The Lycan King’s Hybrid Queen
Chapter 20

Theo

"I'm scared, Theo."

"There's nothing to be scared of," I stroke the back of Harmony's long white hair as I sit beside her on the edge of our bed.

"Lyric is going to be so angry with me, Theo."

From what Harmony has told me, Lyric is the boss, and what she says goes. Harmony follows Lyric's lead because that's the way it's always been. However, now that I've marked her, Harmony is no longer an Omega Wolf. She's a Beta like me because once a Lycan marks his mate, she takes on his status if his rank is higher than hers. It's the same for females; if they outrank their mate, he will take on her status.

Lyric will have to get used to the fact she can't boss Harmony around any longer. Sure, Lyric is an Alpha, and soon she'll be Queen, but Harmony is not weak, and I won't let Lyric treat her as such.

Lyric was unhappy that Harmony seemingly had no problems accepting me as her mate. But Lyric doesn't know how hard it was for Harmony to put her trust in me.

Harmony suffered horrendous nightmares when she first arrived, and it would take me over an hour to calm her down. Even with the therapy and letting go of some things that haunted her, Harmony is still scarred by her ordeal. Nevertheless, she wanted me to hold her each night because she claimed the nightmares weren't as bad when I did.

Before Harmony's heat and around her therapy sessions, I took her for walks, began training her, and listened when she wanted to talk. Though I know Harmony hasn't told me everything that happened to her, what I have heard both angered and hurt me. No one wants to think of anything terrible happening to their mate.

Too often, I've wondered if I'd gone to Hell Howlers a couple of years earlier, would I have been able to save Harmony some pain. Then I have to tell myself that everything happens as it's intended.

When Harmony's heat hit, I tried to stay away. My father had me locked up, so I couldn't get to my mate. I would never want to hurt her, and rushing to her in that instant, I wouldn't have been able to control myself.

I was doing it for her, but Harmony begged, cried, and pleaded with anyone who would listen to bring me to her. Through the mind link, she begged me not to leave her in that state. I tried to explain that I couldn't be near her because my Lycan would force me to mate and mark her. Harmony sobbed, telling me that's what she wanted.

It was what she wanted at that time because she was in pain. Much like a Lycaness, a she-wolf will do anything to stop the pain. I would never take advantage of my mate. I wanted her to be sure and ready before we mated.

Didn't she realize what it was doing to me being away from her?

Isla mind linked me, screaming that Harmony was trying to claw out her heart. It's not natural to stay away from your mate while they're in heat. The pain can become so much that she will harm herself in any way she can, hoping to numb the pain of her heat. Often, they can end up dead, which is why hardly anyone denies what the female wants.

I couldn't leave Harmony like that; it was destroying me, thinking I'd lose her over this. So, I broke out of my restraints, kicked the door open, ran to my suite, and ripped the door off its hinges. I rushed into the bedroom and jumped onto the bed.

The moment I touched Harmony, she calmed down. She straddled my waist and kissed me as if she'd died if she didn't. Everyone rushed out of the room and locked us in.

Never go near a Lycan and his mate when in heat. The male is liable to kill you.

I grabbed Harmony's face and asked, 'Baby, are you sure about this? Because once I claim you, there's no going back.'

To which she replied, 'I only want to move forward with you. Please, Theo, I know what I'm doing.

And so, we mated and marked, fu.cked, and made love for days. As Harmony's heat began to die down, we bathed together, ate, and laughed about unimportant things. Not once did I see regret in Harmony's eyes, only love.

The problem was that I knew she was pregnant the moment I first took her. Lycans, like werewolves, get pregnant very quickly. Though Lycans can tell immediately that their mate is pregnant, it takes a couple of days for wolves to scent pregnancy hormones. Werewolves are pregnant for four months, while Lycans are pregnant for a maximum of ten weeks. Depending on the child, some come as early as six weeks.

This is all too soon, and Harmony freaked out when I told her. She had a panic attack when she sensed the pregnancy hormones and again when the doctor confirmed her pregnancy this morning.

Now, we're back in our suite, and Harmony is scared of how Lyric will react to the news. I'd hope she'd be happy for her sister, but from what I've heard, that girl is never happy about anything.

"What exactly is she going to be angry about? That you gave into your heat? That we marked one another? Or that you're pregnant?"

"All of it," Harmony looks at me. "She won't understand how I could be this way with you after everything. I don't understand it myself; I just know I don't regret it, Theo. I love you so much, and I don't care how soon it all is."

