(Willa)
The Alpha Prince, Alpha Dracos, Prince Caspien, stared at me with an impassive face I knew didn’t reflect whatever it was he was feeling.
Part of me wanted to run again, a huge part of me, actually.
I already felt intimidated by his career and status within the Crescent Moon pack, but to know that the entire pack belonged to him?
I was mated to an Alpha before, but Alpha Dracos, the f.ucking prince, was an Alpha Alpha.
“You took my seat.” I managed to say, and one of his real smiles crossed his face.
“It wasn’t my intention, nor was it to keep who I am from you.” His voice seemed raw. I nodded, turning over this information. “This doesn’t change anything,” he went on, “It’s still me.”
It actually changed a whole f.ucking lot. Would he expect me to be Luna?
“Do you, if we you know,” I gestured between us, hoping he understood. “Would you want me to be Luna?” I swallowed; that was a s.tupid question. Of course, he would want that of his mate; any Alpha would.
His dark brows tugged together. “Not if you don’t want to. I want you in any capacity I can get. I would love your insight on a few things, but if you don’t want to do anything officially, then I’m fine with that. We’re managing fine without a Luna.” He gave me another of his rare smiles.
“Okay.” I thought it over; I hoped he wasn’t just saying it so I would accept him. “Is this one of those things that you say now but then inevitably resent me for later?”
He frowned. “Willa, if you don’t want to talk about it, that's fine, but do you mind me asking what happened with your first mate?”
Great, my insecurities were showing again.
“Um, it's a long story, a very long one, one that I’m still working through. I honestly don’t know if I will ever stop working through it.”
He nodded. “And your son?”
“Emmett.” I bit my lip. “He’s his.”
“Okay, well, when you’re ready, I’ll be here.” The sincerity in his voice got to me.
“I want to tell you,” I surprised myself by how much that was true. “Just not here.” I looked around as a few new customers started to come in; the lunch rush was about to start.
“Are you going to let me take you out then?” he asked, a smirk on his face and his eyebrows raised. “Just to talk, of course.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Sure.”
His eyes widened for a second. I got the feeling he was rarely taken by surprise. It made me feel good.
“Okay then, how about tonight?”
“I need to see if I can find someone to watch-”
“I’ll come over. We’re off work tomorrow for our orientation in the afternoon, so we can have a sleepover,” Cali cut in.
“How long have you been there?”
She shrugged. “I get bored. What time?” She turned to Caspien. He studied her with a blank expression.
She crossed her arms and returned his stare. “You know you’re like The Beast in Beauty and the Beast at the beginning of the movie. Broody grunts occasionally, doesn't smile.”
“You’re not scared of me?” He eyed her, an eyebrow raised.
“Sh.it. I’m terrified of you. You walk in as if you own the place, and you very well might, but you also look like you’ve killed a few people.” She shrugged. “But I’m not wrong about the Beast comment.” She flashed him a smile turning towards the kitchen, her ruby red curls swung behind her.
“She isn’t wrong.” I bit my bottom lip, trying not to smile.
He huffed. I tilted my head, asking him to deny it.
“Fine.” I swore he smiled into his coffee. “I get it. Will you ask her if seven works?” He looked at me his expression back to being calm and impassive, but his eyes seemed to hold something else, something resembling laughter maybe.
“Seven works,” Cali shouted from the kitchen. I guess she didn’t make it far.
I closed my eyes and shook my head.
“Where should I meet you?” I tried to keep my voice even despite my stomach being in knots.
“I’ll pick you up; text me your address.” He slid a business card across the counter. I picked it up without looking at it and shoved it in my apron pocket.
He stood up and left a twenty on the counter again. He would really need to stop doing that; he would leave money even when he brought the coffee. I watched him walk out, he seemed like he owned the world, and I guess he did, at least this part of it.
This was too real. I half hoped I could put this off for a bit longer, but I had to admit I was excited to see him for longer than a few minutes, to actually be able to open up to someone about everything.
I was worried that I would end up not actually liking him, and I was even more worried that I would.
- - - - -
Cali and I walked back to her place to get the kids so she could quickly shower and pack a bag.
Her daughter, Loreli, inherited her red curls just a bit lighter in color. Emmett and Loreli had become so close; it was such a relief to me. Not just to feel better about leaving him when I went to work but also that he already had a friend close to his age. His first real friend.
“I brought a little blow-up mattress for Loreli. She can sleep in Emmett's room.” Cali walked off to set it up as soon as we got to my place.
She hasn’t been here since she picked me up the first day of work, but she walked around like she owned the place. I admired her confidence and the ease she seemed to live her life. I knew better than to assume it wasn’t a mask, but it was one she wore d.amn well, if it was.
“Pizza party, movies, wait, you don’t have a TV.” She put her hands on her hips and surveyed my living room that opened to the kitchen.
“Still getting settled,” I replied. We didn’t have a TV in the cabin either. I had gotten used to it.
“Hmm, well, I have my laptop. We can use that.” She turned to me with a wicked smile. “Now, let's get you ready.”
“I don’t even know where we’re going.”
She shrugged and tugged me behind her. “Shower.” She pushed me into the bathroom. “Make sure to wash all your lady bits.” She closed the door before I could respond.
Showered and mostly dry, she came in and helped me blow dry my hair, making my waves turn slightly curlier than normal and my hair shine.
The sight of her helping me made my heart clench. It used to be my childhood friend Lola and occasionally my mom helping me like this. Even having a new mate and a life that I was genuinely enjoying didn’t detract from the dull pain of what I lost and the life that I could have had.
“You good?” Cali asked. I didn’t realize she had turned off the blow dryer.
“Just thinking, my best friend Lola used to help me do this, and it made me miss her.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
I had to think about it. It was a while. She did come out to the cabin once, and we met in town a few times. She went off to college, and despite our frequent letters and occasional calls, I didn’t really see her that often in person since I left.
“It’s over a year at this point.”
“What happened?” she asked, rummaging around a makeup bag she brought.
“We’re still close, but life, I guess." I gave her a small smile, and she mirrored that.
“I understand that more than anything, I had to cut a few people off, and it sucks. I’m not saying you should cut off Lola, of course,” She gave me a half smile. “But paths change, and people change, and it f.ucking sucks.”
“That it does,” I sighed.
“Close your eyes.” She came at me with a makeup brush, and I tried to sit still.
“Not too much, please.”
A knock came at the door, and I jumped.
Cali frowned, checking her phone. “It’s only six. Stay here,” She walked out of the bathroom.
I tried to listen, but it didn’t sound like him. The door shut, and I ventured out behind her. Cali was trying to balance six massive pizza boxes and two bags in her hands.
“Let me help.” I grabbed some of the boxes from her and set them on the table. “This is so much for the three of you. Did you forget two of them were kids?” I laughed.
“I thought you ordered this,” She set the bags on the table, rummaging through them. She pulled out some garlic bread and two bottles of champagne before handing me a card, “It’s from prince charming.” She smirked, turning to grab glasses from the kitchen.
I opened the card.
A small gesture for your snarky “best” friend
Remind her the beast gets the girl in the end