Chapter 162

“I might consider it if you have snacks or something,” I offered and cleverly brushed off the question.

My stomach chose that very moment to growl. I didn’t feel embarrassed, though. No one should be embarrassed for things that were natural, especially as I had no memory of when I’d eaten last. Hunger wasn’t a joke.

“See what I mean, Highness?” I grinned at Sideburns while he frowned at me, probably not expecting me to be so unladylike. But who was he to judge? Shifters ate raw meat in their animal forms, right?

“Here.” Shade reached into his pocket and removed a snack bar with “Chocolate Protein Bar” written across it. He was a godsend.

Unexpected relief washed over me. It wasn’t that I finally got to eat, but that I could read. If I were illiterate, there’d be more obstacles in the way of my survival.

I grinned at Shade as I took his offer and bit off half of the bar. I barely chewed it before I swallowed it, and then I regretted it and stared at the rest of the protein bar.

“Take it easy, Catnip,” Shade said, laughter in his bright blue eyes. “I have more for you.”

My eyes lit up. “You do?”

“Of course,” he said. “Now let’s get you checked out before we get on the road.”

Sideburns growled at him, but Shade pretended not to see his brother’s scowl and led me away to see a healer.

It turned out that my wounds had all healed after the healer removed my bandages. The only indication was a faint, red star on my skin.

The healer looked a bit puzzled. “You can heal even faster than the Alpha Heir.”

“Pip is more than meets the eye,” Shade said, then whisked me away to get a clean outfit.

I was happy to see that it wasn’t a uniform like the shifters wore. I managed to get a man’s shirt and casual pants to fit me with a belt, though I had to roll up the long sleeves and pant legs.

When I came out of the bush, Shade beamed at me. Sideburns’ heated

gaze roved over me before he barked harsh orders at the men. Except for the three princes, all the shifters had changed into their animal forms or forms in between.

They were triple the size of their animal counterparts. The shifters in their warrior forms, half-animal and half-human, carried the equipment.

“You can’t shift?” Sideburns asked me again with a critical tone.

What the fuck do you expect? I almost shouted at him.

Shade saw a flash of anger in my eyes, even though I tried to rein in my

short, hot temper.

“A virgin shifter?” His lips tilted up. “I can show you—”

Sideburns glared at him. “Do not keep testing me, Shade. Remember

your place.”

He really didn’t like the idea of Shade and me getting cozy.

“I was about to offer Pip a service,” Shade said, a smile still ghosting

his lips. “I can carry her—”