Chapter 35
Iris
Choosing an outfit was a hassle since I was oblivious to the occasion, but then I opted for a pink flair dress that could pass for both a casual and formal one.
I really hoped that I wasn't underdressed as I'd subconsciously become more aware of my looks. After what the Alpha told me that night, I didn't want to look like a total flop just because I came from a humble background.
My lips widened with a satisfactory smile when I gazed at my reflection in the wall mirror. Today, I decided to be different, styling my red hair into a messy bun with some curly strands falling to the sides of my face.
Enveloped with confidence, I smeared my lips with a lip gloss that erased the chapped state of my lips. Everything was set aside from my footwear and then the door swiveled open.
His familiar woody scent hit me but I refused to spare a glance at him as I contemplated on what reaction would be the best to a man who had been away from his mate all day.
His nonchalance was eating deep into my soul and the urge to ask him to be more present in our lives grew daily. I was seconds away from snapping and baring my heart out to him.
"You're ready, I see," He noted and strolled to the bed.
I could hear the mattress dip under his weight and I wondered how I'd cope if he ever laid his weight on me while mating.
'Get that abominable thought from your mind, Iris!' I chided myself
"What thought?" He asked calmly with a smirk on his face when I glanced at him from the mirror.
I balled my fists, angry that I'd thought out loud.
"That shouldn't concern you, Gradel. A woman should have her secrets, shouldn't she?" I deflected, hoping that it worked so he wouldn't probe further.
He sighed and trotted toward the shoe rack and picked out a pair of silver sandals. "This should match your dress, don't you think?" He handed them over to me.
My tongue was tied up immediately and I scowled at him.
"Ummm..." I drew in a deep breath, placing a lid over my frustration. "Thank you,"
Truly the sandals matched the dress after I'd put it on, but I'd rather have dinner with the Alpha than admit that fact.
"If you're ready, let's go." He held the door open for me and then spared me a backward glance. "By the way, you look beautiful." He commented.
As usual, my body betrayed me as my cheeks flushed immediately.
**********
We walked silently on the street with our arms entwined to put on a show, even though it felt normal being in such a romantic position with him.
Several questions were whirling in my head, each seeking answers, but I was scared of getting a backlash from him or appearing to be desperate.
By the gods, I was losing my sanity.
"Shit!" He cursed and halted on his steps.
I peered at his face, watching his horrified expression and then my eyes followed the direction of his gaze and a peal of laughter burst out from my throat.
I'd barely collected myself when the children, who stopped playing the moment they saw us, rushed towards us with screams of delight.
"Prince Gradel!" They chorused, bouncing happily.
I returned my gaze to him and forced down another laughter that threatened to erupt within me. This was surely going to be fun.
"We shouldn't have followed this route," He confessed.
"Because of the children?" I mused, "Tell me what happened. Why are you so scared of them?"
He relayed everything that happened to me and a crazy idea struck my mind. It would be fun watching the children break into those impenetrable walls he'd built, all I had to do was help them.
"Alright, give me a minute, let me explain to them why you can't fulfill your promise to them today as you intended," I smirked and his eyes widened with hope.
"Are you being serious right now?" His voice which had become almost inaudible out of fear, rose with expectation.
"I'm your woman, remember? I got you," I punched his arm playfully and closed the little distance between the kids and me.
I bent down to their level and whispered some words to them, telling them that Gradel was more than ready to play with them and got to my feet.
Immediately, they barreled towards him with their dirty hands which had enough soil on them. One of the boys who had a ball threw it at him and he caught it with the speed of light.
Our eyes locked and then he glared at me, but I shrugged, silently nudging him to have some fun.
"You should throw the ball back to us, Prince. You're a big man, aren't you?" A girl asked innocently.
Gradel nodded at her and I knew what his response would be. Men hated being challenged, especially by the people they feel aren't up to their rank.
"Of course, but I'll make sure none of you gets the ball." He said and began to run around with the children following him excitedly.
I watched from the sidelines, imagining how jovial he would have been as a child. With the kids, he looked free and less-burdened as if he didn't have any care in the world.
Here, the memories of the past weren't plaguing him.
The dirty ball struck my arm, jerking me from my thoughts and then I heard a whistle. I followed the directions and found Gradel smirking mockingly.
"Is that how it's going to be?" I pouted my lips, stumping my foot on the ground in fake anger.
"You can find out by joining us," He chuckled.
"Fine!"
The distance between the both of us became immaterial because of how fast I collected the ball from him. He tried to catch me and then I threw it toward the children.
"You shouldn't have done that," He complained.
"Well, that's for being mean." I laughed.
They kept passing the ball to each other ensuring that it never got to him until he got frustrated and began to plead. The passersby stopped, watching us enthusiastically while some of the parents cheered us up.
A few hours later, I was breathing hard as if all my energy had been zapped from my body.
He walked to me, his shoulders slumped in defeat but his face bore unhinged happiness.
"Those children are so smart," He observed, "I really like them?"
I gasped and gazed at him in surprise. "You do? I thought you don't like children?" I teased him as he rolled his eyes.
A couple walked up to us with the little boy who initiated the game with bright smiles on their faces. They inclined their heads, grinning from ear to ear.
"Greetings, Prince, My lady. I'm sorry to interrupt your discussion but my wife and I won't be comfortable if we don't appreciate you." The man said.
"Why? We only played with the children," Gradel replied.
"It might seem that way to you, but it's very important to us. You know, my son is a very quiet boy and he rarely relates with his mates, but after you promised to come and play with them yesterday he became so excited that he couldn't sleep. I don't know what you did to him but he has changed and we are so happy, and that's why we request that you do us the honor of having dinner in our house tonight." His wife pleaded with her eyes.
Gradel stared at me, his indecision glaring like the sun. He lacked sentiments and I knew that those words would hardly get to him.
He might hate me for doing this, but I wasn't about to let him ruin the wonderful evening we just had.
"Of course, we'll have dinner in your house. Please, lead the way." I beamed, ignoring Gradel's intense stare at me.
He could punish me later.