No chill Ice

“Where is Dad?” Ice asked their housemaid when dinner was served. For tonight, he was having steak and beans and chilled Cabernet Sauvignon.

“He is not back yet, sir Ice. He was summoned to the Manor.”

Upon hearing the current whereabouts of his father, Ice threw the glass of wine that was served to him and growled loudly. He was no longer surprised that his father woukd be out late from his shift but knowing that he is in the manor---it triggered his long withstanding rage. He despises that place and he despises the Reds for many things. Ice is Francis’ only son. While his father had a disposition and the understanding and patience of a saint---his son was the complete opposite of the father.

Ice’s fuse is short and his temper contradicts his name.

“Very well.” He pushed the plate away, sending the cutlery in shambles and the housemaid to tremble. “ I will not eat here.”

“But, sir..”

“Tell Dad, if he comes home that I am out in the pubs and tell him to not bother, I might hang with the pups tonight.”

Ice Somber, is nineteen years old and devilishly handsome. He is an eye candy for his age, with dark hair and eyes that was as blue as the Caspian sea. However, he is a pain in the a** for his father. Standing five foot and eight inches, Ice is one of the local stars in the country. Not because he belonged to a very prominent family or a strong pack. He was a star in his own right. He races cars and dates celebrities and models as often as he changes his clothes and to top that off, he looks really good, rugged and smoldering hot. Suffice to say, he was ladies’ man and he was not shy to admit it.

His sexy physique and megawatt smile that can light the whole town could make any girl fall on his lap without exerting much effort.Be it a fellow wolf or a plain human, he still haven’t found his mate and it only added to the fun. Of course, the normal world cannot know what they are or how they came to be---to the public eye, he was nothing but a party boy in desperate need of guidance and love. To the pack, he is a trouble maker and he a male brat that his father could not control.

They were right.

He was a handsome fellow and his peers and the girls who fall in line to be his date even for a night would agree to this. But Ice had no interest in any of them. All he wanted was temporary fun. An escape to all his troubles at home. The truth was, he was incredibly sad and alone.

Though he lived comfortably and does things his way most of the time and has access to daddy’s money ---his freedom was something he actually did not like in the life that he has. His father would rather spend his days in the hospital as a physician. That was okay with him. He understands the line of work that Dr. Francis Somber had chosen to take, what he did not understand was the very little time that his father had for him.

Ice’s mother had passed away when she was giving birth to him and all his life, he had only known the love of nanny’s and house help. His younger self would have never seen an issue to this because he couldn’t barely recall it. But as he grew, that was where all the insecurities and the questions began to make sense. His absent father and dead mother and endless pit of money made him exactly the way he is now. Restless, reckless, carefree and cold. His father named him well.

All his human and wolf friends had parents who support them in every school activities, while he? He had his nanny. Eventually, he had to pass on any school activities not because he sucked at it but because he hated the feeling of being alone and even if his peers do not tell him, he could feel their sympathy. He disliked the feeling and he masked it by putting up a shield of arrogance and ruthlessness for everyone to see. He never let anyone in. Ice shut everyone out. He shut them reall good.

He was about to walk out their door when his father walked in. Francis looked exhausted. Ice have developed a habit of ignoring his father and the doctor--because he was too tired to argue, would let it slide. It was different this time.

Francis stood there waiting for him in the treshold. Giving him his full attention. His father’s eyes, though aged and had seen so much in life and death, had an authority that others had respected and feared. However, this was the first time in years that Francis managed to stop and stare at him that lasted for a full minute. Ice could feel his heart beat slower and his palms sweaty for no reason at all. It was then that he realized why Francis was a gem in the wolf world and in the human world.

He did not need to say a word. His glare was enough. Commanding. Boring to the tiniest nerve of his soul.

Suddenly, the cool air become thick with anticipation. Ice broke the eye contact.

He had not seen those emerald eyes for a long time now.

“Going out?”

“Y-yeah.” He stammered. “ The pups are planning to hunt tonight in the countryside.”

“Call them and tell them you are busy.”

“Why?” Ice was perplexed at  this order.

For the first time in many years, his father drew the line.

*****

Allie did not want to think about what had happened inside the principal’s office. She had reached a conclusion that it was a case of a misunderstanding and of course, a mistaken identity. It was impossible that she was the person that they were looking for because she was never a royal and it did not occur to her, even in her wildest dreams to be one.

In fact, she was too tired to have dreams. She works on her free time and studies full time. It was a good thing that a neighbor, a lovely old woman, who likes to be called Candy, had presented to watch over her mother when she is not occupied with knitting, for free. They both need the company, Allie thought. It was good that her mother was not left alone with he thoughts and Candy was a chatter box and they hit it off real quick and good. It gave her a sense of security knowing that her mother was with good hands.

Miss Perry gave her thirty minutes to finish her exams and Allie was done in fifteen.

“Thank you, Miss Perry.”

“Is it true?”

“Huh?”

“There’s a tweet going on campus. I want to know first.” The teacher smiled, a gesture she rarely does. Showing her her phone, but Allie was not interested. She does not even have a modern phone. Allie could not even believe that Miss Perry can smile!

“I-I do not understand, Miss.”

“Is it true that you are a royal?”

“No. Where did that story came from?”

“It’s okay. You should have told us. Is that customary for royals to do when you are abroad? Hiding from the public that you are a royal?”

Allie could not believe her ears! She hoped that the ground would open and swallow her whole. She did not answer any of Miss Perry’s questions and made her way out despite the teacher’s plea for her to stay. She’s had enough of the mistaken identity and her shift at her work starts in a few hours. Most of the time, she drops by at home to check on her mother and get some household chores done before heading to work. It was not far from the park and she usually gets there in five minutes.

She needed to go home. Now.

Apparently, she will have a hard to go home. The moment she closed the door of the teacher’s office, bright lights startled her. It was a camera flash, followed by many more. Allie was met by many students who had heard, read and was convinced that what they read was true. Word spreads fast like a bush fire in New Jersey.

“There she is!” One student yelled.

“Who would have known that a nerd like her is a royal? Should we make friends with her now?”

“And to think that she eats alone!”

“Dude, you should start dating her!” Another one said.

“Nah, maybe if they give her make over.” They cackled.

Strangely, Allie could hear even the whispers and she covered her ears.