Page 137 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince
“But I want to go wedding dress shopping with you!” Luna Flora pouts. “That’s not fair! You’re my only daughter!”
“Okay, Mom, calm down,” Finn grunts and pats her head teasingly. She’s so tiny. It’s funny how all her children easily tower over her.
We all laugh at the two of them. Terry, however, addresses Marilou. “You haven’t found your mate yet, have you?” he asks, sounding almost nervous.
She shakes her head. “Not old enough yet. I still have a year.”
Terry looks relieved. “Me too,” he says.
They smile at each other carefully and a bit bashfully. They are so cute together! I hope that maybe the Moon Goddess has destined them for each other, but unfortunately, you can never know what she has planned.
Showdown
*VALERIE*
Twomoviesandthreecocktails later, I decide to head out for a break from the movie. Aurelia has just put on some epic historical movie, and my head was spinning from all the drama, murder, and betrayal in it.
That’s why I prefer simple: Give me a dangerous axe murderer, some screaming cheerleaders, or alternatively, a gross monster tearing through a town.
Nox has joined me in the corridor outside Aurelia’s apartment door. Since leaving school, her parents have placed her in this very spacious apartment, which, along with her impressive warrior skills, has led to the rumor that she is in line for a high position in the pack. I know her brother Finn is older than her, but it seems like they are both being considered for the alpha position. They are officially siblings and rivals at the same time, yet you’d never know it since they get along together so well.
If this were Lauren and me, I bet Lauren would have done everything in her power to sabotage me all the way to the top.
“Need a break too?” I ask Nox to break the silence.
“Yeah, that, and I’m hungry. I guess I’ll fetch something to eat for everyone.”
“Great,” I beam. “Need help?”
“Yes, please. The kitchen is closed now, but we can grab something from the smaller kitchen next to the private dining halls. I know Aurelia and her siblings keep some emergency snacks there.”
We walk in silence for a moment before Nox asks, “You know that something about me is different, right?”
I shrug. “Aurelia never gave details. She only said you joined the pack in your early teens.”
He nods thoughtfully. “I know you think that because of your sister, your bloodline is tainted and that you don’t deserve the good things happening to you.”
“Didn’t you get hurt too?” I ask. “When Lauren helped Annie get kidnapped? I heard you almost got killed.”
He sighs. “So, you know what happened?”
“Aurelia was hurt too,” I mutter.
“But Lauren’s actions have nothing to do with you. You are your own person,” he points out.
I nod tentatively. “I’m starting to realize that now. It’s still hard sometimes, but… it’s… I haven’t told Eric yet. I’m a bit scared of his reaction.”
“Prince Eric won’t judge you for what your sister did.” He pauses. “I don’t talk much about it, but my past still haunts me too, so I know how you feel. At least you never did anything wrong.”
“And you did?” I ask curiously.
“I grew up with a cruel father, who happened to be my alpha too,” Nox explains. “He’d hit me and torture me, calling it training. When I was ten, he sent me on a mission. I was supposed to assassinate a strong alpha from another pack. I managed to get onto the pack grounds and sneak up on him, but he noticed me. I mean, of course, he did.”
My mouth falls open. “Wait… what…?”
“That alpha could have killed me, probably should have killed me, but he didn’t. He saw the kid in me that had been brutalized and tortured his whole life.” He smiles. “I owe Alpha Elden my life. I don’t know what he saw in me at that moment, but I’m glad he did see something because he spared my life.”
I’m honestly surprised. Nox is well-respected in the pack; he’s Aurelia’s beta and one of her most entrusted friends. Alpha Elden seems to trust him too. He almost died for Luna Annalise and seems loyal to the alpha family. No one seems to question him anymore, and I’m sure it had to be hard for him in the beginning.
