Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 239 - An Experiment With Systematic Care

Chapter 239: Chapter 239 - An Experiment With Systematic Care

I point at the seat for him to take when he looks like he doesn’t know whether to do what he wants... or let me do what I want. Pulling a small comb from my new purse, I take out and fix my hair right there.

"Oh, that’s like how you wore it before. So that wasn’t... like... a bet?"

Fixing a look on the child, trying to remember he *is* but an innocent child and not a rude adult... I clearly fail to control the warmth in my eyes. Or the lack of it.

"I... I mean, that’s what some of my friends said when I showed them pictures. That... sorry."

Oh my, I’m being glared at for intimidating him. I raise my eyebrow at her as I take my seat across from the cute pairing. Holding out my hand in something like the ’peace’ sign of this world, I use it to express the perfect number.

"It was not a dare or the choice of anyone but myself, little Paul. This hairstyle is one I personally like and two truly is the best. For instance, I am having a much more fun time because there are the both of you here than if only one of you tried to ambush me."

"We just thought we might catch a glimpse of you leaving."

Zoé defended quietly while unconsciously leaning forward and a bit closer to her partner. Heh, I really want to see the look on her face when I tell her that I have no interest in men - or boys.

> The trick is to narrow your eyes and wait just long enough for them to panic over what is left to choose besides the norm. Clarifying that the very young are also out of your... I believe they call it ’strike zone’ here? And then... <

My wolf has no humor for my stories of scandalizing young ladies of the court today, if it ever had. But ’come see me when you are old enough’ is such a great flirty line, no matter the world! It gives them confidence in their looks.

> No, it does not make me just look wildly unselective! Seriously, you are mean today... <

"Well then, the purpose of inviting you was not to harp on you over that. Order whatever you’d like. I’m quite hungry myself."

The server had approached our self-seated table - a young woman who immediately pulled out her pad and pen when she saw me look at her. I didn’t hesitate to tell her what I’d like this afternoon.

"I’ll have three orders of grilled salmon, each with a side of herb-crusted potatoes, and one order of the soup of the day. Also, a plate of the roasted vegetables and whatever your bread service is."

"Drinks?"

"One small house blend coffee - black. One water... and one cranberry juice, please."

The server scribbled it all frantically, as I looked expectantly at the teens. When they hadn’t raised their voice and she looked like she was going to step away...

"And whatever my young friends wish to eat and drink."

"That... that wasn’t for all of us?"

Paul asked weakly, like someone very confused but also grateful - does he not like fish? I guess my orders are something people just have to get used to.

"Of course not. I would not be so presumptuous as to forcefully pick something you may have issues consuming. What would you two like?"

Their faces are of course... pricelessly exhausting. Including that of the waitress, who keeps eyeing the ’order for three’’ already in her hand.

> Did they think I was going to nibble daintily at a salad like some social media ’influencer’? Clearly they’ve never seen a pregnant with an accelerated birth werewolf eat... yes, that was a joke, friend. I’m aware few have. <

Paul quickly began scanning the options with obvious teenage hunger. But when I looked to Zoé, she was holding her menu up without really reading it. With one hand pressed lightly against her stomach.

"Just... maybe some water or tea? I don’t really think I’m hungry right now."

"You should eat something... though. You said you skipped breakfast and we missed lunch."

Paul immediately turned to her with concern. My own was not nearly so high, but the thought that she *might* be sick did trigger a certain... calculation. Likely born from me thinking of my own pregnancy.

Which is to say, that I have an ability from the system which is supposed to be able to use on others. | Matron’s Monitor |. But I have not truly experimented with it, have I?

> We tried it on the child in our womb and on ourselves, but not on others. What do you think? <

Vrika growls at the thought of thinking of anyone as ’pack’ before I do for a white haired beauty... who runs her own. Still, the only other werewolves I’ve really seen since then were... well, Luca who I was not touching if I could.

And Mira who now probably will not get so close to me, even if she can. Knowing that the Rimecoat Alpha and I... well, probably assuming too much about us.

> Oh, yes. And this cute kid’s awful smelling relative. Thank you for reminding me she exists - and the only way I might touch her is slapping her. I do not think that counts as holding my hand still for long enough. <

"You’re having stomach troubles? What kind of discomfort?"

The girl shifted in her seat, looking embarrassed that she’d become the center of conversation. She shook her head and looked down toward the floor as if it was very, very interesting.

"It’s nothing serious. Just... you know, an upset stomach. Probably something I ate yesterday."

"You complained yesterday too, actually. Zoé, you should really eat something light at least."

"I’m fine. Really."

Feeling a companionable protective instinct that probably mirrors her worried little boyfriend, I look at the poor woman we’d held back only for this conversation to turn.

"Do you have a chamomile tea on the menu for this young lady? Or perhaps a light porridge with ginger mixed in."

"I’m sure we have the tea, I’ll have to ask about the porridge."

"Thank you. Add them. Paul?"

"Oh, uh... the BLT and French onion soup. And a sparkling water with pineapple, please."

"Great choices. I’ll get the tea made quickly and bring it with the rest of your drinks, okay?"

Well, someone has identified the way for me to leave them a tip... or perhaps they are just a nice person as well. I nod at her gratefully as she steps with professional haste, at least enough without actually running.

The thought of testing the medical scan ability on her starts to boil in my mind. I’d tried to be thorough about checking the system’s limitations - especially because the ones marked [Limit:] seem more like strong suggestions.

> Pack Members Only - but what defines a pack membership? I’m a rogue in the first place. Yet, it had that... ugh, partial link to Kyrie listed in the Pack Roster. And the genealogy connection to Jace for the child. <

I certainly would not consider any of us besides the child to be of the same ’pack’. Maybe it has a different definition. If so, I would either need to use it as it understands it... or manipulate it into accepting my own meaning.

Besides, what if something was genuinely wrong with her that she couldn’t afford to wait to have diagnosed?