Page 17 of A Mysterious Slave for the Lycan Prince

Absolutely! Too many lives are at risk—I need them to keep in line, or they can go home. I won’t accept any failure!

The twins exchange a gaze and nod at me with a content look on their face.

Meanwhile, the old lady started to tell us what she can serve us today. They have quite some stews and hot pots.

“Are we on a tight schedule?” Elise asks. “If we only have twenty minutes, I would go for something that’s ready fast, but if not…”

“I want everyone to regain their strength because the second part of the drive will be long, and we don’t even know if we can drive the whole way. We might even stay the night here if that’s possible.” I look at the old lady, who nods eagerly.

“If you want to stay, we have a few rooms for spontaneous guests.”

I smile thankfully before turning my attention back to Elise. “See. Order whatever you want!”

The girls look at each other excitedly. “The hot pot—” Elise starts.

“—for us, please,” Elodie continued.

“With extra potatoes,” they add in unison.

“I can also make it a bit spicier.” The lady smiles. “It will warm you up further. How about the curry hot pot?”

“Yes!” They both beam.

Steve and I both go for stew with a lot of meat in it, while Marcel goes for the fish hot pot, also spicy.

My two problem children grimace a bit at their choice. “Don’t you have any burgers?” Henry grumbles with distaste.

“No, honey,” the lady says. “We adapted our menu to what our customers ordered the most, for it to fit the cold.”

Henry glares, obviously ready to throw a hissy fit over not getting his burgers. Before he can do so, I interrupt him, looking at him sharply. “We are happy with everything you have!”

Don’t piss me off further, just order,I tell him, annoyed.

For the first time, Henry looks a bit unsure.

“We’ll take the creamy chicken stew with rice.” Anthony finally orders for the both of them.

I can see how Elodie is about to say something to Henry, but to my surprise, she tenses her fingers instead, takes a deep breath, and says nothing. I’m glad to know that they indeed stick to what they just told me. One less problem to worry about.

The old lady seems to have taken a liking to Steve, as his stew looks particularly rich and tasty, and she serves extra rice for him too.

“Are you playing favorites?” Marcel asks with a grin.

For a split second, I fear another conflict. To my surprise, the lady chuckles. “My,” she says, “another hungry young man.” She winks. “I might have some extra bread for your fish stew, too.”

“I’m so close to calling you mom.” Marcel beams.

She snorts. “You bunch are the funniest guests I ever had. I’ll make sure to remember you.”

“We like you too,” I point out with a smile and mean it. She has been so nice to us.

“Are you all flirting with my wife?” the old man, obviously her husband, hollers from the back of the kitchen.

“Ah, you.” She laughs. “Allow your old woman some fun with these young gentlemen.”

I watch them interact for a while, noticing that for a split second, I feel anxiety in me again, this sad feeling of maybe never finding my soulmate, of always being alone, and never having my mate at my side. I wish to have what they have. To grow old with my mate, and love her to the best of my ability.

To my surprise, Max uses this moment to trot into my mind. He was asleep for most of the drive to the diner, but now he seems to be awake.We’ll find her,he promises.The Goddess has a plan for us too. She is definitely not leaving me without a mate to cuddle with.He stretches and yawns a bit.

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