Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 45 – Jessie is being held hostage.

Bernice's

POV

Even I must admit, the evening was very nice.

Landry took me to a fancy restaurant, and I couldn't help but notice how everyone stared at us. I felt a little uncomfortable, but as all the food arrived, I found myself not paying attention to anything going on around us. Everything was so delicious, and I was fully aware that I was eating like a pig.

Landry doesn't seem to mind it though; he looked at me fondly and occasionally I would catch him smiling.

I didn't think the evening could get any more fun, but after dinner, we took a walk in the city. This is something I had never done before; I have driven through the city in the past. But I was never able to take a small stroll through the busy streets and admire everything going on around me.

It's so lifelike and gorgeous this time of night.

He took me to the edge of the bay so I can get a closer look at the glistening water under the rays of the moon. I didn't think the moon could be any more beautiful, but watching it be reflected in the ocean was surreal. It took my breath away.

A small gust of wind caused me to shiver slightly, and I hold my bare arms to keep my goosebumps under control. Landry quickly took off his coat and drapes it over my shoulders. I looked up at him in surprise. "No, it's okay," I say with an awkward laugh. "You might need it."

"I'm fine," he says quickly, giving me a broad smile. "Honestly. Take it. You're cold and there's another place I want to take you."

"Another place?" I asked, raising my brows.

He nodded once.

"Yes," he says, pulling me along with him. "It's not far from here. We can walk."

We end up walking a short distance to a large park filled with statues. It was a beautiful park with plush green grass and flowers blooming in every corner and on every bush. The ground had cobblestone walkways matching the color of the large marble-made statues that tower over our heads.

We walk towards the tallest statue of them all; the statue that sat in the center of the park.

"This park was made for the founding fathers and past kings," he said as he stared up at the big statue. "One day, my statue will be here too. Just like my father's."

We stayed in the park for a long while, speaking to the statue of his father as if it could hear us.

Maybe it could hear us.

As we get back to the palace, Landry pulled me into his arms and kissed me passionately on the lips.

"Did you have a nice time?" He asks, his tone husky as he spoke against my ear, sending goosebumps across my skin.

"Yes," I say honestly. "Thank you."

"Thank you for coming out with me," he says, kissing me again. "But the evening isn't over yet."

There was a playfulness in his eyes, and telling from his smirk, I knew exactly what he was thinking.

Julia was excited at the opportunity to be touched by him again.

Just as I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull myself close to him, ready to take this dress off my body, his body tensed. I recognized the sound of his mindlink opening as he adds me to his already pending conversation. "What do you mean she's gone?" Landry says through the mindlink.

"There's a note that says if we don't bring the female Alpha, then Princess Jessie will die," the beta says in return.

I pulled away from him quickly, my heart racing against my chest.

They have Jessie? It is the assassin?

"She gave the address to a location to meet her at," the beta continued.

"I'll be there," Landry said quickly as rushed towards the door.

"I'm coming too," I say quickly, following him.

Landry paused and narrowed his eyes at me.

"It's way too dangerous. I need you to stay here."

"They are after me," I protested, putting my foot down. I'm not letting him do this without me. "I'm coming with you."

"Bernice..."

"Landry," I say, stopping his words. "I'm not arguing about this. I can handle my own. You know I'm capable of defending myself. I'm going to show them that they are messing with the wrong she-wolf."

Landry looked surprised by my words, but he broke out into a grin and nodded.

"Okay then," he says in return, motioning for me to follow him.

We run in our wolf forms back into the city and toward the small shop that the beta had given us the address to. The shop doesn't even look open, but as we neared, we saw a glimmer of light through the very tinted window. I could also smell the scent of Jessie nearby and I knew for certain she was inside the shop.

Landry was quick to barge into the shop. Jessie was tied to a chair in the far corner of the room with tape covering her mouth. She looked to be struggling and her body is trembling uncontrollably.

She was terrified.

A strange woman was standing near her with a gun to her head; she looked furious.

"Unhand her," Landry ordered.

"Give us what we want first," the woman demanded; her eyes find mine and they darken. Actually, her entire aura darkened; it was obvious she was a vampire based on her looks alone. She must be working with the assassin as another vampire spy.

Jessie shook her head quickly; indicating to not give them what they want. This woman noticed this and smacked Jessie in the face with the gun. Blood trickles down her perfect features.

That's going to leave a mark, regardless of her wolf's natural healing abilities.

Landry lunged at the woman, baring his canines at her and growling loudly. He wasn't wasting any more time; he was getting Jessie out of there if it was the last thing he did. I also lunge, ready to fight for Jessie's freedom.

She screamed within the tape, trying to break herself free. Whatever ropes were tying her, were strong enough to keep a werewolf at bay. Same with the tape that covered her mouth.

Just as we got closer to the woman, more vampires came out of nowhere, making themselves known to us. They hissed, baring their fangs at us. But that doesn't scare us; we were used to these kinds of antics. Landry and I don't stop running towards them; we continue to lung, snapping into their flesh, and tearing away at their skin. Blood painted the walls of the building and pooled on the ground around us.

Jessie was still struggling and is filled with fear.

The woman that has been holding her hostage noticed this as she struggled to fight against us. She might have thought they outnumbered us, but with Landry and I fighting side by side, we were undefeatable.

The woman took the gun that was scattered to the ground and pointed it at Jessie. I noticed her about to pull the trigger and I pounce on top of her, just as the gun explodes its bullet. Thankfully, I managed to push her in time and the bullet is redirected towards the wall, missing Jessie by a hair.

The surviving vampires scattered the scene.

"Keep her alive," Landry ordered just as I'm about to dig my teeth into her flesh. "We can use her for questioning."

He was right.

We missed the opportunity to take the other assassin as a prisoner for questioning. I wasn't going to miss this opportunity as well. Werewolf warriors came in shortly after to take this strange woman out of the building and into the holding cells.

I'm breathless as I shift back into my human form. Landry manages to get Jessie untied and she started crying in Landry's arms.

"She drugged me with her tea and when I woke up, I was tied to a chair," Jessie quivered. "I thought she was going to kill me. I feel so stupid for falling for her bullshit."

Landry tried his best to calm his sister.

"What did she even want?" Jessie cried.

Landry catches my eyes as he murmurs to Jessie that it's going to be okay.

As I watched him console his sister, I felt a strange, unfamiliar flutter in my heart.

It must mean illness.