Page 149 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince
“How?” I ask curiously.
Eric points at the hotel behind us. “What do you think?”
It’s a classy hotel, one I’ve never stepped foot into before. I can’t deny that I’m curious. “Let’s do it,” I agree.
The receptionist looks surprised to see us dripping from head to toe, but Eric’s charm works miracles, along with his wallet, which obviously helps. Ten minutes later, we have the key to a room… or so I thought. I was so naïve that I didn’t even notice what Eric booked us into. “Eric,” I mutter. “This is too big!”
“It’s the executive suite,” he explains. “Alternatively, we could have had the presidential suite or the terrace suite. It’s raining, so no need for a terrace. And I thought the presidential suite might have been over the top for our purposes.”
“Oh, and this isn’t?”
He chuckles. “How about you stop complaining and enjoy the moment?” A soft smile curls his lips. “This trip hasn’t cost me anything up until now because I’ve stayed with Liam and Annie at Red Claw. Allow me to pamper you. After being kidnapped, you deserve it.”
I allow his words to sink in, before taking a deep, calming breath. “Okay,” I say, blushing slightly and feeling like a kid in a candy store. I spend the next hour inspecting everything in the suite while Eric dries himself off in the bathroom. Once I’ve finished awwing and oohing at everything, I end my little discovery adventure with a hot bubble bath. There’s even a fluffy bathrobe to wrap myself in afterward. I feel so good I can’t even put into words how good I feel. After all the stress and fear I’ve suffered over the last few months, I feel like I can finally let everything go.
Weirdly, everything that’s happened, as scarring as it has been, has also made me grow and shaped me into a stronger and more confident person.
Finally, I feel relaxed enough to join Eric for our belated afternoon picnic. Eric seems happy to see my genuine excitement over the hotel suite. So much so, he doesn’t even tease me about it, which is really sweet. We chat about random things as we eat. I try some of the red wine Eric has ordered, which I can’t stand, much to his amusement.
Eventually though, we touch on more serious topics. “Tell me about Paris,” I say after a while. “That’s where you live, right?”
He nods. “Yes. The Council is based in Paris. There is no way I could explain Paris though… I would rather show it to you.”
I smile. “Paris, huh…”
“I’m aware of how far away it is from your home. And you already know, I travel a lot,” Eric admits. “And I realize how much I’m asking of you, but I would really love for you to come to Paris with me… And I would happily take you with me on all my travels for the Council, if you’re up for it.”
It’d be sad leaving my pack behind, my parents in particular, but since my best friend Jazz is moving away to Red Claw anyway, and I’ve never been anywhere, I think I’d like to travel. “I,” I lower my gaze. “I was so ill growing up that we never even traveled within this country, but I always dreamed of it… and I really want to see the world.” I blush. “That sounds so selfish though, doesn’t it?” Eric takes my hand. “Do you know why I think the Moon Goddess fated you to me?”
I shake my head.
“Because I don’t belong to any pack. I belong to the Council. Being with me means that you won’t belong to a pack either. If you stayed in a pack, you would continue to be at risk from those who would want to use you for your gift.”
“What do you mean?” I ask curiously.
“Henrick Sullivan is just the tip of the iceberg,” he explains. “The problem is in the core of any special gift. Pack members will rely on you too much, and you will probably see it as your duty to heal and help them, which might drain you. Enemies will want you. Your pack is a good one, with decent people, but you never know how fast things change.”
“I will put a target on their pack,” I muse. “When others know I have a rare gift, they might come for me.”
He takes my hand in his. “I’ll make sure nothing like this happens.”
“You said there are more wolves with special gifts at the Council?”
He smiles. “You certainly won’t be alone.”
My heart makes a careful leap. I’m going to see the word… I thought I would never leave my hometown. I can’t describe this incredible feeling that’s pulling me to visit all the places in the world I’ve only ever seen pictures of.
“Will you come with me, Valerie?” he asks nervously.
“Yes,” I say without further ado. “I would love to.”
He goes completely still. “Really?”
“Yes. This will always be my home—”
“And we can visit as much as you want,” he points out.
“But… it’s like the world is calling to me, as weird as that sounds.” I pause. “There is just one thing…”
