The White Wolf Chapter 69: Dinner Together

Dinner was relaxing for the couple as they could enjoy one another. Trying to keep the dinner light after a long day, Caspain steered to easier topics of conversation.

"What were you like as a child?" He asked suddenly curious.

"Me?" She questioned as she stabbed a roasted vegetable with her fork that had been put on her plate.

"I do not see anyone else at this table?" He teased with a smile before taking a bite of his food.

Sitting up straight she narrowed her eyes and spoke "I was a wonderful child. Well behaved and well mannered." Then proceeded to eat the vegetable on her fork.

“I imagine you as a cheeky child.” His smile shone in his eyes as he began telling her his thoughts.

“Cheeky huh?” An eyebrow raised in question as the corner of her lips subtly turned up.

“Yes, there is a little bit of devil in those angel eyes of yours.” He looked at her with a devious smirk that made her heart flutter.

Unsure if she should take offense or not she decided to defend herself. "I hardly ever got in trouble as a child. Even if I did it was a trivial matter." She emphasized with a wave of her hand.

Caspian poked holes in her story. "That just means you were good at not getting caught." He said with a knowing smile.

Her mouth opened and closed causing Caspian to burst out laughing.

Stunned she sat still as Caspian reached over and kissed her cheek. Every time he would look at her, he would begin to chuckle again. Alexia forcefully stabbed the other pieces of food that were on her plate.

"Well," She announced. "I do not believe you were a saint of a child."

"Oh, I most definitely was not." He said and chewed his food proudly before continuing. "I'm sure my mother has a few grey hairs thanks to me."

He spoke with no reservations or embarrassment.

"Poor Judy," Alexia said sympathetically in a sad voice.

"Poor Judy? Who do you think I got it from?" Caspian asked with a loud laugh.

Alexia made a look of agreement after having spent time with her mother-in-law. She could see parts of her mate reflected in his mother.

Caspian continued. "I believe my parents ran out of ways to punish me when I was young."

"Were you that unruly?" Alexia asked concerned.

"Eh, I just had an excessive amount of energy that needed to be burned. My mother would make me run up and down the stairs till I was red in the face." He told her recounting his childhood. "It did however improve as I grew up and began training more and harder."

Smiling Alexia wondered what her mate was like as a child. His good looks indicated that he was an adorable child. Her thoughts drifted to what their children may look like. Her trance was broken as he began to speak again.

"She will never admit it but I pretty much had her worn down by the time Edmund came around, so he got away with much more than I did. Also, probably why your group spent so much time together so you guys could all run around and wear each other out." His finger made a circling motion to emphasize his point.

Alexia laughed thinking about her friend "I can see that."

"That reminds me, a few years ago I had a very nice bottle of whiskey in my office and it seemed to have disappeared around the same time you and your comrades were visiting. You would not perhaps know where it ran off to?" His eyes bore into her.

Alexia let out a laugh that echoed in the room "One bottle of whiskey? Anything else?"

"No?" He said raising an eyebrow. "Just the one. Why is that so funny?"

"Because." She laughed. "I cannot count the number of times we swiped things from your liquor cabinet." She continued to laugh till she was red in the face.

"What?" Caspian looked so perplexed. "I thought that was Gabe?"

"No, I guess we got too cocky after usually sticking to the bottom shelf.

"My apologies to Gabe." He murmured.

"Well did you ever ask him?" she persisted.

"No, He was not in a good place..." He trailed off remembering the pain his friend had once been in. "I guess he handled it better than I thought..."

"I will replace the bottle," Alexia promised.

"There is no need. I replaced the bottle a long time ago. It has just been a mystery that I could not solve." He told her.

Silence enveloped them once again and they ate peacefully in each other's presence.

After dessert and coffee were served. Alexia softly spoke. "I remember seeing you when we were younger. Always so reserved. I used to stay away because I thought us younger ones annoyed you thoroughly."

"When there are a lot of eyes on you, you watch your words more carefully." He said in a gentle somber tone before adding " Also, your little group was annoying at times." He teased.

"Me included?" She asked raising an eyebrow as if daring him while absentmindedly stirring her coffee watching the white cream of the milk absorb.

"You? Never. But as I recall you did not speak much either. Always hiding behind your parents " His voice was tender as if coaxing a scared animal gently leaning in.

"How could I? You were older, taller, stronger, and far too dashing...." The tips of her ears were red and she nervously fidgetted with her hair.

"You found me dashing?" He lost the fight to hold back his smile as it spread across his face, pleased by her words.

"How could I not?" She said as her cheeks burned crimson but for holding her head high and looking pointedly at her mate. "As I recall, I was not the only female to think that. I remember a hoard of females flocking around you at all times fighting for your attention."

Caspian pulled back and let out a groan before running his hand over his face.

"See you don't even deny it." She said with a shake of her head.

She watched as his Caspian sat back and concentrated very carefully. He looked as though he wished to choose his words.

"I'll admit." He began. "There were females who would follow me around. But-" He said emphasizing on the but. "But I believe they followed me for my position not necessarily me." His voice was so diplomatic that Alexia found herself relaxing at the words.

“Hmm,” She huffed not ready to concede quite yet.

“Now, let us retire it has been a long day.” The king said standing reaching his hand out to his mate who hesitated for a second before taking it and then stood to follow him.