“Madelyn dear, this is your mother.” She told me and pushed the book towards my trembling hands. “Well, that is, if she was your mother, but the chances of someone else having that ring and giving it to you are pretty slim, so if I was betting on it, I’d say she was your mother.”
I looked down at the image before me while I reminded myself to breathe. I’d dreamed about this moment my entire life, wondering what my parents looked like, but then I’d scream at myself and remind myself that they abandoned me, but it was different now, she’d wanted me, she’d loved me.
The image was of three men, one I assumed was the King and my mate’s grandfather and two younger boys around my age, one I recognized as King Theo but the other man I had never seen before, and two women, a very beautiful brunette Queen with eyes that matched my mates and a young blonde woman who I couldn’t take me off of.
She resembled me, we were the same height and had the same long blonde hair and pale complexion, only I had a few light freckles from working outside. The only real difference between us was our eyes. Hers were dark brown while mine were a soft grayish blue which, I assumed now, came from my father.
I ran my fingers along the page and frowned in confusion when a drop of water fell on it, splashing softly. It wasn’t until the Queen held up a tissue did I realize I was crying, and the water drop had come from me.
“Thank you,” I sniffed and wiped my face, “She was very pretty.”
“Just like her daughter.” The Queen touched my arm in comfort.
“How come the twins didn’t know about her?”
“We thought it was best not to bring her up.” The Queen commented, “She was missing and we didn’t want them to worry as they grew up.”
“Worry about what?”
“My dear, it’s best to discuss this with Theo in private.”
I was very confused. What was she hiding about my mother?
“Ok.” I nodded and added that question to the list of questions I’d compiled over the years about my family. “Would it be alright if I kept this book?”
“I’m sorry dear, but it has to remain here,” She told me, crushing my hopes. “But I will have someone make a copy of this picture and frame it for you. It will be my welcome to family gift.”
“Thank you.” I smiled and looked back at the young women.
What had happened to her, why was she attacked, who was my father, where was he now?
After a few minutes, the Queen cleared her throat, “It getting late, and I’m sure the boys are eager to… umm… see you.”
“Oh, right.” I began to panic now. They’d want mate. “Um… do you think the twins will mind if we slept separately tonight? I know Lycan’s mate straight away, but I…”
“You what?”
I blushed. This was not a conversation I wanted to have with my future mother-in-law.
“I’ve never been with a man before.”
“Never?” The Queen said in disbelief, “Well, that’s a first, um…” She cleared her throat, “That is something best discussed with the boys.”
“What?” I gasped “I can’t tell them that, we just met, and-“
“Madelyn dear take a breathe.” The Queen ordered gently as she held my shoulders, “You have no choice but to speak with them, Alphas can be quite… um… overexcited when mating. They will need to know before hand that it’s your first time, and especially with having two mates, I do not envy that, I have my work cut out with just Theo, I can not imagine what you have in store.”
“You’re not exactly helping to ease my mind, your majesty.”
Queen Kara laughed and linked her hand in mine.
“You will be alright,” She told me as she led me from the library. “The boys will take care of you and soon enough I will have my grand-babies’.”
“Grand-babies’?” I gasped and looked over at her, and she had to be kidding me.
“The boys will need an heir one day, dear.” She reminded me, “But just put it out of your mind for now and just focus on this evening, the marking is most important now.”
“Right.” I gulped, I was so not ready for any of this.
“Let’s get your things from that disgusting Alpha of yours, and we will return to the boys.” She told me, “It will give you time to think things over a little more.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at her as we climbed back into the car. “Your majesty.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you being so nice to me, you don’t even know me?”
“You’re my daughter now,” She said and gently touched my cheek, “It’s my duty to take care of you, and speaking of duties, I will need to introduce you to the Queens mother sometime this week. I will send her a letter formally inviting her to tea, so you can meet.”
“The Queen mother?” I said nervously. I’d heard terrifying rumors about her my whole life.
“Yes,” Queen Kara nodded, “And she is very old and very strict, so you will need to learn proper education before speaking with her, but I will teach you, one false move, and she’ll have you punished. I got a few good slaps from her before I became Queen and out ranked her, but you, I’m afraid, won’t out rank her until you and the boys are crowned, so be very careful with how you speak to her.”
“Great, because I wasn’t nervous enough just getting to know the twins.”
Queen Kara laughed again and patted my arm. “You will do well my dear. She loved your mother dearly. Hopefully, that will spare you any real punishments.”
“Fingers crossed then.”
MADELYN’S POV
We could hear someone angrily stomping down the opposite hallway to one the Queen and I were coming down, but when we turned to look, the person had gone.
“How strange.” The Queen commented before shrugging, “Oh well, shall we?”
I nodded but didn’t say anything. I was still reeling from our conversation, actually my head was still spinning from this whole evening.
I found not one but two mates, making it three in total today. I found out who my mother was, I found out I was a Lycan, and I was finally going to get Ava back. It was all a little much to be honest.
I gripped the strap of my bag and continued to follow Queen Kara down the hallway.
We’d gone back to my Alpha’s suite after our talk to collect my things, and I was grateful to have Queen Kara with me because Alpha Troy demanded I reject the twins and come back to the pack with them to be with his son, who was angrily marching up and down in the room.
I refused again, and Alpha Troy nearly lost his temper, but Luna and the Queen calmed things down. The Queen’s guards may have been a factor too in his decision to back off.
I was beyond nervous as we passed two guards by the front doors, but they smiled and greeted me kindly, so I felt a little more at ease.
Finally, we were inside, and Jax’s and Koda’s scents swam around in the air and when I left my heart began to race excitedly. How could anyone smell so good and they wanted me? Had I imagined this whole thing?
“Boys?”
“We’re in the bedroom,” Koda called out and I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach.
I slowly and nervously followed the Queen down a few hallways and passed several beautiful paintings before coming to two open doors. We entered through the left one, and I found myself in a massive bedroom with an even bigger bed. Why would I need such a huge bed?
“Welcome home, Maddie.” Koda gave me a breathtaking smile, and I looked down shyly at my feet.
“How are you feeling after having some time to think?” Jax asked as he came over and gently lifted my face up.
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