55 Friends
“What did you do?!” Lena gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
I had left the Alpha’s house in the middle of the night. I didn’t want to go home—showing up unexpectedly in this state would only scare Tanya. I didn’t go to Jasmine and Max either; they had a baby, and I didn’t want to burden their peaceful home with my drama.
So, I went to the Alerco family instead. Maybe it was selfish, but I desperately needed someone to talk to—someone who could help me make sense of this half-bond mark. And honestly, there’s no one better for that than them.
Without asking any questions, Lena let me in with quiet understanding. She sent Artyom off to bed, saying we had “women’s matters” to discuss. After preparing a calming herbal tea, we sat together in her warm, cozy kitchen, and I finally told someone everything.
From the moment I first met Wayland to what had just happened… I didn’t hold back a single detail. I had never shared it with anyone before. And as the words poured out, I felt just a little lighter.
It was hard to read Lena’s reaction—whether she was shocked, surprised, or just quietly processing it all. I mean, seriously... I had been intimate with the Alpha. More than once! But Lena wasn’t the type of woman to be easily shocked. Still… when I got to the part about the slap, even she froze for a second.
“I gave him a proper slap, told him exactly what I think of him, and left,” I repeated, taking a sip of the calming herbal tea she’d made me. “I’m sorry for showing up like this in the middle of the night…” I added softly, guilt and exhaustion pressing down on my shoulders.
But Lena only smiled gently and gave my hand a comforting squeeze.
“Alina, don’t apologize. That’s what we oracles are here for—to help people. And more importantly, we’re your friends. I’m honored you came to me during such a difficult moment,” she said sincerely, locking eyes with me. Then her lips curled into a teasing smile.
“Oh, and Alina… may I shake the hand—the very one—that gave our ‘noble fuzzy-face’ a well-deserved slap?”
She extended her hand with a spark of amusement in her eyes.
After our ceremonious handshake, we both chuckled softly, and the atmosphere grew even warmer and more relaxed.
“Lena… can I ask you something?” I hesitated, nervously fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. There was still one detail I hadn’t mentioned.
“The thing is… when we were… um… well, during sex… he bit me.”
The laughter vanished from Lena’s face in an instant, as if it had never been there. Her gaze sharpened with sudden seriousness.
“Show me,” she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for questions.
I swallowed hard and slowly pulled down the collar of my shirt, revealing the small set of wounds where his fangs had broken skin.
Lena was shocked again—for the second time in the last half hour. Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, the disbelief written clearly across her face.
“Leeeena…” I whimpered, panic beginning to crawl through my veins, tightening my chest until it was hard to breathe. “Tell me it’s not a mark! I moved fast, he didn’t even get a proper bite in, it was just—”
“Aline,” Lena said quietly, her voice laced with sympathy. “If his teeth pierced your skin and his saliva mixed with your blood… then yes, that’s a mark. A pitifully weak one for an alpha, but a mark nonetheless.”
All the air left my lungs in an instant.
A choked sob escaped my lips as horror spread through me. How could this have happened?! That selfish bastard!
“Aline… did Wayland say anything about the bite?” Lena asked carefully.
“Oh, he did!” I burst out, my voice cracking into tears. “He said plenty! He said I should consider myself lucky—that I could be one of his mistresses even after he gets married! That I should be grateful for the attention of such a great alpha!”