Page 7 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

Jazz grins.

“Wait,” I blurt out. “That’s not—”

Marcel and Jazz just laugh slightly. “I was just kidding,” Jazz says, soothing my panic.

Marcel looks at me with a smile. “Don’t allow Jazz to tease you so much,” he says while tousling my hair softly. “And thanks for helping us out. I will pay you, of course.”

“No way!” I object.

“Of course I will,” Marcel says with emphasis.

“No, I won’t accept any money,” I say with insistence and way more confidence than I normally show. People easily overrule me all the time, but with this here… it’s different. “Jazz is my friend. My best friend. Meeting her was payment enough for me. Because I was so sick growing up, I was homeschooled most of the time. Now that I go to school, Jazz is there to keep an eye on me and help me around. It’s give and take if you want the truth.”

Jazz stares at me with the funniest expression ever. “That’s the most you ever said at once,” she declares suddenly, sounding impressed.

My cheeks flush, likethat’sthe most important point out of everything I just said.

“Alright,” Marcel sighs. “But then, I now officially adopt you as my little sister. You will get a birthday present from me, and something for your graduation. And you will accept it. Oh, and in case Jazz invites you to come with us on a trip or for dinner, you will allow me to pay.”

“Only if… only if my parents are allowed to pay for Jazz too when she is with me at my place.”

Jazz rolls her eyes. “You two make sleepovers sound like a fucking custodial negotiation!”

“Hey,” Marcel points an accusing finger at her. “No cursing!”

“Okay, but I still meant what I said.”

Marcel and I exchange a look. I giggle slightly. “She is right in a way.”

Jazz beams. “Of course I am.” She grabs one of her sandwiches. “What happened to your shoulder, by the way? You are avoiding moving it.”

“It met with our Alpha’s fist,” he admits with a lopsided grin.

“Rough training?” Jazz asks worriedly.

He makes a dismissive gesture with his hand. “It’s part of making progress. Or do you think these are magically appearing from nowhere?” He shows off his biceps with a grin before placing a kiss on them. Jazz and I giggle helplessly at his antics.

Marcel is always so cute and funny.

For the first time in my life, I’m actually looking forward to a school year, full of hopeful expectations.

Conflicts

*MARIUS*

Iwakeuptothe sun tickling my nose, frowning slightly when I move. Shit, that mix of tequila and gin was probably too much, but fuck, sometimes I just want the alcohol to make me feel numb. It’s difficult for wolves to get drunk, but we can achieve it if we try hard enough.

I groan, sitting up a bit. Sometimes, I make sure to sleep outside the pack area in my own little apartment. Mostly when I go clubbing or hook up with girls, I don’t want any pack members to know what I’m doing. It’s not their business anyway. But I have the lunch shift for patrol today, and my brother Liam wants me to attend one of his meetings with his old ally Alpha Jace later today. He will have my head if I’m late. It sucks having your brother as your alpha sometimes. It was equally shit to have my dad as my alpha, though.

I should have hooked up with one of the girls from the club yesterday, I hate sleeping alone. At least for a moment these encounters fill the void in me. But now that I was cursed with the mate bond, no other woman seems to appease or appeal to me. No one compares to Celine.

I crawl out of my bed and grab my clothes, dressing silently. I slip into a pair of ripped jeans and throw my flannel shirt on before hurrying out of my apartment.

It’s only when I start the engine of my car that my wolf finally decides to appear.Finally, showing yourself?I grumble.

Spare me your pettiness,he huffs.Why would I care!?

That’s rough, even for Cyrus. I roll my eyes.Aren’t you supposed to have my back, Cyrus?