Chapter Five
Leila
It’s a new day, and my thoughts are still occupied by Henry Ferguson and our encounter at the gala the night before. He is much more powerful than I could have imagined.
The thoughts of him and how intoxicating his pheromones are have lingered on my mind since last night. It’s a totally new sensation, different from anything I have ever felt before.
His scent makes me want to bend in obedience to anything he says. It’s heavy, like a drug. I'm left wanting more.
His pheromones aside, his looks alone make me weak. That man towers at about 6’5” with a muscular build and a physique that has to have been sculpted by the gods. He’s a breathtaking sight to behold.
When he speaks to me, his dark brown eyes pierce my soul, holding me captive like he is about to drink me in. Does he know the effect he has?
I tossed and turned all night after our little encounter, and by midday, I am no closer to clarity than I was the night before.
I feel a bit guilty because I had not paid him attention in the past. Sure, my life has been beyond chaotic, but that still doesn't change the fact that I have overlooked him.
And now he wants to ask for my hand in marriage.
With a deep sigh, I pick up my phone from the bedside table. I need to talk everything through with someone—a person I can trust with my thoughts. For me, that person is Danae Walker, my best friend.
She is the calmest and most level-headed person I know.
We have been friends for as long as I can remember, despite how different we are.
With her, I can truly and completely be myself.
No facade. She's never the one to judge.
With all the debacle I've had to deal with lately, she's been the one person who was a constant, holding my hand through it all.
I Facetime, and she answers on the second ring, her face filling up the screen, a wide grin plastered on her face. I can't help but give a small smile in return. She just has a way of lifting my spirits whenever she's around, without having to do much.
“Hey, Danae,” I greet.
She narrows her eyes at me. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Wow… how did you know?”
“I know you like the back of my hand. That’s a troubled expression,” she says.
I let out a deep sigh. “I wanted to ask for advice.”
“What about?”
I proceed to narrate everything that happened with me and Henry last night. She interrupts at intervals to ask for more details.
“I’m not sure about getting together with him, especially knowing his affiliation with Ares. I don't think it's the best decision right now.” I finish my narration. “How will it even go down with the press?” I add rhetorically.
How will the tabloids receive the news of us getting together?
That is if I actually consider his offer.
News headlines read something along the lines of, “Rejected mate Leila goes for the Alpha’s second best.” Or, “The embittered, dethroned Princess settles. Is that desperation?” Frankly speaking, these aren't particularly ideal headlines I want to wake up to.
I've read so much bullshit about myself on the news—both the true and the fabricated stories. I'm not willing to keep giving them something to talk about by feeding into it with more controversial stories.
She scoffs. “You can't seriously be thinking about that. Leila, who cares what anyone thinks? If you decide to go with his proposal, you’ll be getting married to a very powerful Alpha. You said so yourself. You know the amount of power and respect that union will bring. To hell with the press or whoever thinks otherwise.”
I hesitate for a moment. “It’s not just that. Everyone already thinks I'm bitter about having Cassie take over my number-one spot. They'll paint a pretty bad image,” I said, unconvinced.
“Look, if that is your worry, think about it like this. Considering the scandal concerning your family so far, what can be worse than you being a rejected mate? Or your mom almost killing your sister and forcing her into taking those blockers her whole life? What can ever be worse than that?”
I remain silent, pondering over her words. And she's right. Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way.
“Also, you don't have to cower for anyone or live in your sister’s shadow as people are trying to push you to do. You can always exist as yourself. Leila Kaye has always banked on herself from a very young age. She can't change now,” she says with a radiant grin, winking at me playfully.
A genuine smile slowly spread across my face.
“Mmmh… you're a genius. Has anyone ever told you that?” I ask, adjusting on the bed as I snuggle deeper into my covers.
Danae rolls her eyes. “Only you, Leila.”
“He also said something else that’s been bugging me,” I say.
She gives me a quizzical look. “What?”
“Being second best isn't so bad,” I add dramatic air quotes. “This is one of the most horrible things I've ever had to go through.”
Danae lets out a chuckle, “He didn't lie, though. He stated facts, but I understand why you might feel that is the end of the world.”
