The Werewolf and Vampire's Princess

Spoken Frustration

Aleida found Conley at the fountain talking to the Marie sisters and Beta. Anne-Marie noticed Aleida first and gestured eagerly to for Aleida to join them. Aleida slunk her way to stand next to the woman, who seemed to immediately realise something was off, and squeezed Aleida’s hand reassuringly.

Conley noticed the two holding hands and images of Anne-Marie losing her hand flashed through Aleida’s mind without warning. Aleida glanced at Conley in shock, her eyes wide. Conley’s eyes met hers and he raised one eyebrow with some emotion Aleida couldn’t quite place – but she found herself stepping half in front of Anne-Marie protectively. Conley frowned in confusion for a brief second before turning his attention back to Beta, who had been speaking to all of them.

But Aleida couldn’t bring herself to listen – she found herself on high alert, watching Conley’s every move, to protect the other vampires with her. If Conley would rip off Anne-Marie’s hand just for holding hers … she suddenly found herself wondering where his loyalties really lay.

Beta didn’t speak for too much longer before the Marie sisters disappeared back into the pack house – Anne-Marie giving Aleida a confused, but reassuring, look before leaving with her sisters.

Aleida found herself staring Conley down while the others dispersed. Beta looked as though he wanted to speak to Conley, but Beth-Marie and Carly-Marie each took hold of one of Beta’s arms and dragged him away.

‘What was that about?’ Conley stepped closer to Aleida, who matched his step by going backwards. Conley paused, his eyes scanning Aleida’s in confusion.

‘I thought you were going to attack Anne-Marie.’ Aleida said, her whole body still tense and on alert. Conley didn’t look surprised.

‘I wondered if you’d been seeing them.’ He mused.

‘What?’ Aleida snapped, losing patience.

‘Pack members can … talk, telepathically. But usually we can only send pictures of our intentions, not words.’

‘But I’m not part of your pack yet.’

‘No. But mates can do it, too. Between mates the link is even stronger, my parents were able to have total telepathic conversations together.’

‘What are you saying?’ Aleida felt as though she were wound so tightly she might bounce into the sky.

‘That we are mates. That our connection is so strong you can, basically, read my mind without me realising.’

Aleida paused, holding her breath while she mulled this over.

‘Can you read my mind?’ she finally asked. Conley’s lips tugged up in a barely-there smile.

‘Apparently not. I haven’t heard anything from you yet.’ Conley looked disappointed for a heartbeat before smiling again. ‘No worries, it’ll get stronger the better we get to know each other.’

‘So why did I see you wanting to rip off Anne-Marie’s hand?’ Aleida demanded, her voice rising. Conley didn’t respond for so long Aleida found herself holding her breath again, on edge, ready to yell, run, something.

‘Because you’re mine.’ Conley growled.

‘That doesn’t give you the right to rip off anyone’s hand who touches me!’ Aleida growled back. She was aware that people were gathering, watching their Alpha argue with his newfound mate, but she didn’t care. Let them see that no mate was perfect.

Conley stepped in close, but this time Aleida held her ground, craning her neck so she could look him in the eye. She hadn’t truly paid attention to their height difference until now – the top of her head just grazed his collarbone. But she didn’t move away.

‘You are my mate-’

‘Exactly. I’m your mate. Not your property.’ Aleida growled, her teeth flashing. Conley lifted his lip in a silent snarl.

‘Inside. Now.’ Conley gestured to the packhouse with one hand and growled, so quietly Aleida almost didn’t hear him. An image of Aleida over Conley’s lap while he spanked her flashed through her mind.

‘No.’ Aleida growled back, equally as softly. ‘You do not have a right to me, my body, or my actions.’ The lack of affection Aleida had felt in Conley’s office came crashing upon her again, and she did everything she could to throw that emotion to Conley through their link.

It appeared to work - Conley seemed to curl in on himself as his knees buckled. His eyes bugged as he gazed at Aleida, who wasn’t letting down.

‘Why didn’t you-’

‘Say anything?’ Aleida growled, her voice lower than ever. ‘How could I? You walked out before I could. And then you threaten the life of one my own?’

‘I – I’m sor-’

‘You’ll need to do a lot more than just apologise, Alpha.’ Aleida snarled before turning and following the scent of the Marie sisters into the pack house, leaving Conley standing alone by the fountain.