The Lycan King novel Chapter 44

Avalyn

"Thank you for having us over." I smiled at Max and Nat. We had a quick breakfast after we woke up and now we were on our way to meet Mary.

"It was our pleasure." Max smiled back. "I also wanted to give you something." He told Nik.

He handed the envelope to him.

"What's this?" Nik asked, taking it from my hand.

"It's a gift from Viktoria. She said to give to you when you meet your mate." Max replied, his tone gentle.

I sucked in a breath.

"Why did she give it to you? Why not me directly?" He asked, his voice thick.

"When I asked her to give it to you herself, she just made me promise that I'd give it to you. And that I'll always protect you." There was nothing but love in Max's eyes for Nik. I bit my lip. At least there was someone to truly take care of Nik after what happened to Viktoria.

"Thanks, brother." Nik hugged him.

Max hugged me afterwards, surprising me."I'm technically your uncle."

I laughed. It was weird to even think about it. Adoptive, but uncle. I had already told Nat my goodbyes so I just waved at them before we left.

I looked at the trees pass by fast as we cruised through the roads. Mary is my grandmother. Not really but still. Grandmother. I have a family. A living family member. I chewed down on my lip. Will she like me? What if she doesn't like me?

I realised that she knew my mother the best. After papa, of course. But she knew my mother the second best. I could finally get to know more about her.

That worried me more. What if she hated me? I am the reason my mother is dead.

Nik grabbed my hand placed our joint hands on his lap as he drove with his other hand. "What's going through your mind, Love?"

"Meeting Mary." I whispered and squeezed his hand, craving comfort.

"She will love you. It's impossible not to fall in love with you, Ava." He glanced at me.

I hope so. I really really hope so.

Nik pulled up at small cottage type house with a big garden. We got off the car and I stopped him before he could walk down the cobblestoned path bordered with bushes.

"Do you promise she will like me?" I asked him.

He trailed his hand through my hair and put a lock behind my ear before grabbing my hand tugging me to walk down to the door.

He pressed the doorbell andI waited behind him.

The door opened in a minute. "Hello, I'm Ni—"

"Nikolai Volkov." An old gravelly voice finished. "I do not want to talk to you or help you in any form. You can leave." She went to shut the door in his face but Nik put his hand on it.

"We only want to talk." Nik said quietly.

"Please." I stepped out from behind him and took my place besides him.

The old lady's eyes widened before they watered. "Valerie." She whispered and pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

I put my arms around her and hugged her back.

"I'm Avalyn." I said softly after she released me.

"I figured." She replied and looked at Nik before looking back at me.

"Please come in." She took my hand in her's and took me to her living room.

She made me sit besides her on a two- seat couch, making Nik take the couch opposite us.

That's when I got to actually look at her. She had shoulder length blond hair that were more white that blond because of her old age. She had a relatively round face with brown eyes and thin lips lined with red lipstick.

She looked nothing like me or mom. Of course she didn't, she wasn't?actually?my grandmother. Just adoptive. But she brought up my mother like her own. I firsthand know that relationships aren't just formed by blood. She is my grandmother and I'm her granddaughter. If she'd have me.

"You are mated to him?" Mary asked, giving Nik a snide look.

"Yes, I love him very much." I replied. She didn't like him?

"My poor girl." She said and hugged me again. I hugged her too and looked at Nik over her back, raising my eyebrows in question. Why didn't she like him?

"She is not poor in any sense. I keep her happy and pampered." Nik said drily. I could feel his annoyance through our bond.

Mary snorted, not deeming him enough for a reply.

She turned to me. "Tell me how have you been child? I -I thought you were dead." She had tears in her eyes again.

I bit my lip. Should I tell her? She had the right to know. "No. The rogues didn't attack our pack as was told. It was all Emmanuel's doing. Emilio and him kept me captive in our house as a slave for eight years. Nik saved me." I said as I looked at Nik.