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Rylee answered, “Actually, Professor James Clayworth is human and an alpha’s human companion.”
At least she avoided saying, “owned.” “You mean pet?”
Rylee smiled. “Chandra, the alpha, is technically mated to a beta, but only to save face.”
“So they don’t…”
“It’s complicated. I’ll call in Lunara and James to explain.” She turned to Lev and Manny. “You can go.”
They bowed and left.
Gaby gave Steele a questioning glance. Although, Kiara was out of the picture, would he still be expected to mate a werewolf to save face, while keeping her as a companion? What woman would ever want either alternative?
Chapter 26
Steele waited until Lev and Manny left, and then addressed Rylee. “No matter what happens, Gaby and I will never part.”
“That’s between the king and you.” She lifted her chin and smiled. “I’ll support you any way I can.”
Lunara and Professor James Clayworth entered and bowed to Rylee and then to him. The shaman smiled. “Prince Steele, a pleasure to see you again.” Lunara turned to the professor. “You remember James.”
“Of course.” Steele shook his hand. Gaby had been forced to learn their wolfish behaviors, so it was only fair he practiced the same. “How is Princess Chandra?”
“Expecting her first litter in the next month.” James smiled, proud as if he were the father.
Rylee smiled. “I heard Chandra and Oak set up a den along the Canadian border.”
Gaby gaped. Her expression conveyed a mixture of curiosity and horror. Steele gently elbowed her. “This is Gaby, my wife.”
James offered his hand. “A pleasure indeed.” He quipped. “Welcome to the human married to a werewolf club.”
Gaby shook his hand. “Nice to be the newbie member of the club.”
Rylee pointed to the chairs. “Please sit. We have good news concerning the question of wolf-segens.” She gestured to James who nodded and turned on the wall screen.
They sat and waited. Steele took Gaby’s cold hand and squeezed it. Don’t worry, love.
James proceeded with the first slide, showing a manuscript written in what appeared to be Latin or what they often referred to as old Wolfish. “This is the original Edict of Segner of 1592, specifying death to all wolf-segens, no matter the cost or effort.” He advanced to the next slide. A partially charred scroll. “This manuscript was removed from the Pentad Treatise of Conduct during the Edict of Segner. It contradicts the edict.”
“How so?” Steele asked.
“One of Stallo’s potions, prior to his creation of our kind enabled a person to charm wolves away from sheep herds. The spell gave the person the power to enchant all animals. He allowed his nephew, an apprentice, to use the spell. The apprentice known as Jonas, met up with Stallo years later after Stallo became the Wolf Wizard. At that time, Jonas discovered his power to see the wolf within the man as did his seven children who passed on the trait to their offspring. In the beginning, the original lycan pack, the Pentad allowed wolf-segens also called wolf charmers to act as intermediaries between humans and werewolves. It appeared the original spell allowed wolf-segens to mate werewolves. Their offspring were rare, but when blessed with children, they were born human, but with the ability to recognize a lycan as well as charm animals.”
Steele smiled. “That’s a good thing.” He’d given up on the idea of having children, but if there was a remote possibility to have a baby with Gaby, he’d welcome him or her.
“In the beginning, it was. Until Pack King Morpheus demanded werewolves only mate with werewolves. An attempt to keep the bloodline pure. During this time, wolf-segens were already being burnt at the stake as witches and only a few remained. The few surviving wolf-segens were banished from the packs. The werewolves that had taken wolf-segens as mates were hunted and killed. The king ordered all packs to keep their relationship with humans to a minimum such as trade or commerce. Years later, vengeful wolf-segens helped villagers identify lycans who came into villages to trade hides and woodwork. So began the werewolf hunting years in Europe and our darkest times.”
Lunara stood; her shoulders sagged. “We should never have broken away from our wolf-segen kin.”
Gaby raised her hand as if Lunara was a classroom teacher. “Does that mean the sins of our fathers no longer matter?”
“Yes. It was wrong to hunt wolf charmers to extinction. I for one am happy to hear we failed to kill all of you.” Lunara smiled. “Best of all, it means you and Steele are bonded mates. The council has agreed to accept you as his mate and the only true wolf-segen left on Earth.”
“And my brother?” Steele asked.
“Unfortunately, a prince of the realm can only mate a lycan. You must produce a litter to remain part of the royal family.”
Rylee scoffed. “Even in modern times.”
