The Alpha's Companion

Chapter 23 - Shana

Julien took Lacey by the hand and led her to the edge of the cliff and sat down. She just stood there, looking at him. One corner of his lips curled into his sexy smile as he patted the soft grass beside him, raising an eyebrow. "Sit. I promise I won't bite."

But her wolf wished he would. Lacey scoffed, unable to believe that her wolf had betrayed her that way. But she sat beside him and looked out over the horizon at the colorful mountains, illuminated in the bright sunshine. Even though it was getting cool out, it didn't bother Lacey. The weather never bothered her, ever since she turned. "It's gorgeous."

Julien nodded. "Yes, it is." He looked out over the mountains, rising majestically in the horizon, green and lush. "I wish I could run free in the mountains forever."

"Yes. Me, too." She thought for a moment and then asked, her voice low, "What did you want to tell me?"

Julien sighed. "Do you remember in the limo when you asked what happened to me?" He cleared his throat. "What Scarlett had helped me through?"

Lacey nodded, but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"Years ago, I was pledged to a beautiful woman." Julien looked into Lacey’s eyes. "Her name was Shana. We grew up together."

Lacey gasped. "What happened?"

"One of my men... my Beta, in fact... made advances toward her and she reciprocated." Julien sighed. "She ran off with him in the middle of the night, never to be heard from again." Julien looked up at her. Then he looked down. "She never even said goodbye."

Lacey nodded, looking out over the cliff at the vast expanse below. "She didn't deserve you."

His head snapped up, and his eyes met hers.

"Julien, she was a fool," Lacey said, speaking from the heart. "Don't let what one woman did ruin you.”

Julien nodded, obviously thinking of another time, another place. "May I ask you something?"

Lacey nodded, having no idea what it may be.

"Could you make the effort to try and get along with Scarlett?" he asked, sincerity in his eyes. "She's important to me."

Lacey scoffed, releasing her breath, letting it come out in a rush. Of all the things she expected for him to say, that wasn't it. "I'm not the one making it difficult to get along. Perhaps Scarlett should be the one you should ask to get along with me."

"What?"

Lacey nodded, rising to her feet. "Scar undermines me every chance she gets, makes fun of me, belittles me.” Lacey shook her head in disbelief. “You. Need. To speak. With her." Lacey started toward the waiting limo. Scar wasn't even there, and she was still coming between her and Julien. Lacey wondered if there would ever be a time when that wouldn’t be the case.

"Lacey, wait!" Julien said, running to catch up. Then he jumped in front of her, bringing her to a stop. "How could you say that? She's been loyal to me."

"Yes! She has! To you, but not to me.” Lacey folded her arms over her chest. “She needs to respect me, Julien, and you need to tell her so. I will not marry you until you do." Lacey tried to walk past him, but he stepped in front of her again, blocking her way. "Julien, what do you want from me?"

"I want you to get along with Scar!" he yelled. "And I really don't think it's too much to ask."

Lacey scoffed. "It's a lot more than you think."

"How so?"

"Well, you said it yourself." Lacey tilted her head to the side. "She wants to be your mate and will do everything she can to get me out of the picture. Everything short of killing me, that is. But then again, I wouldn't put that past her either."

Julien shook his head in disbelief. "I cannot believe you! I make one simple request and you blow up!"

"I'm blowing up?" Lacey started walking away and then turned around to face him again. "I'm blowing up?" she repeated. "You'd better take a good look in the mirror on that one. And while you're at it, ask yourself who it is that you really want." Then she turned and walked purposefully toward the limo. And this time, he didn't stop her. Lacey slid into the car and waited, not sure what Julien would do now.

She folded her arms across her chest, unable to believe he had asked her to do such a thing. Here Lacey was supposed to be his Pledged Mate and he wouldn't take up for her, allowing Scar to get away with treating her any way she liked.

Julien slid into the limo beside her a moment later, and Lacey slid as far away from him as possible to the other side, looking out the window.

"Driver? Let's go."

Lacey could feel Julien's eyes on her, but she didn't turn toward him. She was going to stick to her guns.. There was no way that she was going to marry Julien until he had a talk with Scar.