Thane
I could have killed Theo! Sure, I allowed him to spar with my mate. I didn’t interfere when he threw her around the room. But calling her tiny, weak, and a dog angered me. When Lyric kneed Theo in the balls, I held in my laughter.
But scowling at his queen like that?
No!
I could barely contain Jagger. He wanted to beat Theo into submission. If Theo hadn’t bowed, I’m not sure I could have held my Lycan back.
I should have spoken to Lyric once Theo and Harmony were out of the way. But I was angry and didn’t want to lose it with her.
‘Should have let me knock his teeth out!’
‘No, Jagger. Theo should have more respect, but Lyric kneed him in the balls.’
‘So? It’s not an excuse! And calling her names? How old is he? I don’t care if it was for effect. Aspen told me that Astro called Spencer a dog before killing him. Can you imagine the memories that brought back to our mate?’
‘Theo wasn’t to know that, Jagger.’
Small hands touch my back. I stop hitting the punching bag, chest heaving, and close my eyes as Lyric presses herself against my back.
“Thane,” Lyric whispers my name while lying her head against my back.
She initiated touch. I’ve wanted to touch her from the moment I met her. Apart from carrying her a couple of times and holding her momentarily at the hospital, I’ve not touched her.
It was hard not to stroke my fingertips down her cheek while she slept. I didn’t even wrap my arm around her because I had made a promise and intended to keep it.
“Please don’t be angry with me.”
I turn around and look at my beautiful mate. Her hand grips my t-shirt as though it were a life raft. I grit my teeth and fist my hands by my sides, fighting the urge to touch her in ways she’s not ready for.
“It’s okay; you can touch me.”
My hand instantly cups her cheek. She bites her lower lip, closes her eyes, and leans into my touch.
“I’m not angry with you, Lyric. I was angry with my brother. If I scared you, I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t scare me, Thane, nor did Theo.” She snorts. “He’s annoying, but he doesn’t scare me. But I feel like I upset you and don’t like how that feels.” She wraps her arms around my waist.
“Baby, you didn’t upset me. You did well today, Lyric, and I’m proud of you.” Her smile is bright as she looks up at me. “You have your first therapy session in an hour,” She groans in annoyance. “Then you’ll be meeting the rest of my family. I know it’s a lot, but it needs to be done.”
Lyric nods. “Okay, but only if you kiss me.”
My eyes widen, and my nostrils flare.
‘Kiss her, you moron!’
I run my thumb over Lyric’s lower lip, and she gasps. Her arms come around my neck, and she jumps into my arms. Instantly, I cup her pert backside as she presses her forehead to mine.
“Baby, you don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I do.” Her breath fans across my lips.
I can’t suppress the groan that escapes me. My c.ock is rock hard, and all I want is to take Lyric right here and right now. But I can’t; I won’t because I know it’s too soon. Lyric isn’t ready, and I will never push my beautiful mate into anything.
“Just one kiss, Thane. Show me I mean something to you.”
“You mean everything to me.” Lyric smiles, and our lips meet for the first time.
Every cliché in the universe is mine. I hear nothing but our hearts beating in time with each other. Fireworks go off inside my head, her taste assaults my senses, and every sinew in my body entwines with Lyric’s. If I died right now, I’d die a happy man.
Lyric pulls out of the kiss, gasping for air. She smiles, eyes glazed, and I can smell her arousal. I’m fighting to be a gentleman, but it’s not easy.
“I think I’m going to like it here.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” She nods. “Maybe we could do that a lot more.”
“Baby, I’d kiss you all day if you’d let me.”
“If we did that, we’d never get anything done. We can’t have the King out of commission because he can’t keep his lips to himself, can we?”
I smirk against her mouth before kissing her again. Our tongues entwine, her hands fist my hair, and the f.ucking door bursts open!
Lyric startles, and I set her on her feet. My eyes narrow at seeing my youngest sister staggering into the room. Esme has yet to notice Lyric and me, and I wonder why she isn’t in school.
Esme’s hair is a mess, her lip is split, and her face is full of tears. Esme rushes to hide, finding nowhere before four girls run through the doors.
“Why you running, runt?”
“Please, leave me alone.”
“No can do, runt.”
“What did I ever do to you?”
“Your sister f.ucked me over, and you have to pay for it.”
It seems the foursome hasn’t noticed us either.
AAA-RRR-OOOOO!
My Lycan roars, shaking the room, and the girls fall to their knees in submission.
