Page 36 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

Liam’s gaze softens. “Why are you here then? Go and take some rest, brother.”

“In battle, no one is going to consider if someone is sick,” I argue.

“We are not in battle, though. Goodness, Marius, you don’t need to kill yourself over training. If you’re sick, go to the infirmary and get some meds. Then go home and rest.”

He looks sincerely worried, and it makes me feel even guiltier. Liam can easily look through lies, but he doesn’t with me. He probably trusts me and thinks I wouldn’t just use such a stupid lie. “Lycans don’t get sick normally,” I point out weakly.

“Yes, they do,” he says. “It just doesn’t happen often. Maybe you caught the same bug as Annalise,” he muses, furrowing his brows even further and looking even more worried.

“Annie is feeling sick?” I ask in shock. I didn’t even know. She’s kept her distance recently, and it makes my guilt grow that I didn’t notice. I thought she was avoiding me because of my attitude, I never even considered there might be something wrong with her.

Liam reaches out his hand to touch my shoulder. I flinch back before he can touch me, instantly noticing the flash of hurt and shock in his eyes. He pulls his hand back. “I didn’t plan on hitting you or anything.”

“I know,” I rub over my forehead. “Shit, I’m so jumpy at the moment.”

He stares at me. “Did something happen? I mean, aside from you being sick?”

Why is he suddenly playing therapist with me? What happened to being Mr. Cold, distant and oblivious? Ever since Liam found his mate, he’s suddenly in touch with his ‘sensitive side.’ Well, just because he found his happily ever after doesn’t mean I get to have mine. Some of us are just too broken to fix.

*CELINE*

I’m on my way to meet my friends at a sushi restaurant. It’s exactly the distraction I need after hearing that a witch is roaming my pack borders and after my not-so-pleasant encounter with Marius. I’m ignoring the Marius drama for now because I can’t even begin to deal with those emotions. What does a witch want from Moon Blood? We are a normal-sized pack and there is nothing out of the ordinary with us—well aside from the fact that their alpha is a she-wolf with white fur.

Harmony insists on driving me, but when I ask her to join us, she politely declines and asks me to allow her to wait outside. She loves her sister Annie dearly and would love to see her, we both know that, but she also knows this is not a family meeting but a meeting with my circle of friends. She would feel out of place there. I can definitely understand that, although I wouldn’t have minded her joining us.

“Celine!” Dave is already waving at me the moment I step into the restaurant. I smile back at him instantly. Had someone told me two years ago that I would become friends with a human, I would have laughed. Loud and long.

“Hi, Dave,” I pat his shoulder softly before turning to greet Finn. Finn is Liam and Marius’ younger brother, the third-born son of Lord Elden. He’s our age and started college shortly after Annie and Ella. Annie befriended him and brought him to the group, just like she did with me. Now that I think about it, she kind of collected us all like stray puppies, a bunch of lonely souls, and gave us a place to belong.

“Looking good, Celine,” Finn grins. “Alpha rank suits you.”

Dave wiggles his eyebrows. “I always knew you were a powerful bitch.”

I snort slightly at their words. “You are an alpha’s son too, Finn,” I point out. After my talk with Harmony about my problems with Marius, I indeed feel better about my situation. It helped to share my issues with someone I trust, in a way it was almost liberating. “A lycan on top of that.”

“Yes, but I’m not sure if I have the drive to become a reigning alpha,” he muses. He looks scary at first glance. His hair is dyed midnight black, and he’s covered in piercings and tattoos, but once you get to know him, you notice how caring, kind, and fun he actually is.

“I wouldn’t rule it out,” I muse. “Liam was supposed to become your father’s successor, but he’s Alpha of Red Claw now. Lord Elden still hasn’t chosen a new successor.”

“Maybe,” Finn shrugs. “But Aurelia is making incredibly huge progress as a warrior. She’s fighting with the elites now.”

“Your sister?” Dave asks.

He nods. “She’s turning eighteen soon, and she has some kickass gifts. She’s definitely made to be an alpha.”

“We’ll see,” I muse.

“We’ll see, what?” I can hear a voice behind me.

I turn slightly, noting that Annie and Ella managed to approach us without any of us noticing. Annie laughs at our surprised faces before hugging everyone. She just exudes warmth. I’m not surprised she was chosen by the Moon Goddess to become the mate of such a powerful alpha like Liam.

“El!” Dave squeals and hugs Ella as well.

“So, what will we see?” Annie asks curiously when she sits down between Dave and Ella.

“Who will become the next wolf leader of Silverriver,” Dave says lazily.

“Alpha,” Finn corrects him, amused. “And it’s Silverlake.”