“Hey… I never said that. I just need to gradually adjust, but it's so difficult if I'm being honest.”
“And I completely get you because you have never been anything but the very best your whole life.
At some point, it was your entire personality.
So, you can take your sweet time. It's easier for him to say that because you both don't share the same reality.
He's been cool being known as second best to Ares for the longest time,” she says reassuringly.
I nod in affirmation. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
“Well, I might be wrong. I wouldn’t call myself an expert on the topic, considering I'm not even special at all,” she replies teasingly.
I press my lips tightly together, a pang of concern washing over me.
I don't know how she manages to find humor even in the most bizarre situations. Danae is a recessive Omega. The only girl in the powerful Walker family that managed to produce five dominant Alpha sons. She’s also rather tall, which is unusual for Omegas.
Alphas don’t like that much. People overlook her a lot.
She has built a wall around that insecurity, shielding it with humor. She wants people to believe she isn't fazed by it, but I know better.
There have been times in the past when she'd let it slip and was vulnerable with me about how the situation made her feel. She no longer does that, though. She makes a joke out of it all.
Personally, I don't like it when she does that, jokes or not. I try as much as I can to reassure her whenever the topic comes up, even though she's told me several times that it's not a big deal.
“Don’t say things like that about yourself,” I reprimand. “To me, you're special and easily the only one in my life I can describe as close to perfect.”
Her cheeks turn red. “Stop. You know I’m not complaining. This is not even about me. I was only joking about how I'm not even in the best position to advise you on these matters.”
“There’s nobody better. If not you, then who??” I ask, and we break into a laugh. “On a serious note, though, your advice is very much appreciated.”
“Anytime,” she says more seriously. “All of those external factors don't even really matter. People’s opinions and all of that. I just want you to be good, and whatever you choose to do at the end will be fine with me.”
My heart softens at her words, and I almost tear up. “Thanks, Danae.”
“Of course,” she chirps. “All that aside, though, what are you thinking? Are you considering accepting his proposal? He seemed quite serious and bold, coming outright to ask you to marry him like that.”
I tilt my head in uncertainty, lost in thoughts, “I’m still not sure,” I admit.
I’ve gained a little more clarity about my initial concern about the tabloids and the opinions of others. I'm also coming into understanding with the feeling of being seen as second best. But I'm still not certain of what my answer to Henry is going to be.
“I think I'll need to give it time just to mull over it and see how I feel,” I add.
She nods in understanding. “I mean, one up-side is you’re still messing with Luke– the bodyguard, right?” she asks. Without waiting for me to answer, she continues, “Well, once you get on with Henry, you won't need him to help you anymore during your heat.”
She says it like it was a good thing.
Somehow, the moment I hear those words, my mind and everything within me instantly rejects the suggestion. I'm perplexed at the intensity of it. I haven't considered the effect of a potential marriage on my arrangement with Luke.
I can't make sense of my body’s violent reaction to that. Perhaps I'm just being weirdly possessive, or is there something more to it? It’s like I’m not ready to let him go.
“Uhm, no,” I reply, my voice a sharper note than intended.
“Huh? I thought you said it wasn’t anything important, and he was just helping you?” she asks, eyes widened.
“I don't know. I think that would be too much change for me is all I'm saying.” I mutter.
She raises her hand in mock surrender, “Okay. I guess he's that good, huh?” a mischievous grin plays on her lips. “Well, it’s a good thing you don’t exactly have to let him go,” she finishes.
She’s right. I don’t have to let Luke go.
My mind wanders to Cassie and her family unit.
I haven’t really given it much thought, but it would not be out of the question if I wanted a family unit with Luke as one of my mates.
Family units are commonplace, and sometimes, like in Cassie’s case, they marry multiple mates all at once.
Other times, they meet their perfect matches after already being married and add them to their family unit.
If Henry and I got married, I could consider taking Luke as a mate as well.
“Actually, now that I think about it…” But the thought unravels as quickly as it arrives in my mind. I know Luke, and I know that there is someone he cares for already. He said as much once when I asked if he liked anyone.