‘Let me out!’
‘No, Jagger. Calm down!’
‘They’ve been hurting my baby girl. I won’t let it stand!’
‘Nor will I, so let me deal with this!’
“What the hell is the meaning of this?”
“My King...”
I growl, shutting up the blonde ringleader.
“Esme?” She looks at me through glazed eyes, and my heart breaks. I hate seeing her so upset. “Did they do this to you?”
Esme doesn’t answer; she hangs her head, shoulders shaking as she sobs.
‘Callen?’ I call one of my trusted warriors.
‘Yes, my King?’
‘Bring someone with you to the gym. I have four bi.tches that need taking into custody.’
‘Be right there.’
“My King, please let us explain.”
“You have no right to ask the King anything!” Lyric snaps. “Your King wants to know what happened, and I suggest you tell him!” Lyric’s Alpha tone washes over the girl’s, and the redhead on the left is the first to fold.
“Esme was walking towards her locker at school, and Ren tripped her up.” She tips her head to the blonde as if to say, that’s Ren.
The two brunettes are staring wide-eyed at the floor. They’re terrified of being in front of me, but they should have thought about that when they chased my sister!
“Ren grabbed Esme’s hair and dragged her into the restroom. We all shoved Esme around, but Ren kept hitting her, trying to get her to shift. We knew that was stupid, but she wouldn’t stop. Ren kept punching Esme in the face and ribs until she eventually got away from us.”
I growl, trying with all my might not to let Jagger out and rip these bi.tches to shreds.
“What were you doing at the wrong end of school?”
Lykos school houses children from five to eighteen. Two buildings are adjacent, the first for children five to thirteen, and the other is the high school. That’s where Ren and her friends should have been, not where the kids were!
“We were looking for Esme.”
They sought out my baby sister in a place they shouldn’t have been!
“Why?”
“Ren was mad because Starr embarrassed her in front of the whole school. Ren can’t fight Starr, so she took it out on Esme.”
“It took four of you to bully Esme?” Lyric yells.
Callen and George barge into the room. Callen’s eyes land on Esme, then he looks at the girls.
“Take them to the dungeons. I’ll deal with them later.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The girls whimper as Callen and George drag them away. I don’t give a s.hit how scared they are or how sorry they feel for themselves; this is the least they deserve!
I scrub my hands over my face in frustration.
Just how long has this been going on?
Esme isn’t like other Lycans. She’s not weak but doesn’t have her Lycan yet because she’s too young. So she can’t fight as others can; she’s timid, an Omega, which is rare for a royal. Maybe we’ve babied her too much, but she’s eleven, not eighteen!
Esme is also a beautiful girl inside and out, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. Her sweet smile would melt the heart of even the hardest ba.stard.
Esme sobs, bringing me out of my thoughts. Those sobs cut through me like a knife to the heart.
“Esme,” She runs to me, and I bend to catch her. Arms around my neck and feet off the ground, I kiss her head and rub her back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Everything is gonna be okay.”
“I tried to fight back.” She always tries.
“I know, baby girl.”
‘Who is this girl?’ Lyric asks through the mind link.
I look at Lyric and smile. I forgot she was there for a moment, which was terrible for me.
‘She’s my baby sister.’
‘What? But she only looks about nine!’
‘She’s eleven. No one expected her to be born, especially when Mom had Starr and Tristan seven years previous. They were a surprise after Thorin and Tane ten years before them, so you can imagine what a miracle Esme was. But being pregnant with Esme almost killed Mom.
‘This little girl survived a horrific pregnancy and a traumatic birth. Perhaps we’ve babied her too much, but there are over a hundred and forty years between us. But Esme is such a gentle soul, Lyric, and she hasn’t learned to stand up for herself yet. Omega Lycans are incredibly rare.’
‘She’s an Omega?’ I nod, then focus on Esme; she’s my priority now.
I stand my sister on her feet while crouching in front of her.
“Why did they follow you today? They should be in high school, not the junior building.”
Esme nods her head while wiping tears from her eyes. “Ren said Starr called her names in front of a boy she likes, so she had to teach me a lesson. It hurts, Thane.”
I scoop her up with gritted teeth and rush her to the infirmary. Being an Omega and not having her Lycan yet means Esme doesn’t heal as she should.
“My King,” I lay Esme on the examination table. “What happened?”
“She was attacked at school.”
