The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 8: Girl Talk

A knock on the door startled me. I rolled over to the side of the bed, and I reluctantly started putting my feet on the floor. It was hard convincing myself to leave the comfort of my soft, warm bed for the feel of the cold hardwood floor. I walked over and opened the door, smiling when I saw Saphira standing there.

“Are you going to let me in or just make me stand in the hallway all night?” she laughed.

I chuckled back, “What are you doing here, Saphira? You should be sleeping. We do have a rather important day tomorrow.”

“I'm not the only one who should be sleeping! Come on, we both know where your head's at tonight! Maybe it’s on someone tall, dark, and handsome, or maybe it’s on those beautiful blue eyes you can’t get enough of.”

“Well, you might be right about that,” I laughed loudly before covering my mouth and motioning for her to come inside. Once she was in, I shut the door, “but we have to be quiet. My father's already gone to bed, and the last thing we want to do is wake up the Alpha.”

“Oh, when have we ever done that?” Saphira chuckled.

“Need I remind you what happened the last time?” I whispered, yelled at her.

Saphira laughed loudly, “Oh, Viviana, that was hilarious! Even you have to admit when your dad stormed in this room thinking he was catching you with one of the boys,” she paused laughing so hard she was losing breath, “it was the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life.”

“You might think it's funny, but I'm the one who had the calm him down after you ran past him and out of the pack house, Coward,” I shot back laughing.

“Perhaps, anyway, maybe we should keep it down then. Although I dare say I'd be curious to know which one he believed would be in here this time. I mean, surely, he noticed Zander was in here earlier.”

My face reddened. “How do you even know that?” I giggled nervously.

“Seriously, Viviana, you know that boy can't keep a secret,” she laughed harder.

“He told you then?” I asked.

“Oh no, come on! Of course, he didn't tell me. I overheard him asking one of the kitchen workers for ice after dinner. I knew there was only one reason he would be getting ice in the packhouse, then when I saw him sneak down the back stairs, I knew for sure. So, tell me what you and Zander were up to tonight?” she winked suggestively.

“Nothing as dramatic as you think!” I laughed. “We argued about tomorrow.”

“He does not want you to fight,” she stated.

“How do you, oh never mind, he can’t keep a secret, right?” I laughed as I dropped down on my bed, frustrated.

“Zander is not like the others. He hates having to fight you, or seeing anyone else do it, if there’s a chance you could be hurt. What did you tell him?” she asked, sitting on the bed next to me.

“I told him not to watch,” I said, shaking my head. “I am the daughter of the Alpha and future Luna; he can’t expect me not to fight.”

“Other Lunas don’t,” she replied. “In fact, they are typically hiding away somewhere.”

“Did he tell you I should not fight?” I asked. “He should know better than that. I will never send people into battle for me and stay behind. I don’t have it in me.”

“Nope, I overheard him having a fight with his father this afternoon about whatever happened with you and Victor on the training field.” Saphira said, and she turned serious, “Is it true that Victor deliberately hurt you during training today?”

“All Victor did was train; he just got the better of me,” I coughed. Thinking back to Victor’s and my fight.

“Zander doesn’t see it that way,” Saphira said.

“Zander congratulated Victor at the time,” I laughed, “surely if he thought what Victor did was so wrong, he would not have done so.”

“Well, something changed between that and when I saw him yelling at his father about how Beta Rex needs someone to stand up to him, how he encouraged his son to try to hurt others. No, m**m was the word he used during the tournament. He thinks Max is going to try something tomorrow. He pleaded with his father not to put you and Max against each other.” Saphira explained all she had heard.

“He should not have done that,” I whisper, “it will only make things worse.”

“Enough about that,” she laughed.

“Zander is a mystery for sure,” I concluded.

“Anyways, back to boys in your room, I'm sure it would have been less PG if it had been Victor up here waiting for you.” She laughed.

“Saphira,” I slapped her shoulder and could feel my face turning a bright shade of red. I couldn't believe she just said that! “Seriously, get your mind out of the gutter!” I laughed.

“I can't help it if all the boys are only so focused on who will be alpha, and which one gets you as their Luna. After this whole thing is settled, maybe they'll actually have eyes for someone else.” She paused, laughing.

I did feel sorry for her that all the attention was on me. It’s not like I wanted it. I tried not to smile, but I knew it did not help.

“Until then, I just have to live vicariously through you,” she winked at me.

“Are you telling me that you're interested in someone?” I asked her with a wink.

“Oh, Viviana, I don't kiss and tell,” she laughed, “well, maybe I would if there was kissing involved. Currently, there's just mindless flirting, but no actual actions to follow it. She looked a little sad when she said this, even though she was laughing, the joy did not reach her eyes.

There was definitely someone. The question is, who is it? “Just be careful, Saphira,” I cautioned, “I don't want to see you get hurt!”

“Neither do I!” She smirked, “Which is why I think if it happens that Max is your mate, that you should run as far away from here as you possibly can!” she joked.

“Saphira, you know I can't do that,” I laughed.

“No, I know you won't do that,” she threw herself back on the bed. I lay down next to her. She turned to face me with a serious look on her face, “You always do what's in the best interest of the pack. Hardly ever is it in your best interest.”

I just looked at her. What could I say to that? You're wrong! I am a selfish person. We both know that was a lie. I have been trained my entire life to do what is in the best interest of my pack. Why should my mate be any different? Who was I to think that what I wanted really mattered to anyone?

After too long a silence, Saphira spoke again, “You know, Viviana, I will be completely supportive of you and your if Victor or Zander happens to be your mate. However, if it's Max; I would help you kill him and hide the body,” she laughed.

“Because that wouldn't be suspicious at all,” I laugh, too.

“Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't. Would anybody actually miss him? I mean, come on, he's just awful,” she laughed.

“If only my father had taken into consideration what was awful before just willingly submitting me to this deal with his Beta and Gamma.”

“Viviana, I know this whole situation is frustrating for you, but I have to believe that the goddess would never match you up with Max. I do believe you would be completely taken care of by either Victor or Zander. I do believe your heart would be happier with Victor. We both know how you feel about him.”

I shook my head and pushed her, knocking her off the bed onto the floor.

“Shhhhhhhhhh,” she scolded me, “you'll wake the Alpha.”

“Then I guess you better get out of my room,” I laughed, “before he comes in here.”

“Whatever you say, Luna,” she laughed as she walked towards the door. “Good luck tomorrow, and whatever you do, put everything you have into that fight. I want to see Max on the ground begging for a change!”

“Don't we all,” I laughed.

“One more thing before I go; I almost forgot,” she smirked, “I was not the only one who saw Zander sneaking out.

“Who?” I yelled.

“Let’s just say tall, dark, and handsome looked a little tall, dark, and angry.” As Sophia left my room, I realized I was finally relaxed. She had a way of bringing me out of my moods. Have a good mind to make her my Beta. What a good joke that would be, to select that position without his input. Laughing to myself, I closed my eyes and finally drifted off to sleep.