Page 90 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

Murmurs are going through the crowd, and people are nodding. Thank you, Harmony, thank you, I think.

“She’s right, Alpha!” one of the guys suddenly hollers. “We don’t mind that you’re a hybrid. You’re our Alpha!”

“Yes,” another one cheers. “It’s even better this way! We have a powerful alpha, and it makes us a powerful pack!”

I can’t put into words how relieved and thankful I feel, and how proud I am of this wonderful pack.Told you,Danica says. She sounds happy too.

The Moon Goddess really blessed me,I admit.I have you for my wolf, I have my gifts helping me to be a good alpha. I have friends and family, and now I’ve found out about my roots and can protect the pack even further.

It’s a shame our mate sucks,Danica deadpans.

Well, we can’t have everything.

I’m proud to be your wolf, Celine,Danica says, puffing out her chest.I was always happy to be with you. But the progress and development you’ve been through in the last few years… that’s what’s making me the proudest. When you faced Lauren and punished her for her crimes to serve justice, when you defended Annalise even though she was still thought of as a weak omega, when you grew more and more confident with your own decisions, and had the pack faithfully following your orders… You say the Moon Goddess gifted you more than others, but I think you simply made the best out of the gifts she handed you.

I’m not one to tear up easily, but at Danica’s words, I have to fight hard not to allow them to fall from my eyes.

*MARIUS*

I feel fucking miserable. I’ve hurt Celine so much, yet she saved my life. She didn’t have to. But she did. I stuck to my promise and followed her to Silverlake, where she left the healer girl in my father’s care.

Dad also stuck to his promise and didn’t inquire about what was off between Liam and me. It doesn’t make me feel any better, but at least for now, I can act normal until I figure out what I want and how I need to deal with the many broken bonds in my life.

“She needs to train her gift,” Dad announces to Valerie’s parents as soon as Celine and Harmony have left.

The girl’s father, I think his name is Dan, nods in agreement. “Yes, we can’t allow Val to fall into enemy hands. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it to protect her. I’m so proud of who she has become. Val thinks she’s weak, but she’s had to be so strong to overcome Lauren’s betrayal and then trying to do everything possible to connect with her wolf.”

Her mother nods. “Valerie is all we have left, she’s the center of our world. We will support her through this new challenge. What do you need us to do?”

“Nothing,” Dad smiles, pleased by what he’s heard. “She just has to want to do it for herself, which I know she will. In my whole life, I’ve only ever had two other trainees as dedicated to gaining control over their gifts as Valerie. One is my son Liam, the other my daughter Aurelia.” He pauses. “In addition to training her mental strength and helping her wolf develop, I think she should train her body too. How about adding her to one of Moon Blood’s warrior classes?”

I blink at him. “Training with the warriors?” I don’t know this girl, but I can’t help feeling worried. She’s one of Celine’s proteges… she shouldn’t get hurt.

Celine would be upset if she got hurt.

I shake my head, trying to focus again. This Valerie girl looks like she could break any moment. She’s fragile.

Dad chuckles at our confusion. “I don’t want her to become a warrior, but she could use some confidence there. I know my warriors would be keen to help a sweet girl like her develop some fighting skills, and I bet it’s similar at Moon Blood. She could train with Marcel, Garret, and Elias. She knows them and trusts them.”

Dan nods, the idea growing on him. “I trust your judgment, Alpha Elden. You and Alpha Celine. Whatever the both of you suggest, we will give it a try.”

The plan, for now, seems to be for Val to stay on either Moon Blood’s or Silverlake’s pack grounds together with her parents. She will train her wolf and gift with my dad, but go to warrior training classes in Moon Blood. And she will obviously need to attend school, but not without protection. The other girl, her friend, the black girl, is apparently a hybrid too. She could probably do with some protection too.

After staying the night in Silverlake to keep my promise to Celine, I decide to head home early. The drive back to Red Claw has my thoughts running all over the place. Cyrus is still very quiet, unable, and unwilling to help me sort out my mess. No matter what I’m doing, I can see Celine’s face in front of me. It’s a permanence in my mind… her dark-blue eyes and the way they turn silver when her wolf comes forward. Her regal features, her dignity… It seems like I won’t ever get her out of my mind.

She deserves the best, and I gave her the worst. I ball my hands into fists. She deserves more, much more. The least I could do is stop running away from her and instead be honest. She might not want me after I tell her everything. She will probably deem me pathetic and weak, but still…

You’re weak.

No one will ever want you.

I shake my head like the voice will disappear if I do. Most of the time, I feel disgusted by myself, fuck, I hate myself more than anyone else does, but still… she deserves to hear the truth from me.

The next chance I have, I’ll ask her for a private talk.

Back at home, the first thing I do is check the weekly schedule though. Maybe work will put my mind out of its misery. Scanning for my name on the roster, my eyes suddenly widen in surprise. I don’t take time to consider and head off in search of the person who normally plans the schedule. It’s Dante and Liam.

I hesitate momentarily. I’m not ready to face Liam yet, not before I’ve gathered the courage to ask for his help. So, I decide to search for Dante instead. I find him walking towards one of the training halls.