I tuck her hair behind her ear. "I love you, too, baby, so much. I never knew I'd love you this much. It isn't too soon, Harmony; that's how the mate bond works. I understand you're worried, but..." I sigh and look at my leg.

I don't want to force Harmony to have our child if she really doesn't want it. But abortion is not the Lycan way. Children are gifts from the Moon Goddess, and Lycans treat them as such.

"Do you not want our baby, Harmony?"

She looks at me with narrow eyes that soon widen. "Oh, Theo," She takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. "Of course, I want our baby. I want it more than anything in this world." Relief fills me. "Nothing, anyone says would make me regret this child. But my sister won't understand. My uncle could hurt me and our baby to get to Lyric. She would never want that."

"It won't happen, Harmony," I tell her with conviction. "He won't get near you or our child. I will do everything I can to protect the two of you. You are my life, Harmony." I lay my hand on her stomach. "You and our baby. I love you, and nothing else matters. I will keep you safe, I promise."

Harmony wraps her arms around my neck. "I love you, and I trust you."

"Let's talk to Lyric." "Okay."

Within five minutes, Lyric barges into our room, looking harassed, Thane hot on her heels. Harmony and I stand, and my mate brushes down her white, knee-length dress.

"What's wrong?" Lyric asks while grabbing Harmony in a fierce hug. She sniffs the air and pulls away from my mate, her eyes zeroing in on Harmony's mate mark - a Lycan and his little wolf under the full moon. "What the hell have you done to her!?" She bellows at

me.

"Lyric,"

"No, Thane. Now you," She points at me. "Tell me why the hell you did this! Oh, Goddess," She looks at Harmony, eyes filled with sorrow. "Did he force you to have sex with him? You can tell me. There's no need to be afraid."

I groan because I knew Lyric would think that. Thane looks at me with a questioningly raised eyebrow. I shake my head, annoyed because my brother should know me better than that. Thane nods in understanding, letting me know that he knows I would never do something like that, not what Lyric is accusing me of.

"No, Lyric," Harmony grabs her sister's hands. "Theo would never do that. I was in heat and wanted us to complete the mate bond."

"Heat? What the f.uck, Harmony? You wouldn't have been in your right mind! You can't possibly have consented!"

"Well, I did!" Harmony screams, and my eyes widen while Lyric takes a step back as if she'd been slapped. "Why do you always have to think the worst of people? Why do you act as if I don't have a mind of my own?" "Harmony,"

"No," My mate shakes her head and leans into me. I wrap my arm around her, lending her my strength. "For once, you're going to listen to me. I wanted to be with Theo, and he never took what I wasn't willing to give. He tried to stay away from me, but I wouldn't let him. Theo is my mate, and you will stop disrespecting him! I'm sorry what happened to us didn't fuck me up as much as it obviously did you."

Thane's eyes widen, and his nostrils flare. He's angry with my mate for talking to his mate like this. But Harmony needs to get this out; she's bottled it up all her life. Harmony has always let Lyric dictate what happens, and that stifled her.

"I know we haven't been here long, but while you wallowed and slept your life away, I was working on fixing myself. I will not be made to feel guilty for moving on with my life. You might be content to live in the past, but I took control of my life. "I love Theo, and you will not make me feel guilty for completing the mate bond, Lyric. Nor will you make me feel guilty about my baby!"

"Baby?" Lyric looks at me, then Harmony, and Thane groans.

"Yes, I'm pregnant, and this baby already means everything to Theo and me. I know you're going to tell me how stupid I am, that Astro will use my baby against me to get to you. He'll use my baby to blackmail me into getting you to be with him, but Theo won't let that happen.

"Why you don't just go with Astro, I'll never know. Because it's clear that poor man over there will never know the real you. You'll string him along, never completing the mate bond, and everyone around him will die. He won't be able to protect them when you know marking him will make you both stronger in the war against our uncle. But you're selfish, Lyric, you always have been!"

"Wow," Lyric whispers, tears in her eyes. Both Thane and I have our mouths hanging open in shock. I knew Harmony needed to get things out, but I wasn't expecting that! 'Harmony,

'Don't, Theo, please, just don't. Harmony turns in my arms and cries. I don't know what to say.

"I'm so sorry." Lyric whispers while backing up. She bumps into Thane, who reaches out to grab her, but she bolts from the room.

'You better give your mate a good talking to, Theo. I swear to both Fenrir and Selene that if Lyric runs because of this, I will kill your mate!' Thane walks away before I can say anything.

As I kiss Harmony's head, I pray I can convince her to speak with Lyric. Thane doesn't make idle threats, and that scares me more than anything else.