Page 23 of The Alpha’s Heir

“Offended?” She blinked. “Science no. Whatever gave you that idea? I find you, and our differences in culture, quite fascinating.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling small for some reason. Like I’d misread all the signs.

You didn’t. My wolf growled.

“Dinner is served,” Stephen broke the awkward silence as he placed a tray in front of Helen.

“Thank you,” I spoke for both of us when he set a plate down for me.

Cut squares of some sort of cheese that had gone bad sat on top of a pile of weeds with a drizzle of something orange.

I sniffed, trying to be discreet about it.

“Charred tofu on arugula with a mango demi-glaze,” Stephen explained as if he could see the confusion on my face.

Tofu? Is that prey?

Cultural differences.

“It looks delicious.” I smiled at Stephen.

He bowed. “I’ll pass your compliments to the chef.”

I wasn’t sure what chef would pass this off as food. It was barely large enough to feed a mouse. But I’d just get used to it. For my mate, I could do this.

I turned my smile toward Helen. “I thought Roman would be joining us tonight.”

“Roman?” She laughed over the rim of her wineglass, not bothering to touch her food. “Why would you think that?”

I motioned to the third place setting. “I’m eager to speak with him again.”

Helen arched an eyebrow. “Are you? And why is that?”

“The marriage…” I started, confused. “We should talk about our future. There are some things he should know—”

The sound of the front door slamming had me pushing back my chair, ready to protect Helen and her staff from an intruder as something loud crashed in the hall.

He’s here. My wolf’s tail wagged when the scent of leathery spice filled the air. Her nostrils wrinkled as she sniffed something else, putrid like vomit.

Roman stepped around the corner, holding up another man. Whereas Roman was tall and proud with dark hair and broad shoulders, the other man was lithe like a dancer with windswept golden hair and a jester’s grin that split his face in two as he clung to my mate.

My heart beat quicker at seeing Roman again so soon, and I forced myself to stay seated, resisting the urge to stand and help him with whoever this drunk-smelling fool was.

“Roman, we were just speaking about you.” Amusement laced the councilwoman’s tone. “Thank you for finding my wayward son and bringing him home. Justus, darling, come meet your new bride.”

7

Roman

The color drained from Meg’s face as she looked us over. I didn’t blame her. What a sorry introduction to the man she was being married off to.

Somehow, I’d managed to convince myself that she wasn’t as pretty as I thought. It was a lie. She was beautiful, wearing that yellow dress, and I had to tear my gaze away to focus on the task at hand.

Justus was heavier than he seemed. I was rougher than necessary as I dumped him onto his chair. I’d gone back to my men and unit, just to be sent on a wild goose chase again to track Rabbit down. Figured I’d find him in a seedy nightclub drowning his sorrows.

He really needed a more original escape.

“My bride?” Justus slurred as he lifted his head. I put a glass of water into his hand, maybe a little too forcefully.