The Lycan King’s Gamma
Chapter 18

Lycan Prince Hunter

Kailen slept the entire way back to Ivory Moon. My stomach was in knots after I received a few texts from Greyson. He was explaining the latest developments in Kailen's case. I wasn't surprised about not Luna's involvement or the fact that Cathy's mate was involved. She had been abused for years, and someone in that house had to do it.

It surprised me to learn that the Alpha and his Beta were accompanying my people back to Ivory Moon. Greyson did warn me that the Alpha was after Kailen and that he was on a mission to make her see that she had made a mistake in rejecting him. I was worried about what she was going to say about this whole situation. Would she choose to go back with Alpha Owen? Just the thought of her leaving made me want to rip my heart out. I couldn't lose her and not to someone who doesn't deserve her. She is so much better than that alpha and his pack. Kailen proved that when she rejected him and worked her way to the top. She knew she was a luna, and she wasn't going to let others tell her otherwise. She's the strongest wolf I know and she deserves to be happy after the hell of a life she has had.

We are now back at Ivory Moon. They placed Kailen in a hospital room, and I was sitting beside her holding her hand. A doctor was in earlier, after we arrived to check out her back wound.

It's almost all closed up now, but they still have her on her side to take the pressure off her back so it can continue to heal. I was deep in my thoughts when Kailen squeezed my hand. I looked over at her and she was staring at me with a small smile. "What are you thinking so hard about, handsome?" she smiled, squeezing my hand again. I gave her a smile, before leaning over and kissing her forehead. I could feel gentle tingles where my lips touched her skin. Kailen let out a gasp. "Hunter." Kailen breathed out. I rested my forehead on hers.

"Baby, did you feel that?" I whispered.

"But how?" She breathed out.

"Aurora and Rex have accepted each other. The bite I gave you and the one you gave me is turning into our mark." I explained. Her breathing immediately became laboured, and I pulled away from her to look down at her.

She had her eyes closed, and she looked like she was about to cry. I couldn't help the pain in my heart from her reaction to us being chosen mates. "Kailen, what's wrong?" I asked her.

"Baby, please don't be upset. I need to tell you something, I need to explain. It's not because I don't love you and I don't want to be with you. I want you more than anything." She cried.

"Then you need to explain because I didn't expect you to look so hurt that Rex claimed you and Aurora accepted." I told her. I was hurt, and it was coming out more angry than I expected.

I instantly regretted my tone. I looked down at her and she looked like she was ready to break.

"I'm sorry, Hunter. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just haven't explained. Before you make that decision, I need you to know everything." I moved out of the chair and knelt down beside her bed. I rested my head against hers and started to play with her hair. "Nothing you have to tell me would ever change my decision to be with you." I mumbled into her forehead. She placed the hand I was holding earlier on my cheek and I leaned into her touch.

"Can we just go home, please? I promise I'll explain, but I would feel more comfortable doing it at home. That way, if you choose to leave, I'm not stuck here by myself." She whispered, and it broke me to hear her, so convinced that I could ever leave her. "Beautiful, do you love me?" I asked her, holding her cheeks in my hands so that she would look at me. She moved her hand over one of mine.

"More than you'll ever know." She breathed out. And I rested my head against her forehead.

"Then that's all you need to tell me. I love you and that's all that matters. Our love for each other is all we need." I told her and she nodded.

"Let's get the doctor in here and then we can go home, okay Beautiful," I asked her and she nodded.

I hit the call button, and we waited for a nurse to come in.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her. I was back to sitting in the chair, holding her hand.

"I'm okay. Hunter?" She stuttered out.

"Beautiful?" I asked, leaning forward.

"If you didn't need an heir, I would have marked you three years ago." She whispered and before I could say anything, the nurse came in. She was checking over Kailen when the doctor entered.

Most of her wounds were closed up, so the doctor okayed her to leave but to stay close to the hospital, and to take it easy. The more she rested, the faster she would heal. I just hope Kailen got the memo.

After we were home, I would ask her what she meant. I think I knew what she was saying. We have never had a kid talk before. I don't even know if she wants them. I just assumed that one day I would have them. She was right. They would expect me to have an heir, but I would never ask her to have a child if she wasn't ready or didn't even want one.

The nurse pulled out Kailen's IV and helped her have a shower. Her torso was still heavily bruised and I could tell that the movements she was making were causing her pain.

She was out of breath by the time she came out of the bathroom. They dressed her in a sweatshirt, pants, and some fluffy socks.

"Are you okay?" I asked, worried. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned her head on my chest.

"She's going to be tired for the next few days until her body fully heals. She needs rest and food." The nurse answered.

"But can I go home?" She asked the nurse.

