The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

Leon extended his hand for Nina, who grabbed it and exited the carriage. They were in a famous cafe house of the city about which Zenna told her in the past.

The curious gazes fixed on them, but Leon hardly cared about them.

"Let’s go inside," Leon said, holding her hand.

The manager of the cafe welcomed them, feeling blessed to see the Crown Prince after a long time. Surely, his earnings would increase after this sudden visit of the royal alpha prince.

"You can select any of the pastries from this menu," Leon said.

Nina went through the menu before giving an order to the waiter. "What will the Crown Prince take?" she then asked.

"Bring the same for me along with two coffee," Leon ordered. The waiter bowed and walked away while the manager greeted the Crown Prince.

"After many months the Crown Prince came here. He must be too busy in the work," the manager said.

"Yes. I wish to be in private with my fiancée," Leon told him. The manager understood and apologized for disturbing them before walking away.

"What’s wrong with His Grace?" Nina finally asked.

"You talk without titles with me when we are alone. Do the same. There’s no need to show so much respect toward me just because we are in the public," Leon stated.

"I’ll keep in mind," Nina said. "What’s wrong with you? You don’t appear the usual cold, arrogant man to me today. You even brought me here in a cafe, leaving your work in the middle," she added and squinted her eyes.

"You said to me that I should focus on becoming the Alpha King a few days ago before we got engaged. You said you didn’t care what I’ve in my heart. Then, after engagement, you demanded my attention. I would like to know why you said those words to me," Leon said, looking straight into her eyes.

The waiter arrived there with their orders and placed two pastries plates on the table along with the coffee cups. He bowed and left their sights.

"I felt you weren’t ambitious enough to become the next Alpha King. Also, I heard you mother saying that she wanted you to prepare for the accession as soon as you could," Nina answered.

"Previously, I thought I might affect you. But it didn’t happen. A marriage is a marriage whether it is political or a normal one. I want the man with whom I wed to look at me and give him attention the same way I will." She clarified what she truly wanted.

Leon nodded his head, but didn’t say anything. He sipped the coffee and watched Nina began eating the pastry.

"How did you feel when your father suddenly order you to leave with Radulf after the war ended?" Leon asked as he placed the cup on the saucer.

"I was devastated, and the worst part was that I couldn’t show it on my face. I needed to act like a graceful she-wolf. I did. I thought if I would win Radulf, I would become his wife only to realize later that I was wrong. I eyed a wrong man while seeing the faults in Zenna. I merely wanted to make my place because my own father had thrown me off."

Though Nina’s justification wasn’t right. She tried destroying Zenna’s family, but she chose to be the villainess to earn the favors from Radulf that time. Later, and even now, she regretted her actions.

"Now, you are trying to win over me, aren’t you?" Leon asked.

"Yes," Nina replied without any hesitation.

"Hmm."

A long pause existed between them and after that only slow slurps of the coffee would be heard or when the tiny dessert spoon hit the plate.

The waiter came there when they were finished eating and cleaned the table on Leon’s order. Once he left, Leon spoke, "When I get stressed this place I choose to rest by for some time."

Nina was curious to know what stressed him today. Was it work? Or something else? "So, do you feel better now?" she asked.

Leon shook his head. "I don’t want to go to the palace," he revealed.

"What?" Nina confusedly stared at him.

"You’ll hate me one day, Nina," Leon said.

"Why are you saying that? Did you commit some crime?" Nina frowned at him.

"No. It’s just this position wasn’t meant for me in my eyes," Leon said. He was in position to reveal to her about his truth.

"Is it because it makes you bound?" Nina asked. "You are supposed to act in a certain way. You aren’t allowed to show many of your emotions," she stated.

Leon didn’t expect she would understand him this quickly.

"I think being a good person is more important than anything," Nina stated.

"Well, I am not a good person," Leon corrected her, recalling the time he had hurt Zenna when she would not agree with him. He used bully her, shouted at her several times, and even terrified her.

"You maybe a good person for someone out there. You might know about it, but maybe that one person would be thankful for your help," Nina asserted with a small smile. She felt his life might be harder because of all the responsibilities that came on his shoulders.

Leon recalled he helped only one person so far. That was Zenna, but she never knew about it.

"You talk deep sometimes," Leon said with a chuckle.

"I’m serious," Nina replied.

"What do you like in snacks?" Leon suddenly asked her. "Do you eat apple candies?"

"Apple candies?" Nina arched her eyebrows.

"I got your answer. You don’t like them," Leon said.

"No, it’s not that. I never tried apple candies before? How do they taste?" Nina questioned.

"For that, we need to go ahead to a shop," Leon said and rose to his feet. He placed the bills on the table and asked Nina to follow him out.

As they stepped out of the cafe, Nina looked how the people were standing at the other side for a single gaze from Leon while the soldiers were guarding that place.

"Doesn’t it become strange when so many people look at you?" Nina asked.

"The Crown Prince rank comes with its own expectations," Leon replied. "Don’t mind them and walk closer," he suggested.

"Do you like apple candies?" Nina asked him.

"Yes. They are sweet and sour at the same time," Leon replied. Leon’s beta walked behind them to make sure no threat would be around.

They finally stopped near a small stall, where apple candies were being sold. Seeing the Crown Prince, the vendor greeted him and Nina too. He was scared and at the same time, felt happy that the Crown Prince stopped by his stall.

"We want two apple candies," Leon said.

The vendor prepared two candies for them. Leon took them and handed one to Nina. She took a small bite of it and found its taste quite different from the usual snacks she had so far.

Leon watched her enjoying it and smiled. He wanted to live in moments like this, where he didn’t have to worry about anything. Once they finished, Leon paid the vendor a generous amount, who he couldn’t help but thank him again and again.

As they went ahead in their way, Nina said, "I think you enjoy such a life more than being tied to a position. Well, you can enjoy your life too on some special days of a month." It was a suggestion from her behalf.

"It’s not that easy, Nina," Leon said. He paused when he saw the son of the person, who was appointed to send letters to the warzone in the Western Frontier.

’Why is this boy in such shabby clothes?’ Leon thought.

He glanced over his shoulder, looking at his beta, who stepped up.

"Nina, go to the carriage," Leon said.

"Huh? Is it over?" Nina was startled momentarily. She thought they would explore more part of the market together. However, she didn’t argue with him and went back to the carriage with Leon’s beta.

Leon, on the other hand, went to the boy, who was collecting the papers. "What are you doing here, Fred? Where’s your father?" he questioned as he approached the boy.

The young boy turned around and saw Leon. He couldn’t recognise him but he knew it was a man from high status. He greeted Leon before replying. "My father passed away a few months ago, Sir."

"What?" Leon exclaimed in shock. He had many more questions, but asking them from a young boy didn’t feel a nice idea to him. He decided to make his beta investigate in the matter and make sure to help that young boy.

Leon stuffed some money in the young boy’s pocket and said, "Go home and get some rest. You don’t need to pick the garbage from the market." The boy’s eyes filled with tears seeing a good amount of money in his pocket. He thanked the Crown Prince before rushing home.

’Who killed his father?’ Leon thought and furrowed his brows together.