Page 76 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince

I tell her about my relationship with Finn, with the twins Dario and Felix, and with my sister Aurelia. My brother Marius, the second oldest after me, is the last one remaining.

“You don’t talk much about him,” she muses.

“It’s not like I don’t have anything to say.” I sigh. “But… my relationship with him is a bit strained.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know what I did. It wasn’t always like this. We used to get along well.” I pause. Talking about Marius hurts weirdly. I genuinely like all my siblings, and I have always tried to be there for them and help them if needed, but Marius and I grew apart at some point.

Annalise doesn’t push the topic further..

“And your father?” she asks curiously. “He is like the super Alpha to me.”

I chuckle. “He will love to hear you call him like that.”

“You said he was pretty strict?”

“My father is a good man,” I smile a bit. “I respect him a lot. But yes, he was very strict while growing up. He had to be. He was never unreasonable though. He is very patient and always knows how far to push me. Our relationship was difficult when I was younger, but now we are pretty tight because of what we went through.”

“Because you are Lycan?” she asks me, looking a bit worried. “Is this the reason he went harder on you than on your siblings? But they are Lycans too…”

“Because I’m his firstborn,” I explain. “We all have certain gifts which we need to learn to control. But the firstborn child to a Lycan Alpha is always particularly strong. I was a danger to those around me and myself. He knew that.”

She nods absent-mindedly.

“Something is on your mind,” I say.

“It’s nothing… just…” she sighs.

“Just what?”

“Ella,” she admits. “I am worried.”

I frown a bit. “Why? What’s wrong?”

Annalise looks at me before taking a deep breath. Then it comes bubbling out of her. It’s the first time she goes into more details, sharing with me how she met the girl in middle school, how Ella was bullied and hurt, and how she used to come to school with bruises covering her until one day it magically stopped. But she is still terrified whenever she has to visit her pack.

“What’s her pack?” I ask.

“Red Claw.”

“Wait!” My head snaps up. “Your friend is from Red Claw!?” The pack where a dead teen boy was found? The same pack Dante claims is raping and forcefully marking their pack members? Ella is a pack member!?

Annalise nods, worried by my strong reaction.

“Tell me more, please!”

“Well, I don’t know much,” she admits. “Ella said that her parents were traitors and attacked the Alpha, Marcus. She said that’s why she is being treated so badly.”

I frown while I listen. I am not sure if Annalise is ready to discuss pack issues already. The plan was to ease her into the rule of young Luna, but I don’t want to hide anything from her either. “It’s the first time I’m hearing about that.”

She looks at me, confused. “What do you mean?”

“It’s the first time I’m hearing that Alpha Marcus was attacked.” I rub my temples thoughtfully.

My mate catches on swiftly. “You think something doesn’t add up?”

I nod. “I’m fairly sure there is something seriously wrong there. Please keep it to yourself. Not even Ella should know about it. I am scared she might be in danger if we involve her, but I'm actually researching what's happening there.”