Priscilla walked alongside Liora as they made their way back towards the main hall. The silence stretched between them as tension laid thick in the air. Priscilla felt dejected at the earlier sight of Alex being 'preoccupied' with a woman all over him.
It reminded her how this wasn't truly her home and how she didn't have anyone she could truly count on. She thought after the meeting ended, he would come find her or be happy to talk. She thought wrong. She was nowhere on his list of priorities.
Liora noticed Priscilla walking a couple steps ahead of her and decided to break the silence.
"Hey Priscilla. How are you feeling?"
Prisiclla took a few more steps before stopping and turning around to face Liora.
"Who is that woman? Is she going to be this pack's future Luna?", Priscilla inquired.
The question touched a fragile part of Priscilla. The part that feared abandonment and loneliness. Why was she already so attached to Alex? She hated that she felt this way. She didn't want to depend on anyone. It was safer that way.
Liora paused before deciding how to answer.
"That woman is Princess Marissa Sterling of the Silvertails pack. The Silvertails pack is very wealthy and technologically advanced. She is one of our Luna candidates…" Liora spoke before her words drifted off.
"But, personally, I'm not too fond of her," Liora finished.
Priscilla's frown lifted as her lips parted and her face wore a look of surprise.
"You don't like Princess Marissa?" Priscilla asked, confused.
Liora nervously chuckled and clarified, "It's not that I dislike her but I always envisioned our Luna to be kind and humble. Two things she is obviously not."
Priscilla wondered what being a Luna truly meant and what that role embodied. A Luna seemed perfect and powerful to her. Everything she wasn't.
"Hey. Don't let Marissa's uncouth affect you. Trust that Alpha Alex will pick a worthy Luna!" Liora expressed.
Priscilla was thankful for the encouraging words but they did little to ease her inner turmoil. She figured that maybe some fresh air would do her good. After parting ways with Liora, Priscilla decided to go out to the garden for some peace and quiet.
The garden was quiet and smelled of wildberries and fresh flowers. Priscilla sat on one of the tree logs that had fallen on the ground. The evening sky had a dark orange tint as the sun almost finished setting. She sat alone with her thoughts.
She thought about how far away from the Fairy Palace she was. Instead of sleeping on a stiff futon tonight, she would be sleeping on a proper bed with pillows and sheets. She received a tour like she was royalty and Alex was kind enough to welcome her with open arms.
The more she thought about how blessed she was, the more guilty she felt. What could she honestly complain about? Was she being ungrateful? Priscilla toyed with the hem of her sleeves as she looked at the sky. At the corner of her eyes, she spotted a peppermint plant. The cool scent reminded her of Alex.
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Alex rushed down the stairs in search of Priscilla. He reached the main hall and frantically whipped his head in all directions, trying to find the fairy woman. He saw three omegas and walked up to them.
"You three. Have you seen Liora with a woman down here?"
The three omegas stopped their tasks to address their Alpha. One of them spoke, "Liora? Yes we saw her not too long ago but she went to the medical wing. She was with the woman that came earlier to the pack house."
"Well where did the woman go?" Alex asked, impatiently.
"She went to the g-"
Before the omega could finish, Marissa walked up to them with an annoyed expression.
"Alex! Why did you take off? And why are you so desperately trying to track down an omega?"
Alex's blood boiled at Marissa's lack of respect and condescension. He didn't have time for Marissa's questions. All he could focus on was finding his mate.
"What do you want? I'm taking care of pack business. Busy yourself with the many amenities this pack house offers," Alex spoke coldly.
Marissa's frustration grew as Alex continued to brush her off.
"What do I want? I want you to spend time with your future Luna. Is that too much to ask?" Marissa replied.
Alex slowly turned towards Marissa, his eyes now darkened with rage. Marissa and the three omegas bowed their heads in submission as Alex released his heavy and cold aura.
"My future Luna? I made no such promises! As far as I'm concerned, you are just a 'candidate'."
Those words cut Marissa's ego in two as she winced at Alex's coldness and the weight of his aura.
He continued, "You clearly do not know your place. What makes you think you can demand my time? And that woman is no omega. Tread carefully when you speak of her or I will have to remind you of who's pack house and territory you are in. Am I clear?"
Marissa trembled with fear as Alex's aura suffocated her and locked her body into place. The three omegas who stood near were barely standing and clutching their chests for air.
A series of claps sounded and caught Alex off guard. He pulled back his aura and Marissa and the three omegas gasped for air. Their bodies lightened and the anxiety in their chest slowly subsided. Alpha Klaus and Beta Caleb slowly approached the group. Alpha Klaus ceased clapping and spoke.
"Oh, how our dear sister Marissa has found herself in trouble once again."
Marissa scrunched her face in resentment.
