Page 129 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince

Chapter 38 Tension between brothers

*LIAM*

IknowIshouldworry about Dante and Ella now… I should worry about the age gap, that Ella was abused and Dante went through his own trauma. But I can’t help it…Dante was my first friend ever, and for a long time, my only friend. He is the older brother I never had. He was the one I could talk to when I thought no one else cared. He was there for me when I clashed with my father…And when the training got to be too much, he always raised my spirits again when I felt hopeless about ever controlling the strong beast inside me. He is the only one who ever saw me cry. And he is definitely the only one who dares to approach me when I'm angry. Goddess, he could have been mated to an old grandpa who shifts into a chihuahua, and I would support him. Ella is a tough and strong woman. I know how she treats Annalise, and I’ve seen how strong she is. Sure, she might be some work at first and she won’t open up easily; but they will be so good for each other in the long run. I will do all I can to help his relationship with Ella work.

The mate bond will work its own magic. I know how strong it is. However, looking back at mine and Annalise’s beginning, I’m glad we didn’t mark right away. I fell in love with her before I marked and mated her. It made everything much more intense afterwards.

Right now though, it seems I have to look after my own stubborn mate better. I take her hand once we are alone. “Let’s grab something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” she objects.

“I noticed. I heard you didn’t eat much during your stay at the hospital,” I try to go for my stern voice.

She blushes slightly. “They served me oatmeal.”

“I thought they served you porridge?”

“Just a fancy new name for oatmeal.”

I blink at her in confusion. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t want to make a fuss,” she flushes. “Seriously, I eat almost everything. Oatmeal is the only thing I don't like.... oh, and olives.”

I wonder if I should feel amused or irritated now. I go for something in between and raise my brows at her. "Why didn't you tell me? Or ask the nurses to bring you something else?"

She sighs. "I didn't want to appear too spoiled, and I didn't want to come off like a VIP patient." She pauses. "Okay, saying it out aloud now makes my reasoning sound more pathetic."

"I hate to break your bubble, but you are a VIP patient, and eating properly is important." I smile at her. “Maybe,” I pull her closer, whispering into her ear. “I can motivate you with freshly prepared wraps. Gloria and her kitchen team wanted to try something new. We have tacos and wraps and can fill them with all kinds of stuff.”

She laughs slightly, blinking up at me through her innocent eyes. She is good at that, looking all innocent and sweet and then say something mischievous. “Somehow, that just sounded really sexy,” she whispers back. “What else do you want to fill today?”

Wow, I can’t believe she was a virgin before I met her. It never occurred to me that things like the internet, books, magazines, friends, lust and confidence could influence her. Or that she would have some experience with foreplay or kissing.

Goddess. I was the naïve one here.

“Hm, Liam?” she blinks up at me.

Mate wants us!Fenris seems all too eager to agree with whatever Annalise wants. He tends to throw all reasoning out of the window when it’s about getting intimate with her.

I look at my sweet mate as the whole package: her strong warm eyes, the way she always looks at me with so much love and trust, her intuition, her intelligence, her beautifully shaped body, her curves, her radiating smile, her scent...so intoxicating and oh that perky butt of hers.

Goddess, I want her too. Who am I kidding?

Right, always blame it on me,Fenris mutters.

I fight my want back as well as I can. “Food first,” I breathe out before smirking at her. “Everything else later.”

“Oh,” she wiggles her eyebrows. “Is that a promise?”

“Oh, baby,” I smirk. “You have no idea.” I battle with Fenris a while longer before he finally relents to reason and agrees with me that – yes –mate needs food.

We join the pack for lunch like I normally do. Most of the time, my family eats with the other pack members to show them we are interested in pack life and in being part of the pack. I decide to seat us separately though at the table where only a selected group of wolves can join us, such as our Betas or our Gamma. When Annalise and I come to the dining hall, I can see Marius and Aryanna there. Ari probably waited for us to join her. Dante and Ari make sure to take turns, so I’m never on my own. They take their responsibility as my Betas very seriously. I wouldn’t have chosen them otherwise.

Marius gets up demonstratively to leave the table when Finn comes to join us too. He hasn’t even eaten much. For a split second, Finn looks hurt, and I hate it. I hate that his own brother put that look in his eyes. Sure, Finn is an adult now and can fight his own battles, but as far as I know, he's never done anything to upset Marius. He is more genuine and kinder than most of us. When Marius notices me at the door, he looks up shortly, glancing over towards Annalise. He doesn’t even acknowledge us. Instead, he turns on his heels and disappears through the back door leading to the kitchen.

What the fuck is his problem!?

Aryanna wisely chooses this moment to wave at us, drawing everyone’s attention to us. "Hello, Alpha and young Luna!"