Laughing, he caught her and swung her in his muscular arms as if she weight nothing. "What have you been eating, kiddo? Bricks?" He groaned when she punch him in the stomach. He placed her down with a deep chuckle.

MJ stuck out her tongue. "And I hate you for not visiting with Logan and Marcus. You, too!" She directed her narrowed gaze to her fourth cousin, Alpha South. "Not even a short email."

"Emails are overrated. Come here you rascal." She grinned and embraced him fondly. Why can't one of them be her mate instead?

Octavius cleared his throat. "It's time to go, Alphas, Queen Luna." MJ was about to give an asinine response again for calling her their queen but Logan, Alpha East shook his head imperceptibly to stop her.

Only agreeing because this was not the time and place, she muttered a curse, nodded her head, and rejoined her parents waiting for her at a familiar black SUV with an equally familiar driver.

Her good mood suddenly returned.

"Didn't realize you would be here, too." She slipped inside the car, sitting beside her mother, donned her seatbelt, her body relaxing on the comfortable cushy leather. "I guess my bodyguards will be here, too."

Her childhood friend, Authur, smiled through the review mirror and nodded.

"Yes, miss. All nineteen of us." His attention went back to the road.

Stillness filled the interior of the car for a few minutes.

Hence, Jen rubbed her daughter's hand in comfort. "Everything will be alright, MJ. You'll see."

Mia Jane scoffed, looking out the tinted windows, she let her senses absorb the scenic beauty of the mountains. "I thought the mate bond was strong but he didn't even care enough to meet me."

"I am sure he wanted to but he has a lot to attend to first since he just returned from his self-exile." That was the lamest excuse she had ever heard. Her mother was not even sure she believed that.

MJ shrugged. "Suits me. I am here to train anyway." She turned on her phone, wore her AirPods, choose a playlist from Spotify then blast her favorite music.

She wanted this time just for herself. When they reached the Lycan land, she knew she had joined a very chaotic world.

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