Taming Her Beastly Mate
The Lycan Princess Chapter 21

Colleen squinted her eyes as she began to stir. She furrowed her brows as she felt the soft bed underneath her fingers and the foreign scent in the room. Images flashed through her mind and her eyes snapped open. She glanced around the room as her eyes settled on the beautiful blonde next to her bed. The woman she recognized as the Lycan Princess but there was no sign of her baby. She felt her heart begin to race as she braced herself for the worst.

“Sully!” A weak cry left her lips as the woman next to her turned and placed a comforting arm on hers.

“Easy. Sullivan is just fine. Your body has been through a lot. Our healers had to step in to aid you because your wolf was exhausted.” Diana watched as the woman’s body seemed to relax though her eyes were darting around the room.

“Princess—”

“Diana, please, call me Diana.”

“Diana…” Colleen whispered. “Can I see my son?”

“Of course,” Diana smiled at her and patted her hand. “We aren’t keeping him from you.” She pursed her lips together and stared at the woman’s unique mint green eyes. “There is something I need to prepare you for. You have a second chance mate here.” She watched as the woman’s eyes bulged open in fear.

“He’ll kill my baby!”

“What are you talking about?” Diana chuckled, shaking her head. Kurt was quite smitten with Sully. He was even proudly calling him his son. Already he loved the child as his own even without Colleen accepting the bond.

“Because… because he isn’t his and…”

“Colleen, it sounds like life with the Children of the Moon has been rough. We don’t kill babies… even enemy babies. Here in the Diamond Pack mates accept their mates’ children as their own. I understand things may differ from pack to pack but not here. Sully is with your mate, and I promise he is safer in his arms than maybe even your own.” Diana chuckled and could see the confused look on her face. “I think it may be best for you to see for yourself. Kurt is our beta; he is your mate. He is also a lycan and part fairy, including selkie. As you can see, we are not purists here.”

“I—” Colleen closed her eyes as she tried to process what she was hearing. It had only been a little over a year since she tragically lost her mate.

“I understand the look on your face. I have been there myself. My advice… don’t let the pain smother you. Kurt is a great guy. He is amazing and you would really be missing out if you didn’t embrace the gift you have been given in him.”

“They’ll want to kill him… they said you—”

“Your pack can try but if they lay one paw on him, I’ll end everyone responsible. This purist idea is outrageous. Even me… I am no longer a pure lycan I have vampire in me. I have been marked by the prince who has pure vampire b***d in him. He also has fairy and witch genes. Our children will be a mixture of power. So, if your pack was hoping I was going to come and take their side they are sorely mistaken. Because now I am going to put their nonsense to an end.”

Colleen stared in awe at Diana. She had never met anyone like her before. Diana had so much power and confidence that it made Colleen feel small in comparison. She couldn’t believe that she had stumbled upon such a remarkable group of people. She had always been taught to fear anything or anyone that wasn’t entirely wolf, but here she was, surrounded by a pack that embraced diversity and even had a lycan princess who was part vampire. It was all so overwhelming, but at the same time, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

“I personally know that it’s not easy to trust after you’ve been hurt. Especially by your own family and pack. But I promise you, this pack is one of the good ones.”

“I…I don’t know what to say,” Colleen whispered, as she gnawed on her inner cheek. Her head was flooded with the unknown and questions. She might be in the Alpha King’s pack, but she knew her pack very well. A deserter, who they considered defiled with an abomination, is not something they will let go. “My pack…”

Diana gave her a reassuring smile. “Your pack cannot touch you here. The Diamond pack will protect you and your son, but until they are dealt with, you need to stay within our borders. You’ve done well. You can relax now and make yourself a new home.”

