Page 95 of Rogue Alpha Prince
“She is safe because you trained her well,” Cain says to my dad, forgetting about any royal pleasantries.
“I did, thank you,” says my dad with a smile.
How he can smile, when the Rogue Prince holds a knife to my skin, is beyond me.
“Alpha?” I hope for the blade to leave my skin.
Cain looks at me and licks my cheek one more time before taking his knife.
“Alpha Asher, please tell me,” says one of the Alphas, Bradley, and for a moment, I’m grateful for some redirection. “Now that you are no longer the first in line to the throne, who would you see in the position of next heir?”
‘You were supposed to inherit the Alpha King position?’Cain mind-links me immediately. He sounds surprised, which vexes me.
Plus, I don’t want to get a headache from him forcefully entering my mind whenever he wants.
Before I can respond to either of them, someone else interjects with his unwanted opinion.
“No offense, but I always said it would be problematic for a woman to sit on the werewolf throne—maybe it’s even better that you… secured our freedom in a different way, your Highness,” says Alpha Hiram to me, whose wife, Maria, rolls her eyes at him.
He tries to sound respectful, but the offense is taken.
“Gregory is more than capable of the role as the next in line, but the last time I checked I’m still the oldest child of your Alpha of Alphas. Maybe Iwillclaim thethrone for myself, andwewill rule over the whole continent. I’m sure you will all feel very safe and lucky to be subjects of the mighty Rogue Alpha Prince over here.”
There is silence in the room, and I don’t have to look at my husband to know he gives them his signature smirk. At least I hope so.
I do look at my father though, just to check if I didn’t cross a line, but he smiles at me. Proud, maybe? Is that the same emotion as a minute ago when Cain said he trained me well?
The break ends, and everyone goes back to the mismatched velvet armchairs, with a lot more enthusiasm than karaoke should ever ignite in a bunch of powerful Alphas at the King's court. Luna Maria goes on stage to perform some rock tune. She’s good. So good, I’m wondering if she was a professional singer before becoming Luna.
“Ash, why don’t you try this year?” Gregory laughs at me.
I would smack him if not for his birthday week.
Cain puts away his empty beer glass with a loud clink, stands up unbuckling his fur cape, and pulls me up by the hand.
“Come on, let's win this thing.”
What?
Chapter 29 – I Choke My Feelings Down
Cain leads me to the end of the stage and starts browsing the song selection. He points at one of the sad songs sung by a duet, and I nod. I used to sing to it in the car—daydreaming about finding my true mate who would one day sing it with me. Before my life changed abruptly after actually meeting him, a dream turning into a nightmare.
He mind-links me, while grabbing my shoulders to lead me to the front of the stage,‘Okay, listen to me. You will start singing, I have to hear you first, then I will join you, and we’ll sing the whole song simultaneously, just like in the original.’
I look at him dumbfounded.
“Can you do that for me?” he whispers, eyes boring into mine.
“I’m… yeah. Yes, Alpha.” I nod and turn around to the microphone and the touch screen. I start the song that Cain chose for us and close my eyes.
I don’t need to look at the lyrics. Or at the curious looks from everyone surprised by seeing Rogue Prince in full warrior gear, minus the cape, on a stage with me.
He does look like a rock star right now and it is kind of hot. Okay, very hot. Another reason to close my eyes.
I start softly singing the first verse and feel Cain pressing his belt-and-knives-covered torso against my partially exposed back.
He joins me in the next verse with this sexy, low voice of his, somehow perfectly matching mine.
