Chapter 25 Naughty prince

Alessandra and Ace teased each other to no end. The cold and distant Lycan prince was long gone and he was replaced with a soft-hearted prince.

The version which no one in Alvannia kingdom new that existed.The only people who saw that side of him were the ones who were close to him.

How could he be cold-hearted and distant when his mate was around? The prince couldn't help but tease Alessandra. He liked how she reacted to his teases.

Her cheeks flushed into seven different shades and she would roll her brown hazel eyes which Ace loved so much.

After a few minutes of talking, Alessandra walked back to her room and took a warm bath.

The bath was rich with herbs to help her relax her body, the Lycan king is a monster under the sheets.

It was not like Alessandra was complaining or something, she liked it last night. She enjoyed every single second of it, the first night was awesome.

When she was done taking a bath and everything, she walked out of her room and descended the grand staircase.

She was greeted with the sweet aroma of pancakes which made her mouth water, her stomach grumbled since she was already feeling hungry.

Her eyes popped out when she walked to the kitchen, she blinked countless times just to make sure she wasn't dreaming or something.

The mighty Lycan prince was preparing breakfast. His face was so serious as if he was solving the hardest criminal case.

He turned his head to the kitchen door when his mate's scent clouded his nostrils.Ace looked at Ales with a raised eyebrow when she saw her smiling.

He didn't miss that surprised look on her face.The prince new that his mate would be surprised when he walks in the kitchen and find him in an apron.

"What are you doing?"She asked as she walked to her mate and wrapped her hands around his torso from behind.

A small sigh escaped his lips, her touches made his senses awake. Liam was always active when he came in contact with his mate.

'Nauhty boy.You better calm down because there's no way we're going to do it in the kitchen.I'm cooking for heaven's sake.'Ace scolded his Lycan and it huffed in response.

"Cooking."He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and twisted his lips.

"You're full of surprises."Alessandra chuckled and leaned on the kitchen counter.

"I wanted to bring you breakfast in bed. Too bad you're already awake."He made a sad face, Alessandra couldn't help it but roll her eyes.

Alessandra's heart melted into a puddle when she heard his words, she tiptoed and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Can we just live like this?"Alessandra whispered under her breath, Ace rested his forehead on his mate's.

"Away from the hate that this world emits? Away from war and shading blood."She closed her eyes and tears flowed from her eyes.

Alessandra didn't want to lose anyone else who was close to her. She was afraid of death, she was scared to watch her close friend or family member bleed to death.

The mere thought of it made her head spin.She didn't want to have nightmares each time she closed her eyes. 

She craved for a peaceful night accompanied by sweet dreams,in her mate's warm hands as she rested her head on his hard yet soft chest, listening to his uneven heartbeat.

"I'm afraid that..."Ace paused and a frustrated sigh escaped his lips. He brushed hair strands from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

His cold fingers on her flesh made her shiver slightly, she closed her eyes for a brief moment. Ales couldn't help it, she leaned into his touches.

"It's impossible. I'm the crown prince of Alvannia kingdom and an only child."He paused once again, pressing his lips into a thin line.

"That means I'm the next in line."He shrugged.

The prince wished he could have a brother or a sister to leave the throne to them,so that he could live a peaceful life,a way from the laws that they were bounded to.

He raked his hair roughly, knowing that all that was wishful thinking.

"Breakfast is ready, would you like to have a taste of it?"The prince brushed off the topic and tried to cheer up his mate.

It was silent for some time, Alessandra nodded as a slim smile found its way to her lips.

"Sure."Said Alessandra, she was so curious to taste the food.

The prince cut a small slice of pancake and scooped it with a fork. The girl opened her mouth and bit the pancake.

She ate keenly as she tried to feel the taste.Ace held his breath as he waited for her compliment.

"It tastes really good."Her lips twisted and she nodded.

"However, salt is not enough. Nonetheless, it's really good."She shrugged.

Ace heaved a sigh when he heard her words. It was his first time cooking, he has been watching grandma and Alessandra every single morning just to learn how to prepare a simple breakfast.

Again, he learnt something new. In Alvannia kingdom, a royal is not allowed to go to the kitchen to cook for him/herself.

They only order and it's served to them.

"I would like to have a taste of it to prove that indeed salt was not enough."His lips curved into a mischievous smile.

Alessandra stared at him with raised eyebrows, she could tell that the prince was up to no good.

He traced her lips from left all the way to the right with his thumb,her lips were shiny because of the cooking oil.

His touches made Ales hold her breath and her eyes closed effortlessly.

He raised her chin using his index finger and kissed her on the lips so deeply. The Lycan prince knew how to get some things from Alessandra.

"It tastes really good."He said with a dangerously low voice when their lips parted.

It didn't require a genius to figure out that he was not talking about the pancakes.

