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“I had a meeting with our elders and my father. I’m going to become the alpha in the next month and a half,” he said.
“Congratulations,” Lucy said. “You are a great guy, and I know that you’ll be a terrific leader.”
“Yeah, but now I have to find a mate,” Dean said.
Something in his tone made Lucy’s stomach clench.
“You’ve probably figured out that I’ve been in love with you since we were about ten,” Dean said. “I would be honored if you would consider going through the mating ceremony with me.”
“Don’t the elders expect you to have a mate who is a bear shifter?” she asked.
“They don’t care, as long as the mate I choose has good character and would benefit our clan,” Dean said.
Lucy drew in a deep breath and said, “Dean, I’m flattered that you think of me that way. However, I’m not in love with you. I can’t go through the mating ceremony with you. Besides, I have my own life to live, and it doesn’t include all the duties of an alpha queen. I know that you will find an amazing woman who would be honored to stand by your side and give you the love you deserve.”
Dean lowered his head and stared at his plate. Lucy felt bad. She had no idea that Dean had these kinds of feelings for her.
“Is it Micah?” Dean asked.
“What?” Lucy yelped.
“Is it Micah who has captured your heart?”
“No. No one has. Like I said, I have my own life planned. I like living alone. I like being single. I have no intention of going through the mating ceremony with you, Micah, or anyone else, for a long time, if ever.”
Lucy felt a huge migraine exploding in her head.
She threw a twenty on the table and said, “Thanks for the lunch invite, Dean. I wish you luck. I need to go home.”
As soon as the door shut to her apartment, she felt the entire place welcome her. It was as though the walls were living, breathing entities that wrapped her up in a warm hug. Her soft bed beckoned her and she laid down, covering her eyes with her arm.
It seemed like her entire life had been turned upside down in the last day.
She knew that her father, grandfather, and the alpha would continue to harass her until she agreed to go through the mating ceremony with Micah. She wouldn’t find a minute’s worth of peace and quiet anywhere.
Although she didn’t have a long-term plan, she decided that she needed a change of scenery. It would give her the time to come up with a solution.
The next morning, she called her office.
“Martha, this is Lucy. Something has come up and I need to take an extended leave of absence. I have no idea when I’ll be back.”
“I hope that everything is okay,” her boss said. “Your job will be waiting for you when you are ready.”
“Thanks,” Lucy said.
She packed a couple of suitcases, turned off her cell phone, and drove south to destination unknown.
3
Micah
“How did things go with Lucy when you reminded her about the betrothal and informed her that you expected her to go through the mating ceremony with me?” Micah asked.
“She didn’t take it well. She said that she had her life planned out and that it didn’t include going through the mating ceremony with anyone,” his father said.
“How did you leave it?” Micah asked.
“She said that there was no way she was going to go through the mating ceremony and her grandfather told her that she was, end of story. I did tell her that I thought you wouldn’t mind if she got her doctorate and then opened up her own practice. Then, we left.”