On one hand, she was relieved to know her son was safe, but then her thoughts trailed to those she left behind. Her friends and family. She was brought up to be a purist but fell into the lure of the mate pull. Maybe she was wrong… maybe she was contaminated. Those thoughts constantly plagued her mind until she looked at her son. To think that way would be to think her son deserved death. He was her sanity and what stopped her from falling back into the poisonous brainwashing of her old pack. No matter how many ways she looked at it, her son was innocent. And her fairy mate… he fought bravely on her behalf.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, resolving to start a new life for herself and her son. She knew that she had to let go of her past and move on if she wanted to give her son a better future. No more living in fear and shame. Well… it was easier to think that than it was to accept it. She had rationalized with herself and battled mentally time and time again. Of course, now she wasn’t on the brink of exhaustion and didn’t have her old pack at her heels.

Looking at Diana, she felt a sense of hope that she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Of all the places she could have ended up this had to have been the safest place. And the idea that she already has a mate here felt like the goddess had her hands in all of this.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door to her room creaked open. She opened her eyes to see a muscular man with dark brown hair and deep brown eyes. His scent slammed against her as her wolf screamed happily, ‘Mate’. The man was holding her son in his arms, and he was cooing happily.

“Oh, good you are awake.”

Diana watched as Aiden pushed his way into the room and walked over toward the bed. “We have some things we would like to ask you about your pack.”

“Later…” Diana said softly as she stood up next to Aiden. “Colleen, this is the Lycan Prince, Aiden. We do have to talk to you more, but we will give you some time with your son. Breakfast will be brought up soon…” Diana interlaced her fingers with Aiden who gave her a knowing nod. Then together they walked out of the room leaving Kurt in there alone with her.

“I think someone here wants to see you. He isn’t a fan of the bottle, but I got him to eat some.” Kurt walked over to Colleen and eased the baby into her arms. Their skin touching sent rippling tingles over his body and for a moment their eyes were locked. “I’m Kurt…” He said in a soft voice as he took the seat next to her.

Her heart was racing as her wolf howled in her head. Her wolf was ready to accept their mate instantly, but her heart wasn’t ready. She wanted to know who this person was, and it was important that he knew she was never giving up her child. The princess might have said they accept children, but it wasn’t what she was used to. Not that she had a choice. After all she was a woman and if the man wanted her as his mate, she didn’t have a say in the matter. She looked at her mate with uncertainty and then back to her son.

Sully began to squirm in her arms and cry as his head moved back and forth. “He’s hungry…” She whispered as she glanced up at Kurt.

“I’ll get you something to drink while you nurse him. My mother told me she was always so thirsty when she nursed me.” He said as he walked over to the mini refrigerator on the other side of the room. “How about some apple juice?”

“… Umm… yes…thank you.” She mumbled quietly as she positioned Sully to latch on. She felt slightly embarrassed about nursing her baby in front of a stranger, but Kurt seemed unaffected by it. He walked back to her sitting the cup on the stand. He was acting completely natural about it. “Does this bother you?”

Kurt chuckled and tilted his head to the side. “Why would it?”

“In my pack­—”

“Ex-pack.” Kurt said tersely.

She blinked at him, noticing a slight darkness reaching his eyes. “Well, where I grew up women were not allowed to nurse their young around others. They had to be in special rooms or at their homes.”

“Why?”

“Because we were deemed a s****l distraction to the men—”

Kurt’s jaw tightened to the point of aching, rage boiling under his skin. “For feeding your children? There is nothing s****l about it!” he roared, as if unleashing a war cry. Spittle flew from his lips, and his nostrils flared with indignation. He was defending something so basic and instinctive—this is how mammals feed their babies, after all.

“What does your pack do…” Colleen bit her inner l*p as she tried to think of the words to say. “When a woman is on her… monthly…”

“What do you mean by that?” Kurt settled his insides down, seeing how timid the woman was. He wasn’t angry with her and didn’t want her to think that. She seemed a bit delicate mentally.

“The Children of the Moon sent women away to a special building during their time of the month. They were considered unclean and were not allowed to return until they were completely done.”

