Page 4 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince
Well, I don’t!
Jazz
*CELINE*
ThefirstthingIdo every Friday evening is go through the schedule for next week. I make the first draft together with Harmony, including border patrols, warrior schedules, and the like. I have no luna yet, or whatever I would call my mate if he were at my side, so all the planning and scheduling is on me. I learned from my father though; he’s managed without a mate for many years.
The second thing Harmony and I do is gather my most trusted wolves around us and go through the details. Currently, my team consists of Garret and Elias, and sometimes my father. I don’t want to bother him too much, but I know he is happy when I involve him a bit. Today, I’ve also added Marcel to the group. He shows a lot of promising skills, and he was not upset to have his ass handed to him by a woman.
We work through the schedule, there are always changes to be made. I need to consider that some people don’t work well together. For training I wouldn’t care, but I only send those on patrols or missions together who actually get along. Then there are babies due, some wolves going to college, new members joining due to being mated to someone here, and others leaving for the same reason. Garret always fills us in on the newest gossip—everyone in this pack likes him, and they tell him everything. And of course, our teens have an extra schedule. By now we really work well together, and thankfully Marcel fits in perfectly.
“I’m feeling so honored,” he says when we are about to wrap things up. “Thank you, Alpha, for including me. I… I certainly didn’t expect it.”
I look at him. “Well, you showed potential, so I decided to give you a chance.”
“And?” he looks at me hopefully.
“You’re doing well so far.”
“Yes, buddy,” Harmony chuckles. “You passed the test. Well, almost.”
“And what’s the second part of the test?” he asks curiously.
“Having a drink with the retired alpha,” my dad chimes in.
“If you are still standing after an hour, you are in,” Harmony teases.
Elias frowns a bit in confusion. “I didn’t have any initiation ritual,” he points out.
Harmony rolls her eyes in mock annoyance. “Try to show five minutes of humor, Elias,” she says, but there is no venom in her voice.
Elias is different, much more serious than the rest of us. He grew up in a very rough and deadly pack and their alpha is said to be cruel and heartless. During a summit, though, some of our high-ranking pack members met theirs… and Elias met Garret.
Marcel chuckles a bit, and I can see the tension leaving his body. He is visibly relaxing. “I would love to take you up on the invitation. I will just link my sister and tell her not to wait for me.”
“How is she settling in?” I want to know.
“Oh, Jazz fits into any situation and adapts fast,” he smiles brightly, his eyes lighting up with love for his little sister. He and his sister only joined Moon Blood a year ago. Jazz is seventeen now, and from the few times I saw her, she seems like a fun and confident girl. “She adapts easily and spreads her wings so fast. She is doing well in school too, except for math. Thanks for setting her up with Valerie for that.”
“Ah, she is studying with Val?” I ask. “It worked out?”
“It’s perfect! Valerie is her age and so shy and soft-spoken that she contrasts Jazz quite a bit. They are getting along well, and Jazz is happy to have a friend in the pack now.”
“It’s good for Val too,” Harmony points out. “She was very ill growing up and never really attended school. It’s hard for her to socialize.” She pauses. “And we all know whose sister she is,” she adds quietly.
I sigh. “Marcel, tell me if she gets bullied at all. She shouldn’t be punished for her sister’s actions.”
He nods. “I will keep an eye on her,” he promises.
Val… I know her well; in a way we grew up together because she is one of the daughters of my dad’s retired beta. His other daughter is my age, she was always with me growing up. Then she turned into a sociopath and tried to kill Annalise out of jealousy. All because Annie was mated to a strong lycan alpha, Liam. Lauren couldn’t handle the jealousy and tried to destroy Annie’s life, and then Annie herself.
It still hurts to think about Lauren’s betrayal.
If it hurts me though, how does Valerie, as her little sister feel?
My dad smiles a bit. “So, I can invite the young people for a drink at my place? Give me the feeling that I actually fit in?”
“Oh, Cedric,” Harmony smiles slightly. She is one of the very few who talks to him informally. He very much likes that. “You will always be one of us.”
