Page 15 of Alpha Hunger

“Kitchen is closed.” The com shuts off.

One red manicured fingernail taps the bag. “I would be a very bad secretary if I didn’t remind you of the dinner in two hours. But if you can’t make it…” She reaches into her purse and gets a bar of chocolate, the same kind the prince fed Junior.

“Oh no, thank you so much. I can make it.”

She peels open the bar and eats. “I think he sent you a dress.”

Great. “How can I dial my house from the Stronghold?”

“Get a Telean to clear it.”

“Any Telean, or…?”

“Mike.” She wags her eyebrows.

“His name is Mike?”

“Nah. We call him that ’cause we can’t pronounce his name.”

I grab the bag and sift through the boxed items. Four white boxes, different sizes. Not marked. No logos or anything on them, not even red bows. I open my com and call for Mike.

“Speak your purpose,” a male answers.

“Hi, Mike, my name is Anna—”

“I know who you are. This is the prince’s private line.”

“Actually, it’s his personal assistant’s line.”

“Same difference.”

I roll my eyes. “I’d like clearance to call my parents.”

“Negative.”

“What do you mean?” Sighing, I take off my dreadful shoes.

“I mean what I said. Negative. Clearance denied.”

“Why?” I look at Tamika, who’s only paying attention to the boxes on the table. I push the big box toward her. “Go ahead and open it,” I whisper.

Her eyes light up.

“Because,” Mike says.

“Because?”

“No other reason was given.”

“Okay. Hold on. Who gave you thisbecausereason?”

“The prince.”

“Thank you,” I say, and we hang up. I dial the prince.

“Omega,” he greets me immediately.

I’m gonna lose my shit. “Anna,” I correct.