Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 238 - My Treat... No, Not Her Vrika!

Chapter 238: Chapter 238 - My Treat... No, Not Her Vrika!

"What if I take the two of you to get a drink at that cafe over there as an apology for all of this and to let you two calm down... and then I take photos of you and your boyfriend together. Would you let me send you those?"

Her eyes peeked over toward Paul before she looks down and nods. Charming people is definitely not about pursuing the same failed attempt over and over, but instead finding the way they cannot deny a connection to you.

The two men were already backing away now that the situation was considered resolved. Which was good. Simple and easy, with no more complications.

> So of course I cannot leave well enough alone now, can I? <

"Excuse me, gentlemen..."

Pocketing my device, I take steps away from the children and clasp my palms together in a familiar gesture with my most gracious smile. The one I used to reserve for particularly tedious court functions... where I had to pretend foreign dignitaries weren’t - well, assholes.

"May your path be comfortable. Actually, you both look like you could use some refreshment after all that... vigorous guard duty. Should I perhaps ask them to put a bowl of water out for the two of you when we go in?"

The younger guard’s mouth opened slightly before Webb caught his arm and steered him away without responding himself. Smart man. Though I caught the veins bulging in his neck and how taut his muscles were.

> See how easy it is to put people in their place. You don’t let them think they have any power over you when they do not. Much more satisfying than letting them lumber around making threats. <

Where I boldly sit in my fox form hidden underneath of it, my wolf stares at me and whines. Vrika had been fully ready to try its hand at defending us - not believing they would back off so easy.

Flexing my fingers out in reality in a much more confident display... Paul was staring at me with something approaching an uncomfortable level of awe. Zoé, meanwhile, looked like she was reassessing me, again.

From a dangerous vixen - in her world’s sense - to a dangerous werewolf. Well, at least someone finally thinks so! I clap my hands together twice happily.

"Come on then. I think we all deserve something warm to drink after that performance I gave. If they have food you want, you are also welcome to eat - because I most definitely will be eating."

I gestured toward the small cafe across the street, already anticipating how much more pleasant befriending these two will be with another meal on my stomach. It was one of those places that looked somewhere between modern and classic.

Like it was trying to emulate the ’subdued but quality’ interior design styles that Helene studied - but at scale and with materials that were nice at a glance but not real wood. Which of course didn’t mean it was a bad place, the smell of coffee and food does not seem cheap at least.

"Over there. Follow me."

Accustomed to choosing the best places to both be alone and seem at the center of attention at royal functions, I took the lead toward a corner table with good sightlines of the entire floorplan.

Paul hung back from the table slightly, looking increasingly uncomfortable despite having come right along. After clearing his throat nervously he actually takes a step back!

> I guess sitting alone with two beauties may be too much for him... poor young man. <

"Um, Citra? You’re... you’re really paying for this, right? Because we kind of... didn’t bring money for much of anything..."

I paused in the act of pulling out my own chair - something that my mother would be annoyed I’ve grown used to - and turned to look at him. His girlfriend actually looked away from us both before moving her hands away from her own chair.

> Ah, she’s so cute! She really didn’t care, but now does because he did... <

Vrika of course has no appreciation for my people watching. Or rather, the spirit is actively upset that I’m paying too much attention to some random werewolf. Good.

It should be upset. I haven’t forgotten what it asserted about my past!

"You came out of the house without any funds at all?"

"Uhm, I have what my dad calls... mad money. Like, for emergencies..."

Zoé begins to reach into her pocket and before I can think much of it my hand is on her wrist to prevent her from taking anything out. Her eyes dart up glowing, but mine just show what I hope she sees as plain disapproval.

"When an adult has offered you a meal, never assume it is your responsibility to offer any payment. Only the shameless would take it and only the criminal would coerce it out of you. Understand?"

She looks a little confused by my seriousness, but nods anyway. To which I smile only slightly and with a soft sigh. I never was very good at teaching kids.

"Good. To answer your original concern, of course I am paying."

The snowflake looms at the top of my vision as I let go and move to slide her chair out. There is time enough to see if this world’s social rules change, after whatever may happen to its society in the wake of persistent cold.

> But until even children have to prove their worth to be fed from limited stores of food? They can be as ’selfish’ as they want, as is their right in a civilization so abundant. As long as they grow with good hearts as they have. <

"Feet up, careful now."

I advise her when she sits and I push the chair forward for her easily enough. Looking over to the still standing young boyfriend, I smirk at him and decide that teasing his side this time would be more amusing.

"Oh, my apologies. I’ve taken your chivalrous opportunity. You better hurry and sit beside her before she decides she’d much rather have the attentive me sitting next to her, hm?"

Goddess, I can’t help myself. My hand touches the top of her head, feeling the plush, weight bounce of her dark curls. As thick as mine but growing so differently...

"And of course I’d say yes to the lovely lady."

While complimenting her, suddenly I feel so self conscious that my hair is down ’wrong’ in a set of low ponytails!