Page 99 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince

“But—”

I figure I’m not getting out of this alive. I consider how to tell her, but then I just say it. “One of us needs to tell the others what happened to Val.”

Her lips quiver, and I can see tears of fear in her eyes. In resignation, she closes them again, pretending to be unconscious.

I jump to my feet, lunging toward two of the rogues at once. I might not look like it, but as an alpha’s son, I’ve always trained hard. Wolfsbane or not, I can remain upright a bit longer. I scream profanities at them, making sure to be as loud as possible, hoping someone might hear me. If it doesn’t save me, it might save Jazz.

I slam one of the rogues to the ground, choking him as I straddle his chest. I can feel his body convulsing beneath me however, I struggle to hold on when I feel something sharp penetrate my side. I blink in confusion, my gaze shifting to my side, noticing a knife stuck in my ribcage.

My grip on the guy’s throat loosens.

“Enough,” the one who stabbed me pants heavily.

Hah, at least I’ve worn them out.

I grab at my side, trying to pull the knife out. It’s silver, shit… and it’s spreading through my body extra fast. With wolfsbane dulling down all my wolf senses, it’s like I’m a normal human. I feel my eyelids growing heavy and darkness engulfing me.

I hear more noises, loud ones. I wonder what’s going on, but I can’t bring myself to open my eyes. I can sense the rogues that were circling me are gone. Did they just leave? I wonder why?

At least they’ve forgotten about Jazz.

They forgot.

Thankfully.

“Marius,” I hear a voice beside me.

I force my eyes open and see it’s Jazz, looking at me in horror. “I’ll get help! Hang in there! Marius, please.” She’s crying.

Ari has gotten herself a good mate, I think. She seems like such a nice girl, and beautiful and brave. Ari deserves to have such a sweet mate.

I close my eyes, only remotely noticing the extra voices around me. But I’m too tired to look, so tired.

I have never wondered what dying might feel like. I did sometimes play with the thought of not being in this world anymore, and I admit that sometimes I’ve wished I could just leave, but I never actually wanted to go. I didn’t want to die. I just wanted others to notice me.

I thought it would feel peaceful, but in truth, I just feel lonely. Fear and regret start to fill me.

I see the faces of all my loved ones. My family and my siblings, and all those people who’ve remained at my side no matter how awful I was to them. I see Liam trying to talk to me over and over again, more patient than any other alpha would be. And Annie, with her ever-so-kind eyes looking at me with concern. And Eric, who just laughs when I say something stupid and smacks my shoulder good-naturedly. And Aryanna and Dante, and my other fellow pack members.

And lastly, there is Celine’s picture in front of me. She’s dressed in a long, flowy summer dress, walking along the beach. She turns to look at me, wind in her long blond hair. She brushes some of it from her face, and her expression lights up with a smile as she sees me.

I would have liked to see her smile at me like that. Just once.

There is a boy at her side, maybe five years old. He holds her hand, and he… he looks just like me. Is this the future I could have had?

I should have talked to her, I think. I should have been honest with her.

When I saw her for the first time and felt the bond, I was happy. For a split second, I was able to feel happiness and thankfulness for the Goddess to have blessed me with a mate, despite how ugly, broken, and sullied I am.

Then I realized what it would mean to have a mate, the things she would notice and see, even if I tried to keep them a secret.

I don’t hate you, Celine. I never did. I love you. But I was too scared to love anyone.

The Pendant

*CELINE*

Iamoutsideonthe terrace, lounging on some pillows. I’ve made a habit of training my witch gifts outside, mainly because I feel so much more in touch with my surroundings out here. Jade and Grandpa are here, showing me some ways to meditate and collect my thoughts.