Filed to story: Sorry Alpha... I'm a Lycan Princess Now (Amber & Julian) Book PDF Free
“Yes, she has a big reputation, but is she truly doing enough to justify her standing at the hospital?”
“I’ve heard she rarely actually sees her patients, and that she can be moody, canceling appointments without much thought…”
Hadn’t Olivia complained to me about something like that recently…? Maybe there was some truth to it then.
It couldn’t be that I was just more willing to accept criticism about Amber because I was so furious with her. I would never be that petty.
My duty as Alpha was to ensure that all of my pack members were well – cared for. If Healer Amanda … Amber was shrinking on her responsibilities, then I needed to look into it.
This was how I ended up at the hospital later that day, walking straight into Amber’s office. She was sitting at her desk, not with a patient. This only gave more evidence to the rumors.
Amber looked at me. “Is there something I can help you with, Julian?” she asked, keeping her voice level and professional. It made sense, we were at her work place.
Or she was hiding something.
“I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been cancelling appointments without any cause or notice,” I said. “There’s always cause,” she said.
She wasn’t denying the cancelations, just the reasoning. I frowned at her.
“I hardly see any reason that a patient should be put off when they are in their time of need,” I said. “It seems to me that you being fickle, using your power to play like a god, instead of respecting the vows you took to help all peoples.”
“You really believe that?” she asked. Her eyes narrowed. “Or are those Olivia’s words?” Maybe they were Olivia’s words, but that hardly mattered right now, did it? Who cared who said them originally if they were true?
“Do you deny them?” I asked. “You just admitted to canceling on your patients, don’t forget.”
“I never cancel an emergency,” Amber said. “I only ever cancel on those who disrespect me right to my face. I have tremendous patience, Julian, but refuse to be disrespected by anyone. Not anymore.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I pressed, sensing that was a slight against me. Not anymore, like I had been the one disrespecting her in the past
I shouldn’t have had to remind her that while I might have had a drunken mistake with Olivia, she was the one who had been actively cheating with Roman.
Amber held my gaze, and the air felt charged between us.
“So Roman treats you right, does he?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Amber’s retort came just as quickly, just as barbed. ‘Why don’t you just stay with Olivia?”
Amber’s POV Julian straightened somewhat at my words. Our retorts had been aimed to hurt since he first walked into my office. While I could attempt to convince myself that he was starting all this, the truth was much messier.
Hadn’t I held some contempt for him for years because of Olivia?
He had clearly seen the articles that Roman had pushed for in the newspapers. Perhaps I should have done more to convince him that those articles weren’t telling the truth. But… why?
At the end of the day, despite whatever softness we had last night, Julian was still with Olivia. Once I cured her infertility, they were going to have their own children. What right did he have to be angry with me for this perceived engagement with Roman, when he himself was committed to Olivia?
He wanted it both ways, to have Olivia at home while still flirting with me. I wasn’t going to go for that.
There was no love lost between Olivia and me, but I’d be damned before I would let myself become the other woman. Again.
“Why would I go back to Olivia?” he asked. “What does she have to do with any of this?”
Unbelievable! The nerve of him, to come in here and act like he didn’t have such a big attachment at home.
“She is your fated mate,” I said. “She is your chosen partner.”
“She is neither of those things,” Julian said. His gaze held mine prisoner, as if he was trying to be earnest. But I’d believed his lies in the past, like the lie he made to honor and cherish our marriage.
I wasn’t going to fall for that a second time.
“She’s not my fated mate, and we aren’t together,” Julian pushed.
I looked away, annoyed by this. He didn’t have to lie to me about this. “Just tell the truth.”
“I am!” Julian stepped closer to my desk.
I refused to stand up from it, or move around it for this conversation. It was my anchor and my shield, keeping me grounded- I am a Healer, a professional woman, and could maintain a level composure as well as kept the safe distance between Julian and me.
“Amber,” Julian said, his voice softening. I still refused to look up at him again. “Surely there is still a part of you that cares for me…”
Maybe, but that part was buried deep down, and I wasn’t going to let him know about it.
Who was he, to come in here and lie right to my face, like he hadn’t gotten Olivia pregnant while we had been married? Like he hadn’t kept me his dark secret, hidden away from public view? Like he 1/2 hadn’t chose Olivia over me, even when I threatened to leave?
If I had died in that plane crash, he’d probably be married to Olivia by now, having forgotten all about me.
My anger rankled all of my nerves, until I was defensive as a porcupine with my quills all ready to strike.
“Sure, there was a part of me that loved you,” I said coldly. “But that version of me died in that plane crash. Now, I only feel annoyance at your constant harassment. I’ve already agreed to help Olivia. I don’t know what more you want from me.”
He was quite for a moment. In that moment, I dared a look up to see his face. He looked at me, shocked, his eyes a little wide.
I had thought I might feel some sort of victory for having stunned and hurt him. Instead, I just felt hollow inside.
There were no winners here, no victories to be had.
With a past like ours, we could only hurt each other Again and again.
The sooner I made my money, the sooner I retrieved that necklace that Alice so desperately needed, the sooner I get out of this pack for good. And away from Julian once and for all. Then, he and Olivia would be free to live whatever life they wanted far out of my view and thoughts.
Julian didn’t say anything more. When he recovered enough to move, he nodded, turned, and walked for the door.
Regret tugged at my heart, and even my wolf whimpered a little. She hadn’t been present during the days of our marriage, but she could still feel the pull toward him.
Despite how much he hurt me, despite how much I denied myself, my heart did still yearn for him…
Foolish thing. I would never let it control me again.
