Page 63 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

I’m still struggling to keep my composure when Eric turns to me, eyes widening. “Goodness, Marius!” Before I can react, he’s hugging me tightly. “I haven’t seen you in forever,” he exclaims. I return the hug, realizing too late that I’ve indeed just hugged him back.

Get a grip, Marius. Rule number 1: Never get too close to anyone.

If you aren’t close to anyone, you won’t get hurt.

Easy as that. A simple rule. And I can’t even stick to it.

Eric pulls back and raises one of his perfect eyebrows to look at me. “You grew tall and handsome. Wow, I like that look of yours. The long hair with the beard. Hot. Almost hipster, but you can pull it off.”

“Did you just call me a hipster?” I ask in disbelief, too flabbergasted to even react angrily.

Eric seems to be completely unfazed by my question. “A hot hipster,” He grins and turns to his entourage. “I have brought my beta with me,” he exclaims while making a dramatic gesture toward him like he’s a character in some ridiculous movie. “Some of you guys know him already. Emilien.”

I don’t know him, but Annie and Ella nod and smile at him warmly. “Thank you for the warm welcome,” Emilien says with a little bow. He exudes calmness and a certain stoicism that Eric always lacks.

“And here,” Eric pulls two twin girls in front of him. “Are my two advisors. Elise and Elodie.” He grins. “They are sisters.”

Ella laughs. “You don’t say?” she teases before she approaches the girls and hugs them. “Nice to see you again!”

“We just came for you, Ella,” one of the twins giggles.

“And we were curious to meet your man,” the other grins.

“Plus, we can’t let our silly prince roam around on his own.”

As usual, Eric doesn’t get angry. He seems to enjoy their teasing.

“You know them already, Ella?” Dante asks with interest.

“Yes, when we all visited France, I sometimes stayed in the Council’s main building. These two showed me around a lot. And hey,” Ella grins. “They are fellow Els, after all. Elise, Elodie and Ella.”

I’m so bad with names that I’m not sure if her joke will confuse me or help me to at least remember their names start with El. Against my better judgment, I turn to Eric curiously. “You already have advisors?”

“Of course, I have advisors,” he grins and clasps my shoulder, and I already regret talking to him. “Every prince and princess of the Council does.”

“Interesting,” Aryanna chimes in. “I didn’t know that.”

“Eric is working for the Council,” Liam explains to her, and against my original intention, I listen to his words closely. “He doesn’t have a pack, nor does he live in one. Well, I guess you could see the Council as a kind of pack, but strictly speaking, it isn’t. Every high-ranking member there has a beta as their bodyguard and an advisor for political affairs.”

Finally, an answer I can understand. Liam has always had a talent for summarizing things well and getting to the core of it. I nod quietly, seeing that a few others who were confused nod too. Without intending to, I suddenly feel a sense of pride forming toward Liam. He’s such a strong and smart leader.

I’m shocked at my own thoughts though. Like…what the heck… what’s got into me today?

“You will be happy to know, Eric,” Liam tells him with a chuckle. “Annalise has organized a party for you tonight.”

Eric beams happily. “Awesome, Liam, thank you. And are my two beautiful flowers going to participate as well?” he teases Ella and Annie.

Ella rolls her eyes. “Well, it’s not like we have any say in it,” she deadpans.

I grin slightly at her words, but Eric doesn’t seem to take it to heart. He just laughs. He’s never one to be upset or easily offended.

“Who knows…” Emilien tells him with a smile. “Maybe you will find your mate here, Prince Eric?”

“Yes, you might get lucky here,” one of the twins says—Elise or Elodie, whoever. I can’t tell them apart anyway.

“Oh, you are hoping to find your mate?” Liam asks.

Eric shrugs. “Isn’t that everyone’s hope?” he asks in return, sounding surprisingly serious all of a sudden.