Page 27 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

After school, we head straight to Red Claw. We take the bus and reach the pack house in about an hour. Marilou shows us around. Both Jazz and I are in awe, the pack ground is huge and beautiful. I think they have over 1500 pack members. Marilou leads us to meet her luna’s beta first. It’s surprising to discover that their hierarchy works a bit differently. Lycan alphas have more than one beta because of their strength and power, and their lunas have a beta at their sides too.

“Hello girls, I’m Ella,” the luna’s beta greets us with a smile. She has a short pixie cut and looks fearless and cool. “You must be Valerie and Jazz. Marilou told us you were coming. You need to add your names to the register. It’s just a formality. Our Luna knows who you both are.” She turns to look at Marilou. “Luna Annalise wants to meet you girls for tea and cake later this afternoon.”

Marilou flushes happily while Jazz is rendered speechless. A private afternoon tea date with the luna is not usual. I’m feeling a bit wary for obvious reasons, but it’s time to toughen up a bit. Time to face Annalise for what my sister did.

Ella notes our excitement. “But get your homework done first,” she grins. “Or I’ll tell on you.”

“Of course, Beta Ella,” Marilou beams before tugging us along.

“This day is crazy,” I mutter toward Jazz.

“No kidding,” she agrees. “First, Aurelia saves our butts, drags us to lunch, and invites us to that infamous bonfire, and now we are here, and later we get to drink tea with the luna. Someone pinch me to wake me up.”

“You aren’t sleeping,” Marilou says, radiating pride from seeing us so stunned by Red Claw’s beauty and size. She introduces Renata to us, her adoptive granny. The elderly woman is super kind, with a hint of fire in her. She feeds us sandwiches, cookies, and hot chocolate before shoving us out of the kitchen.

Marilou lives with Renata in a cottage, so we head there for homework. We get a bit of work done, spending most of our time gossiping instead. It still feels so surreal for me to have friends like Jazz and Marilou, to be able to sit with them and chat and laugh. I never thought I’d ever experience this because of my weak health and then because of Lauren’s actions. But these two know everything about me and accept me for who I am.

Eventually, we start talking about our favorite crushes. “Terry is so cute,” Marilou giggles.

“He was the male twin, right?” Jazz wants to know. “I’m so bad with names.”

I nod toward her. “Yes, that’s him. He’s sweet.”

“What’s your type, Jazz?”

“Well,” Jazz smiles nervously. “I’m not sure yet, but I’m really into Scarlett Johannsen. You know… the actress? There is something so hot and special about her.”

Marilou blinks. I can see the wheels in her head turn as she connects the dots. Apparently, she never heard any rumors, or she heard them yet ignored them. After taking a second to digest this new information, she nods. “You like them pretty and athletic,” she deadpans.

Jazz and I chuckle.

“Beta Ella is hot too,” Jazz admits. “And I have the biggest girl crush on your Luna, just so you know. I’m already fangirling at the fact that we will have tea with her later.”

“And you, Val?” Marilou wants to know. “What’s your type?”

“I like tall guys,” I admit. “Maybe because I’m so scrawny and weak. He should be strong but not too bulky.”

“A shoulder to lean on,” Jazz teases, and we all burst into giggles again.

“Just not too alpha,” Marilou mutters.

“Alphas are hot though. Alpha Liam is… yummy,” I muse, and we giggle again.

“As long as none of you hits it off with Don, I’m alright,” Jazz grins.

Marilou and I look at each other and grimace. “No, thank you,” I mutter.

“I don’t even want to know how many places he already put his penis,” Marilou curls her nose.

Jazz and I burst into laughter at her comment. It’s rare for her to say something like that, but it’s hilarious and totally true.

“Maybe you will hit it off with Terry during the bonfire?” Jazz muses.

We gossip and chat a bit longer before getting some more work done. Eventually, it’s time to meet the luna for tea and cake. Beta Ella picks us up together with her mate, Beta Dante. We’re invited into the private dining room, normally reserved for special guests of the alpha and luna.

Luna Annalise is waiting for us along with Gamma Jun. “I hope you’re hungry,” she smiles warmly at us.

I expect Jazz to say something, but she’s so starstruck she just keeps staring at the Luna. So, I take over and bow my head politely. “Thank you for inviting us.”