Page 54 of Ruthless Reign

I stare wide-eyed as Cade sneaks up behind me, slipping into the empty seat to my right. He grabs a menu, acting completely coy as we all gape at him.

"Alpha Cade," Sarah greets. "Welcome."

"Thanks," he grins, giving her a handshake. "What's good here?"

"What are you doing here?" I whisper, trying to keep my voice low even though the others can clearly hear us.

Cade flashes his dimples, lowering his menu. "I figured you might need some company after everything. Plus, I'm absolutely ravenous. As soon as you mentioned food, I knew that was the perfect idea."

My eyes dart sideways to Lena, watching as she hides behind her hand, covering a laugh. When I look at Beau, I'm surprised to find he's just as amused—not hostile at all toward his brother's…rival? Comrade?

"It's no issue at all, Red," Beau says, turning to Sarah. "I'll have the waffles, please."

Lena and I share a look as she finally lowers her hand, composing herself. "Same for me, thanks."

Cade glances over at me. "What about you, Rocky?"

"Call me that one more time," I warn, leaning toward him. "And I'll give that nickname a new meaning."

"Ahh," he laughs. "But you'd have to find a rock first."

I smirk. "Plenty of mugs in here."

"I'll have the waffles too—thank goodness for all day breakfast," Cade orders, placing the menu down. "And if you could ensure there are no mugs in a five-mile radius to our table, that would also be great."

Sarah looks baffled, but nods, unsure what to say. "Nyx?"

"Pancakes," I grumble. "Thank you."

When she's out of earshot, Lena leans on her elbows, watching Cade with interest. "So, you're Nyx's new mate."

I glare at her, but she ignores me, smiling sweetly at Cade. She'd get along perfectly with Annabelle.

"I am," he answers happily, putting his arm on the back of my chair. "I'm a lucky man. As is your brother," he adds, winking at Beau.

Beau chuckles. "Yep. But Red certainly keeps him on his toes."

"I've heard Lex call her that as well. I'm curious—where did that nickname come from?"

I stiffen, eyes widening at Beau as I silently plead with him not to tell the story. But when he grins, licking his lips and rubbing his hands together, I know I've lost that battle.

"Well! It all started the day we arrived…"

After lunch, I wave goodbye to Lena and Beau as we start making our way back to the office.

The original plan was to drop Cade off and go back to Lex's guest house for a few hours of rest, but when Cade bypasses the office, resting toward the guest houses, I have no option but to tag along.

"Aren't you going back to the meeting?" I ask, bewildered.

"I told them I'd be back later," he answers, smiling with his hands in his pockets.

I nod, falling silent as we walk on the pathway. Cade greets every single person we walk past, and to my surprise, they all seem to really like him—waving back with bright smiles. A few people still give me looks of confusion, but I'm sure it's more to do with the fact that Alpha Daxton told them I'm a super freak of nature. Well, not those words exactly, but he may as well have said that.

When we reach the guest houses, I pause in front of Lex's, waiting for Cade to continue on. He stops with me, glancing up at the house.

"Daxton has done well," he comments. "They are really nice and well organized. Some alphas don't make any arrangements for their guests."

I laugh softly. "You should see Alpha Wyatt's set-up. He puts all of us to shame."

---