Page 74 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

“I’m still surprised,” he says, his hand brushing over my back gently. “I can’t believe I didn’t smell it,” he laughs.

“I researched it,” I admit. “Seems like pregnancies with royal Lycans involved work differently. The scent stays covered until I enter a safe stage of the pregnancy.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “So, I assume my hot Lycan is happy too?”

Again, something dark twirls in his eyes, and Fenris growls contently.My beautiful mate,he links me.I couldn’t be happier!

“No one knows yet, right?” Liam says hopefully. “And you didn’t go to any screenings?”

“I would never do that without you,” I smile. “And no one knows except Celine and Ella because they helped me sneak the pregnancy test into Silverlake’s pack house without anyone noticing.”

Liam looks at me now, like he is searching for something in my eyes. “I know this happened very soon, Annalise. We only just recently stopped the birth control when you finished college. I’m more than ready to become a father. I’m beyond overjoyed, but I know you are still young and—”

His concern touches me, and I make sure to put his mind at ease. “I thought I wasn’t ready,” I tell him. “But once I got the news, I was overjoyed. I’m absolutely ready for this!”

All kinds of emotions pass through his eyes, and eventually, he looks at me a bit teary-eyed. “We are going to be parents!” Then, all of a sudden, he beams at me with a broad smile. He is not one to smile a lot, so seeing him like that warms my heart and makes me fall in love with him all over.

*MARIUS*

For now, I retreat to the pack’s park, the huge one. Some of the pack members have started a little farm with a petting zoo for the kids. There are chickens and lambs roaming around and two alpacas. Hunting them is strictly forbidden. I sit down on one of the park benches next to the fence, watching one chicken poking at another.

When I close my eyes, I can see Celine’s eyes in front of me, and the look of pain in them when that she-wolf kissed me. I feel tired all of a sudden. For years I’ve felt angry and frustrated, but now that it’s blowing up in my face, I just feel tired. I wish I could cling to my anger instead, but even my anger seems to dissolve into thin air.

I rub my forehead. Fuck, what am I doing? Wouldn’t it have been better if I told Liam everything? I got so used to hiding it all, to make sure no one would notice what broke me, that the lies have become my second nature.

Celine seems to be lost to me. And I’m not sure anymore if the bond to my family is repairable.

Were I younger, I would probably contemplate just leaving and being super dramatic about everything. I’m still being dramatic, but leaving is not an option anymore. I never felt happy at Silverlake pack, even though I grew up there. But when Liam and Annie took over Red Claw and asked me to come with them, I felt I could start over here. I really like this pack. I don’t often show it, but I feel at home here. I could have started over… if I hadn’t met my mate.

Now, I don’t know how to make things right again. I don’t even know if that’s what I truly want.

“Hey.” Aryanna suddenly appears next to me and presses a can of beer against my cheek. I flinch slightly, but the cool bottle feels good on my burning skin. Liam hits fucking hard. Ari sits down on the fence, her feet dangling slightly. She points at my face. “Is that Liam’s handprint?”

I sigh.

“You made him snap. You must be very proud of yourself,” she deadpans.

“Very funny,” I mutter.

“I’m not joking,” she says evenly. “I wonder if you understand why he’s so pissed or why everyone kinda is?”

I shrug. “I went against the mate bond.”

“No,” she shakes her head. “You really don’t get it. You know we can reject our mates. It’s a way out for us for whatever reasons. But what Liam is so angry about is how you went about it.” She looks at me. “Mari, it’s not right how you’ve treated her. It’s just not right.”

“I know,” I admit quietly, for the very first time since I found out that Celine is my mate.

“Listen, I’m not going to lie. My sweet Luna asked me to come and look for you and see how you are doing,” she says to my surprise. “I wasn’t too happy about that order. However… she suddenly told me she strongly believes you are sabotaging yourself.”

I look at Aryanna in horror. This is exactly why I kept my distance from Annie. I knew she would eventually start asking uncomfortable questions.

“Also, she’s pregnant, and you don’t deny a pregnant woman,” she says in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Wait,” my head snaps up to look at her. “She’s what?”

“That’s what finally gets me a reaction?” Ari grins. “She’s pregnant. I think she wanted to tell Liam during a candlelight dinner today and after a round of steamy fun, however, she told him earlier, it seems.”

I can’t fucking believe it. They are having a baby… I know Liam couldn’t wait to have a child with her, and now they will be parents. “I’ll become an uncle,” I say, still shocked. “I’m a terrible person.”

She blinks. “Wow, that was a quick change of topic.”