Page 34 of A Female Alpha for the Lycan Prince
“Exactly,” Elias grumbles before driving off.
He takes Marcel home first, and Harmony accompanies him to make sure he reaches his house. A very sleepy Jazz opens the door, probably because Marcel started singing to the moon. She laughs though, she’s such a nice, sunny kid.
Afterward, Elias drops Harmony and me at the pack house. “We are fine, don’t worry,” I tell him.
He nods with a smile. “I know.”
Harmony links our arms, and I nod toward Elias. “You and Garret go home and get some sleep. It’s Saturday tomorrow, so take it slow.”
He nods thankfully.
Once they’ve driven off, Harmony turns to look at me. “Why don’t we go to my apartment and have some tea,” she asks me softly. “To sober up.” I knew she’d noticed; she always notices. My encounter with Marius has shaken me up in too many ways. I was just lucky that the rest of our group was either too drunk or annoyed at the drunkards to realize.
I nod weakly. I can hardly keep it together anymore, and she probably feels it. The alpha suite is on the highest floor, the beta, and currently empty gamma suites are on the floor below. That’s where we’re heading now. Harmony lives in this suite on her own. Once we’re inside, she switches on the kettle before inspecting my knuckles. They’re already healing, but it’s obvious I punched someone. “What happened?”
“Made contact with a lycan’s face,” I answer evenly.
She stares at me in shock. “What?”
For a split second, I contemplate not telling her, shoving her aside, and telling her to mind her own business, but I can’t. She has been nothing but loyal and supportive of me, and I need to tell someone, or I’ll go crazy. My concentration is already lacking, and I have both a pack to lead and a witch problem to deal with. I need to get this out of my system to be able to focus on the important things again. “It’s Marius.”
Even saying his name hurts.
For a moment, Harmony just looks at me confusedly before she starts connecting the dots. I can see how her expression changes with the sudden realization. “Goddess, Celine,” Harmony whispers. “Marius, is your mate? The one who doesn’t want you?”
I nod.
“Shit. I… I don’t even know what to say. That’s why you kept it a secret. Liam’s brother…”
“I can’t reject him, Harmony,” I can’t stop the tears burning in my eyes. “I wish I could, but imagine the political fiasco.”
“Lord Elden and Lord Liam would understand.”
“Yes, but no one else would. I’m an alpha she-wolf; being a she-wolf weakens my position already. I can’t allow myself any weaknesses or mistakes. It would weaken my pack too. If he rejected me, it would be better, as he would bear the consequences then. But if I reject my fated mate, just imagine what it could mean to the pack and me. The pack comes first, my own feelings second.”
Harmony looks down sadly. “You’re right. It shouldn’t be that way, but you’re definitely right. How is Danica taking it?”
“She has my back,” I smile at the thought of my wolf. “I… I thought she would push me toward him or that she would be weakened by the distance, but she’s not. He hurt her pride too.”
“She’s an alpha wolf,” Harmony points out. “Maybe that’s why?”
“I don’t know. I’m still surprised she isn’t getting weaker by the distance,” I point out.
“That’s interesting indeed. Maybe the mate bond is weak in itself?”
“No,” I shake my head, feeling bitter. “Believe me, it’s not. The heartbreak and the sorrow are real. It’s just that Danica shields me from going crazy.”
“And if you…” Harmony frowns, lost in her thoughts. “Find someone to replace him with?”
“What?”
“I mean, there is a reason Marius doesn’t tell anyone either. He fears Liam’s wrath, and his father’s, and Annie’s. Rightfully so. He can tell himself whatever he wants, but he doesn’t want his family to think badly of him. So, he won’t tell anyone. If you reject him and then take a man of your choice… wouldn’t that be a solution? You could pretend it was the plan all along.”
“I could choose a partner,” I mutter, bewildered. “I haven’t even thought about that option.”
“I know this sounds out of place now, and you probably don’t want to hear about it after being treated like…” she pauses.
“Trash?”
