Page 33 of The Alpha’s Heir

“Stunned silent is good.” I cocked my hip to the side, enjoying the looks they both gave the dress. I didn’t think I was overly conceited, but as an alpha wolf, I had no illusions about my body. It worked hard for me. I took care of it. But it was nice to know I could still turn heads.

Or draw a crowd apparently…

The assistant and the clerk at the counter had moved toward the doors of the shop, trying to disperse the crowd gathering outside the windows who all held up little devices I assumed were the phones that Mom had told me about.

Roman jumped to his feet. “Get dressed, we’re leaving.”

“I thought I was dressed.” I looked at the gown.

“In your normal clothes,” he barked.

Justus smirked as he stood. “Come on now, this is what my mother wanted.” He held out his hand.

Despite the growling of my wolf, I took it.

Slowly, he turned me in a circle, as if I was on display for the crowd. “Dang, mutant. You clean up nice.”

“Still not a mutant.” I smiled back at him demurely, and he stumbled a bit as he took me all in. The expression on his face morphed from a smirk into something more appreciative.

So fickle, it seemed. It’s insane how powerful a woman in a pretty dress can be.

Justus leaned closer. “They’re recording this. Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?”

“I thought I made it clear that humans don’t scare me.” I fluttered my eyelashes at him.

He grinned wider. “We’re going to be all over the headlines.”

“Better give them something worth seeing then.” I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a chaste kiss against his cheek. If we were playing roulette, he didn’t flinch.

Something passed between us then.

A truce of sorts, it felt like.

“You’re going to be fun, mutant.” Justus winked.

The moment ended as the metal on the storefront window was pulled closed with a sudden crash.

“Get dressed.” Roman’s voice was cold, and he wouldn’t meet my eye. “We’re going to be late for lunch.”

*

At least it wasn’t tofu again.

I smiled up at the waiter as he placed a plate with crusty bread and a bowl of soup that had colorful blobs floating in a red tomato-smelling broth.

We’re going to die if we don’t get some meat soon, my wolf whined.

Mom said meat was hard to come by, unless you want it grown in a lab.

My wolf shivered. Shut up and eat your veggies.

“Why are you smiling?” Justus sat across from me at the table for two that overlooked the street below through the giant wall of glass windows.

The rest of the place was empty, besides the waitstaff, the chef in the kitchen, and Roman with the other guard who joined him near the back.

“Am I smiling?” I raised a spoonful of soup and blew on it, praying that it’d at least taste like it had real meat.

“You’ve been smiling since we got here.” Justus grinned back as if it were contagious.