Page 30 of Once You Go Pack
The backseat of the royal car felt both expansive and suffocating. Cade sat rigidly beside Mila, hyperaware of every breath she took and every shift of her body against the leather seats. The space between them—barely six inches—might as well have been an ocean for how carefully they both avoided crossing it.
His wolf prowled beneath his skin, drawn to her intoxicating scent. Every time she leaned forward to get a better look at the landscape, the movement pulled her dress tighter across her curves, and he had to grip his thighs to keep from reaching for her.
“It’s so majestic,” she breathed, pressing her palm against the window as they climbed higher into the mountains. “The way the light hits the crystal formations... it’s like living inside a snow globe.”
The wonder in her voice stirred something dangerous in his chest. When was the last time he’d trulyseenthe beauty of his homeland? Years of duty and politics had dulled his appreciation for the very world he was meant to protect.
“The twin suns create unique refractions,” he managed, his voice tight with restraint. “The minerals in the mountain face amplify the effect.”
She turned to look at him then, those blue eyes bright with curiosity. “You sound like you’ve studied it extensively.”
“I have.” The admission surprised him. “When I was younger, before... before I had responsibilities, I used to climb up here just to watch the light change.”
Before Mother died. Before everything became about duty and control.
The thought brought with it a familiar ache, but Mila’s gentle smile somehow blunted its edge.
“I bet you were a perfect little prince,” she said softly. “All serious and studious, even then.”
“According to Lyra, I was insufferably bossy.”
Her laugh was like music, filling the car with warmth.
I want to hear that sound every day for the rest of my life.
The intensity of the thought should have concerned him. Instead, it felt right.
The restaurant emerged from the mountainside like something out of a dream—a suspended glass dome that seemed to float among the peaks, defying gravity and reason. As Martin pulled up to the entrance, Cade watched Mila’s face transform with awe.
“How is that even possible?” she whispered.
“Nova Auroran engineering,” he said, stepping out quickly and moving around to open her door.
She placed her hand in his to exit the car, and the simple contact nearly made him want to go back into the car and showher just how much she affected him. But instead, he guided her up the front steps of the restaurant while holding back his growing urge to claim her.
Once inside, the restaurant was exactly as he’d specified—empty except for the staff and them, the lighting dim and intimate, and soft music floating through speakers hidden in the glass walls.
“There’s no one else here,” Mila observed, glancing around the elegant space.
Heat crept into his face. “I may have reserved the entire place.”
She blinked, caught between shock and a reluctant smile. “The entire restaurant? For just us?”
“I wanted...” He struggled for words that wouldn’t reveal too much. “I wanted you to feel comfortable. No curious stares, no whispered comments about the human dining with the prince.”
The waiter approached—a middle-aged wolf shifter whose nostrils flared slightly as he took in Mila’s scent. Cade caught the subtle curl of his lip, the faint disdain that crossed his features, and his wolf surged toward the surface with violent intent.
One look from Cade—his green eyes flashing with barely contained dominance—and the waiter’s expression smoothed into professional neutrality.
“Your Highness,” the man said with a deep bow. “How can we serve you this evening?”
“The tasting menu,” Cade said without breaking eye contact. “Paired wines. And we’re not to be disturbed.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
As the waiter retreated, Mila leaned forward slightly. “What just happened there?”
“Nothing important.”
