Dr. Luna
The Vampires Promised Bride Chapter 23

Wyatt's eyes glazed over as he looked over at Freya. Lucy could tell by their faces that there was a deep discussion going on there. She watched her parent's fingers tighten together as their private conversation lingered in the silence. Lucy wasn't dumb. This new information had changed things. She could see it in both of her parents' eyes. She stepped a bit more into Derek. She was going to have to leave him. And she understood his reasons now, but it didn't make it easier.

She felt his arm pulling her deeper into his side. She could see her parent's eyes looking up to her and she already knew. She felt like a child once again under her parents' gaze. She knew that look. She had seen it before. "And just like that I'm no longer the strong capable daughter anymore? Right?" Lucy snorts angrily.

"Derek is right. We haven't studied this witch enough or her allies to know what she is capable of." Freya said quietly.

Lucy laughed in exasperation. "This coming from the woman who dove into a coven house that was a trap. The same woman who hunted down demons on her own. You didn't always know what you were getting yourself into."

"I know what it is like to almost lose a mate. The blood potion that was used before on your father could have drove us apart. And looking down on your opponent is what opens you up to weakness. We know this first hand." Freya said quietly. "Well then don't underestimate them. Call Uncle Levi and Uncle Titus. Ask Harley for help." Lucy didn't get it. They had the strongest allies around. So use them.

"We may need to ask for their help in time. There is more to worry about than just the witch. And I plan to talk with Rhea and my parents. We will discuss all of this and plan ahead. But for now... It is best if you come home with us." Wyatt said firmly. He watched Lucy go to object and his eyes darkened. "Lucy, you are not staying. You will be coming back to the Diamond pack with us." He made sure there was no room for objection. His commanding tone entered there as he gave his daughter an order. Something he didn't do often. But when he did it was absolute.

Lucy's jaw dropped. Her father just used his alpha king power to give her an order. She was stunned. Shocked. He had only ever used his father's tone, not his alpha tone on her. And to be honest she was hurt. Maybe he knew she wouldn't come unless he ordered her? But she felt her blood boil at this.

"If it is possible, I would like for Lucy to still attend the welcoming ceremony that we had planned before she moved in at the end of the summer. It is just a formality so the other vampires can get to know her. Jasper will escort her there and she can use her pearl to return back to the Diamond pack. You can even send her brother and a group of your soldiers with her if it will make you feel better. Of course, I will make sure to have my own escort of vampires as well. And it is in the opposite direction of the witch and the attacks, so I believe it to be safe." Derek could feel Lucy tense under his arm. He could also feel strands of her irritation pouring through.

Wyatt nodded his head. "We need to keep up as much normalcy as we can. We don't want to alert our enemies. Plus, this is an important moment. The vampires will be meeting their new princess. I don't want to give them a reason to think badly of her." "Well I'm glad everyone is able to settle everything. Just point me in the direction of where to stand and how to act and we will be good." Lucy shrugged herself out from Derek and opened the door to the office. "I don't need to hear the rest. Just be sure to give me a list of my duties and I'll be all set." She shut the door and walked out and towards the living room. She could have at least been included in the conversations. Instead, they were spoken as if she wasn't in the room. Yes, Lucy will not stay. Yes, Lucy will be at the ceremony.

As she heading towards the living room she spotted something interesting. She tilted her head as she watched Chaz crawling around on all fours looking under various objects. He had lounge pants on and no shirt. Someone was obviously very proud of his muscular physique.

"What are you doing?" Lucy quirked her brow at him.

Chaz looked up at her and gave her a sheepish grin. "I can't find my phone charger. I know I left it plugged in out here. I bet someone took it thinking it was theirs."

Lucy began giggling at his flustered looking face. She had a feeling that the someone who took it was fuzzy and a known troublemaker. Especially since she had caught the little cave brownie earlier in the action. She walked up to him and started looking around. "Where did you plug it in last?"

Chaz pointed at the wall. "Right there. Right next to that stand. I know that is where I left it."

Lucy looked around the desk carefully. If it was her brownie friend he would have either hid it in a drawer or... She followed the wall upward and looked at the ceiling. A crooked smile rested on her lips as she noticed a white dangling cord from a rafter. "Hey Chaz."

He lifted his head up and looked at Lucy. He watched the amusement in her eyes and followed the direction her finger was pointing... up. He glanced at the ceiling and sighed. "Are you shitting me? Who did this?"

Lucy giggled. "I don't think this is one of your friends here but a cave brownie. It was here earlier today."

Chaz frowned. "I'm not known to be the best jumper. I am more the muscles of the operation." He said flexing his arms proudly.

Lucy rolled her eyes. Yeah, she could tell he was proud of himself. She smiled and bit her bottom lip. "I'll help you."

"Really, little sis?" Chaz asked with a big grin.

"Little sis?" Lucy quirked her brow at this nickname.

Chaz flashed her a big smile. "I've decided that you are going to be like my new little sister... is that okay?"

