Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 57 – The rumors

Bernice's POV

"Her parents aren't even here..." I whispered as Jessie continued speaking to the crowd. Everybody was there to pay their respects to Tina, except for her parents. "How could they not be here?" Landry had a cold stone expression as he stared at Jessie, focusing on her words and not at all that Tina's parents weren't there. Of course, they knew about the funeral.

He was trying not to lose his temper; I could tell.

It got me thinking, would my father bother to make my funeral once I finally die? Would there be a funeral for him to attend?

The sickened feeling returned to my stomach; I wasn't sure where this new wave of nausea was coming from. No doubt it was another symptom of the medication. It was my body's way of telling me that I was going to die soon. Tina's parents still didn't arrive even after Tina's body was fully in the ground and we returned to Jessie's palace for the ceremony.

I couldn't help but admire Landry for his strong composure as he went around to each of the guests.

"You are attracted to him," Julia teased.

"Is now really the time for this?" I asked my wolf, annoyed.

"If not now, then when? Just admit you love him, and I'll be quiet."

"Attraction isn't the same as love," I shot back.

"Is that why he makes you all hot and bothered thinking about him?"

I tuned out the rest of what my wolf was saying when Jessie approached.

"I just don't understand why they didn't show up," Jessie murmured, folding her arms across her chest.

"Perhaps they forgot?" I suggested, even though I knew that was ridiculous thinking.

Jessie lifts her gaze to meet mine, narrowing her eyes.

"Their own daughter's funeral?" She asks. I shrug, not sure what else I could say. "I knew they were only using her to get to the top. But they couldn't even pretend to care." She grimaced at the thought and shook her head. "It just makes me sad for Tina that her family clearly never cared about her. It makes me realize why she was the way she was..."

It made me sad too; we both remained silent for a short while before I began hearing the murmurs from around me.

"That's her... she's the one who is going to take Tina's place as luna queen."

"She definitely had her killed so she can be the luna."

"She wanted the Alpha King all to herself."

My heart sunk into my stomach at their cruel words; I noticed that some of the she-wolves were staring in my direction and giving me eyes as they continued their whispering. My face warmed and I lowered my gaze so I wouldn't have to look at them.

"It's just rumors from jealous she-wolves," Jessie scowled. "You get used to it. Just don't pay attention to them."

"How can I not?" I asked, keeping my tone low. "How could they think such a thing?"

"As I said, they are just jealous. Now that you are in the limelight, you should get used to it."

"The limelight?"

She nodded, meeting my eyes.

"You gave a speech at the conference. Everyone is assuming you are involved with Landry. That's when the rumors started."

My eyes widened at her words.

"But I introduced myself as a friend..."

"Please," Jessie says, rolling her eyes. "Did you honestly think they'd believe that?"

"Did you know this was going to happen?" I asked, sounding a bit more hurt than I meant to.

She looked surprised by my tone, but she shrugged.

"I suspected there would be rumors. But I didn't know what they'd be about. I can't predict such a thing," she says, keeping her eyes on mine. "I wouldn't let it bother you. There are tons of rumors about me as well. Same with Landry. It comes with the royal title."

She almost sounded bored as she said that, but I couldn't help but stare at her in disbelief. I turned back to the wandering eyes and their gossiping continued. I felt every fiber of my being flaring.

I wanted to go find Landry.

I saw him speaking to a couple of the other Alpha and I paused before approaching. I was disguised, thanks to Jessie and her makeup artist, but I still worried about being too close to the other Alphas knowing that they could recognize me. Landry saw my hesitation though and excused himself so he could meet with me. He had a look of concern in his eyes as he approached me, and I realized his look was matching mine.

I must have looked mortified in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Have you heard the rumors?" I asked, staring up at him through my lashes.

He frowns but he shakes his head, looking around at the whispering crowd as they pretended to pay no attention to us.

"They are saying I had Tina killed," I muttered, folding my arms across my chest. "They think I did it for the title. A title I don't even want."

His frown deepens and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of hurt in his eyes. I suppose I was a little cruel when I said that, but he nodded as if he understood.

"I will address the rumors," he assured me. "Don't worry too much about it."

"I just don't want them thinking that I would be so cruel to have somebody killed just so I can be the luna queen," I say to him in return.

He nods again.

"I get it," he says. "It's not easy being in the limelight."

There's that word again; the same word that Jessie had used.

Limelight.

If I had known making a speech at the conference would put me in this much limelight, enough that rumors would be spread about me, I probably wouldn't have done it. But it was already done and now everybody was staring at me like I was a criminal.

"Don't worry," he said, forcing a smile. "I'll put an end to it."

I sigh and nod to him, silently thanking him while Julia was reprimanding me for being so cruel.

"Any word on her parents?" I asked, changing the subject.

He shakes his head this time.

"None," he said, glancing over at Jessie who was speaking to some guests at a table. She looked utterly drained; I knew this took a lot out of her and I knew she was upset about Tina's parents not showing up. "Jessie is upset about it." "I know," I said to him. "I was just talking to her. I feel awful."

"Once the funeral concludes I'll find them and find out why they couldn't bother to show up for their own daughter's funeral," Landry promised.

I went to say something more to him, but the sound of heels clicking across the marble flooring and the silencing of the guests, caused me to silence as well. Landry looked over my head to look behind me and I saw his entire demeanor change.

His body tensed and his face grew wary but extremely serious.

His eyes even darkened.

The clicking of the heels grew louder and even Jessie stood to her feet, shock on her expression.

Onlookers began to bow, and I turned to find the most beautiful woman I had ever seen walking across the ballroom and making her way over to us.

Making her way over to Landry.

She had a serious expression on her face, but her eyes showed compassion. Maybe even love. A small, yet sad, and loving smile appeared on her large red lips.

"Landry..." she says his name like she has said it a thousand times before, it caused the knot in my stomach to tighten. "It's been a long time..." "... Cora."