Filed to story: Sorry Alpha... I'm a Lycan Princess Now (Amber & Julian) Book PDF Free
“I know, but…”
He looked longingly at the invitation.
“Do you want to go?” I asked.
“We wouldn’t have to stay the whole time,” he said. “We could just make an appearance…”
He did want to go. I frowned a little, thinking. Noah’s help was pivotal in the development of the cure and the running of tests to ensure it was safe and effective. He deserved just as much credit as I did, just as much praise. Maybe I’d gotten used to the praise over the years. Perhaps the novelty had worn off for me, and I was just taking the gratitude for granted.
While I wanted to focus fully on helping more people and moving forward, maybe there wasn’t any harm in allowing for the occasional celebration of success. Especially if it made my assistant happy.
“What would someone wear to an event like that?” I asked.
“It’s black tie,” he said. “Tuxedos and tailored three-piece suits for the men. The women likely will all wear gowns.’
“Gowns?” I didn’t even own a gown.
“I think it would be an event to remember,” Noah said longingly. “I can only imagine how good the food will be. I bet they decorate too. Since the invitation is silver, likely the whole room will be trimmed in it.
He had so much excitement in his voice that I couldn’t deny him anymore.
“Alright,” I said, giving in. “We can go.”
“Yes!” he cheered, then laughed.
I laughed too. “You could have gone without me…”
“I’m just as assistant,” he said. “You are the main event, Healer.”
I shook my head lightly. “I’m not that special.”
A knock sounded at the door then. Great. I still had a lot of my sandwich left. But a Healer couldn’t dictate when her patients needed help, so I called out, “Come in!”
The door opened and a familiar face entered. She didn’t see me right away.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for Healer Amanda? I was told she might be…” Anna’s voice trailed as she finally locked eyes with me.
I stood up at once. Anna. My best friend.
Gods, it had been too long.
Her eyes went wide, seeing me, but then she frowned and pointed at me, her face twisting with anger.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were back in town?”
Amber’s POV
Immediately, I hopped to my feet and then raced to Anna. She just as eagerly rushed to me. We met somewhere in the middle of my office, crashing together for a long overdue hug.
Anna had been one of the few people I had made contact with after my accident. Sworn to secrecy, she knew everything – about
Alice, about my wolf, about my new life and becoming Healer Amanda. She also knew about Alice’s struggles. She’d even come to visit us a few times, though we were careful not to publically post any pictures. She couldn’t even really talk about her trip when she got back home.
The only thing she didn’t know, to my regret, was that I was returning to the pack in an effort to afford that necklace for Alice. In my defense, her own job had taken her out of the pack, so we hadn’t talked much the past few months. There hadn’t been a lot of opportunity to tell her my plans.
“I’m back,” I said, when we finished our hug and separated.
“I can see that,” she said. “Just like I saw you on the news the other night. Standing next to Alpha Julian while Head Healer Eric was being demoted…”
“You saw that?” I asked.
“Everyone saw it,” she replied.
“Right.” I supposed they did. All of my new appointments and the dozens of gift baskets around the room were proof of that.
“You…. Beside Julian,” she said pointedly.
There was a lot to catch up on.
Anna looked past me, to Noah.
“Oh! Let me introduce you,” I said quickly. “Anna, this is my assistant, Noah. Noah, this is my best friend in the world, Anna.”
“Nice to meet you,” Noah said, and they shook hands.
“Nice to meet you,” Anna said. She smiled at him, but then gave me a look, as if asking me silently if we were safe to talk around
Noah.
I trusted Noah. Though he didn’t know much about my past, I didn’t mind if he did. In the short time we’d known each other, he’s come to be an ally and friend.
The only secret I really wanted to keep was the truth about Alice.
I told Anna all that in a return glance. She nodded. We’d been best friends for so long that we didn’t need to verbally say the words to communicate our thoughts. I was pleased to see that this form of silent communication still held up despite our years apart.
“Join us,” I said and pulled up another chair to my desk. “You don’t mind, do you, Noah?”
“Of course not,” he said.
Anna dropped into the free chair, as I moved back to mine.
“Tell me everything,” she said. “But start with this. Are you and Julian back together?”
“Absolutely not,” I said.
Noah’s eyes went wide. “You… and Alpha…?”