"Can I have another taste of the pancake?"He asked with raised eyebrows and a naughty smile at the corner of his lips.

"Spoiled brat!"Alessandra rolled her eyes and stepped a few metres from him because she knew staying close to Ace won't do her any good.

Alessandra knew she would lose it as she had always done. It's hard for her to ignore his touches.

The mates ate breakfast as they talked about random topics. Grandma was not around, she went to visit her old friend and promised Ace that she would come back before twilight.

"Why the far-away look?"The prince asked in concern.

Heaving a long sigh, a smile found its way to her lips. Alessandra stretched her hand and placed it on top of Ace's, giving it a small squeeze.

"I want to go back to training."She paused and tilted her head to the side as she thought deeply.

"It has been a long time since the last time I trained. I have been so lazy because someone who used to train me is not around."

She remembered how they used to train together with Leo. The memories were precious to her because he was his best friend and he taught her so many things.

The pain that Alessandra felt in her chest whenever she thought about Leo was long gone. 

She wasn't mad at him anymore for not reciprocating her love. Ales was good now that she had found her destined mate.

A deep frown settled on Ace's features when he heard her words. 

"Who used to train you?"He asked with a raised brow.

"Leonard."She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"He was my best friend since we were toddlers, we grew up together and attended the same school."

The prince didn't like the idea of another man being close to his mate.

"I think it would be better if I go back to train because we don't know what tomorrow holds."Alessandra ran her slender fingers through her hair and a frustrated sigh escaped her lips.

"You're right."He nodded at her words because they made a lot of sense.

"Will you be my master?"A teasing smile crept at the corner of her lips as she asked the question.

"It depends."The prince shrugged and the corner of his lips curved into a smile.

"What will you give your master in return for the training?"He asked with a raised brow.

Alessandra rolled her eyes when she heard his words. She could tell that he was not up to no good.

"Hmm..."She pretended to be deep in thought.

"A kiss maybe?"She shrugged with twisted lips. 

"Really? Don't be so stingy to your master."A small frown found its way to his face and a throaty chuckle tore from his lips.

"Don't request much from your student because she would be so tired from the training."

Alessandra said with a serious face. However, she couldn't help because she burst into laughter when Ace exhaled in defeat.

She knew how to get off the hook.

_______

Since it was on the weekend, Hannah and Joseph didn't come to work on the farm.

Ace and Alessandra went began the training.The prince didn't have a hard time teaching her because she knew most of the things.

"You're good at defence."The prince clapped his hands and nodded to support his compliment.

"My father was a warrior."She heaved a sigh and sat on the wooden bench to catch her breath after training for almost one hour.

"Really?"The prince asked.

He knew little about his mate's family. He never knew that Ales's father was a warrior. Ace avoided asking her questions about her father because he was afraid that she would remember the past.

"Yes."She responded with a shrug.

"My mother used to tell me that he was among the best warriors of the pack."Her lips curved into a smile as she talked about her father.

It didn't require a genius to figure out that she loved him so much.

"She told me that I used to love him so much when I was little."She had a dreamy face. 

"My mom said that, sometimes she was jealous of our relationship."Alessandra laughed when she recalled her mother's face as she told her the stories.

"Even though I didn't get a chance to grow up beside my father..."She paused and a heavy sigh escaped her lips.

"One thing is for sure. I know he loved me so much. That is enough to keep me going. I know he's watching us from above. He's our guardian angel."

Ace smiled and nodded his head even though he didn't believe guardian angel thing. 

"So, I think it runs through my blood system. I have warrior blood."She shrugged.

"I see. You're following your father's footsteps."He said and she nodded in agreement.

"My mother won't be happy if she finds it out though."She said in a whisper as if she was afraid that someone was eavesdropping.

The prince creased his eyebrows when he heard her words. Why wouldn't she be happy?

He thought that his mother-in-law would be happy because her daughter is embracing her father's legacy.

"Why? I thought she would be happy because you're following your father's footsteps."He spoke his mind.

"I think it's because of what happened to him."

It was silent for a while. The thought of it was still hurting. It was not that simple for Alessandra to accept the fact that her father was murdered by Lycans.

Nonetheless, she learned to accept it bit by bit because she was now bound to one of them. The pain in her heart was not that intense.

It was fading away little by little. She tried hard to control her heart and not hate them that much.  It happened in the past, two decades have already passed.

She wanted to forget about the past so badly that it was still haunting them even in the present. 

It was preventing them from being happy, the past is sacking away their happiness because everyone is still embracing it so tightly.

Ace's father was still stuck in the past.

"She's afraid that she will loose me like how she lost her mate. That's why she has hated the idea of me being a warrior."

She shrugged her shoulders and a slim smile flashed on her lips. 

"I trained in secret. She doesn't have any idea that I have been going behind her back ."She chuckled and waved her hand in the air in dismissal.

"So you're a traitor?" His brow arched.