“All women were sent away? Even those who have mates?” He watched as she nodded her head. “We don’t do that… anywhere. Not just the Diamond pack but in the world. Who would send their women away? Plus… just because a woman is on their period doesn’t mean mates aren’t interested in having their mate around.” He watched as she looked at him in confusion. “Every good knight gets a little b***d on his sword.” He shrugged with a smirk watching her face turn a dark shade of red.

“But it’s unclean.”

“No, it isn’t.” His eyes softened as he thought about the life she must have had before. “That is rubbish your pack told you. It’s one thing if the woman doesn’t want to because she isn’t in the mood. Or just doesn’t want to during that time. But if both partners are willing…” Kurt shrugged and raised his brows at her. “In either case, women are not sent away. With a pack of our size there is always at least one woman having her period. That doesn’t stop them from anything. They swim, they party, they train—”

“Train?”

“Yeah, some of our fiercest warriors are women.”

“A woman can never be as strong as a male warrior, so there is no point training them.”

Kurt chuckled and shook his head. “Our Queen, Freya, is probably the fiercest woman in our pack. She used to hunt demons all on her own. I don’t know any pack member that would want to face her in battle… including her mate.” He said with a wink. “Things will be a lot different for you from here on out. I’ll be here to help you adjust.” He gave her a soft smile, seeing that she looked very confused.

“I’m not giving up my baby.”

“Why would you?”

She stared into his eyes as if she was searching for the truth. “Do you still want me even though I have him? Even though I was with another man?”

“Colleen, if you let me, I will be a father to your son. I will love him and you. I will show you a new life and we will raise our son together.”

“When will you force your mark on me?”

“Now wait a minute.” Kurt knitted his brows together and shook his head. “I think you are misunderstanding things. You are my mate and I want you, but I would never force you to accept the bond.” He watched as she parted her lips.

“You mean… I have a choice?”

“You didn’t have a choice before?” Kurt was mortified as she shook her head.

“If your mate was in the pack and wanted you, then you had no say in the matter.”

Kurt sighed as he looked at his mate’s light green eyes. She wasn’t ready to be his mate. Mentally, she needed to understand what life was really like. She had been brainwashed by a cult pack. He reached out and placed his hand over her free one.

“Colleen, we will take this slow. You have a say over everything. You have dominion over your body and choices. We don’t need to mark each other now. I want you to decide when you are ready. There is no rush. I’ll help you. I’ll be here for you and Sullivan.”

“I’m…” She looked down at her baby, unable to look at Kurt. “I’m not good with resisting the mate bond. Which is why I have Sully here… my first mate never marked me, but I couldn’t fight how drawn I was to him. And—”

“We will try our best and—” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “And if things go too far, we don’t have to mark one another. We can wait until the time is right. Of course, with little Sull here, I think we won’t have a lot of alone time.” He chuckled and a smile finally reached her eyes.

“Do I call you, my mate?” She whispered quietly.

“I would like that very much. I can’t imagine a world where you choose someone else. I would be crushed. But I accept that it is your decision. My promise to you is that I will make myself so irresistible that there will never be any need for you to look elsewhere.” His eyes blazed with passion as he caressed her hand, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

This was new to her… all of it. The way he looked at her like she was someone special and not just there to have his children. This was how her fairy mate treated her. This was why she practically fell into his arms. He made her feel wanted and desirable… and that was how Kurt was making her feel now. Was this really how it was supposed to be?

Just then, Sullivan broke off of the n****e and turned his head, exposing soft pink skin. She watched as Kurt turned his head with a light pink stain reaching his cheeks. She pursed her lips together and smiled. If he was really like this… she wouldn’t be able to resist him. He glanced back at her, and a sweet smile spread over his face.

Green met with brown and for a moment that was all that existed. Then Sully’s face turned a dark shade of crimson as he shifted uncomfortably and released a low, grinding rumble that seemed to reverberate throughout the room. A less than pleasant smell wafted across the room, ruining the moment between the two adults.

Kurt laughed and stood to his feet. “I guess time to prove I am serious about this dad stuff.”