Adealine’s eyes widen and she holds my attention as her lips part. I pull myself up and fight the urge to laugh as she stares at me in shock. She leans back so we don’t bump heads. I tuck the strand into my pants pocket before she can try and swipe it back from me.
Now that I was sitting up a foot away from her face, her cheeks flushed and she looked away from me. I’ve always known that I was easy on the eyes but I’ve never really put too much thought into it. Seeing her staring at me the way she is, has changed that. I like that she’s staring. I’m having an effect on her and I can’t help the giddiness that spreads a blush across my cheeks. I’ve never wanted someone to like me as much as I do right now.
I may have just turned thirteen but I’ve been working since I was a child. My body was long and lean. I’ve always been bigger than others my age. My long curly black hair was the only thing I received from my father.
Only the offspring of an Alpha had strong dark-colored hair. It was a bloodline thing supposedly. Black and brown were the telltale signs of an Alpha or an heir. I was good looking and the little princess noticed. The name fit. She was a Princess. My smile broke out and her eyes dropped to my perfectly straight teeth. If my sister was here she’d roll her eyes at me.
“The name’s Shane, your highness,” I said as I dipped my head. I’d seen a few of the older guys pull this off. They called it, “the smolder” and Goddess, whatever it was that a smolder did, I wanted it to work on her.
“Ugh,” Adealine groaned. “You’re so… so…”
“So pretty?” I suggested helpfully.
“No. You’re so… full of—”
“Ah,” I whispered while I put a finger to her lips. “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you. Princesses don’t speak like that.”
“The hell with that! You’re full of shit and I’m not a princess,” Adea blurted out. I laughed. I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t even keep my eyes open as I laughed. She smiled and burst into laughter with me.
“Goddess,” I sighed. “You’re not like any other Princess I’ve met,” I said in mock seriousness. Her brows furrowed and her forehead wrinkled. She radiated innocence and beauty.
“Do you know a lot of Princesses?” She asked. Nervously, she swiped a strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear. She was nervous?
“Mm, quite a few,” I laughed.
No, I don’t know any other princesses. I’m a butcher, I rarely even leave the slaughter hall but my princess didn’t need to know that. She bit on the inside of her cheek.
“Well then,” she said as she got to her feet. She dusted her dress off and I smiled. “As much as I would love to sit here all day and talk to you about all the princesses you know, I have things to do, places to be, and people to see.”
“Oh?” I asked.
She was jealous and I liked that. I liked that she was being possessive of me. I liked that she didn’t want me talking about other princesses. I liked that she couldn’t continue her indifferent act. My wolf hadn’t spoken to me in a long time, but I knew from the quiet purr that he agreed. I quickly rose to my feet and flinched. I grabbed my stomach immediately and her eyes lowered to where we both knew I would be bruising.
“What about what I’m owed?” I stalled. It was a cheap shot but I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted this moment with her to last for a little longer. I don’t know what was wrong with me.
“What you are owed...?” She asked. Her right eyebrow curved as she stared at me and her lip curled. Despite the attitude coming off of her in waves, I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was already giving in.
“Didn’t you say that this was all your fault?” I dipped my chin and gestured down my torso. Her eyes tracked my movements and I suppressed my smile though I knew my eyes were bright with mischief.
“I suppose I did,” she murmured thoughtfully. Her features softened and I knew I’d won her over for a few minutes longer.
“What are you going to do about it? Are you going to take responsibility for me, or are you like your father? Are you going to leave me here bleeding and bruised?” I asked with an edge of pain to my voice.
Her eyes widened and I knew my words had struck true. Perfect. I would say whatever I needed to hold her attention. I’d do whatever it took to stay by her side. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to stay in someone’s presence as much as I do right now. She was highly addictive, I needed more and more of her with every passing moment. I needed her to stay.
She clenched her jaw and her eyes lit up for the first time since I first lay eyes on her when I first walked into the courtyard. I liked this look in her eye. The other one she had had been obedient and Princesses shouldn’t be submissive, not this princess. She was going to be a Queen, and Queens bowed to no one.
“No, I’m not going to leave you here. I’m nothing like my father.”
She reached for me, her fingers wrapping around my arm, and pulled. She was small but I leaned in so she could pull my weight easily. I didn’t care that my body hurt as I followed her, I didn’t care that every breath I took was painful as she dragged me behind her, I didn’t even care where she was taking me. At this moment, I knew that I would follow this girl anywhere.
“We have to be quick,” she whispered.