Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)

Chapter 478 - Put A Muzzle On The Nuzzle (& The Mindscape)

The sound of a sewing machine steadily at work drones from behind the door that is probably quiet enough that others can’t hear it.

Anise hadn’t told me she wanted to see me again soon, nor had she asked if I would give her space. My feet almost take me the last steps closer on their own, but the rhythm I hear reminds me that she is working.

To feel useful in a world where someone she cared that much for was lost.

> And I’m not sure barging in with another young girl, even one she has met, like I’m introducing a replacement... is wise. <

Later. Maybe later I’ll swing by. When she’s... when I’m more ready.

I guess I’m a coward for seeking out the blind man next, huh? At least he can’t exactly look at me like half a stranger. Even if I have a lot of explaining left to do about who I am.

A woman on the far end of the hallway was sorting linens into stacks on a cart. Probably helping distribute them between rooms. I’d met her in my apartment building a few times and she’d actually been involved in teaching me how to do my laundry.

Not that I did it that many times myself. A lot of the good clothes needed dry cleaning. Though she taught me the closest and best places for that too. And I repaid that kindness this way.

By the windows, a pair of older teenage boys were playing some trading card game I didn’t know much about. Certainly not people that I Annexed directly, but some of their features do remind me of a certain single father that managed a convenience store I frequented.

> He always gave me an extra. From food that was about ready to be tossed for its sitting time. <

Though often if you looked at the label sticker, they usually still had another hour or more to go for that. So he was really just giving a pretty lady and good customer free food as a good deed.

But never directly hitting on me as far as I could tell. Though he may have just been trying the smart long game of winning me by my stomach. If I was winnable by a male. Which is why I felt bad and added him to the pack.

His sons, if that is who they are, didn’t even look up as we passed... engrossed in the match. At least until the girl beside me finally came alive and made *everyone* look our way.

"...I can’t believe you just did that!"

"Oh? Ready to walk by yourself again I see."

"Yes! No! That... that... that!"

Her hand waved backwards the way we came, making the two boys caught in the general direction of its wave even more nervous. Though I know this was about they way I spoke to that particular Whitecrest.

"Ah. So you did know who he was? Well, I doubt a little friction like that between me and him will affect your relationship with Paul. Great-uncles rarely are so concerned with-"

"THAT WAS MALROY?!"

> Oh. I guess she didn’t know who it was. <

Her shouting is kind of cute, though. I wonder if she even bothered to think that it’s easily going to be heard by him at the end of the hall there. It’s not like we walked *that* far yet.

And werewolves have good ears.

"If I’m not mistaken. Which is very possible, as I do not know all of the lineages of the families in this place nearly as well as I did those in my own world. Not that it matters that much."

"It matters to me!"

A hoarse, whispery outcry. I guess she finally realized she yelled a moment ago and is overcompensating. This girl really is too amusing.

"Oh, I’m really never going to get to see him again, am I? It’s over. Parents are weird now. No Paul. My life is just over."

Eyes fiercely glowing their dark brown, I do what is probably the most unwise thing possible. Pushing back the hair over her forehead, I plant a quick kiss on it before brushing my own head against it.

"I won’t let that happen. You will not grow up like I did. You deserve better. If you’re patient, I’ll do my best to fix all the matters that are worrying you. Someone your age should not lose their whole world. Okay?"

And as her eyes are overpowered by my lilac, I make such silly, silly promises to a young person I only met by chance. One whom I pictured holing up in a dark space as life stopped making sense.

But luckily it calms her melodrama twisting with real sadness enough for her to close her eyes and huff, pushing my whole face away *quite* unkindly. Well, I might deserve that and did tell her to-

"Please don’t... do that."

"You don’t want my help?"

The words come out a bit slurred since her palm is still stuffed in my cheek. But it pulls away as she opens her eyes and shakes her head.

"No, I mean don’t treat me this much like... like family. Right now. With that. That you just did."

"My apologies."

"Yeah. It’s just... I know that my mom is kind of just a human, but... she’s also my mom. And I can’t deal with this sort of wolfy stuff from you while things are weird between me and her."

"You know I’m not trying to step on any toes, I hope. Nor am I attempting to replace anyone."

It’s important to be clear about that. I knew back then that no one could replace Ravi. Not that anyone really tried, but I can see myself getting upset if they did.

"I know. My wolf. It... it was just showing me as you did it what real wolf packs are like. The... shared responsibility to take care of each other. So I get it. I’m pretty sure."

...Huh. Well that’s... new? I’ve never heard another werewolf talk about their experience with their spirit anything like that.

"You talk to your wolf?"

"Oh, uh... yes? Lately anyway."

"...Lately. Since when?"

Scratching the back of her neck, apparently a nervous habit, she appears to be thinking back quite hard before landing on an answer.

"Some time around when I was invited out to that girl’s night dinner? Maybe a bit before then. I started feeling this kind of tug and when I closed my eyes and breathed right-"

My hand covers her mouth as I breathe out loudly. Well, that’s just great. I guess I know exactly how I was supposed to be mentoring her.

"We’ll talk more about that later. Okay? I promise. It’s important, but not here."

Really don’t need start a lesson on meditating and mindscapes and being best friends with your wolf in the middle of the hallway. Her fingers wedge between my hand and pry herself away.

"Also can you stop touching me so much in general? I’m actually scared my life might *really* be over if Kyrie is as jealous a person as she seemed like."

"She’s really not that bad."

Seconds after I speak, a buzzing sound happens in her pocket. She pulls out her phone and looks at it before her eyes widen. Shaking, unlocking the screen, she turns it towards me so I can read.

???: [I am that sort of person. But I trust my mate. You’re safe. For now.]

Looking around for the nearest camera, I tilt my head at it. Clearly there’s some level of distrust going on if she is monitoring me so closely. Even if it’s not centered on me.

"Thank you, pyārī. Clearly a perfect follow up."

"Oh my god, what is happening. What does this mean!"

Looking back at Zoé, she’s already shoving her phone at my face again. On screen is a picture from the same sender. White hair, fire opal eyes, and a smile so pleasant that it’s almost criminal.

Holding her hand in that silly silent fox pose she taught me. With a caption that suggests it would be in the girl’s best interest to let me see it.

> ...I really need to turn my phone back on. So she isn’t sending pictures to random people nearby me throughout the day and ordering them to show me. <

"I’ll explain that later too. Come on."

Though honestly... that might be good social advertising for who Kyrie Voss really is. And how much I mean to her. I’ll have to give that some more thought!

And maybe rope in any media experts outside of Claire to set things in motion.