Beneath Her Darkness: The Alpha's Little Demon
Chapter 201

Chapter 201

B2 048 - The Queens

PATREA.

After I admitted everything to Lucius, he simply moved on from it. I wanted to believe he wasn’t affectedat all, but then I saw him with Luther the moment we came to the Mystic Pack, and my insecuritiescame back again.

I had known from the very beginning — even before there was him and me — that he was alreadyaffectionate toward his nephew, and yet a part of me wanted to grieve. He wanted one, and it wassomething I couldn’t give him.

"If Lucius said it’s okay with him, then it’s okay. I know my own brother. He never sugarcoats his words.And it is what makes both of you click together because you both tell what you feel." no.vel.e.bookLucy stated that before she stood in front of me, her hands went to my arms, and she gently brushedthem. "Don’t let it bother you."

"But I wish I could give him more," I said in a soft voice.

Lucy smiled at me, her eyes watering as she let out a warm smile. " You have given Lucius so much,Patrea. And I can’t thank you enough. I know he can take care of himself, but I’m happy he has younow because you are exactly what he needed. He told me before that the tower seemed empty, but I’msure it’s not empty anymore."

"And if there are babies around, it would be a lot lovelier."

"Oh, Mama. Stop. Let’s not ruin your day." Althea walked to where Lucy and I were and handed us ourglass of wine. "We are here to celebrate Kalmerus and Athwart. And of course, you and Lucius! Babyor not, Lucius loves you."

We were inside Lucy’s office while Lucius was spending time with Luther and Adan.

I took my glass, as Lucy did before Althea went back to the table to pick up her own.

"For the Queen of Kalmerus and Athwart..." Lucy raised her glass, happiness beaming in her eyes asshe looked at me before she added. "My Queen..."

My eyes watered at her generosity.

"To the queen of my heart," Althea added.

I looked at my granddaughter with pride before I shifted my gaze back and forth between her and Lucy."And to the queens of my life.

We clinked our glasses together before we took a sip of the sparkling wine.

"Thank you for helping me when I needed help," I told them. Lucy shook her head. "It was nothingcompared to the help you and Althea gave me. I will be forever grateful to both of you, and I will makesure I will do my best to protect you both even if you don’t need it."

"I’m glad everything worked out for both of you." Althea smiled as she took another sip. "And I’m sohappy I was able to help."

"You did. Big help, Althea. The bond you created between me and Adan saved him from death."

"And your protective bubble saved my body from crashing to death."

"Small girl with big powers!"' Lucy nodded her head as she spoke. " And with me and Patrea’s livesback on the right track, maybe it’s time we attended to yours."

"l agree. That’s exactly one of the reasons I want to go here." I added. "I want to know where you willbe staying because I'm not sure I want you back in our house alone."

"I can protect myself." She chuckled.

"with humans, yes. But not with demons. I’m afraid Alastor might come after you." I told her.

"Alastor? Who is that?" Althea’s forehead creased as her gaze shifted between me and Lucy.

"Arturos’ heir. Nyneve’s brother. He was, of course, not in agreement with Lucius taking Athwart. Hecan be as sneaky as Nyneve, and the last thing I want is for him to replace out about you."

"Althea can stay here. But we need to move you to a university in this territory as four hours drivingthere might be too much, especially if we are talking about your security." no.vel.e.book Lucysuggested.

Althea didn’t say anything and just kept biting her bottom lip as if she were thinking of something whileher arms were across her chest.

"Althea? What do you think?" I asked her.

"I’m thinking about Blade’s offer."

"Oh, so the big bad wolf of yours came with an offer. Let’s hear it." Lucy said as she winked at mebefore she leaned her ass against her desk while I took the chair beside her.

Althea spun around and faced us. She let go of her arms on her chest and let them rest on her sidesbefore she spoke. "He asked if I could stay with him and be his Luna."

"What was his explanation?" Lucy asked. "I mean, why?"

"I was there for a few hours, and I think the females around the packhouse heard there was a femaleinside, so they went there, and it looks like they like me. And they smiled at Blade when he walked overto tell them we needed to be somewhere." She paused for a second, then continued again. "He said

those females never smiled at him, so he thought maybe they like me, and he wants me to help him gethis pack back, you know, emotionally, so they will trust him again."

Both Lucy’s and my eyebrows were raised.

"So he wants to use you for his benefit. Nothing more?" A part of me was expecting Blade to claim mygranddaughter, as he was saying Althea was his mate.

"He didn’t say anything else," Althea answered.

"And what do you get in return?" Lucy asked.

"After a year, I can decide if I want to take off his mark, and he will take it out."

