Chapter 17 - First Dinner

"Take your seat son." Father said, a broad smile on his face.

I stood for a few moments, not knowing what to do. Was this a trap?

What was this?

"Hurry son. We have waited a long time for you." Mother said kindly.

Slowly I walked to the table and took a seat. Mother said a prayer to the Moon Goddess.

I stole a glance at Ally. She sat next to Marla, opposite me. She had her attention on her food. She had not touched it. Rather, her hands seemed to be on her lap. She looked well aside from a few healing cuts.

That pleased me. I only wished she would look at me.

"Will you not eat rogue?" Father said to Ally.

Ally looked up and smiled at him.

"I am not hungry, you Highness." Ally said to him.

Her voice was soft. Not at all like the first time she was here.

As gentle as her voice was, it worried me that she was filled with fear. Also she had to eat. She had not eaten anything in a while.

"Nonsense. Have a bite. I assure you, it's delicious." Mother said kindly.

"Yes, we insist. It is the least we can do. Especially after what you have done for us." Prince Derrick said to her.

Ally smiled and took hold of her spoon. She took a spoonful of her porridge.

"Do you like it?" Marla asked her.

Ally nodded.

"How are you feeling Ally?" I asked her softly.

When she looked at me, I felt I would melt.

Her genuine smile was contagious and I found myself smiling widely until I caught myself.

"I am better, My Lord."

"Ally? Is that her name?" Prince Derrick asked.

She nodded.

"And how did you know that son?" Father asked me.

"I asked her."

"During your various meetings in her cell?" Father asked playfully.

I gave him a look and he laughed.

"Did you think your secret meetings were secret from me?" He asked with a laugh.

My cheeks reddened but I just smiled.

"That just shows how loyal you guards are." I joked.

The table laughed. Except Ally. She looked uncomfortable.

"Ally, we desire to extend our thanks for saving the Crown Prince and Marla from danger. What you did was brave and kind. We condemned you, yet you sacrificed yourself for us. If there is anything you desire, let us know now." Mother said.

Ally slowly laid her spoon down. She looked like she thought of what she wanted.

"I receive and acknowledge your gratitude, Alpha and Luna of Pack. I do not wish for much except a place to call home. I have no home to go to and I greatly desire a cottage to lay my head in."

I found her request reasonable and little but I was not happy with it. Her wish meant she would be away from me. And I could not bear that.

There was a moment of silence before Father spoke.

"Unfortunately, we can not grant that wish." He said.

"Why not Father?" I asked.

Father seemed to be thinking of his answer. Mother touched his hands and smiled gently.

"Your actions, Ally, deserve much more than an ordinary cottage to lay your head in. You shall stay here with us. It is the least we can do." Mother said kindly.

Ally looked uncertain at Mother's words. Mother nodded kindly.

"Do accept our offer." Mother said.

Ally smiled.

"As you wish, your Highness." Ally said finally with a tight smile.

I took note of her actions.

Was she not pleased with that? It was an honor to stay with the Alpha of the pack, King of the Kingdom. Yet she was not pleased?

It intrigued me.

"Ally, I will take you around after breakfast." Marla said to her, her eyes lit with excitement.

Ally smiled kindly and nodded.

I could not take my eyes off her during the meal. She was just so entrancing.

But she did not once look at me with deep intentions. I wanted that to change. Maybe I needed to have some time alone with her.

To develop her feelings for me.

"Zan. Come with me." Father said when we were done eating.

"Yes Father." I said, standing up and walking after him.

I looked at Derrick briefly for any clues as to why Father wanted to see me at that instance but he did not have an answer for me.

Ally's gaze fell on me as I stood up. When we met eyes, she smiled a little, making my heart flutter.

I returned her smile, feeling lighter already.

Father said nothing as we walked through the halls to the horse's stables. I had a feeling of dread build within me but I almost did not feel it.

Ally's smile dampened those feelings. And I could not stop smiling as I walked behind Father.

"Now that you know your visits to the rogue are known to me, I ask you this. Why did you go see her so often?" Father asked, finally turning to me.

My smile dropped from my face immediately.

"It is as I said Father. I wanted to be sure she was speaking the truth." I said.

Father looked at me as if searching for the truth. He said nothing and walked towards his favorite horse. I knew to do the same.

"Let us go for a ride son." Father said before he mounted his horse.

"Yes Father." I said before mounting mine as well.

I kept my horse by his as we trotted through the meadows.

"I am pleased to know you were trying to be careful. Now I ask, do you know why I refused her request?" Father said without warning.

I thought about my answer before responding.

"You wish to hide the truth from the people." I said.

Father nodded.

"This news must not reach their ears. They

must see their heir as strong to defend them. Not one who is saved by a rogue, a female rogue as such." Father said, his voice harsh.

I let my head hang, ashamed of the incident.

"I did my best, Father." I said.

"I know you did. It is just unfortunate she was better." Father said.

"It will never happen again Father. You have my word."

"It better not. I hope you are training for the archery contest that approaches us. I will not have you embarrass me or the pack."

"I will do no such thing."

Father looked at me with a stern smile gracing his lips. I lowered my eyes in submission.

I turned my attention to the grass below to give me some relief.

I allowed my mind to wander. From the moments I heard her steps from afar to the time I-

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to remove the memory from my mind. I looked up at Father and wondered if he had ever found out.

I was not sure he had. Only Derrick and I knew what happened and Derrick only knew half of it. But, Father had found out about my visits to the rogue. It was possible he found out about that.

"Is there something you need to tell me, son?"

I looked up at Father and smiled.

"No Father. Why do you ask?"

"I have my suspicions."

That was all Father said, leaving me to wonder what he meant.

"About what, Father?"

"With time, it shall be revealed to you."

Father stopped his horse and looked on to the Pack's boundaries.

"I believe we need to have better protection for our land. Although the men found no presence of a child wandering as you claimed earlier, they found the footprints of a person. Our land is too unprotected. Who knows who would infiltrate our land with ill intent again?" Father said.

I looked ahead with him with one thing in my mind.

Our land had already been infiltrated. Derrick and I knew that. But I had taken care of the threat permanently.

Only I knew that.