Chapter 63

I stare down at Ellen’s hand, outstretched, reaching for me. Then I think about the man asleep upstairs. The one I just told I loved.

I can’t leave either one of them. To lose one is to lose a part of myself.

“I want to meet with more of the Lycans.” I say. “So far, the only one I’ve spoken to is you, and I’m sorry, but I don’t know you. How can I be sure that you’re not lying to me?”

I’ve spent enough time around the werewolves to know not to trust anyone. I’m not sure if the Lycans are any different, but I need to be sure.

“I can arrange that.” Ellen says, sounding pleased with my answer. “What you ask for is reasonable. I will contact them and set up a meeting. Wait for my message.”

“Tell them I want to find a solution.” I say firmly and Ellen inhales sharply. “Like you said mates are sacred. The bear people are gone, and Adrian isn’t hunting you. We can’t live in peace until we work things out.”

Ellen’s eyes are hard, but she considers what I say.

“Fine.” She finally agrees though it’s not hard to figure out what she thinks of my request. “Tomorrow night. There is a clearing in the woods, I will send you directions there. Leave the werewolf at home.”

I sigh. “Why can’t we meet in a building somewhere? Like a restaurant or a conference room?”

She shrugs and grins a little. “It’s tradition.” Then she disappears into the trees. I swear I can hear her chuckle as I let out an exasperated groan.

The next morning at breakfast, I tell Adrian about my late-night meeting with Ellen. Once we get past his initial chastisement of me going outside to meet an unknown stranger in the dark by myself, I find myself having the argument I knew we would have the moment I told him.

“I’m coming with you.” He insists in that tone that tells me he has no room for compromise.

“You can’t come with me. Ellen specifically said ‘no werewolves.” I argue.

“I don’t care what Ellen says, I’m not letting you go meet these people on your own. Especially after they threatened to kill you if you didn’t agree to their demands.” He reasons, and to be fair, he has a decent point.

“You being there will just anger them further.” I insist. “Let me try to reason with them.”

“It’s a meeting that should have happened years ago.” Adrian leans back at the table and opens his paper, as though it’s already been decided and we aren’t having a disagreement.

My temper flares and my cheeks flush with anger. I may love him, but this is not how this relationship is going to go. He doesn’t get to just make decisions and expect me to just go along with it.

“I’m not a child, Adrian.” My voice is low and angry.

He lowers his paper and looks over it at me. “I’m well aware.”

“Then don’t treat me like one.” My voice comes out with a touch of a growl and Adrian’s mouth quirks a little.

“Careful, Lily. Your wolf wants to come out and play.” He warns me and I take a breath, calming my temper and ignoring the singing.

A knock on the door silences the response I want to make, which is probably a blessing since it isn’t very nice.

Susan walks in with a note in her hand. “This just arrived for you, Miss Lily.”

I open the note and wait for Susan to leave before I say to Adrian’s waiting face. “It’s the location of the meeting. In the woods, because of course it is.”

Amusement glances across his face before the insistent protective one again. “You are not going alone. I won’t allow it.”

“I need to go alone.” I push back, then offer a compromise. “You can be nearby.”

He seems to think a moment, looking at me with a mixture of concern and pride. “Alright, but if I get any sense at all that something isn’t right, I’m coming.”

“Fine.” I agree, though it pains me to do so. By the satisfaction on his face, that man will look for any reason to crash that meeting.

It’s a long day waiting for night to fall. I have no idea what to say to my people. I know I have to do this, but I’m anxious and my stomach is in knots.

As I walk through the trees alone, finding my way with the instructions Ellen sent, I start to regret not allowing Adrian to come with me. I know it’s for the best, but I miss his comforting presence.

I walk into the clearing, and it isn’t long before I’m surrounded by seven Lycans emerging from the shadows.

“Our queen.” They greet me with a respectful nod of their head.

“Finally, you join us.” One snips and I turn to see another middle-aged man, anger gleams in his eyes. “You have neglected your duties long enough. It is time you came with us and took your place.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t.” I start to say and then I’m immediately cut off by another older woman.

“You must! Do you not care about your people? You have spent too long away.” She insists.

“I didn’t know!” I snap back, my temper flaring. “For nineteen years, I didn’t know what I was. I only managed to turn a few weeks ago. I didn’t know who or what I was. Now I am here and I want to find a way forward.”

“There is only one way forward.” The middle-aged man says. “You must forget the werewolves and come with us now.”

“We can forgive the rest.” Another man says, his face is kindly and his eyes compassionate. “You were orphaned so young, and we lost you to the humans. That is not your fault. But our alliance with the werewolves is over. Too much has happened and they cannot be trusted.” A hum of agreement echoes from the others.

“Adrian is my mate.” I say firmly. “I cannot be separated from him.”

Dead silence is followed by a concerning murmur. The news is disturbing to them.

“Our queen cannot be mated to those who would betray us and leave us for dead.” The older woman growls. “As painful as it might be, to choose us, is to deny him.”

“I cannot deny him or you.” I reason, “Each is a part of me.”

“Mates are sacred!” The kindly man exclaims. “To insist on separating the two is forbidden!”

“Those laws are old.” Another voice rings out. One I hadn’t heard before.

“Old and necessary!” Ellen snaps back. I look at her with surprise. She didn’t seem like an advocate for me before.

“How do you answer these demands, our queen?” The middle-aged man asks, bringing the groups attention back to me. Each set of eyes fall on me and I turn in a circle, surveying each one. My heart thunders in my chest and I don’t remember a single moment in my life more terrifying than this one.

I don’t know where to find the words, so I take a deep breath and calm my nerves.

“The Lycans and werewolves have a difficult past. It’s more complicated than either side realizes. The Lycans cannot be free like this. We have to find a solution. It’s time to make peace and move forward. Agree to meet with Adrian. We have to at least try.”

Silence fills the clearing. I swear, even the insects stop chirping. Each Lycan looks at another in a silent conversation I’m not privy to.

“Fine. We will meet with your mate.” Ellen says. “Three nights from now.”

It’s only after they each disappear into the trees and I’m left alone again, that I finally remember to breathe.