Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 41 – No Pressure

Landry's POV "Tina?!"

Landry sat up in bed quickly at Bernice's words. He nearly laughed at the very thought. It's true that Tina wanted the crown and wanted to be his luna queen, but that is something he knew for certain he didn't want. He could hardly stand to be around Tina for five minutes. Bernice must know that there's nothing going on between him and Tina and there never will be.

"I'm sorry if I'm being forward," she says, also sitting up. She peered up at him through her long lashes and he could see a little sadness lingering in her beautiful gaze. "I see how she looks at you and she seems to care for you a lot. Enough to where she tries to get me out of the picture. I know it must have been her that left that envelope for me. It was her that tried to drug me. I can see her antics."

"I will speak with her right away," Landry says quickly. He had no idea that it was Tina that left the envelope for Bernice containing information about the vampire raid. How would she get something like that? She must have been snooping. Bernice is clever for knowing that it was her right away.

"I recognized her scent," Bernice continued, staring down at her lap with a small frown. "At first, I didn't know where I recognized it. But then I realized it was Tina's scent."

"I must have been so preoccupied with getting you to listen to me, that I didn't smell it."

"And that's okay. That was my fault. I cause you such stress. That's not something a luna queen would ever do."

"You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. I know one thing for sure, even if you don't return my feelings, the luna queen will never be Tina. It was never going to be her despite what she thought. So, there's no competition and there's no pressure."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips; she tried to hide it, but Landry got a glimpse of it and it made his heart rapidly beat in his chest.

"Thank you for telling me this." She was quiet for another moment. "I don't know how I feel for you if I'm honest. I must admit that it frightens me to think that maybe there is something between us and I'm completely missing it. It's something I would like to explore though."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, maybe I can try to be more open about the possibility of having feelings for you," she says softly, staring down at her hands and tugging at her fingers almost nervously. It was like a nervous tick of hers; something Landry found oddly adorable.

His wolf, Amon, was running laps in his mind's eye; he was excited that Bernice was finally opening up in a way she never had before. She's been doing a lot of things for him that she's never had before, including opening up about her personal home life. He knew that he now knows more about her than anyone else in her life and that made him happy. It means she trusted him; on some level or another, she has already admitted to having feelings for him. "I would like that very much," he says. "I will help you distinguish these feelings slowly. There's no pressure."

"No pressure," she agreed with a head nod.

...

Bernice's POV

As soon as I say the words, I almost regret them. A knot formed in my stomach, and I grew nervous. I could hardly even look him in the eyes. All I could think to do is stare at my hands and tug at my fingers. I couldn't let him see how nervous I truly was. But he said all that about Tina never having a chance and it seemed the pressure had lightened. He's kind and patient and he said he likes me. I could tell he likes me, but I don't know if I like him in return. I don't know what that kind of feeling feels like.

I wish this kind of feeling came easy to me, but it doesn't. I can't help but be filled with so much fear. But I already agreed to give it a chance, and I can't turn back on my word now.

"I will help you distinguish these feelings slowly," he says, and I could hear the hopefulness in his tone despite how hard he tried not to show it. "There's no pressure."

"No pressure," I agree, hoping the nervousness isn't revealed through my tone. He doesn't seem to notice my nervousness though and I'm relieved of that.

He leaned down and kissed me gently on the lips. My wolf, Julia, was excited by his nearness and ran laps in my mind's eye. She was howling loudly as he kissed me, and I couldn't help but smile at her eagerness. I know one thing for sure, she definitely liked him.

He pulled away, leaving me a bit breathless and I could see the smile playing on his lips.

"It's late though; you should get some rest and I need to get some last-minute work done."

I nod in agreement even though I'm not so sure I would be able to sleep. He leaves me alone in my room to ponder my thoughts. I lay on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. I was still completely nude, and the ghost of his touch lingers on my body. I pressed the palm of my hand to my chest, feeling my heart under my palm, beating to a rhythm that is unfamiliar to me. For a moment, I could have sworn that it skipped a beat.

That is how I fell asleep, listening to the unconventional beating of my heart.

...

"So, then what happened?!" Jessie asks, clutching her cup of tea as she leaned closer to me with large and eager eyes.

"I told him I can give it a try," I told her with a shrug. "I'm not really sure what I'm trying, but he seemed pleased by my response."

We sat in the living room of Landry's palace; Jessie had gotten here a little while ago and was instantly requesting tea when I asked if we could talk. I know Jessie well enough to know that she loved anything that has to do with gossip. But I needed her advice about how to approach this situation.

"You're trying to be Landry's girlfriend, of course," Jessie chuckled.

I nearly spit the tea out of my mouth as I take a sip during her words. That wasn't at all what I thought I was agreeing to and now I'm even more nervous.

This only causes her to laugh harder though.

"Don't look so shocked. You told him you wanted to distinguish your feelings for him. The only way to do that is if you become his girlfriend and allow him to show you what love is."

...

Tina's POV

Leaning against the wall in the far corner of the room, Tina listened to the conversation between Jessie and Denise.

"...allow him to show you what love is..." was the words of her cousin to that omega.

Tina clenched her fists at her sides and pressed her lips in a firm line as fury rose through her body.

This bitch was relentless.