I had to abandon the sweet lady I was entertaining to answer my father’s call. It was always entertaining to walk through the offices, watching the men and women swoon after me. Some wanted me only for lust, others, for power. I have not found my mate; in fact, I’d like to avoid it. I like playing with these simple humans. I grinned to myself as I recalled how the blonde in my office giggled and fawned over me like a newlywed wife. It won’t last. It never does.  

I took the elevator to my father’s office. He acts as though it’s a throne room. In our world, though, I guess it is a modern throne room, the office of a CEO. My older brother is the heir, and I am an executive puppet. There is someone else who is paid very well to do my job and put my name on it. Other than that, I run “errands” for my father. Today he will be asking me about a little old lady he’s had me searching for. 

I entered without knocking, startling his assistant. She put her head down and quietly rushed out of the room. My time playing with her ended some weeks ago. I don’t know why she’s still uncomfortable. I don’t even watch her leaving, I’ve seen all of her. Situated directly across from the door was my father’s large and intimidating desk, backlit by the city skyline, an equally intimidating view through the glass wall. To the right, the glass wall continues, inset with a pair of doors leading to my mother’s rooftop garden. Since her passing, it has been my father’s refuge. To the left is a small library-like seating area for informal interviews. 

My father gestured for me to join him in the seating area. My mother disapproved of the errand my father has me set on, and so he does not discuss it in her garden.  

“Max,” he started in a low voice, “you have found the old woman?” 

I nodded, “yes, although we can find no indication that she raised any children, and everyone that knows her calls her grandmother. On top of that, she’s the historian for a small region of packs, I don’t think she could ‘disappear’ quietly.” 

He looked away from me, thinking about what I said. The woman in question used to be a nanny for the children of the previous lycan king, my father’s brother. The coup had actually gone well, twenty some-odd years ago. My uncle had been a tyrannical leader, even going so far as killing his first-born son to keep the throne for himself. I can recall when I was younger, my father expressed concern for my missing cousins. Although he tried to be genuinely concerned for their welfare, after mother passed, his intent seemed to change. Despite his adaptation of an altruistic government, he feared my cousins would return, possibly with vengeance in their hearts. Recently, without my mother’s loving guidance, father’s concerns grew. 

I continue to hope that I never find them. I could never lie to my father, nor defy him. I would like to remain a reckless free spirit playing with all the lovely women I meet. 

“You will go,” father interrupted my thoughts. “You will go and visit these packs. Publicly you will be choosing where to further your education. You may move around them as you wish, behave as an ambassador of goodwill. But you must find them. It is better if you gain their trust.” 

“Dad, I have reservations...” he looked at me, and momentarily I could see the father I had growing up. Kind, benevolent, and caring.  

“I know your concerns, Max. You are so much of your mother.” He paused, looking as though he had nothing more to say but, “As the younger brother, though, you have obligations to protect our family; to make sure your brother takes over after me.” The goodness seemed to fade from his eyes, replaced by fear.  

I nodded solemnly and took my leave. I no longer thought of the sexy ladies I wished to focus on, and instead, an old woman I can barely recall, and what I do know of her is mostly through photographs and stories. I retraced my path through the building back to my own office on autopilot. I was told that Queen Grace handpicked the woman to be nanny to her pups. A gentle lady who had already raised her own family, and whose mate had already passed. She was depressed and hopeless until the queen sent for her to join her at the remote villa.  

Queen Grace had been secluded at the villa with her daughter, and newborn son. The king’s council had insisted on it to protect the son from the king. When Edith arrived, she was presented with a quiet and amiable 10-year-old Joanna, and a robust three-month-old Aaron. I was told the change in her mood and demeaner was instant. Taking care of the children and befriending the queen became her life. It was two short years before my father violently overpowered his brother and took control. Of those who had been sent to secure the queen and her children, only one survived. By the time he had arrived everyone else was dead and the servants left behind could not, or would not, speak of what happened. Grace, Edith, Joanna, and Aaron were never found. 

I dismissed the young lady who was waiting for me and sat at my desk. People thought I was a hotshot marketing manager. Really, I am just very good at reading people and taking notes. I logged in to my computer to start going over my notes about the packs in question. I felt a pang of anxiety come over me when I realized being surrounded by other lycanthropes was going to increase my chances of finding my mate. How far am I willing to go to avoid this person? 

What am I doing here?