Free The Prince's Fated Mate: M/M Alpha/Omega Paranormal Werewolf Romance (Norvargen Wolves Book 1) by Alex Ashmore Page A

Kytes, grinning. “You here for your wagsroot?”

    “Already drank it upstairs. Just came down to wash the bowl.”

    “Hmm, I see. How’s it going with the prince?”

    Will frowned. “Not good,” he admitted. “I managed to talk to him a little bit more in the afternoon, but not much came out of it. Jack and Peter roused more of a response out of him than I did.”

    Kytes sighed. “Who would have thought you having a fated mate would be so troublesome?”

    Will nodded, shutting his eyes tiredly. “And I only have a week left before they leave town. Nothing short of a miracle will help me out now,” he said.

    *

    A miracle wrapped up in unfortunate circumstances happened just two days later.  

    A bout of sudden illness sent the people of Hemslock into a tizzy. It was nothing more than a mild influenza, usual for that time of the year, but several members of the Alpha party and the Redfang entourage were hit hard.

    “They’re probably not used to the climate and food around here,” Will supposed, when Kytes brought him news of yet another brother of James confined to bed rest as of that morning.

    “That and they’re still recovering from their long journey here,” Kytes added. “The Third Son’s sneezing up a storm now, and, well, let’s just say that his mood is even less pleasant than usual now.”

    “Weaklings,” Will chortled. They were in the kitchen, nicking whatever scraps of food they could find to snack on, with no risk of being overheard by any of the Alpha party.  

    Kytes cracked a grin at that. “But it seems like Prince Dashel’s really under the weather. I passed by his room earlier, and I could hear him coughing even from outside. Hell, his whole floor’s filled with the sound of coughs. The Redfangs seem harder hit than the Den-folk, though not by much.”

    “Prince James is still all right,” Will said, thinking back to that morning, when he passed by the Alpha’s son, looking as hale and hearty as ever, shyly saying ‘Good morning’ and earning himself a polite smile and nod that had his heart twitterpating.  

    “And here’s hoping he stays healthy,” Chef Isaac said, angrily stirring something in a bowl across them. “It’s been nonstop work in here since the lot of them got the flu. We have to keep sending up tea and honey and soup to those prats. More and more work, and not enough time. I’ll quit if even more of them get sick, I promise you that, Will. It’s a damn good thing that they know how to make their own tea at night, because if I had to do that for them too, I’d snap in a second.” The chef carried on muttering to himself while Will and Kytes finished off their mid-afternoon break.

    Passing by the dining hall, Will could see a few members of the Alpha party inside, Prince James included, seated around the head of the massive rectangular table that took up nearly half the entire room. They were engrossed in a discussion, and though he couldn’t hear a word of it, Will could see in their faces that it was a serious debate.  

    Pa was in the reception, and Will went up to him. “What are they talking about in the dining hall?”

    “I’m about to find out,” answered Pa. “The Alpha just requested my attendance.” His eyes suddenly lit up. “Why don’t you come along with me?”

    “Can I?”

    “No harm trying.” Pa shrugged. “You’re my son, and you get a bit of leeway with that. Not too sure about you though, Kytes,” he added, eyeing the taller man.

    Kytes held up his hands. “It’s fine, I’m not very interested in those matters. I think it’s best if Will isn’t bothered by my presence in front of Prince James, anyway.”

    Will flushed. “Is this why you want me to come along with you, Pa?”

    “Every second extra you have with the prince is an opportunity,” said his father, and before Will could argue, he grabbed his son by the arm and led him down the corridor to the dining hall.

    The two alpha-males standing