She was only sent to that damn place because Mother thought it would be good for Esme. I, Theo, Isla, and Tyler never went to such a place; there wasn’t one when we were young. The place was only built thirty years ago. Thorin, Tane, Tristan, and Starr were the first to attend because Mom wanted them to learn from the modern world.
Worst idea ever!
Thorin and Tane were a nightmare, always causing trouble and playing pranks. Tristan is always in a fight, and Starr rules the school.
Why couldn’t they go to school and behave?
‘Because that would be too easy.’ Jaggers laughs.
“Thane, don’t leave me!”
“I won’t, baby girl,” I kiss her forehead. “Dale, she’s in pain.”
“Don’t worry; I’m on it. We’re going to need your father to help her heal.”
“Daddy,” Esme sobs quietly.
My father is the only one who can heal Esme when she’s hurt. Lycan fathers with Omega children have the ability to heal their wounds. If they didn’t, Goddess knows how long it would take for those kids to recover from their injuries.
‘Dad?’
‘Yes, my boy? Finally bringing your mate to meet me?’ He chuckles.
‘Dad, it’s Esme; she’s hurt. We need you at the infirmary.’ He doesn’t answer, and the link cuts off abruptly.
“Esme?” Esme stops crying and looks at Lyric, who smiles kindly. “My name is Lyric.”
“You’re Harmony’s sister,” Esme winces when Dale inserts an IV into her left hand. “And Thane’s your mate.”
“That’s right,” Lyric smiles.
“You’re very pretty.”
“Thank you, so are you.” Lyric takes Esme’s hand while I stroke her brown hair from her forehead. “I know you’re in pain, so I’d like to show you a trick. Would you let me?”
Esme smiles excitedly and nods.
Lyric hovers her hand over Esme’s feet. Pale blue light emanates from her palms as she moves her hands along Esme’s body until she reaches her head. Esme gasps and the light disappears, leaving Esme clear of injury.
Dale looks at me, mouth agape, and I shrug. I don’t know what the hell that was, but Lyric wouldn’t risk using her fairy power. Wolves don’t have the gift of healing; that power belongs to the Royal Lycans.
So what the f.uck?
“Thane,” Esme gasps while smiling up at me. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Daddy!”
I hadn’t heard my father enter the room, but I felt the wind in my hair as he rushed to Esme’s side.
He kisses her head. “Baby girl, where does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt anymore, Daddy.”
“She doesn’t look injured. What’s going on?”
“It seems my mate has the gift of healing.”
“But that’s not possible.”
“It happened, my Lord. I witnessed it with my own eyes.” Dale nods his head, still shocked by what he saw Lyric do.
“So this is your mate. One who just happens to have the ability only afforded to Royal Lycans?”
Lyric shifts beside me, uncomfortable at my father’s accusatory tone. I get it, it doesn’t make sense, and we’ll have to look into Lyric’s past to see what we can find. But there’s no need to point the finger!
I wrap my fingers around Lyric’s waist, and she moves closer.
‘We’ll discuss this in private. Esme needs you right now; she was beaten at school by girls Starr’s age.’ I mind link my father.
‘What? Why were they even in the same building?’
‘Something to do with them punishing Esme because Starr embarrassed the ringleader. So four girls set about Esme. Those girls are locked up and will be dealt with, so they can’t hurt Esme anymore.’
“Where’s my baby?!”
“Mommy!”
Mom rushes to Esme’s side, dragging her out of bed and holding her close. Dad must have mind linked her to let her know what happened. I should have done that, but it didn’t even cross my mind.
“I will not stand for this, Ronan! I won’t put up with anyone attacking my baby!”
And Esme is Mom’s baby. Mom can’t have any more pups after how much she suffered to bring Esme into this world.
“Mom,” She turns her bloodshot eyes to me. I hate that she’s upset; it makes my gut churn. “I’m dealing with it, I promise. No one is going to hurt Esme again.”
“Is that supposed to bring me comfort, Thane? Because Esme is a little different, does it give others the right to abuse her? She is a Royal Princess of Lykos and should be treated as such, regardless of her rank! I won’t put up with this, Thane; I just won’t.” Mom clasps the back of Esme’s head, turns in my father’s arms, and cries.
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
I take Lyric’s hand and walk away.
“Are you okay?” She asks as soon as we’re out of the building.
I nod once. “You need to get changed; you have a therapy session to get to.”
It’s going to be a long fu.cking day!
‘When isn’t it?’
'Touche, Jagger, Touche.'