Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
She nearly jumped out of her skin when he took a seat right in front of her.
“Hello, Alexa,” he said.
“Alpha.” She didn’t know if she should bow her head or simply greet him as a father-in-law. “Have I … is something wrong? Is Landon okay?”
“Why isn’t Landon here?”
“He just needed to run errands. I’ve ordered food for him. Does that break any kind of rule?” she asked, a little more nervous than she would have liked to be.
“No, it’s fine.” He waved his hand in the air before placing his arms flat on the table. “I need to talk to you.”
“What about?” she asked.
“Do you care for Landon?”
“I’m not sure I know what this is about.”
“Damn it, Alexa, I’m being serious, and I don’t have time for games.”
She’d never seen Marcel so serious. “Yes, I care about him. Of course, I do.” There was no point in lying to the alpha. It wouldn’t exactly accomplish anything.
“Then you need to make a decision and fast. I’d hoped you and Landon, with the time and the distance, would have finally sealed your fate, but you’re both so fucking stubborn. Maybe that’s our fault. We pushed you both too far too soon.”
“I don’t know what is going on.”
“Landon is in love with you. He has been in love with you for a very long time. Do you know he keeps a picture of you in his bedside drawer?”
“That’s not … possible.” Was it? She didn’t voice the last part because she had a picture of him back at her parents’ house. When she first got it, she assured herself it was just to remind her that she hated him, but that was the last thing it was for. Whenever she was alone, or feeling particularly sad or lonely, she’d taken out the picture and stared at it. She didn’t know what it was about Landon, but just by looking at his face, she’d been able to calm the darkness from within.
She’d used it a lot more than she would have liked.
“It is possible. Landon is in love with you, and I’ve got a feeling you’re in love with him. I only hope it’s enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“I fear Cheryl is going to use your weakness against you and attempt to stake a claim on Landon. To rid him of your mating and to have him for herself.”
“No, that’s not possible,” she said. “No one has the power to do that.”
“Not only do they have the power to do that, but she can also succeed.” Marcel pressed his finger to the table. “It is rare for it to happen, but if a mated couple hasn’t made their claim for each other, or for whatever reason they’re not bound together, there is a slither of a chance for another woman or man, to come in and take that mate from them.”
“I’ve never heard of that.” She thought about Cheryl. The attack. The difficulty healing in the beginning, but now she was all healed. “Cheryl attacked me on purpose, didn’t she?”
“Yes. Can I ask you, are you healed?”
She licked her dry lips and nodded. “Yes, I’m healed.”
Marcel breathed a sigh of relief.
“Shouldn’t you be happy that Cheryl wants Landon as her mate?” She had no choice but to slide her hand into her lap and clench it into a fist before she punched herself. She hated, no despised, no a damn stronger word for even thinking of Landon being with anyone else. She couldn’t stand it. Didn’t want to even think about it.
Landon belonged to her. They were mates. Not Cheryl.
“Cheryl does not have what it takes to be an alpha’s mate. The way she treated her sister is proof of that, as well as her attack on you. You do not attack pack, not ever. You know the rules.”
“Why does my healing mean anything?” Alexa asked.
“Because it shows the bond happening between the two of you. What about your strength?”
“It is … it’s normal,” she said.
“And I know for a fact Landon has also regained some of his strength.” Marcel smiled. “I’m glad.”
“Marcel, what does this mean?”
“It means you’re both accepting each other, and if given the chance, you may even find yourselves mating together.” Marcel sat back. “But I guess the ultimate decision will come down to you.”
“Why me?” she asked, not liking that idea even a little bit.
“Cheryl will challenge you for the right to have Landon. It will be a battle between the two of you. You can choose to stand and fight for him, or you can walk away, leaving him to be taken by Cheryl.”
“I don’t know how I haven’t heard about this before,” she said.
“Simple, it has rarely happened, if at all,” Marcel said. Suddenly, he got to his feet. “Please, think about it.”
She didn’t have time to ask him where he was going as he’d already left.