Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 110

Keith Whitford

"We are gathered here today to remember the little things that made a special place in our heart. To remember those happy times when we laughed and those times when our hearts broke as one. For who could put a price on memories? We gather to share the pain, to hurt when..." The voice of the funeral director begins to muffle, his words losing their meaning in my head because in my heart, I am too broken to think of anything. I am too broken for anything.

Four years ago, we lost not just the mother of Atlas, Wesley, and Devon, but a woman who touched many lives. She spread joy and happiness wherever she went and she never failed to light up a room no matter how dark it was.

Even in her darkest moments, she smiled because she never wanted her sons to see the pain and heartbreak that she was going through.

In a lot of ways, she reminded me of Stella. The first woman that taught me what love and family meant. The woman that gave me a second chance at life, that gave me a reason to keep going, and because I did, because of her, I found another family to cherish and protect.

And that's exactly what I've been doing since my boys have left to get Suri.

I hadn't slept a wink. I've been busy talking to people, getting in touch with many I was not even aware of, but I was doing my best to gather information, to replace a path that will lead me straight to him.

I have lost count of how many phone calls I've made and how many different people I have come across with, but when all hope seemed lost, and the man I first thought I could get in touch with just seemed too far to reach, somebody else picked up on the other line.

"You've been trying to get a hold of us for a while now, Keith Whitford." The voice had a distinct accent, something thick and European, and he wasn't necessarily trying to taunt me, but I could tell he was trying to gauge who I really was because if this man is who he says he is, then he definitely has a lot to protect.

"Who are you really, Keith Whitford? And you better answer me properly because I have your location and the second that I replace out you are not who you claim to be, I will not hesitate to end you."

I don't take offense in his words. Frankly, it gives me more hope because it means I really have come close to my hunt for a man that seemed only like an enigma.

"Then let me cut to the chase, because just like you, I don't have a lot of time to waste. As you already know, my name is Keith Whitford, but what you don't know is that I may be human, but I am also the adoptive father of three Lycan boys and one Lycan female." "Excuse me?" He answered back, disbelief obvious in his tone.

"I am not lying to you, and you will know once you get to their location. If I am not mistaken, they are already in battle with three other Lycan males that your King once tried to end, but clearly, it was not successful. I am not saying your King did not do his duty, but somehow they had managed to escape and I am asking you, your King, to please, please help my family."

There was nerve wracking silence on the other end for a few seconds, and it was enough for me to start overthinking.

Would they think I was lying to them? Would they think I was making this all up? But why would I?

Finally, he spoke.

"Send the location. We will update you as soon as we get there."

Relief flooded me because I knew that if there was one person that could help my boys and Suri, it would be the first general of the Lycan King's army.

When he hung up, all I could do now was wait for a miracle and pray to the gods nothing bad had happened to my family.

-

I was on the flight headed to Norway where the King's castle was located. I haven't gotten any news from either General Kael, nor my boys about what the hell was going on and my worry and panic was absolutely nothing I have ever felt before. I was getting desperate.

I didn't want to lose any of them. I had been broken too many times the first time I lost Stella, then Eve, and if I lose my children, too? I don't know if I can survive that.

I'm not sure if I would even want to either.

"Sir Whitford, do you need anything? The pilot has informed us that there is some delay due to the weather, but he is trying his best to maneuver us out of the storm." One of the flight attendants informed me as she looked at me with agitation. They've never seen me this on edge and for good reason. I prefer not to show any weakness.

But right now, it is impossible to do when I have no idea what is happening and there is no means for me to know it either.

The thoughts in my head are stuff I would rather not imagine, but they are there, and I cannot get rid of them.

I start to imagine if my boys might have been too late to replace Suri, then what? What would have become of her?

Or if they did replace her, but the other Lycans are more powerful then what would happen to all of them? Would my boys be strong enough to fight men who have had years honing their strengths? Would they be able to protect Suri?

Or if it is the other way around since the boys told me back then when they were training that Suri's Lycan seemed to have unbelievable strength and skill they didn't think anyone but them had?

God damn it, so many things to think about!

I just need somebody, anybody to tell me what the hell is going on!

"Sir Whitford," the flight attendant called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Your phone is ringing, Sir." She pointed it out and I was frozen and dumbfounded for a quick second before realizing she was right, and I quickly picked it up, anxious and nervous of what I was about to hear. "Hello?"

There was a lot of noise in the background, the sounds of things shuffling around, different voices all talking at the same time that it was hard to tell whatever they were even saying. Finally one voice overpowers them all.

It's the General.

"We're headed back to the castle. Are you near?"

"About two hours, more or less. Did you replace them?" I asked nervously.

I could feel my heart beating rapidly inside my chest, the heightened awareness of my own heartbeat due to the anxiousness and distress of knowing whether or not my family were safe. Please be okay.

The lack of answer merely tripled my agitation. Why the hell isn't he saying anything?!

"I cannot give you more information right now, but we have them. The King is grateful for you letting us know and we have subdued all criminals. They will never be able to bother anybody ever again, that is certain." General Kael's leveled voice does not help with easing my nerves.

He is trying to avoid answering my question directly.

"Are they okay? Are my children safe?" I asked again, this time my voice is stronger, giving him a clear message that I would like a proper answer.

"The girl," he started.

My chest tightened. What about Suri?!

