Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 17 Mark

Bernice POV

"Forget all that." Landry's voice comes out as a growl and he launches himself at me. The paperwork goes flying as he lays me down across his huge desk, hiking my shirt and long skirt up, so my soft panties are exposed, as well as my full breasts.

My nipples are hard with excitement and I gasp as he fondles them, pinching them between his fingers and leaning down to copy the motion with his teeth. I moan and arch my back as he continues the movement, moving to bite across my chest, leaving brilliant bruises as he goes.

"This isn't - oh! - exactly what I had in mind!" I gasp out. It's not - I'm supposed to help with paperwork, especially since he's supposed to meet with the prince shortly. But as he keeps biting me, drawing reluctant moans out of me, I feel his hardness press against my thigh and realize this is what he wants

"I suppose I should return the favor..." I think, and when he kisses me, I kiss back. I close my eyes and allow myself to enjoy it as his hands roam, cupping my breasts, smoothing over my hips, teasing my pussy.

A knock on the door makes me jump but he ignores it, breaking away from the kiss just to suck on my nipples again, making me whimper and squirm. A second knock follows quickly and he growls, annoyed. He sucks dark marks everywhere his mouth can reach with my shirt pushed up. Across my chest, on my stomach, on my breasts, My pale skin is covered with them by the time he leans back, smirking. A third knock, more urgent, comes, accompanied by a voice I know as his Beta's.

"Alpha King! It's time to meet with the bear clan prince!"

Landry rolls his eyes, as if it's a great inconvenience to have peace talks. I stare uncertainly at him as he smirks for another moment before answering his Beta.

"I'm coming," he says, and ducks down to kiss me surprisingly gently, considering what we had been doing.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time," he murmurs to me, standing back so I can sit up. I blink in surprise - what? What does that mean? Wanted to do what?

Surely he doesn't mean - mark me?

"What?" I ask, but he just winks, straightening his shirt and wiping off his mouth before walking towards the door like nothing happened.

Landry POV

His sister's friendship with Bernice has been surprising to Landry. He would have thought their clashing personalities would have ended the friendship long ago, but they are still going strong. Jessie still believes Bernice to be a normal Omega named Denise, Landry's mate and future Luna Queen.

Bernice is happier with Jessie, Landry can tell. He suspects that with an upbringing like the one Bernice had, she didn';t have many opportunities to have close girl friends, so Jessie is special.

Still, on the windy morning that Jessie invited Bernice to go apple picking in the orchard together, Landry isn't pleased.

"You can't go out there," he insists. He's worried about that - the spy is still loose, and might be even more angry now that her lover is dead. She might be out for revenge and Landry couldn't bear it if Bernice was harmed. Bernice, however, isn't having it. She rolls her eyes at Landry's concern.

"It's the orchard on the palace grounds," she says, like Landry is stupid. "There are guards everywhere. I want to go, will you deprive me of a normal day?"

"Be reasonable," Landry says, and Bernice scowls. "You don't know who could be out there, have you forgotten about the assassin-"

"Are you saying I can't take care of myself?" Bernice demands. Her tone is dangerous now. "Do you remember I am a female Alpha who has fought alongside you on the battlefield and killed many vampires, bears, and rogue wolves? Do you think I can't handle myself? That I'm just a weak Omega?"

Landry's eyes widened. Bernice had an aura about her, one he hadn't seen in a while, since she became ill and confessed about the medications and her true nature. It's the aura of the battlefield soldier, serious and stern, commanding and powerful, and Landry is impressed.

Her pretty eyes are firm and angry, her body is tense. Landry can't believe the change. Gone is his strawberry milk scented sweetheart, and here is that comrade he knew from the war. Landry backs down. He knows he won't win a battle of wills against her now.

"No, I am not questioning you."

"Then why don't you want me to go?"

He thinks he should probably be honest with her. She might understand, then, rather than arguing with her and having her disagree with him out of spite and anger. He takes a deep breath. "I couldn't bear it if you were hurt again," he tries to explain. "If another assassin came."

Bernice's eyebrow rises in surprise. She looks him over like she can't believe what she's hearing. After a painfully awkward moment, she speaks.

"You're worried about me?"

Landry opens his mouth but finds himself speechless. His ears burn red and so do his cheeks, but his face is expressionless as he looks at Bernice. He doesn't know what to say. His wolf has a lot to say.

"Don't tell me you're shy now, you big coward! Tell her how you feel! Be a man, come on! Just open your mouth!"

He and Bernice stare at each other. Neither says anything for a long moment, until Landry finally speaks.

"I will go with you."