"You can go home, but just take it slow. You're on a liquid diet for the next two days until you come back for a checkup. The glass ripped through your stomach, so eat small meals to start." She explained to her, and she nodded.

"Is that everything?" I asked the nurse.

"Just make sure she rests. I know she's busy, but stay in bed and binge watch something." She answered. We both thanked her, and she left the room.

"You ready?" I asked her. She already had her eyes closed and was ready to sleep. I leaned down and scooped her into my arms. She let out a small scream, not expecting me to pick her up.

"Hunter, I can walk." She breathed out.

"You can barely keep your eyes open. And it's just across the street," I told her. She wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder.

"Fine. But just this once." She yawned. Making me laugh.

I started walking out of the hospital. The pack house was across the street and our house was behind the pack house. It was a really short walk, but I knew Kailen was tired and, honestly, I just love having this moment of having her in my arms for everyone to see. Before I even made it out front of our home, Kailen's breathing evened out and I knew she was sleeping again. I entered the Royal house and my father was in the seating area just off the foyer. "Dad?" I asked him. I was wondering why he was in this seating area and not the one on our floor.

"Hunter, how is she doing?" He asked me, getting up from his seat.

"Tired, but she's healing." I answered, and he let out a sigh.

"I'm glad that she is okay, son, but I think we need to talk about the rumors that are going around." He told me and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Dad, if you want to talk, then you can come up with me to Kailen's flat. She needs to get some rest, and I'm not leaving her alone." I told him. Before he even answered me, I started to make my way to her floor.

I had to juggle, but I managed to get my keys out of my pocket. My father, who followed me, took them and opened the door for me. I walked in. And my father followed me in, closing the door behind him.

I told him I'd be back as I walked into Kailen's bedroom. I laid her down gently and was about to pull my arms out from underneath her when she grabbed my arm.

"Please stay?" She breathed out. I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"My dad wants to talk. I'll be in the living room. Then I'll be in, okay?" I asked her and she nodded while she let out a yawn. She rolled over off of my arms and went back to sleep.

I covered her up with a blanket and exited the room, closing the door behind me. I didn't want to wake her if our conversation became heated.

I walked into the living room, and my father was sitting on the couch.

"Can I get you anything?" I asked him.

"I'm fine, son." He answered. I walked over to the mini fridge and took out some water for me. Then I sat down in the chair across from my father.

"So you're worried about rumors?" I asked him before I took a drink. He let out a sigh, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

"It's not just rumors. I heard that you marked Kailen." He said.

"And? What's the problem?" I asked him, placing the bottle on the coffee table.

"You could have given me a heads up. I know that you two have been together for sometime. I've noticed that you are never on our floor. But son, this is a big step, one I'm not sure you are ready to take."

"Dad, what are you saying? I thought you loved Kailen?" I asked him. I was confused about this entire conversation.

"I do, son. I know her better than you think I do. But she will not be able to give you an heir to the throne." he said sorrowfully.

"Dad, I don't care about heirs or the crown. I love Kailen and she is going to be my chosen mate. Rex has already claimed Aurora, and I'd never reject Kailen." I told him firmly.

"And what about her fated mate?" He asked me and I growled.

"She rejected him. Why are you bringing him up?" I asked him, angry that he would even bring him up. My father knew the story about her mate.

"Son, I'm only asking because I heard that he was going to take back his acceptance of the rejection. I want you to be happy and to be with someone that you love. But I don't want to see you get hurt if she chooses to be with her fated mate." He explained, and I sighed.

"Dad, I'm not going to lie. The thought has crossed my mind, but I love her and I'm going to fight for her." I told him.

"I understand, son. I hear that this Alpha is coming here with the prisoners?" He asked, and I nodded.

"I can get you all caught up tomorrow before they arrive. Greyson texted me and said that since they needed to gather additional evidence, they are going to leave tomorrow morning." I explained, and he nodded.

"Let's meet in the dining room in the morning for breakfast, and please bring Kailen." He asked, and I nodded. We both stood up from our seats. I walked over to the door and opened it for him. He stopped and turned to face me. "Hunter, if Kailen is who you want, then fight for her. I know she can't have children, but there are other options." He told me.

"Dad, how do you know that she can't?" I asked him and he sighed.

"Talk to her. I know she's scared to talk about what happened, but she's the only one that can tell that part of her story." He said. He grabbed my shoulder, giving it a squeeze, and then he left.

I locked the door behind him. First, I went to the bathroom to take a much needed shower and then I crawled into bed with Kailen. As soon as I was lying down, she snuggled into my side.

I didn't feel tired until I snuggled into her and her peaceful scent calmed me to sleep.