Her Girlish Mind

TALIA'S POV

Lacey licks her lips after taking the first bite of the food and makes delighted sounds.

She doesn't come from a rich background, it's obvious from the way she enjoys the taste of delicious food. Finding out that she is mated to an alpha must have been the biggest luck of her life. Taking in his rejection must have been excruciating.

She hasn't gotten over it, that's why she is here.

"How do you know it's his room? Nothing in here looks like it is used daily. There were no men's clothes in the closet either." I question.

She sets down the spoon and looks up at me. "I come here a lot, I know literally every space and crack of this palace." She proudly states. "Miles's father furnished this room for his son after he phased into a Lycan wolf. But Miles kind of prefers his old room, probably because he secretly hated his father and everything he did. He rarely spends a night in here. He has never allowed anyone else to sleep on the bed either."

I scoff because it doesn't sound exactly like his room, as in the room he spends every night in. He promised I would have a magnificent room and a personal servant. Obviously, he chose to give me this room because he doesn't use it and it's probably the most refined in the palace. I imagine his father furnished it as a gift for his special son. Too bad the son loathed him.

"He just wanted me to feel well hosted, it has nothing to do with love."

She shakes her head. "So hosting you well doesn't mean he loves you? Why are you trying to deny it so desperately? Don't you like him?" She asks and takes another bite of the food.

I totally regret having agreed to talk with her. She sounds like she is chastising me in a friendly tone.

"You came to find out if I like him?" I ask.

She stays quiet for some time, suddenly looking stressed. "I don't think you like him. Your mate is so ideal, you wouldn't fall in love with someone less imposing." She answers. I fake a blank expression when she tries to study my reaction. "It's your mother you want to save and I understand that you have to pretend that you now love Miles. The problem is he will keep falling deeper in love with you because you're a thousand times more attractive and you got powers which I don't." She whines and shrugs her shoulders.

"I don't think I was the reason he rejected you. He didn't know me then because I was dead. So quit blaming my beauty or powers, there is a real reason he didn't like you." I argue, not caring about being too blunt.

Her jaws clench. "I am not the pack's slut anymore. I cut ties with all the men I used to sleep with. I am trying to win over Miles but I doubt he will give me a chance when you're here." She responds.

I hate how insecure and overly protective she is of a man that already rejected her. How is he going to like her if all she does is stalk him? Does she also need to quit thinking that a woman's physical beauty is the only to win a man?

"How can you convince him that you're not a slut when you still dress like one?" I challenge and her eyebrows shoot up.

"What?! I . . . I look attractive in this dress. It brings out my curves perfectly." She defends.

"Right. But if you want to attract an alpha you need to start dressing like a woman with purpose. Aim at looking elegant, not slutty. How will he respect you if you're always looking like you're ready to jump into his bed?"

She thinks for a long time before nodding her head. She looks down at her short dress and tries to pull it down farther than it can go.

"You're right, I don't exactly look intelligent like a Luna should. But I am sure he will still prefer you no matter what I wear." She raves.

I sigh with frustration. "And what exactly do you suggest I do?"

"I will help you find your mother quickly so you can go back to your mate. I don't hate you, I just don't want Miles to keep comparing me with someone whose level of elegance I cannot reach." She answers in a polite tone.

If she can help find my mother I would be grateful enough to walk away and never look at her mate again.

"Okay, we have a deal." She smiles and finally looks happier. She takes another bite of the food just as the door clicks open again and Miles steps into the room. He openly frowns at the sight of her.

She however stands, bows her head and smiles up at him. "Good morning your Highness- "

"Who allowed you to get in here?" He questions in a menacing voice that makes his mate visibly tremble. Her whole body stiffens as he strides farther into the room.

"I . . . only wanted to talk to Talia about us. I have no intention of harming her in any way." She responds in a shaky, submissive voice.

If only she could stand tall and explain herself like an adult with a mature brain. She had the courage to confront me but not him?

The Alpha looks enraged as he regards her with eyes full of disgust. "What part of I reject you as my mate didn't you understand? I told you to never loiter around my palace again, yet here you are disturbing my special guests. I don't see a reason why you shouldn't spend a week in my cells, see if you like them too."

"But I am your mate." She cries and he snorts.

"The hell you are. Are you done being the pack's slut?"

Lacey raises her head again as if she has finally gained the courage to defend herself. "If I am the slut, doesn't that mean you're one as well?"

"What?!"

"You used to sleep with girls before your father left. Why am I the only one that is called a whore?" She mutters with a shrug of her shoulders, making him seethe with anger.

Get the fuck out!" He snaps and she almost stumbles and falls as she runs out of the room.