Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 85 - [K] …A Show Of Restraint!

Chapter 85: Chapter 85 - [K] ...A Show Of Restraint!

The playfulness caught me, lighting a spark that made my chest feel suddenly too tight. This wasn’t the guarded, suspicious woman of our earlier few encounters... but someone with humor - and a willingness to engage in it.

"I see. And what would the tabloid headline be?"

I raised my eyebrow and couldn’t stop the smile, even if I had a reason to want to. She tapped her chin in mock deep consideration with a tilt of her head.

"How about ’Empire Falls: Alpha CEO Reduced to Bag Carrier’?"

"Devastating. My board would have me removed by morning."

Warmth expands from that tight spot in my chest, watching as she finally checks on the photo she took. Studying it with critical eyes... her brows that pinch together when she concentrates is cute.

"Not bad. You’re photogenic even when ambushed."

She concluded out loud with more praise than for the food, before turning the screen toward me. Acting like I couldn’t make it out at all, I took the opportunity to move closer.

"May I see?"

For a moment, we stood almost shoulder to shoulder again, like when we were in line. Nearness to her sends the same waves of awareness through me.

That I could reach over and hold onto her at any moment. That, other than complaining, there might not be much she could do.

I quickly focused on the image to keep myself grounded and away from feeling disgusted with myself. On the screen was me, the flash brightened everything and captured my surprised eyes.

It was strange seeing myself this way. Not posed, not prepared, just existing in a moment that Citra herself had chosen to capture.

My mat-... she pulled the phone back slightly, into her chest, before giving me a side glance that had me hurriedly sliding my eyes back up.

"Should I send it to you like you asked? Or would something like this damage your reputation?"

"I’d risk it."

My voice lowered without conscious intent, so I cleared my throat. Standing next to her like this... is not smart, even if I don’t want to move away.

"Send it, please. It would make a nice change from the corporate headshots I’m made to take."

Watching her thumbs move across the screen, feeling the vibration in my pocket when the message arrived. Such a small exchange - really nothing at all - but I was unable to look away from her face as she looked back at me.

"Feels like you overpaid me a bit for the meal..."

What am I even saying? What does that even-

"...I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me... at some point."

The words carried a hint of open flirtation, with red ears and a slightly exposed neck, that I hadn’t expected. Adrenaline spiked in the way that I knew meant my eyes changed, as I held back my wolf.

"I look forward to the opportunity."

A rough voice gave her that answer as the moment stretched between us. It was only when she smiled and shrugged that I realized I was being tested.

But since she is saying nothing, I assume I passed? I wanted to offer to walk her to wherever she was going to choose to stay.

To ensure she arrived safely... and only that. But I knew such an offer would be rejected - possibly loudly, because holding back just before doesnot erase how I’d already messed up by marking the other place.

As she steps aside and shoulders all her many bags, the will required to not move was almost physically painful. Every fiber of my form wants to reach out for her, to offer more lastingprotection.

<To mark her with the bond.>

But I’d promised myself I would respect her boundaries, even when every Alpha instinct screamed against it. I start to count to ten but only get to two.

"Goodnight, Kyrie."

"Goodnight, Citra."

I hesitated to push my luck, but my mouth opened before she turned completely away.

"Feel free to ambush me with a camera anytime. And send me the photos."

She rolled her eyes but didn’t suppress a small smile. I watched her walk off, staring at the set of her shoulders, the subtle sway of those dark twin tails.

And the backpack and totes that are in the way of fully appreciating her hips until she turned a corner and disappeared from sight. Only then did I pull out my phone to look at the photo she’d sent me.

After a decade of having my picture taken for magazines, corporate reports, and formal pack documentation with the council... this casual snapshot felt more valuable than any of them.

I moved it to a private folder, away from the business photos and official documents that filled the download section of my device.

The chirp of my earpiece interrupted my churning thoughts and I tapped the button on the side instead of speaking the voice command.

"Alpha?"

Luca’s voice is quickly on the line. Tentative, as if he knew he was interrupting something important.

I still haven’t had a talk with him about all of this. I’m not being a very good leader, insisting that my strange actions are private without any more detail.

"Yes?"

At least I was able to resume my normal authoritative tone. I slipped too much warmth around Claire once or twice already.

"The council is asking about the situation with the Duskpaw pack again. And we’ve gotten a random complaint about a rogue from one of the Pineheart temporarily in the city."

I frowned, glancing in the direction Citra had gone. Seems like the rogues are busy targeting women today. Were the events connected?

"I see. I’ll be back at the tower shortly. Claire should already be working on something... that would have landed in her lap a while ago. Collect files on Pineheart territory disputes for the last three years to start with."

"Yes, Alpha."

I ended the call and took one last look around the food truck park. Pawnshop as our first meeting, a too short walk as the next, but this...?

"...Feels like our first date."

For a brief time, I’d practically just been Kyrie... sharing a meal with a fascinating woman. Now, I needed to get back to being the Alpha again - to protect what was important.

Including a very stubborn princess who didn’t want my protections quite yet. But should I just wait so patiently until I’m asked?

"If I were so patient, I never would have taken on the company when I did."

I started walking back toward Lunarizon Tower, the base for my pack and the center of my ’empire’. Gradually my next moves started to fall into some kind of outline of a plan.

At the top, was that someone had targeted Citra tonight and had dared to claim they acted on my orders. That couldn’t go unanswered.

My heart held onto the image of Citra’s smiles and teases. As well as the way she’d called me by my name when she left.

Without feeling like she was hiding a respectful ’Alpha’ somewhere underneath of it... at all.

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