Bottled Up
Larissa’s p.o.v.
I wake up with a very sated feeling, a feeling that doesn’t just come from myself. Leia has enjoyed our time with our Mates as much as I did and she is fast asleep in the back of my head..
Quinlan is softly snoring when I feel someone gently pushing against the block I put up on my mind–link.
“Is it safe to bring some breakfast into the suite?” Dallas asks when I have lowered the block.
“Yeah, we are in our bedroom. Make sure you keep it quiet, Quinlan is still sleeping.” I answer her and pull up the block again.
I want to enjoy this for a bit longer and give myself a chance to grasp the consequences of my current situation. I don’t think it has sunk in yet, and I would rather panic in the privacy of my bedroom.
All I have learned about the true Mate–bond and the connection to finding a true Mate–bond has come from reading books. No one ever took the time to teach me; to them, I was a nuisance and not worthy of their time and attention.
I will be forever grateful that Caitlin had the chance to teach me to read and write, because if she hadn’t, I would have never known any of this.
Four days ago, I found my connection with Quinlan and left my family and Pack without a second of regret. Now, I am marked by our future King and I have a future ahead of me that I had never thought possible.
I am not talking about becoming the Queen, but finding a man who loves me for me and doesn’t hold my deafness against me.
Having a family who will do whatever it takes to make me feel a part of that family, a baby Brother who makes me feel loved. Everything I never had was handed to me when I found Quinlan and I will never
regret turning my back on my family.
“What is wrong, Sweetness? Why are you crying?” I hear Quinlan ask and I realize that I have been crying, but these aren’t sad or angry tears.
“Nothing is wrong, I just realized how lucky I am to have you and your family in my life.” I answer him as I wipe away the tears.
We stay in bed a little longer, but then Quinlan’s stomach decides to inform us it is time to eat. It is nice to have breakfast with Quinlan, and I enjoy being seated on his lap while we share breakfast with each
other.
After taking a shower and getting dressed, we walk around the suite to gather our clothes from the previous day. I place everything in the suitcase and pull it with me as we walk out of the suite, looking to
1/4
find the rest of the family.
I get jumped by Everett as we walk down the hall. He lifts me in the air and starts spinning me around.
“It is official. I have a Sister.” He says through the mind–link and the chuckles from down the hall tell me
that it was open to everyone.
Quinlan has grabbed the suitcase and moved down the hall to get pulled into a hug by his Mother.
“Congratulations. I am so happy for both of you.” I hear Queen Eliza say and from the corner of my eye, I see Majandra standing near the elevator.
Life is so much easier for me with her or one of the other two by my side. I no longer have to worry about missing anything.
“Larissa, you’d better lose the titles. Our first names will do and once you are comfortable with it, I suggest you call us Mom and Dad.” I hear King Vaughn… No, Vaughn… No, that sounds ridiculous. I suppose it will be Dad from now on.
“What are you smiling about, Sweetness?” I hear Quinlan ask and I explain what had shot through my
mind.
Dallas swings her hand to the left and hits Darius full in his chest. I have no idea what he did to deserve
it, but if Dallas figures she needs to do it, then you definitely deserved it.
“What did I do?” I hear Darus ask. “I was only kidding when I said she could call me Your Highness.”
This time, it isn’t just Dallas who smacks him; even Daxton takes a swing at him. Not hard enough to knock him out, but still. Getting hit by two Lycans at the time isn’t a picnic either.
“Let’s call him Your Highness until he is sick and tired of it.” Leia says as we walk into the elevator and I know she will remind me of it every single time.
I lean against Quinlan’s chest as we ride down and I know I will love this man until my last breath.
Together, we will start a family and one day take over the Throne.
The drive to the Palace passes quickly because I had fallen asleep and Quinlan woke me up only minutes
before arriving. I can’t wait to go for a run through the forest in my Wolf form. It looks so inviting and
huge.
“Your Majesty, welcome back.” I hear a woman say as Quinlan helps me out of the SUV. She frowns at me
as she sees that Quinlan is holding my hand, but I just give her a small smile.
“Elder Dawn, where is Elder Venetia? I asked for her presence when we arrived at the gate.” I hear Dad ask and for a moment, I see her demeanor change.
“She is busy with the Servants and has been neglecting her duties a little.” I hear Elder Dawn respond, but
2/4
something tells me not to trust a word she says. Quinlan told me a few things about her and it didn’t give. me a good impression of her.
“Dallas, can you link Elder Venetia? I doubt anyone gave her the message.” I ask Dallas through the mind link.
I don’t know why the message never got to Elder Venetia, but if she is anything like Caitlin, she would have been here. This isn’t sitting right with me and Leia; we need to keep an eye on the Elders and determine if they work for or against the Royal family.
“Your Majesty, I am so sorry I wasn’t here to greet you. Somehow, the Warriors at the gate didn’t inform me of your arrival.” I hear Elder Venetia say.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is Elder Venetia, because she looks so much like Caitlin. I throw protocol out of the window when I spot the only Shifter who ever cared about me as a child.
I run into Caitlin’s open arms and let the tears flow that I bottled up inside for all those years.
3/4
