Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 36 – Just give her time

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 where I knew I was getting a fever. Landry brushed his fingers through my dampening hair as I close my eyes. His touch feels nice; his hands are cool and soothe way the heat that's rising throughout my body.

"I'll get you some water," he says softly.

"Can you just stay with me for a little longer?" I ask, feeling sleep overtake me.

I can feel him frowning at me, but he doesn't argue. He sits by my side until I finally drift off to sleep.

...

Landry's POV

She's burning up and she won't let Landry do anything about it. He wants to get her some water so she can cool down. She has sweat pouring down her flushed features and she's trembling from being cold. Landry doesn't think she knows how badly she looks. But she wants him near her so he can't argue much about that. He sits by her side until she falls asleep and then he goes to grab her a glass of cold water so he can sprinkle a little on her warm complexion. Once the water touches her skin, she seems to cool down and sighs with relief, even in her sleep. There's a small wrinkle between her brows and he knows that her body is in pain. He slowly rubs the creases around her forehead to release some of the pain.

There's a soft knocking sound on her door causing Landry to stand up quickly. Who could be bothering Bernice at this hour? He opens the door, and his anger soon turns to annoyance when he sees his sister standing before him. Her eyes are wide but then her smile turns apologetic once she sees that Bernice is sleeping.

Landry steps into the hallway, shutting the door behind him so they don't interrupt Bernice. "Why are you here at this hour?" Landry asks, narrowing his eyes at his sister.

"I just wanted to see Denise. But I'm glad I caught you too..." she replies with a faint smile.

Landry had to admit that he was glad Bernice and Jessie are friends again. Even if Jessie doesn't know her real name. He knows that Jessie is the first friend Bernice has had and he hates to think that it was almost ruined over a misunderstanding. At least, he thinks it's a misunderstanding. Bernice still denies having any kind of feelings for him, so maybe Jessie was onto something when she says that Bernice will never be open to anything more. "I was wrong," Jessie says, gazing up at her brother with misty eyes and a deepening frown. "And I'm sorry for overstepping in your relationship, little brother."

"What are you speaking about?"

"Denise," she answers as she stares back down at her feet. "I'm speaking about Denise. We spoke the other day and I know now that I was wrong about her. I shouldn't have accused her of not having feelings for you."

"What exactly did she say to you?"

"That she doesn't know how to love..." Jessie answers. "That she wouldn't know what love is even if she felt it. She hasn't had any role models on love or lessons. She doesn't know what that feeling is." "What does that mean?"

"That she could potentially fall in love with you, Landry," she says excitedly. "Hope is not gone. You just have to show her what love is. You have to show her what that feeling is. But she thinks very highly of you, and she might be in love with you already."

"Did she actually say that?"

"Well, not in so many words. But don't lose hope, little brother. It could happen," she says in return. She places a hand on his shoulder and gazes up at him. "She's going to make a wonderful luna queen, Landry. I know that you love her deeply. Just give her some time and be patient. But she will come around."

This gives Landry a bit of hope as well; it isn't that she doesn't love him, it's that she doesn't know how to love him. He can't help the smile that tugs at his lips and he nods to his older sister. She has always been looking out for his best interest, even though she knows she annoys Landry.

"Just give her time," Jessie says again. "She will come around."

Tina's POV

Tina couldn't believe what she had just found out. She holds the reports in her hands that have been hidden from nearly everybody. She has heard about the vampire attack a few years ago. Most vampire attacks are random, but never as big as that one. It was almost like they were out for revenge. Rumors have speculated around the kingdom about their reasoning, but none came close to the actual reasoning.

Tina reads the reports again about how Landry ordered a raid on their territory. A raid that caused the vampire attack and ultimately killed dozens of Landry's men. This is something she knew that the omega knew nothing about. She wonders if this is enough to turn her off from Landry. If she reads this, will she finally leave him? The crown will be Tina's once again.

She smiles at the very thought of getting rid of the omega once and for all.

She returns to Landry's palace, and the guards, once again, allow her to enter without many questions. She was basically family after all. She makes her way up the stairs; she can hear Jessie and Landry speaking in the hallway. She groans because Jessie is there, and she worries that Jessie will ruin everything for her.

"Just give her time, little brother. She will come around," Jessie assures him.

He seems to be pleased with their conversation and thanks her. Tina can hear Jessie approaching as she makes her way toward the stairs. Tina hides in the far corner of the hallway, hiding in the shadow, worried that Jessie will spot her. Tina was half expecting Landry to go to the omegas room, but he doesn't. He goes to his study instead.

This is the perfect opportunity for Tina. She sneaks into the omega's room and sees that she's sleeping soundly in her bed. She takes the manilla folder with all the information about Landry and places it beside her on her pillow. Now, she only had to wait.