Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 116 - Safe While Sleep, Stubborn While Go

Chapter 116: Chapter 116 - Safe While Sleep, Stubborn While Go

My dreams were a confusing blend of both worlds - palace gardens with skyscrapers rising from the center of them. Running through corridors of steel and glass, my black fox form sees one of the many Lunar Goddesses from my world.

Wearing a white business suit as she casts judgment on the royal court of my family, all of them transforming into cream colored werewolves and jumping through windows. And through it all, a steady heartbeat - like a drum calling me home.

> Wherever that actually is. <

I awoke with a start, immediately aware of several things: the storm had quieted own to a gentle rain, my hair was loose around my shoulders, and I was laying pressed completely against Kyrie’s chest as if she were a particularly comfortable pillow.

Panic flooded me with adrenaline as I straightened quickly, hands already moving to gather my hair even though I didn’t know where the elastics even were. I stood there locked with calm brown eyes, half of my dark strands ringed between a thumb and index.

"The bad part of the storm has passed."

My voice was as cool and aloof as I could make it despite that energy I’d hustled up with. She matched my tone while handing me the ties that... I must have either given her or dropped on her...

"So it has. Here."

Fixing my hair, smoothing my clothes, still feeling a little damp as I stood and wore my jacket and backpack - only then did Kyrie rise off the crate as well. Pulling up her wrinkled lightweight black jacket, she flung it over one shoulder with an unphased look...

That irritated me simply because it seemed effortless.

> Like she isn’t bothered at all by what has happened. Annoying. Vexing. Stupid- <

"Thank you. For pointing out the shelter. And breaking inside it."

"Anytime, Princess."

I look to the side, feeling even more put upon by the way she says that term. So fluidly, like she has said it a million times to a million people.

"...You don’t have to call me that if you don’t believe it."

Turning hastily to leave the confined space, the corner of my vision caught all that manufactured calm of hers rapidly dropped to severe tenderness and a wistful resignation as her hand clutched her clothes over where my head had been laying.

Still, I don’t stop moving until I’m outside.

> Vrika, I don’t usually curse in the crude way of this world. It feels somewhat beneath me. But I really can’t think of anything to describe that... other than ’fucking adorable’. <

Why is she like that? Why am I like this?

Both of my hands scrubbed at the misty drizzle of rain falling on my face when I stepped outside. The sky had the first graying twilight of dawn - and I realized then that I’d been asleep much longer than I expected.

"Can I offer you a ride?"

Kyrie Voss asked with a voice just as calm as earlier while gesturing toward her SUV. The one she could have just ran to take cover in on her own last night instead of staying here. If her mind wasn’t flush with happy headed optimism that this...

That this between us is...

"No. I prefer to walk. Clear my head. Besides, I’m sure you have business to attend to. And perhaps a nap to take."

She didn’t push the offer after I refused... just smiled and nodded. Like she expected exactly that answer. How could she, when I didn’t even mean to say three quarters of that at first?!

"Take care, Citra. Let me know if you need anything, anytime."

I watched her walk toward her vehicle - and only when she had driven away did I allow myself to exhale fully. To walk behind a low wall and collapse into a crouch on the ground hugging myself... because a certain realization was unsettling me.

"I never, ever, felt safe enough to fall asleep in the arms of any of my ’lovers’."

> But I guess that’s not what we are, anyway... right now. <

And I’m not actually a Princess fearing assassination. Just a... new mother that is supposed to have more wariness deep in her bones than I do. At least enough to not make me fall asleep on her!

Shaking off both my feelings and my wolf’s much too convincing whimpers about my foolish behavior, I turned toward the city and began walking. I had a plan to execute and an independence to secure.

Maybe after that, I can think again about all of this with a clearer heart. But for now, what had happened in that shed... came with the storm and left with it.

Or at least, that’s what I told myself as I made my way back to the Oak Knot for a shower and to get ready for the day. With Vrika’s now dissatisfied silence putting pressure on me that I don’t need.

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

Sitting in a chair, my foot waves about and shifts the motel curtains as I stare at the phone in my hand. According to the internet search results, I would need to use this ’rideshare app’ service rather than trying to flag down or call a ’taxi’ on the street like Helene thought.

Apparently it’s the more efficient and economical option in Vossden. Though it also relies on them being willing to take my route plan, which is only just a little far out of the way... but not any more than going to the closest airport.

Except with that, they can probably pick up a new customer quickly. That is not the case for this place I’m going. I’ve watched a tutorial video I found three times now, but my finger still hesitates over the app buttons.

"Just do it, Citra. You’re wasting daylight."

The outdoor clothes I’d purchased yesterday already lay neatly on the bed beside my backpack, ready for me to get dressed and take off from this city. Placed there before I took the shower - and after I’d eaten most of what was left in the room.

Perishables, anyway. Things that might not last over the few days I’ll potentially be gone. Everything else was stuffed in my backpack and totes, just in case...

> Well, just in case. <

My wolf has been sulking. Missing that woman enough for the both of us. Yet, Vrika’s impatience also radiated through our soul connection. The spirit had no concept of why manipulating a small rectangle should cause such hesitation.

> You just want me to go do this so I can get back quickly, don’t you? <

A scathing wolf look returns toward my grooming fox form - as if it didn’t need to be asked. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the final entries and officially made my app request for a drive that will add another thirty-nine dollars to my debt.

"And it will be the first time I’ve ever climbed into or sat within a motorized vehicle in this body. Should be fun?"