Page 177 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince
Once he is gone, I finally get rid of my clothes and take a shower to freshen up a bit. Dante went to Silverlake and packed some of our stuff – enough for us to at least have some clean clothes for the next few days. After I’m done, I finally slip into bed next to my mate, pulling him into my arms. Normally it’s always the other way round, but today I want to hold him to make sure the nightmares will not get too real.
I don’t know how long we stay like this. Eventually, I fall asleep too. It’s close to dawn when I wake up to Liam stirring in my arms. I push myself up a bit, looking at him nervously. Is it a new episode? Another flash of pain or a new nightmare?
It isn’t, though. To my joy, he opens his eyes, looking directly at me. He looks a bit confused at first before his eyes focus, and he seems to remember where he is. “Hello, love,” he says, his voice hoarse.
I feel tears welling in my eyes when I hug him. “Welcome back.”
Chapter fifty-three
Chapter 53 Meeting the pack
*LIAM*
AnnaliseandIliewith each other for a bit longer. Her fingers nestle through my hair softly. It’s so comforting that I can only relish the sensation, especially after the last several hours of pain and despair. It felt like every bone of my body was breaking and being put together again, fire running through my veins, burning me up from inside. Fenris couldn’t do anything for me, just told me I was turning into the Alpha of the pack, told me to accept the pain, and not to fight it. Eventually, I listened to him and allowed myself to give up control. The pain subsided, and instead I was haunted by nightmares… shadows chasing me. I didn’t know what was going on at first until I took a closer look and realized that they were my fears. Every single doubt and scary memory came after me until I faced my biggest enemy.
Myself.
I fought myself at first until I accepted that I could never win against my own body, that I needed to accept my weaknesses and fears and allow them to be a part of me, to make me stronger.
That’s when I woke up and was rewarded by the presence of my mate. Her beautiful body next to me, her honey-brown eyes looking at me with so much hope and worry.
I feel everything so much more intensely now. I can feel my pack around me, their voices, emotions, strength and fears.! The wind and the rustling of the leaves seem to be louder in my ears, my senses sharper.
It feels new and unknown, but not bad.
Annalise scoots closer, seeking my warmth. I let my hand wander down her naked back. I love the feel of her skin against my fingers. It’s so smooth and warm, and I love how she isn’t too thin. I know she hates being soft, as she calls it, but her slight curves are beautiful and fit her so much. She is perfect. “Lovely mate,” I mutter into her hair. “I want nothing more than to make love to you now, but I’m afraid my body won’t allow me to.”
She giggles sweetly. “Don’t worry. We will have plenty of time to catch up. I won’t go anywhere.” Has the sound of her voice always been so ethereal, the look in her eyes so awake, so there, so knowing? There seems to be a glow surrounding her.
“Luna,” I mutter softly as realization dawns on me. “My wonderful Luna.”
She kisses my chest, resting her head against it as if to hear my heart beating. “Liam?”
“Hm?”
“How come I didn’t have to go through any change? I mean, after becoming Luna.”
I move my fingers through her hair. “That’s because the Council cherishes the mate bond. It’s sacred to us Lycans.”
“What does it have to do with the Council, though?” she asks, surprised. “Don’t all werewolf Alphas have to go through such a change once they get the title?”
“Yes and no,” I admit. “For regular werewolves, the change is minor. It might affect them a bit, make them feel discomfort and slight pain, but nothing like what I had to go through.” I pause, wondering how I should explain it. “You see, Lycan Alphas not only pledge their loyalty to their pack but also to the Council. It’s like there is a lock to our power, and once we take over the mantle and become Alpha, the lock gets removed and we are blessed with more strength and endurance.”
“But you told me as your mate, I’m supposed to pledge my loyalty to the Council too,” she points out.
I pull her a bit closer to me. “The Council really values the mate bond, so the truth is… and please don’t take this the wrong way… anyone should be allowed to become Luna. As I said, please don’t take my words the wrong way because I know you are kickass and would have been able to go through the change. But the Council wants us to be able to accept every mate at our side, human, witch… or any other species. A human mate and also some others wouldn’t be able to go through such a change at all.”
She nods. “I understand. So, while the Council favors the Lunas, you're implying that they don’t want just anyone to become Alpha?”
I’m pleased that she caught on so fast. “The change I went through, the transition and transformation, it’s a challenge for me, the real challenge after getting the title. It’s also why you didn’t feel much of my pain through the mate bond. It’s a test for any Lycan who is about to become Alpha, no matter the gender or rank. The Council wants to see if one is worthy of receiving such a power.”
“I hope to meet the Council one day,” she muses. “Or at least a representative of it.”
“You will,” I chuckle. “Because I still need to find out why the test didn’t show any of your gifts when you were a pup.”
She looks up at me with a smile. “I’m curious too,” she admits, and after a moment of silence. “And now?” she asks. “What are we going to do now?”
“We need to make sure everyone gets something to eat this morning,” I muse tiredly.
