The Queen's Half

Chapter 5

Princess Phoebe

Theo stepped in front of me, blocking me from whoever was in the woods. He took a defensive stance, head lowered, claws descended. I was fully capable of defending myself, but the gesture was sweet.

There was an indistinguishable murmur of voices. I watch as branches were shoved out of the way, revealing Jupiter and Eric emerging from the tree line. They were dressed in training gear, arguing between themselves.

"See, I told you she's fine," Jupiter huffed, pointing at me and Theo with his hand.

"I saw her being chased, I was just worried," Eric said, stubbornly crossing his arms.

Me and Jupiter rolled our eyes at the same time.

"It's probably some weird kinky mating game these two are playing," Jupiter responded, shuddering in disgust.

"It was not," I said indignantly as I began to swim towards shore, Theo right behind me.

"I'm fine, Eric, thanks for checking on me," I said, wringing the lake water from my hair.

Eric nodded solemnly, keeping his eyes locked on my face.

"Ew, what is that?" Jupiter asked pointing somewhere below my navel.

I looked down and found a leech suck on my thigh, right near my still healing wound. I screamed and jumped around in place, "Oh my gosh! Get it off!" I shriek, fighting the urge to gag as the slimy creature clung to my skin. "Jupiter, get it off," I yelled, moving close to my twin.

"I'm not touching that thing," he shrieked, putting his hands out to keep me away.

Theo laughed full heartedly, "I'll get it," he said approaching me. He plucked it from my skin with deft fingers, flinging it back into the water.

I shuddered, running my hand down my leg to wipe away any trace of its presence. "Gross. I don't think I'm ever getting in there again," I said as we began to walk away from the lake.

"Alpha," Eric said from behind us.

"Yes," Theo and I said in unison, turning back to face him.

"Alpha Theo," he clarified, his cheeks tinged pink. "You have one on you," he said, gesturing vaguely behind himself.

"One what?" Theo asked, twisting his body to look over his shoulder.

"You have a leach ... on your ass." Eric said with a cough.

I pressed my lips together, my brows raised up to my hair line. Theo cringed and looked at me expectantly. I shook my head, "I can't. They're so slimy and gross, I can't touch it."

"You were elbow deep in gore yesterday," he huffed, stepping closer to me, amusement in his mismatched eyes. "Do me a solid, mate."

My heart fluttered, warmed by his claim of me, but I couldn't give into his request. "Nope," I said stepping away from him. His nearness, the feel of his body's heat, and the scent of his skin was clouding my mind. "Eric," I said, looking at my friend with pleading eyes.

Eric clenched his jaw, but nodded at me and walked up to Theo. "Alpha," he said gruffly as he looked up to the sky. Theo stuck his tongue in his cheek, but obliged and turned around. I hid a smile behind my hands as I snuck a peek at his backside. Drops of water still clung to his pale skin, his muscles taut and defined.

"Inappropriate, Sel," Jupiter whispered to me when he caught me ogling my mate.

I laughed quietly, shoving him away from me. "He's my mate, I can look if I want to."