"We believe she is the lost daughter of the King. That is all I can tell you until you arrive. Safe travels, Mr. Whitford."

Then the other line was gone, all while I sat there, phone in my hand and a million unanswered thoughts and possibilities in my head.

Suri Nightingale

There is an overpowering smell of disinfectant burning my nostrils and the beeping of the machines around me wakes me up.

I blinked my eyes slowly, slowly... until the view of white almost blinded me.

Everything is white. The ceiling, the walls, even the bed I am on.

It's clear I am in a hospital, but which one? Where, specifically?

I tried to move my arms, but it is connected to a lot of wires, making it impossible to move with the minimal strength I have in me.

I let out a deep groan. Fuck, my head hurts.

"Suri?" A soft voice that sounded familiar called me. "You're awake, oh thank god."

I can't move my neck, so when the voice comes up in front of me, I finally realize who it is.

"Keith..." I croaked out, my voice raspy as if I had not had water in months, my throat as dry as a desert.

He clicks something continuously next to me, like a small button, and I have no clue what it is until a group of people come rushing in and start checking my vitals.

"It's okay, they're here for you. They've been taking care of you for the past week while you were recovering," Keith explained and I just stared at him as I processed his words.

He looks tired. The bags under his eyes are puffier and darker. He's also growing a beard now, something I've never seen him had. His hair is all disheveled, and his clothes are definitely not as pristine, and that's never happened either. Wait, what did he say again?

They've been taking care of me... for... the past... week?

Oh my god!

I snapped my head to his direction so fast I gave myself a splitting headache. Fuck!

"Calm down, please," one of the medical personnel ordered but I can't fucking calm down after replaceing out I've been on this goddamn bed for seven whole days!

What the hell has happened since then?!
What the hell has happened since then?!

"One week? One week?" I repeated like a parrot to Keith and he nodded slowly, his eyes filled with burden.

I can only think of one reason why he would look so out of it, and I didn't want to believe it.

Please don't be true.

"The boys, please. Where are the boys?!" I asked, shouting and thrashing about, and the staff pinned me down to the bed.

"Stop moving! Your stitches are still healing!" One shouted and when I didn't follow, I felt something ripping at the side of my stomach and Jesus Christ, when I looked down I was turning the white sheets completely red, bleeding onto it like freaking Carrie during Prom. "We need to sedate her or she'll cut herself open all over again!"

The biggest needle I've ever seen in my fucking life is passed in front of me until the doctor gets a hold of it, and I stare at it in horror.

"Keith! The boys! Just tell me where they are!"

I can't stay still. I can't when nobody will tell me where the fuck Atlas, Wes, and Dev are or what the hell has happened to them.

I feel another prick on my skin and my body starts to feel drained.

The last thing I see is Keith with tears in his eyes and all I can think about is what the hell have I done?

-

Voices all around me.

Whispers about somebody, something, and whatever else.

Machine beeping is getting louder and louder.

Somebody is stroking my hand gently while another is hovering closely over my hand like they are not sure if they want to touch it or not.

My eyes flung open.

I realized I am tied down to the bed, and I choose not to resist. I can't, anyway. My body doesn't feel like it wants to move. Is the sedative still in my system? Probably.

"I'm sorry they had to do that to you, sweetheart. We didn't want you reopening your wounds. It will only slow down your healing process." Keith says softly as he looks at me, his eyes holding back tears.

I don't care about anything else.

"Where... are... they..." I asked him, my eyes pouring out all the emotions I can't give with my voice - desperation to get an answer.

"They are fine."

Another male voice spoke and when I turned my head to where the sound came from, I came face to face with him.

The man with the same eyes as me. The one who was yelling at me to stay awake back in the woods.

"They're fine?" I repeated, needing confirmation.

He gives me a small nod. "They are recovering in the intensive care unit. We apologize we couldn't tell you earlier. It only began to work until about three hours ago while you were passed out."

I blinked at him and I must look completely ridiculous and idiotic because I can't think or process exactly what he's saying, my mouth wide open.

"What- what do you mean it only began to work? What did?"

I don't know who this man is-though I do feel like he is not a threat-nor understand what he is talking about, but knowing that my boys were fine, that they were safe, has made me able to breathe a little better. "Suri," Keith spoke, bringing my attention back to him.

He looked less tearful now, the expression in his eyes much more relieved, proving that they really were fine. We were all fine.

"You saved the boys. Not only during battle, but after, with your blood, somehow it helped them recover. The King, him," he pointed to the man on the other side. "Said that you have blood that heals because of your rarity. Every female Lycan has it until a certain age, and then it all depends on how you cultivate it. The Lycan Queen helped heal you and the boys' external injuries."

Uh... wow?

I blinked at him, no words forming in my head to be said.

"Oh, and there is one other thing." Keith says with a small smile before he looks over to the man next to me who is apparently the King. The freaking Lycan King.

I gulped nervously as I looked at him again, and for some reason, I felt a sense of... familiarity with him.

Was it because we had the same eyes? It is obviously just coincidence because there was no way we were related, but still, what is it about him?

His next response turned everything I thought I knew about myself completely upside down.

"I already knew it the moment I saw you back in the woods, but we still had the necessary tests done, and the results merely proved the obvious. I am King Aragorn, and Suri, you are my daughter. You are the lost Lycan Princess."

SAY WHAT?!