Bernice’s POVIt was a long shot, but I knew if I didn’t take drastic measures, it could have been me. I knew something was going on when the maid confronted me as I was getting dressed. She told me she knew my secret and that Tina wanted to help me escape. Based on that, I knew Tina was up to something.Then, I saw Tina speaking to a servant near the door of the ballroom. They slipped into the hallway, trying not to be seen and I grew even more suspicious. So, when Tina set up a couple of glasses of wine at a nearby table, I had a feeling she might have slipped something into one of them.I noticed her speaking with Landry at the food table, so while they were distracted, I switched the wine glasses. I was right to do so. She handed me the glasses just as they were making a toast.She must have slipped aphrodisiac into one of the glasses because the next thing we all knew, she was going into severe heat. Going into heat like this would have blown my cover. I would have ripped everyth
Landry’s POVBernice stares at him with a shocked expression for a moment as she quickly sits up. She narrows her eyes at him, focusing her attention on only him. A small act that would have made his heart race in his chest, but in this case, he could tell what she was thinking wasn’t good. It was obvious that she played that trick on Tina because she was jealous of her and wanted Landry to herself without any other, she-wolves getting in the way.She saw Tina talking to him and batting her long lashes, not to mention swaying her hips flirtatiously, and it caused her to drug Tina’s drink so she can make a fool of herself. Of course, he’s not sure how she got aphrodisiac. Maybe she found another aphrodisiac flower and brought it with her just in case.Landry didn’t want Bernice to feel ashamed by that trick; he honestly found it quite funny. Nobody got harmed. Tina’s family was able to bring her home and allow her to rest. Maybe Bernice was upset that Landry caught her and is outing he
Bernice’s POV“Jessie? What are you doing here?” I ask, staring at Jessie who stood before me at my doorway.She stared down at her feet sheepishly for a moment before bringing her gaze back to me. She’s still in her ball gown, so I know she came here directly from the ball.“Can I come in, so we can talk?” Jessie asks again, meeting my eyes.I step aside for her to enter. She hurries into my room, and I shut the door behind us. She sprawls out onto my bed as she used to, curling up and peering up at me with sad eyes. I sit beside her and keep my eyes steadily on hers. I thought back to her accusations against me; she accused me of using her brother for my own selfish gain. As if Landry isn’t aware of our arrangement. I was hurt that Jessie thought so little of me and that Landry didn’t bother to correct her until it was too late.“Oh, Denise,” she cries the fake name I had given her. “I’m so sorry for being so cruel to you. I shouldn’t have said what I said.”No. She shouldn’t have.
Landry’s POV Landry didn’t return to Bernice all night. He stayed away to give her the space she needs. He needed the space too. He can’t help but feel hurt over what she had said to him. That this was nothing more than a sexual arrangement. Of course, he knew that they did one another a favor and it was an agreement they both had, but it still bothered him that she was still claiming that she doesn’t harvest any feelings for him.He went to his office early this morning to get some paperwork done before his day began. As he walks by Bernice’s door, he could hear nothing but silence. He figures she’s sleeping soundly and continues down the narrow halls until he reaches his study door.Hours have gone by since he’s gone to his study. He was deep in his work when he received a mindlink from his beta.“Alpha, we have a problem.” “What is it, beta?” “There’s a rogue attack in the northern region. We are going to need all hands on deck for this one. Gammas are already on their way there
Landry’s POVAt first, he saw how red her face was getting once the fighting ceased, but then he could smell the sweet scent of strawberry milk. Her breathing was growing heavy and through the fabrics of her shirt, her nipples hardened. He knows she’s going into heat. The problem is, they aren’t alone. If she goes into heat as Bernice the female alpha, they will know she’s definitely not an alpha.They will have her figured out that she’s actually an omega. A small whimper escaped from her lips as she pressed her back against the large nearby tree. She rubbed her back against the tree, panting as the sensation stimulates her irritated body. Her eyes pleaded with him to help release some of this tension, but they can’t do anything about it right then and there.He takes a hold of her hand and pulls her through the forest. She follows closely behind him, tightening her fingers around his grip. He knows just how much she loves his touch during this time. Her body trembles slightly from t
Bernice It only takes an hour for us to return to the palace. By the time we got back, I was winded. Fighting took a lot out of me, not to mention the sex afterward. I’m still recovering from the heat I endured after the fight ended. I wasn’t expecting to go into heat like that, but I suppose it means my condition is once again worsening.We reached my bedroom where Landry insisted, I lay down so he can give me the blood treatment. His blood, mixed with the berries he’s picked in his garden, helps to minimize my symptoms. But it’s not going to prevent me from dying. He says it’ll slow down time a bit so he can find a cure. I don’t want to disappoint him, but I know there’s no cure. Or else I would have found it by now and cured myself. If there was a way to make it so I don’t die when I turn 25, then of course I would do whatever it took to make it happen.I felt exhaustion overtaking me and my body grew warm, but not the kind of warm where I’m going into the heat. The kind of warm w
Bernice I woke up with a headache. Landry wasn’t anywhere to be seen, but from his lingering scent, I know he was here recently. But there is also another lingering scent that I couldn’t shake. It smelled familiar but I couldn’t figure out where I remember the scent from. I can tell the fever is gone, thankfully. There is also a manila envelope that’s sitting on the pillow beside me.I frown as I take the folder into my hands. It definitely wasn’t here when I fell asleep. I wonder who dropped this off? From the scent, it wasn’t from Landry. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the contents of this envelope.As I opened it, I saw a few different pieces of paper that appeared to be important documents.It was labeled: The raid on vampires.I gasped as I continued to read the information on the papers. It was about a vampire attack a few years ago. It says that Landry had led a raid in the vampire territory that ultimately caused a vampire retaliation attack. Because of th
Bernice I thought there would be more of an argument, but Landry just got really quiet. He’s processing my request to return home. With the assassin still out there, I know that’s not something he wanted to do. But with the look on my face, he knew how serious I am.“It’s dangerous,” he says, staring around my face. “That assassin could find you…”“I’ll be safer anywhere else other than here,” I say to him, narrowing my eyes. I know I’m acting terribly toward him, but I can’t help it. I’m just so furious and hurt by his actions. I’m hurt that he hid this from his fighters. I’m hurt that he hid this from me.It was a feeling I wasn’t used to; I was used to those around me disappointing me, but I wasn’t used to Landry disappointing me. This feels oddly different. It feels unsettling and I can’t help the pain in my heart.He sighs and backs away from me; the argument ended there. He watches as I finish packing my belongings and I leave the palace.It doesn’t take long before I return to