Page 63 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince

“I felt like I should deal with it on my own,” I admit. “But actually, I was just scared and ran from the truth.”

“Annalise, I don’t mean to control you, but you can’t hide these things from me. We need to be able to trust each other, especially in our position. Otherwise, our enemies will have an easy job.”

My breath hitches a bit. I didn’t even see it from that perspective. “I’m sorry. You are absolutely right, I was too caught up in everything to think properly, but I should have told you immediately.”

“Annalise, you promised-”

“Alpha Liam, do you have a moment?” Dante calls out.

*LIAM*

Dante looks at the ground thoughtfully. “Do we really believe there wasn’t more behind this?”

“They definitely had someone help them,” I agree. “Except for one, all of them are teens. They don’t know yet how to diffuse their scent. I will tell Aryanna to inform Celine about this in case the kids don’t crack under Alpha Cedric.”

“They will,” Dante states. “They didn’t know what they got themselves into.” He pauses and tilts his head. “They probably will know tomorrow, though,” he adds grimly.

“I will have a word with Alpha Cedric later.” I frown. I need to know what he’s planning on doing now. It takes every ounce of self-control for me not to lay out the law myself. However, I strongly believe in our laws, and I don’t want to overstep my boundaries. I feel rage burning inside me again. This time it’s not the hot fury I felt when I arrived here. It’s the cold icy feeling of pure wrath. I want to know who was truly behind it. No one hurts my Annalise!

“Your poor mate,” Dante says quietly. “She has to be terrified.”

“Yes,” I mutter, feeling worried for her again.

I walk back to my mate and pull her into my arms. “I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “Allow me to apologize. I didn’t mean to make it sound like it was your fault that you were harassed.”

She shakes her head. She seems to be tense but still leans into my arms to my relief. “No, you were right to be mad.”

“I am not mad,” I mutter.

“Yes, you are, and it’s understandable. I promised you I would tell you if something was off. You asked me, and I lied to you. I thought I should be able to handle this on my own, that I wouldn’t be worthy as your mate if I couldn’t.”

Her last words make me unusually sad. She thought she had to deal with it on her own. She was probably scared I would deem her as weak too. “All right, the truth?”

She nods.

“Yes, I’m not happy that you didn’t tell me,” I say warily, carefully choosing my words. But her insecurities with our relationship were my fault. Dante is right. She was not born into our world; she didn’t grow up the way we did. She had no one to prepare her for being with a man like me. “But I feel angry at myself for not catching on that something was off. It’s my responsibility, and I failed you.”

“No, don’t take away my part in this,” she huffs, drawing back from me to look at me. Her eyes are swimming in tears, but she also looks determined. “They didn’t only send me messages… they took pictures, and I knew it. I ran to my parents to hide there for a few days. I just ran away. I was too embarrassed and ashamed to tell you about it.”

Despite the situation, I can feel slight amusement settle in me. “Can we agree on a middle ground?” I reach out my hand, my fingers tracing her cheek softly. “That we are both to blame?”

“If you insist,” she grumbles. “But I don’t want you to give me a free pass for whatever I do. I don’t care if your Beta tells you off for it. You'll be my Alpha too, and if you are rightfully mad at me, I totally understand that. Just tell me honestly when you think I’m doing something that is not healthy for me or us. Please.”

She looks up at me through her beautiful brown eyes, and I find myself promising her whatever she wants.

Now kiss her already,Fenris growls impatiently.

My fingers trail down her cheek until they reach her mouth. I cup her chin while my thumb brushes over her lips before pushing my thumb past them, opening her mouth slightly. For a moment, my heart skips a beat. I could swear it stops beating, the blood in my veins rushing. Then I bend forward, claiming her lips.

We spend a few minutes in silence. “Liam,” she whispers.

“Yes?”

“They were from my pack,” I can hear the feeling of betrayal in her voice, the hurt. “My own pack.”

“It’s okay, love, it’s okay, no one will hurt you anymore. They probably really thought it was just a prank,” I mutter because I don’t know what else to tell her.

“Take me home?” she finally asks.