Lucy nodded her head. At least he treated her like a normal person. And that she was capable of helping. "Well muscles, how good are your throwing skills?"

"I excel of course." His grin widened already figuring out what she was thinking.

"Good." Lucy walked up to him. "Toss me up in the air and I will grab it."

"Oh, a fun personality! Awesome, that is just what this group needs."

Lucy smiled. It might be what the group needs but she wasn't going to be part of the group. She watched as he cupped his hands together and looked up at her expectantly. She glanced up at her target and then stepped into his hand. He lifted her up effortlessly. She easily grabbed the cord that was hanging there but that is where things went wrong. The little brownie had set up a clever trap. And when she grabbed the cord, it was attached to a rag. The rag was full of dust and feathers that came crashing in Lucy's face. She was falling now but had no idea where since her face was full of debris.

"Gotcha little sis!" Chaz said and Lucy felt herself land gently in his large arms being held into his bare chest.

She was coughing and had tears dripping from her eyes from the dust. But she held her hand up triumphantly. Victory was still theirs. And she was feeling quite proud of herself. That was until she heard a familiar low snarl pierce through the air. "Put. Her. Down." The low growl annunciated every word with authority.

She felt her body slowly slide down until she was gently put on her feet. She was still wiping her face from the dust.

"Easy Ryan. I just caught her and that was all." Chaz then whispered lowly to Lucy. "Well at least one of you has a fun personality."

Lucy giggled and wiped the dust from her eyes. She placed the cord into Chaz's hands and smiled through a couple more coughs. "I think we were baited into a trap. But we still won." "Haha that we did little sis."

"Lucy, are you alright?" Freya walked up to her and looked over her appearance. Her hair was messy with dust and feathers poking through it.

"I was a victim to a clever brownie trap." Lucy smiled but it soon faded as she looked at her mother. "I am still mad at you. I just had a momentary lapse in judgement due to my triumph."

"Hope you aren't mad at me because I am your new roommate." Jasper said with a chuckle. Derek growled at him, and Jasper laughed some more. "Well in a manner of speaking. Think of me as your non werebear guardian." He said, pumping his chest out slightly. Jason laughed at this and slapped Jasper on the back hard. "Sorry kid. You are tough but not guardian tough."

"Ouch." Jasper said feigning hurt.

Derek remained quiet as he held an intimidating stare onto Chaz.

Chaz only chuckled and shook his head. He looked at Lucy as he grabbed the rest of his stuff. "Next time you can throw me. Maybe then I won't get in trouble." He winked at her and started to walk out of the room.

"Chaz." Derek said, making him halt in his steps. "Show them to the spare rooms where they can sleep for the night." Chaz nodded his head.

"If you follow me, I'll show you to a few modern cave room motifs." Chaz added a fake tour guide accent as he waved them to follow him.

Lucy made to follow her parents but Derek's hand shot out as she walked by grasping her wrist. She looked at him and stared into his amber eyes.

"I thought... we could talk." Derek said softly.

"Talk?" Lucy arched her brow up at him.

"You're leaving first thing in the morning. I thought you could stay with me." His voice dropped quieter as Wyatt and Freya stopped walking. "Oh... I see. I can't stay with you, but you want me to warm your bed tonight? Is that it?" Lucy snorted and glared at him defiantly.

"Now wait a minute it isn't like that. I just thought we could talk some Lucy. We haven't had time to properly talk." Derek's voice was soft.

Lucy stared into his eyes. They were pleading with her. The thing that Lucy was realizing was that she really didn't know Derek. Sure he was her fiancé and her fated mate. But besides the time she played with him as a child, what did she know about him? How did she retain these feelings of love... for a stranger now? She supposed it was the soul mate thing. She couldn't deny how much she wanted to be near him. How even being close now was a comfort to her. Besides she needed to explain a few things to him herself. "Alright." Lucy said quietly. She turned to look at her parents and nodded her head for them to go ahead.

Wyatt's eyes darkened as he stared at Derek. A clear warning. Before finally Freya managed to pull him along. A faint smile resting on her face.

The moment Derek closed the door to his room he wrapped his arms around Lucy. He pulled her deep into his chest and leaned his head near her neck to breathe in her scent. "Forgive me Lucy for being selfish. Don't be mad. I just want you safe."

A sweet tingling spark jolted down her back and spread through her chest. She couldn't deny how being in his arms felt like home. She sighed and turned in his arms to face him.

"What if it was the other way around Derek? What if it was vampires that were being targeted? What if there was a potion that reversed the effects for you? In this situation I would be sending you back, right? You are telling me that you would just accept this and go. While I stay here and fight. After all, I would only be doing it because I selfishly want you safe." Lucy had fire in her eyes as she met with his amber eyes fiercely. She could see a flash of realization hit him as he finally was able to understand. He wouldn't go. It was evident in his guilt-ridden face. What he was asking of her wasn't fair.