Page 75 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince

Ari laughs. “He is so head over heels for Annie. He would even invite Dave to stay here. He would do anything to make her happy.”

Ella wiggles her brows. “Is that true? Then tell him to finally mark you!”

I blush a bit. “Before the next full moon, I want him to mark me,” I admit. “But I haven’t told him yet. I want it to be a surprise.”

Ari claps her hands. “I knew it!” She grins.

We keep decorating our apartment, mostly chatting about harmless silly things. Ari and Ella seem to get along immediately. They are quite similar in a way. Both are tough and strong but also just really kind. Ari radiates more happiness and joy though… and she definitely has the crazier look. She has colored her hair pink recently, and it looks great on her.

Ari will pretend to be a student too, so that she can easily follow me around. We will introduce her as my distant cousin from Europe. She can speak a bit of French and German, so that will help keep the pretense up.

When the three of us head out a short time later to buy a few groceries, I feel it again… like a cold breeze hitting me. It makes the hair on my arms stand up. I turn to look around a bit.

“What is it, Annie?” Ari asks with a frown.

“I’m not sure… it’s just a feeling… like someone is following me.”

“Again?” Ella frowns, pulling me a bit closer to her.

Ari nods briefly, her gaze going slightly distant for a moment. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see one of the guys on a bench moving. Oh, he is someone from Liam’s pack here to watch us. For a while, Ari stays silent. “We can’t smell anything out of the ordinary,” she frowns. “Now that we know Lauren’s dimwit followers blocked their scent, we have heightened our senses.”

I nod tentatively. “Maybe I’m just being a bit sensitive.”

“Maybe,” Ella mutters.

Ari furrows her brow. “I will tell Liam about it. Let’s make sure to be careful. Annie, don’t go anywhere without telling me, all right? I don’t want to control you, but I need to ensure you are safe.”

I nod. “Of course. Don’t worry. I won’t do anything reckless.”

The three of us have dinner in our apartment while getting to know each other better. Ari tells me that Liam was her senior at school and that they bonded because she was the only one who wasn’t scared of him.

“Weren’t the other girls jealous when you befriended him?” Ella asks.

“You bet,” Ari grins. “But one fistfight later, and they stayed out of my way for good. Alpha Elden heard about it and called me to his office. I thought he would punish me, but he just commended me for standing up for myself. He let me train with Liam then. That’s how we became close friends.”

It’s fun to hear a few stories about Liam, though. Apparently, he was quite the diligent and serious student, even in high school. Seems like he always made sure to maintain his image.

Later that evening, Ari gives Ella and me some privacy to hang out. Liam is at a business meeting until tomorrow, so it’s just us girls. Ella and I watch a movie together. It’s an action movie with Liam Neeson. I know that I definitely won’t watch that one with Liam. I still remember his reaction to the last movie we watched. Maybe I will show him a romance flick instead, something like Love Actually or Notting Hill.

Ella hasn’t talked much at all. She has been kinda off the entire day. She has tried to hide it and pretend everything is alright, but I know her better. I turn down the volume. “What’s wrong, El?” I ask softly.

“Annie,” Ella says after a while. “I have to go home for the weekend. Order from my Alpha. We have a stupid pack meeting coming up.”

Her voice is hoarse. She doesn’t sound terrified, but instead exhausted and sad. I put an arm around her shoulder, looking at her in worry. “What’s wrong? What’s really going on there?” I nudge her softly. “El, maybe I could help you?”

Ella shakes her head, resting it against my shoulder. “I will never be free,” she says sadly. “There is never going to be peace for me.”

*LIAM*

After two days on a business trip, I’m finally back home again. I’m happy to be reunited with my mate.

Annalise wants us to have all the family meetings in one weekend so that no one feels left out. I have a smart and empathic mate. She was the one to point out that our families might feel hurt if we didn’t meet them around the same time.

In comparison to her, I really lack social skills and how to make people comfortable. Part of it is because I’m an Alpha, but also because I’m… me. Annalise has a different view on everything, she has a certain way of approaching people, and it really helps me with my people skills. Some Alphas think their mates will make them weaker because of the mate bond, but they are just stupid. Our mates don’t make us weaker: they help us grow as a person and enhance our strengths. Once I mark her, it will be even better.

Annalise has told me a lot about her parents and family in advance for me to be prepared, and I can’t wait to finally meet her parents and introduce myself to them. Once I've met them and she's met mine, I will then take her to my pack and finally mark her.

“And your family?” she asks in return, leaning forward a bit and eyeing me curiously.