Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 23 – Fight Me!

Bernice

POV

I am shocked beyond words at Jessie's question. Dates? Proposing? Landry?

That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard and I wonder how to say so without hurting my friend's feelings.

"What do you mean?" Jessie asks, and I swallow hard. Part of me points out that that's a reasonable question - wasn't I just saying that Landry seemed to be taking me on dates?

The rest of me reminds myself that love isn't real and what Landry and I are doing is simply a transaction, nothing more. I straighten my shoulders and take a deep breath.

"Landry and I...we are sexual partners only. We fulfill each other's needs. There are no feelings, and feelings have no place in a relationship, anyway."

I learned that first hand. I was a bastard child, the child of my father, the Alpha of Sunset Pack, and a lowly Omega with nothing to her name, no status, and no say in anything. My father helped her with her heat and the result was me. When I was born, my mother was tossed aside. I was told over and over what Omegas were good for - bearing children and sex. Sunset Pack needed an Alpha, not an Omega, so I would become an Alpha.

I always knew what was expected of me. To become the Alpha, to shed my Omega self like an old pair of clothes. I would never find a mate, the medication made sure of that, so I never learned how to be in a relationship. Even if I did, this wasn't a relationship, so why did I need to act like it was? Landry doesn't love me, and I don't love him.

And my father never loved my mother, and that was my model for relationships, anyway. Relationships are about a transaction, not about feelings. Why is Jessie so surprised that Landry and I are conducting this like bsuiness? But she is surprised. Shock is written across her face, shock and absolute fury, and she looks like she could slap me. I scoot over in my chair.

"What?" she demands, voice loud in the quiet library. "So - so you're just using my brother?"

"No," I shake my head, though a small voice wonders if that's true. "He's getting something out of it, too, after all."

"My brother loves you!" Jessie hisses. Her eyes are bright with anger, hands curled into fists, and I think I've made a terrible mistake in telling her the true nature of mine and Landry's relationship. Perhaps I should have lied. "He doesn't," I insist. "It's just for mutual benefit. That's all."

"You're a dirty liar," Jessie spits. "I should have known. You're taking advantage of my brother, Omega."

"I'm not," I cry, and Jessie stands.

"You are," she says. "If you're not, prove it."

However I can prove it, I don't know and Jessie doesn't tell me. She storms away, leaving me alone in the library, confused and a little worried.

Bernice POV

Hours later, I am still thinking about Jessie's reaction. Is the situation with Landry and I really so odd? I wonder why she thinks Landry is in love with me - clearly, she is just misinterpreting him caring for me in my illness. That's all.

I've paced the palace halls five times by the time I run into Landry and I'm still buzzing with nervous energy. It's under my skin, crawling like ants, and I need to relieve the tension.

Landry is clearly fresh from a battle. He's shining with sweat. His eyes are alive with a light I recognize, the high of a successful battle, and I know he'll help me get my excess energy out. "Fight me," I order, and he blinks in surprise.

"What?"

"Fight me."

"Why?" he sounds a little confused. "You're weak, you just took the potion -"

"Are you doubting my capabilities?"

"Bernice." He sounds frustrated now. "What's this about?"

"I just need to fight!" I explode, and Landry stills, looking me over. Understanding crosses his face and he sighs.

"This is about the conversation with Jessie, isn't it?" he asks knowingly. I scowl.

"I'm not talking about that."

Landry stares at me for a long moment before sighing heavily.

"Alright," he says, and leads me to a side room. I brace myself and just in time - Landry whirls around and launches himself at me. I dodge just in time and the fight is on.

I throw a punch and he blocks it, throwing one right back. I block that, then kick. It catches Landry in the shin and he growls, grabbing my knee and twisting.

I twist with it, flipping and landing on my feet. Landry tries to grab me and I bite at him. I miss and he grabs for my hair. I duck, throwing a punch that hits his ribs.

He grunts and I use the momentum to land another on his cheek. He staggers back but blocks my third attempt, grabbing my wrist and spinning me to try and pin me in a hold.

We continue like that for what feels like hours, exchanging hits and kicks, trying to one-up each other. Years fighting alongside each other means we're fairly evenly matched, though, so neither of us gain much ground, fighting back quickly, until we're faltering, panting, pulling punches until we stop, staring at each other.

A long moment passes until Landry grabs me by the waist and pulls me into a deep kiss. I kiss back on instinct, threading fingers through his sweaty hair, letting him back me against the stone wall.

He lifts me by my thighs, pinning me against the wall, hiking up my skirt - I can't believe I fought in it, honestly - and pushing my panties to the side. I'm aware that I'm wet, but all I can focus on is a deep want for Landry.

I want him to fuck me, want his big cock plunging into me, hitting that sweet spot and making me see stars. I moan, reaching down to pull his thick cock out of his pants.

Landry knocks my hands away, positioning his cock at my pussy before pushing in. I moan, loud in the otherwise empty room. Landry is gentle today, a contrast to our usual sexual encounters. He thrusts in and out of me almost tenderly, cradling me close instead of pinning me down.

My head swims and I can't think about it. I tilt my head back and close my eyes, losing myself to the sensations, the only thing I'm aware of is the way Landry feels against me.