Mating the Female Alpha
Chapter 89 – The Search for Bernice continues.

Bernice's

POV

I was hesitant about letting this strange woman into my home. She had a kind face though and a pleasant smile. She seemed to be around my age too.

I reluctantly stepped aside for her to enter my home. She frowned as she looked around.

"I wasn't expecting any visitors," I tell her, feeling my face warming. "I'm sorry for the mess."

"It's quite okay," she said with a chuckle. "Oh my..." she said, staring down at my stomach. "When they said you were pregnant, I wasn't aware of how pregnant you were. How many months are you due?" "Two," I answer, placing my hand on my stomach. I could feel my pup quacking under my palm and it made me smile. I had to admit, I was excited to meet my little pup.

"Do you know the gender?"

"A boy," I answer.

She looked pleased by that response.

"How exciting," she breathed. "I also heard you will be raising this pup on your own. I must admit, I admire your strength."

"I have to do what I can," I tell her.

"When Alpha Adam told me you were choosing to live in this... uh... shack... I had to come to see you for myself. I just got back into town and I can't possibly allow an expecting mother to live in this kind of condition." "It's not that bad," I assure her. "Honestly. I kind of like it. I enjoy being alone."

She looked at me with surprise.

"Nobody likes being alone," she said. "And you look like you can hardly stand."

I didn't want to say anything, but my back was aching and my legs felt like they were going to give way at any moment. She frowned when she saw the strain on my swollen ankles.

"Oh dear," she breathed, grabbing my arms and pulling me toward me the nearby couch.

"Are you planning on raising your child here?" She asked, sitting beside me.

I wasn't planning on living here long enough to have my baby; I was hoping Landry would come to get me soon so we can live in the palace and be a family. I wanted that to happen before the pup was born. But I couldn't tell her that; nobody here knew my true identity. Nobody knew my story.

The most I could do was glance down at my large stomach timidly as I thought about an answer to her question.

"Look... Denise," she said, reaching her hand out to grasp mine. "I know you just met me and you have no reason to trust me. But I'm here to help you."

"I don't understand... why would you want to help me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

She gave me a soft smile.

"Because you remind me of someone I once knew. Someone so dear to me. If I could help her, I could. But seeing you is like having a second chance. Won't you let me help you?"

I wasn't sure I wanted this woman's help. But there was this desperation and a little excitement in her eyes that oddly enough reminded me of Jessie. I always found it difficult to say no to Jessie. I suppose, considering I could hardly stand on my own, that having the extra help would be nice.

Even the doctor scolded me for leaving the packhouse when I needed the assistance the most. I trusted Alpha Adam; he's been nothing but kind to me. I don't think he would send someone my way if he didn't trust them.

"Okay," I tell. "I will let you help me. I appreciate that."

She looked excited.

"Perfect," she breathed. "Then let's pack your things!"

I frowned.

"Pack my things?"

She chuckled.

"Of course, you're moving in with me!"

...

Landry's POV

One month later.

It was a month after Bernice's 25th birthday. A month after she was supposed to die. But there was something inside of him telling me that she was still alive.

It's also been 8 months since he's searched for Alaric's layer. The vampires have been incredibly quiet since Bernice's departure and Landry can't help but think that it's related

The search continued as Landry checked off more locations from his map of the entire kingdom. He was growing impatient with all the dead ends they have encountered. He was no longer just searching this immediate forest, but all the forests in the kingdom. Including the rogue territories.

Alaric's layer had to be around here somewhere.

"Landry, you should eat something," Jessie said, coming into his study. "You haven't eaten all day."

"I'm not hungry."

Jessie hasn't left his palace in months; she's been trying to take care of him while he continues the search, but he doesn't make it easy for her.

"You still need to eat. You need to keep up your strength."

He stands from his desk.

"I'm going back out to search more of the kingdom," Landry tells her just as he walks towards his office door.

She steps in front of him, her eyes narrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line. She folded her arms across her chest.

"Seriously, Landry," she said firmly. "You need to eat something. It's not healthy to avoid meals."

"I don't think you understand that urgency in what I'm trying to do," Landry says through gritted teeth.

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked utterly hurt.

"Are your serious right now? You don't think I want to find her just as badly as you do? Of course, I want to find her. You know I care about her " "If you care, then you won't stop me."

She looked like she wanted to cry.

"Landry-"

"Step away, or I will have you removed from my palace."

She gasped at his words, but she didn't argue. She stepped away from the door, allowing him to walk past her and into the halls.

"There's food in the kitchen," she said, her voice sounding distant. "You can take it to go..."

He paused at the door. She was relentless but she meant well. Not to mention he hurt her feelings and he understood that. "Fine," he muttered, turning, and going toward the kitchen.

"When will you return?" Jessie asked, struggling to keep up with him.

"I'm not sure yet," he said in return. "But stay here just in case it takes a while."

"Okay," she agreed.

With any luck, this would be his last time going out to search this layer.

He grabbed some food before leaving the palace. Jessie said nothing more as she watched him walk out the front doors.

He didn't waste any time shifting into his wolf form and sprinting through the forest. It would take less than an hour to get to the next pack and search for her. She has had him blocked from her mindlink since she left for whatever reason. Which makes him think she doesn't want to be found.

But why?

"Alpha King!?" A mindlink from his Beta caused him to slow down slightly. "I think we found the Vampire Lord's layer!"