Page 165 of Rogue Alpha Prince

Knowing I am his true mate… Of course, he can’t fathom ordering food for his date when she’s perfectly capable of doing it herself. I would hate it if he wouldn’t let me choose for myself.

I smile at the stressed-out waiter, and order a well-done burger with sweet potato fries and kale salad. He flees to the kitchen with werewolf speed, as soon as he can.

“So, when will I finally get my punishment?” I look back at the menu. It’s way more elevated than I expected from the pub in a small northern rogue town, where we came for some pack business.

It’s been a week since I accidentally admitted to the unauthorized use of Cain’s laptop, and he keeps hinting at the inevitable punishment but never gets to it. I can’t take the anticipation anymore. I’m a stressed-out mess.

He takes meeverywherewith him, even here, just to rub salt in my wound, I guess.

I look back up at him, and he just shrugs his shoulders with a smirk. Jerk.

“So,what kind of cousin is Claudia?” I finally gather the courage to ask all the hard questions. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know, but I can’t take it anymore.

“We have the same fourth-grandfather, so we don’t even share point-zero-five percent of DNA, if that’s what bothers you.”

“Oh. I thought it would be way worse. With your logic, we are cousins too, so whatever. You made it sound like a close family.”

“She is close family,” he is not helping his case at all.

I look at him with narrowed eyes. “Okay…”

Soon, the waiter comes back with our plates. The food smells amazing, but I almost choke on my first bite when I see who's coming to our table.

As a trained princess I’m not easily stirred, but it’s the very last criminal I personally sent over the border to Rogues—after our prisons were already up and running with success.

“Alpha, how good to see you. And Luna… I owe you everything.”

Wait, what?

“Jake is a chef here,” Cain automatically says, “Do you know each other well?”

I nod with a polite smile, wondering if my burger is poisoned. Should I switch meals with Cain in front of Jake to gauge his reaction?

“Luna fought with her father over sending me here, and thank the Goddess she won. Being sent here was the best thing that ever happened to me, Alpha.”

Cain arches his perfect full brow at me, demanding an explanation. I clear my throat.

“Before our prisons’ capacity was adequate, we still had to reject and throw out some of the criminals,” I admit. “Everyone always wanted to get rid of the worst ones without any useful skills, but I was an advocate for teaching them these skills so they could start honest lives after their punishment—and to throw out people that wouldn't be useful foryouin the war. Like cooks, and other peoplewho could increase the quality of life here enough for you to not want to convert them into warriors. Or have a war at all.”

I take a few sips of my orange juice just to do something with my hands.

“And here I was thinking all your cooks are notorious criminals,” he winks at me, and Jake laughs at his Alpha’s joke as he should.

I smile at the guy, trying to guess his intentions. He starts fidgeting with his hand.

“Don’t get me wrong, I always respected your father and the royal family, but my previous Alpha was a dick…”

“Alpha Timothy?” I vaguely remember that Timmy was present at Jake’s judgment.

“Correct. Luna, I know I was mad at you for sending me here, to put it mildly,” Yeah, he tried to choke me, only cementing his exile, “But Rogue Prince gave me this whole awesome life—even when I was just a prejudiced criminal rejected from another Kingdom. And maybe I miss the internet sometimes, but I wouldn’t change it for anything else in the world. He’s a very good Alpha, good for his people, and I’m happy for you.” Jake’s eyes drag over the mark on my neck, making me feel exposed.

And a little bit embarrassed—which is not a feeling I’m very familiar with.

“I met Alpha Timmy recently. He is a dick.” Cain says, and takes a spoonful of heavenly-smelling stew. “Fuck, you have to give Greyson a recipe for this.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

“It got so cold so quickly,” I whine while putting a leather jacket over my sweater, and Cain comes to rub my arms. I’m sure it’s still sunny and warm back at my parents’ home.

---