Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 24 – He’s My Brother

Landry POV

Landry can't keep up with Bernice's mood changes. After their practice fight, where she kept up with him admirably well despite her illness and Omega body, and the amazing sex afterwards, which was surprisingly tender, she'd turned frosty. Every attempt to speak with her has been turned down. She'd spoken to him only in short little snippets and he doesn't know what he did wrong.

"This ends now," he thinks.

He knocks heavily on her door, loud, unmistakable so she can't say she didn't hear it. As expected, she doesn't answer it, so he just opens it and walks in. She'll be angry, but he doesn't care.

"What are you doing here?" Bernice's voice is angry. Her arms are crossed and she is glaring at him. He glares at her back.

"I want to know why you are mad at me. What did I do?" He makes sure he doesn't sound whiny. He is the Alpha King, damnit, he does not show weakness, not even to Bernice. "I demand an explanation!"

"I'm not mad." She's lying, it must be a lie. Nobody acts like this unless they're mad. Bernice's illness may make her exhausted and fall into heat quickly, but it does not make her act like this. So she must be angry over something. Landry is determined to get to the bottom of it.

"I gave you what you wanted. We had sex. And now you treat me like I'm nothing?"

"It's just sex," Bernice spits. She's scowling, and she still looks unfairly attractive. It makes Landry's cock stir despite the unsexy situation. "There's no feelings involved. I thought you understood that."

Oh. Is that what this is about?

"What did Jessie say?" Landry asks knowingly. "She asked me about marriage. Did she ask you the same? I love my sister but she's nosy. You can't pay her any mind."

"You didn't think to warn me?" Bernice shouts, and Landry frowns. "You just let her accost me and accuse me of using you?"

"Using me?" Landry asks, and Bernice nods. "Is that what she said?"

"Among other things," Bernice says. "You didn't think to correct her?"

"I did!" Landry argues. "Mostly..." he thinks to himself. But Bernice doesn't need to know the specifics. After all, Landry knows she does have feelings for him, deep inside. She just needs a little push. Perhaps this conversation with Jessie will be what it takes....

"And yet, she still found me and made those accusations." Bernice begins pacing like a caged tiger. Landry takes a half step back, unsure if she's about to leap into a fight. She seems ready for one, full of nervous energy like she was yesterday. "I don't control my sister."

Bernice scoffs, rolling her eyes, shooting Landry a glare.

"No, you just try and control me."

"I do not!" Landry explodes. "What the hell are you on about, I demand that you give me a straight answer!"

"Oh yeah?" Bernice challenges. "Well I demand that you leave me alone. How about that?"

Landry is frustrated and annoyed but he can tell he won't be getting any answers out of Bernice, not while she's like this. He throws his hands up in frustration and turns on his heel, stalking out of her bedroom and into the hall, where he takes deep breaths to try and regain his composure.

That Omega is infuriating sometimes! How can she get under his skin so effectively!

The door slams behind him and he stalks back down the hall, keeping his breathing steady, slipping his cool, unaffected Alpha King demeanor back on. It wouldn't do for people to see him get so emotional, after all.

By the time he makes it to the Entry Hall, where he intends to leave the Palace to go on a brisk walk around the grounds to further calm down, he thinks he has better control of himself. So, of course, he sees Jessie waiting for him. “Landry!” She's upset. He's had enough of upset women today, but he grits his teeth and keeps himself centered. "I need to talk to you."

"I gathered."

Jessie sniffs back tears and Landry automatically reaches out and pulls her into a hug. He hates to see his sister upset, it's in his nature to try and soothe her worries whenever he can.

"I spoke with Denise yesterday, like you told me to."

Ah. So that's where this is going. Landry sighs and opens his mouth, but Jessie continues talking before he can cut her off to reassure her.

"And she s-said that she d-doesn't love you! A-and she has n-no intention of m-marrying you! She's t-taking advantage of y-you, Landry, and I won't stand for it." "Jessie."

"She said she c-cares about you, but p-people who c-care don't t-treat people like that!" "Jessie."

"You deserve to be taken care of, and if s-she won't d-do it, s-she doesn't deserve you." "Jessie!"

At this Jessie blinks in surprise, looking up at Landry. Her eyes are wet with tears and her mouth is parted in an 'o' of surprise. Landry rests his hands on her shoulders and sighs.

He can't fault her for her concern, of course. She's his sister, of course she's going to worry about him. But there's no way she could know what's truly happening, and no way he could explain to her and reassure her that he has it handled - because he does.

He takes a deep breath and tries his best anyway.

"I appreciate your concern, but there's no reason to be so upset," he tells her gently, and she sniffs. He gives her shoulders a squeeze. "I assure you everything is fine and I am not doing anything I don't want to do, and nothing is happening without my knowledge or consent."

"But she-"

"I know how it seems," Landry says, cutting Jessie off. "But trust me, okay? Everything is fine."

Jessie sniffs again, looking Landry over carefully. Whatever she sees must convince her because she nods, wiping at her eyes.

"Okay," she says, voice small. "If you're sure."

Relieved, Landry smiles at her.

"I'm sure," he says.

Neither of them notice their cousin Tina, listening in around the corner, as she tip-toes away with a smirk on her face.