"Alpha Alex. Our apologies for our sister Marissa's rudeness. She is lucky to be here and lucky to even be considered as an eligible candidate for your future Luna. She can be a bit overzealous…" Alpha Klaus continued.
Marissa was furious. Why was she the one being made to feel at fault? Her hands tightened into fists as they laid at her sides.
"I will forgive it this time. Now if you would excuse me…" Alex spoke.
Just before Alex could leave, Klaus quickly spoke.
"Now, now, let us continue our previous discussions over dinner tonight. We can let bygones be bygones over a glass of wine, no?"
Alex furrowed his brows at Klaus. There was nothing wrong with Klaus's suggestion but he didn't have time to wine and dine. He needed to find Priscilla. Beta Caleb stood still, watching the exchange between the two Alphas. He noted that Alpha Alex seemed to be in a hurry. He also remembered hearing Alex defend a random woman's honor in front of Marissa, before he and Klaus interrupted. He wondered what that was all about.
Alex sighed before responding, "Sure, dinner can be scheduled for tonight. First, I must tend to important business, then I will have an omega escort you three to the private dining hall."
Klaus seemed satisfied with Alex's answer and spoke, "Very well, we shall see you at dinner time."
He and Caleb collected their sister and parted ways with the Alpha.
Alex sighed in relief as he turned towards the three omegas he had previously been interrogating.
"Now, tell me where the woman is," Alex spoke.
One of the omegas quickly responded, "She is in the garden, Alpha."
Alex didn't waste a second more and briskly walked towards the grand entrance doors that led outside to the garden.
————————————————————
Priscilla felt at peace with nature. She was a fairy, after all. Plants, trees, and wildlife felt like home to her. She took in the smell of sweet peppermint. She liked it a lot. It was addictive and grew stronger the more she inhaled.
"Hey, you."
Priscilla froze at what sounded like Alex's voice. She quickly turned around to see Alex standing behind her with eyes she couldn't quite read.
"Can I sit with you?" he asked, softly.
Priscilla shrunk with nervousness before responding, "Sure."
Alex took a seat next to Priscilla on the log. He gazed up at the darkened sky that now had tiny stars.
"How was your grand tour? I wish I could have shown you around but I hope Liora answered any questions you had."
Priscilla took a moment before responding, "The tour was nice. The pack house is amazing. Liora was very kind and made me feel at home."
Alex smiled with relief, "Good."
Silence stretched between them as they sat next to each other looking at the flowers and plants that surrounded them. Alex could feel the tension in the air so he decided to address it head on.
"Priscilla, I wanted to talk to you about earlier. When you saw me in the hallway with Princess Marissa."
Priscilla frowned and quickly responded, "That has nothing to do with me."
Alex was taken aback at Priscilla's detachment. What did she mean it had nothing to do with her? It had everything to do with her. Even though she couldn't feel the mate bond, he did. His gaze softened as he watched her frown. He inched slightly closer, careful not to impose. Her scent of warm vanilla filled the air
"Priscilla… you matter to me. That's why I brought you here."
Priscilla blinked, uncertain. "I matter to you..? I don't understand."
Alex let out a small sigh, wishing words could convey more. "Do you remember what I told you in the car on our way here?"
Priscilla looked at him intensely, as if trying to read his face for the answer. She shook her head.
"As long as you are with me, you will be safe and happy. I meant it and I still do. I want you to trust me and trust that I will always protect you," Alex spoke decisively.
Priscilla looked at Alex with wide eyes. She questioned if she heard him correctly. Her eyes lingered on his chiseled face and she could feel her mood lifting at his reassuring words. Guilt gnawed at her.
"I'm sorry," Priscilla murmured.
Alex placed his arm on her back, "Sorry? What are you apologizing for? It is me who owes you an apology."
Priscilla was lost. In what world did he owe her an apology? She was the one being ungrateful, after all.
Alex looked at her with empathetic eyes, "Princess Marissa is one of the many candidates for my future Luna that is being forced onto me. Nothing more and nothing less."
Priscilla's shoulders fell as she felt guilty for even needing reassurance in the first place.
Alex swiftly pulled Priscilla into a warm embrace. Her sweet scent of warm vanilla filled his nostrils.
"I never want you to leave," Alex whispered in her hair.
Priscilla's heart pounded violently as heat rose to her cheeks. She stiffened in Alex's arms but his scent of peppermint made her loosen up.
He pulled back ever so slightly to look directly in her eyes, "Would you like to join me for dinner?"
Priscilla hesitated, looking down at the grass.
"I don't know if I should…"
Alex's hand brushed lightly over hers, before taking it and guiding her off the log.
"You're coming with me. You're safe and I won't let anyone make you feel otherwise."
Priscilla's hand lingered in his for a moment longer than necessary, letting him guide her. The garden's scents and the soft evening light faded behind them as Alex led her back through the grand doors of the pack house. She didn't know what awaited inside, but she felt safe having Alex by her side.