Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 56 - One Bread for Birds, Three Bread For Me

Chapter 56: Chapter 56 - One Bread for Birds, Three Bread For Me

The morning air had a bite to it as I stepped out of the motel’s lobby. My mood slowly fell with each step.

Lingering unease from earlier still sat heavy in my stomach.

> Is this really what I want to do? Use my time to confirm that I’m carrying the child of a werewolf who tried to kill me? <

A man who was, in his way, responsible for the death of his mate. Jace Duskpaw... a man I’d never want to see again, thank you.

Vrika makes no real noise or motion after I ask this. Just stays vigilant for scents and danger.

Speaking of that, it alerts rapidly. Excitedly.

"Wow. She really went overboard..."

It might be easy for a human to mistake it as just the cool morning air, but I’d never forget this particular crispness. That Alpha came back by after all...

> She spread her scent here to keep other wolves away. Stupid but pretty... isn’t really supposed to fit her! <

My wolf tilts its head - and I just sigh.

This might work on some beasts, but what about the ones willing to challenge her? It’s the logical question, and I don’t think very many in this city would do that...

But that just makes the ones that would do it all the more dangerous to someone like me. And when they find another werewolf just casually strolling through the warning pheromones like she didn’t even notice them?

I would be a target of opportunity. Or a useful hostage.

My kingdom had playhouse drama’s that cover this very topic. This was a mistake that I am surprised someone like her would make.

"No, maybe I shouldn’t be. She got emotional and made a silly choice. Like I did, wanting to send her a photo..."

At this point it doesn’t matter. It just means that I’ll have to pick a different location tonight.

I was prepared to do that anyway, with her vehicle ’stuck’ here until I ’allowed’ her to retrieve it.

What kind of choice was that? The woman didn’t even try to just ask me if it was alright to enter the parking lot for her car.

Merely took my single phrase at face value and stuck to it!

> Seriously, she’s just so very... I don’t even have a good word. <

When I’ve settled in for the evening maybe... start slower than a whole picture. Just a message, saying she could go take that white SUV back when she likes.

"Yeah, that’s good. That will do nicely."

As I made my way into the city, a small bakery caught my eye with a hanging wooden sign. The words [Bread & Breakfast] seemed hand-painted in cheerful blue letters.

I was already in love with the place.

Through the large front window I could see people waiting in line for food, clutching steaming cups of coffee. It looks to be a popular enough choice.

Sweet, yeasty, and comforting smells hit me as soon as I opened the thick wooden door. And yet even this was still not as strong and obvious a scent as what Kyrie Voss used at the motel sidewalk...

At least for werewolves.

> And while this smells like it will be tasty, it’s only... half as calming as waking up and smelling the scent of- <

Fingers reach down and pinch my own thigh. The pain - a little reminder that choices have consequences!

I intend to do that every time I think about her positively, today. Hopefully, by the time I bed down... I will have a leg left.

A display case filled with pastries that looked delectable sat under the soft interior lighting. Behind the counter, a chalkboard displayed a bewildering variety of items with names I only partially understood from Helene’s memories.

When I eventually reached the front of the line, a young brunette woman with a piercing in her lip and a thumb sized object lodged in her earlobe smiled at me.

"Love the hair! What can I get you?"

I pointed to what looked like the safest option. The same thing I saw four other patrons pick.

"One of those, please."

"The cheese danish is it? Good choice. Anything else? You look like a new face, so I’m obligated by Maurice - that’s my boss - to inform you that everything here is very, very good..."

After leaning in with a stage whisper, her lip quivers and she pretends to wipe tears out of her eyes.

"So good that I’ve gained 3 kilos since I got this job!"

What a... personality. I knew a peafowl shifter that was just as dramatic as this.

My eyes drifted over to a basket of fresh bread rolls near the register. I point at them and rack up even more debt towards a certain CEO.

"And four of those then, please."

Vrika’s tail wagged gently in my mind, as if he approved of the decision. To think of the first person to show me any kindness in this world and city.

Kyle doesn’t count, because soft wishes and weak pleading didn’t stop his best friend from kicking me in the side. A friend I know for a fact he is stronger than, if he was really pushed.

> Maybe I should have set them against each other more... <

But no, this bread is for the old blind man on the bench, feeding birds... one of the rolls, anyway.

I push the bank card into the reader, feeling that twist of uncomfortable emotions. The unwillingness to be in debt that keeps tangling with a call to just give up and use her as a stepping stone.

"Would you like your receipt?"

"No, thank you."

A piece of paper that actually shows how much I am adding to my sins? Why would I ever want that!

Back outside only a couple minutes later, I paused at the corner of the streets with the pastry halfway to my mouth in one hand and the paper box of rolls clutched at my side in the other.

The place where I met the old man was actually kind of far away. And there is no guarantee he will be there every day.

"Well, how much would it hurt to go see?"

A sudden chomp down into the first bite of this new food offers a crisp feel that yields to the layers of buttery, flaky pastry. I shiver not from the morning chill, but delight at the taste!

Nestled inside is a smooth, creamy cheese filling... a mellow sweet with that little tang the milk-substance has. Hints of vanilla - and perhaps a whisper of nasal irritating ’lemon zest’ - adds more richness to the flavors.

> Mmgh... I can see why everyone was buying one. Food culture in this world is dangerous! <

The large danish was gone in four bites. Settling the worst of my hunger, but making me turn my head back to the close-but-far shop.

"I’d have to wait in line again..."

A task which looks even longer this time than the last. I shake my head and walk away with the bag of rolls swinging from my hand... and smelling even better than inside the store.

The streets I took had a number of parents - or possibly ’nannies’ - pushing strollers along the paths. Either more are out than usual today or I’m focusing on them because of my concerns.

Leashed dogs being taken to parks and other areas avoid my path, for the most part. Though one does seem quite interested in the box in my hand and lacks the wariness for my kind it should rightly possess.

"S-sorry."

The young teenager apologizes in embarrassment for his beast. But I’m still in a good mood from eating that treat, so I just smile back and nod.

"Uh... uhm..."

He calls out after I’ve stepped away and I turn back. Seeing that I’ve reacted, he quickly fumbles for something in his pockets.