Page 66 of An Omega for the Lycan Prince
We forgot about Lauren and her clique eventually and kept chatting between ourselves. Finn has ordered way too much cake for everyone, and we keep munching our way through it. There's no one else in the cafe aside from us and Lauren's group… not unusual considering we just had exams and most people go home during break.
The door swings open again. This time, though, it’s someone I’m happy to see. “Celine,” I point out.
“Oh,” Dave waves at her. “I didn’t know she was coming.”
Finn leans forward a bit. “Here comes trouble,” he analyzes. He is unusually serious today. “She is not here to have fun. She is here for work.” He has no time to elaborate though, because Celine approaches us fast. “Annie, Ella, would you come with me, please?” she asks. “Finn and Anders, would you please stay with Dave? I’m not comfortable leaving him alone.”
Finn nods, slightly confused but also curious, as Ella and I stand up. We exchange a curious glance but follow her nevertheless. She leads us right to Lauren’s table.
Celine’s normally soft smile is gone, and so is her calm demeanor. Instead, she looks angry and disappointed. She shoots Lauren an icy glare. “How could you, Lauren,” she states without greeting her. “Did you really believe you would get away with this? That no one would find out what you’ve been up to?” She throws a sheet of paper on the table. I can make out the number of my phone there and a few IP addresses. It takes a while for it to sink in. Celine tracked my number and… “Did you really believe I would approve of this?! Do you even fathom what you did? Not only did you threaten one of your pack members, but you also brought shame on our whole pack, on me, and on our Alpha.”
“Wait a moment,” Ella huffs, her eyes glinting in sudden anger. “It was Lauren?!” She takes my hand and pulls me slightly behind her. “I swear I would rip your uglyhead off your shoulders if it weren’t for your Alpha-to-be right next to me.”
Celine’s eyes are dark, and I can feel her wolf raging inside. Lauren looks scared for a moment. Her clique stares at Celine in disbelief. I shake my head. How could they all forget that she was Alpha Cedric’s daughter? An Alpha. Celine is a rather composed person, but that doesn’t mean she is weak. “But I’m your Beta,” Lauren blabs. It’s obvious she is trying to save her own dignity now. “It’s my duty to make sure you are the highest-ranking she-wolf. An Omega cannot surpass you in terms of finding her mate. I thought that you- “
“Bullshit,” Celine interrupts her harshly. “You didn’t have my interest in mind at all. You never have. And why are you announcing yourself as my Beta? As far as I’m concerned, I haven’t chosen one yet.”
“But-” Lauren’s eyes grow wide in disbelief. “It can only be me! Who else could you ask? You don't even have friends other than me! You are just a pathetic weak she-wolf, an insult to an Alpha. You need me! You don’t have anyone else.”
“She does have someone else,” I interrupt her insults. The heck I will allow this lowlife to insult my Alpha’s daughter, who happens to be not only my friend but is also showing her leadership qualities more and more. “I’m her friend. Probably a better one than you, but then, the bar is not really high.”
“Same goes for me,” Ella points out.
Celine looks at us, and I can see her eyes light up with joy for a moment. She probably didn't expect us, or anyone else, to ever stand up for her like this. “I would have never made you my Beta, Lauren,” she says, her tone firm and distant. She's not stooping to Lauren's level. “Even if you hadn’t pulled this stunt here. I need someone at my side who is trustworthy, who sees the bigger picture, who will protect my pack and me and our interests. You can’t be that person. The same goes for the Gamma position. I was actually planning to ask Annalise to become my Gamma.”
I whip my head to the side to look at her in her shock. “What!?” Lauren and I exclaim in unison.
“She is only Omega,” Lauren hisses.
I stare at her in disbelief. “I am only Omega,” I repeat.
“Doesn’t matter,” Celine shrugs. “It’s unconventional but not impossible. The Beta and Gamma positions are a rank and don't need to be a status inherited by blood. I talked to my father about it, and he already approved. Omega or not, she would have been perfect as my counselor. I was planning on choosing a second person with more fighting experience as my Beta.” She smiles slightly. “But unfortunately, you just had to find a mate in another pack. My loss.”
I look at Celine for a long while. “I feel honored,” I finally say. “I know I’m going to be tied to the Silverlake pack soon, but I will always be there for you if you need me.”
“Who are you going to choose now?” Ella asks. “As your Gamma and Beta?”
“I don’t know about the Gamma position yet. I need to think about it a bit longer. As for my Beta, I was thinking about Harmony,” Celine states.
I feel my eyes light up instantly. My sister! “She is going to be perfect,” I say with conviction.
Celine nods before her eyes darken again, and she turns back to face Lauren. “Ella, please take Annie and the others out of here. We can meet later, and I will fill you in on everything.”
“And leave you without backup?” Ella asks in disbelief.
“I am not without backup.” Celine keeps her gaze on Lauren the whole time. “I have my pack warriors with me.”
I decide to put my faith in Celine and allow her to deal with everything. It’s not my place to intervene. Although Lauren is a horrible person who wants to hurt me, Celine is still my Alpha’s daughter. She has also proven herself to be a good friend, so I trust her.
We decide to wait in Finn’s room at the dorm for the time being. Within our group, he has the biggest room. Obviously, his family can afford the luxury.
“Say what you want, guys,” Dave beams. “But that was hot!”
“You mean Celine?” Ella asks. When Dave nods eagerly, she chuckles. “I agree.”
“She really proved herself,” Finn admits. “I know how it is to be an Alpha’s child, but considering she is his only child and a she-wolf…”
“Growing up had to be difficult for her,” I say quietly. Sure, Celine had money and power, but everyone around Alpha Cedric expected him to have a male heir. To them, Celine matters less than a male Alpha would.