"That’s ridiculous! He put that mark on you, and you should not be the one working hard to take it off."My nose was flaring. I was disappointed that it seemed he still didn’t want Althea at all. "And here Ithought, based on how protective he was with you when Nyneve attacked, I thought there was achance of him claiming you. There, I said it. [ couldn't stop my mouth, as I was hurting for Althea.

"Maybe he knows if I die, his wolf will suffer," Althea spoke while Lucy was just listening to us.

"I’m not even sure that what he’s offering you is a good idea. He’s basically using you."

"You can say no, Althea. We will replace a way to make him remove that mark, even if I have to ask Adanto do something about that." Lucy finally spoke. Althea swallowed before she locked eyes with mine. "Ialready said yes."

"What?" Lucy and I said it in unison.

"You can always take it back and tell him you've thought about it," I told her.

"I want to try, Mama," Althea said in a soft voice before her eyes softened. "I like Blade."

I was lost for words this time. She liked him. She had never admitted this before.

“Are you sure you're ready if he can’t return what you feel for him?

" It was Lucy who asked.

"I don't know. But I’ve got to try, right? I mean, I’m sure Lucius and Adan were not easy to deal with atthe beginning, but you stayed and tried. I want that too — a chance. Although I know it’s different onour end because he’s obviously still not over his first mate, but she’s not around anymore. And I’m stillhere. She will never get a chance with him, but I still can. So I guess I’m luckier. I just have to make himsee me as I am, not as a second chance mate. Not a replacement."

I bit my bottom lip and stared at Althea. She had always been a confident female, but I could seedoubts in her eyes. Blade was making her doubt her worth.

"But if anything, Blade had never had a Luna. So I guess that position is mine until I give it away."

"I’m not sure if this is a good idea, but since you have already decided, then I just have to be okay withthat," I told her.

"I don’t want you to be okay with it. I want you to understand why I’m doing this."

"You said you liked him. I think that’s a good enough reason, but a part of me wants to make sure thathe won’t be able to break you. I don’t know Blade personally, Althea. And I don’t want to judgehim,no.vel.e.book I just don’t want him to hurt you, but I think it’s part of the risk, right?"

I looked at Lucy, and it looked like she was thinking hard as well.

"If it’s just me, I will say no. But you’ re not a kid anymore. Follow your heart and spirits! I hope it will beworth it. But if not... I know it will make you stronger."

"And whatever happens, Patrea and I will always be here. We are just one call away." Lucy added, andI kept nodding my head as my eyes welled up with tears.

"I just want to make sure he will do everything to protect you," I added.

"He will, Mama. As long as I have his mark, he has no choice but to protect me." Althea looked like shehad already made up her mind. 1 I stood up from my seat and went to her, my arms wrapping aroundher body as I hugged her tightly. "As Lucy said, whatever happens, we’re just here."

"And you’re always welcome to come back here anytime, Althea. No questions will be asked." Lucy toldher as she came to us, her arms snaking around our bodies as she hugged us.

"I’m so lucky to have you both," Althea murmured.

"No, Althea. I’m the lucky one because you both welcome me into your family." Lucy said.

"As you did welcome us to yours, Lucy," I told her. "So I guess we are all lucky because we have eachother."

We remained in the same position, hugging and squeezing each other before I pressed kisses on boththeir cheeks.

"Luna Althea, huh?" Lucy teased Althea, a coy smile playing on her lips.

Althea smiled. "That’s what he said. He also said he will move his

Alpha Ceremony to give me a little more time, and we will have both the Alpha and Luna Ceremoniesat the same time."

"Will there be a Union ceremony?" I asked.

Althea shook her head this time. "We didn’t talk about that. And besides, this was just for his people,not for us. I’m just hoping this will be a way to make it work for us. If not, then it's not."

She then walked to the table where the wine bottle was and took it with her, refilling our glasses as shecontinued to speak. "Blade said there's a university in his territory, so I can go there and continuestudying if 1 want to. He said it’s still possible to be a Luna and study at the same time."

"That’s great. Then you don’t need to quit school." Lucy stated.

"Yes, but he said I can quit anytime if I end up not liking it there, and we will replace a university not too farfrom home."

Althea probably didn’t notice, but her mouth twitched into a smile after she mentioned home, and itwarmed my heart, but it made me worry at the same time.

Home for her is where Blade was, as Lucius was to me. I just wish she would get the same ending thatI did: to end up with the man she liked and for Blade to love her the way she deserved to be loved.

And speaking of Lucius, I think it’s time I summoned the God of the Underworld. I already knew what Iwanted for my privileged wish.