Page 96 of Rogue Alpha Prince
There are some gasps, and I don’t blame them. I’m shocked too, but I don’t let it show. I have a contest to win.
I don’t open myeyes. I immerse myself in the moment, sing with him, be with him, feel with him. Line after line, his voice a perfect background to mine.
When the music ends, I open my eyes to a stunned audience. After a few seconds, everyone starts clapping and whistling.
“You’re welcome.” Cain kisses my cheek and takes off the stage with long, confident strides toward the purple armchair, where his cape and sword await.
I smile at everyone still applauding. But I imagine myself leaving this room, not caring about anyone inside of it, collapsing on the floor as soon as the doors close behind me—crying my guts out.
But I am a princess. I know how to suck my feelings up and pretend everything is fine—that I’m just this smart, but polite, nice girl. I trained for it my whole life. So, I take off the stage, moving toward the seats, too, actively choosing to feel empty. Anything else would break me.
Maybe I am already broken.
My dad sits down at my spot, shamelessly taking my mom on his lap, and they are not the only ones who start to look cozy.
I want to sit with my sister, Blake, she’s tiny, but Cain notices the direction I’m taking and calls me over with the commanding movement of his fingers.
Once again, I imagine running out of the room instead. That would mean death and I love my life too much for that. I’m stronger than that. I’m a Princess. I’m a royal alpha-blooded werewolf. I’m Rogue Fucking Prince’s wife!
I sit on his massive right thigh and pretend I listen to the lively discussion that is going on around me. I smile and nod. I answer eloquently when directly asked, share some of my wisdom when prompted, but it’s not me. Not really. It’s just my demo version, channeling my inner calm that doesn’t exist. I have to imagine it.
I notice everyone close to me looks at me relieved. Like they are thinking that’s the real me. It’s not. I am never more true to myself than when I am with Cain alone. Rage, passion and all.
I look at mysmiling mom, and this weird sadness clamps my heart. I’m not a perfect Luna to all packs, Queen to all werewolves, or the best mother my future kids could ask for. I never will be. I just don’t have it in me.
Someone gives me a card to put down the name of tonight’s best singer, and I notice it’s my ex-maid. I try to smile at her but she’s too busy flirting with my husband.
For a moment I get this impulse to grab his dick and balls through the leather pants, and tell him I’m the only one who can use that. I ignore it though. I keep my chin up, mouth shut, and body intact. Because after a possessive comment in public like that, I would probably lose my hand quicker than the seer this morning.
I choke my feelings down and I shut my emotions off. Again.
I concentrate on writing Luna Maria’s name on the card. She was very good, and it is satisfying to vote fairly for someone other than my parents. Plus, she is married and mated to chauvinistAlpha Hiram, let her have one nice thing in life!
“Aren’t you a maid of my wife’s?” Cain’s husky voice makes me look up again.
Sarah, the maid, has enough decency to shoot me a nervous glance.
“Yes, your Highness. I was.”
“So, you know who to ask for access to my bed,” he growls at her, genuinely furious she had the guts to flirt with him in front of me, and I’m stunned.
It’s not like him! Is it?
Sarah's face goes bright red, and she quickly runs between chairs in embarrassment. She’s in such a rush that I’m sure if she didn’t have the balance of a werewolf she would tip half of them over.
“Excuse us, but that bed is waiting.”
He gets up with me, and everyone—except my parents—bows to us.To him.
“Don’t you want to stay to hear who won the competition?” my dad asks, after my mom clearly mind-links him.
“Tell us tomorrow,” Cain says bluntly and leads me out with his hand on my lower back.
The ballroom doors close behind us, muting the party.
“You can sing,” I say with an empty voice, standing where I was supposed to fall on the floor to cry my guts out.
It hurts. I feel inconceivable pain deep inside my core.
