Page 43 of Dearest Alpha Brothers 1: Vampire Prince

She wasn’t wrong. The moment we stepped into the section, I felt like I’d walked into anime heaven. Everything sparkled with that perfect aesthetic, from the crystal chandeliers shaped like cherry blossoms to the holographic displays showing the latest fashion trends.

“Oh my God,” I breathed, stopping in front of a display of the most adorable accessories I’d ever seen. “Is that… a tiny vampire bat bag charm that actually floats?”

“Get it,” Archer said immediately, already signaling a sales assistant.

“What? No, I couldn’t?—”

“Prince.” He leaned close, his breath tickling my ear. “If you think I’m going to let you leave without that charm when your eyes just lit up like actual stars, you clearly don’t know your big brother very well.”

Two hours later, I’d given up protesting Archer’s excessive shopping habits. Sylvie explained it was a lost cause anyway—apparently, spoiling his family was one of Archer’s favorite hobbies. The floating bat charm had been joined by several matching accessories, three designer outfits that Sylvie insisted I needed, and a collection of products that promised to enhance my “natural vampire luminescence.”

“And now,” Sylvie declared, expertly juggling her shopping bags, “it’s time for the Starlight Café.”

I gasped as we entered. The café occupied a corner of the mall’s top floor, all soaring windows and elegant white marble. Sunlight streamed through crystal chandeliers, casting rainbow prisms across pristine tablecloths. The air smelled of expensive coffee and designer perfume, filled with the gentle murmur of New Vale’s young elite at play.

Everywhere I looked, beautiful people lounged at carefully spaced tables—heirs comparing shopping conquests, young clan leaders holding court with their admirers, socialites pretending not to watch each other over the rims of porcelain cups.

A server in an elegant black uniform appeared immediately, bowing politely. “Alpha Archer, welcome back. Please, follow me.”

He led us to what was clearly the best table in the house, positioned perfectly to see and be seen, with a stunning view of the coastline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I tried not to stare too obviously at the pastry displays we passed. Everything looked incredible—delicate macarons, glossy chocolate eclairs,jewellike tarts that made my newly vampiric heart ache with impossible hunger.

“The blood-infused beverage menu for you, sir.” The server presented me with a special card edged in dark red. “And our regular selection for the others.”

I studied the options while Sylvie and Archer debated the merits of various pastries I couldn’t eat. The blood-infused drinks at least sounded amazing—everything from rose-blood lattes to crimson chai teas.

“The caramel blood-fusion latte is excellent,” Archer suggested, noticing my indecision. “And they make it with O negative.”

After we ordered—blood latte for me, various pastries and drinks for the others—Sylvie frowned at her phone. “Where’s Hunter? He’s not answering my texts.” She tried calling, then huffed in annoyance. “Straight to voicemail. I swear, if he’s blown his entire allowance on gaming stuff…”

I sipped my latte—which wasdivine, the O negative blending perfectly with the caramel—and tried not to look too wistfully at Sylvie’s chocolate eclair. Being a vampire prince had its perks, but right now I’d trade all my new designer clothes for just one bite of that pastry.

“Hey, sorry I’m late!” Hunter appeared, juggling several gaming store bags. “There was this limited edition?—”

“If you say you spent your whole allowance again…” Sylvie threatened, but her eyes sparkled with affection.

“Nah, just half.” He grinned, grabbing a plate from their selection of pastries. “Besides, Uncle Archer said?—”

“At least order properly.” Sylvie sighed as her brother piled chocolate-covered everything onto his plate. “You’re not taking all that to play games.”

“Hot chocolate too, please,” Hunter called to the passing server, already pulling his noise-canceling headphones from his bag. “I just got to the final boss level, and?—”

Archer waved him off with an indulgent smile. “Take the next booth if you’re going to game. Just try not to get chocolate on the upholstery this time.”

Hunter beamed, carefully balancing his plate of sweets and newly arrived hot chocolate as he moved to sprawl across the neighboring booth. Within seconds, his headphones were on and his gaming console was out, the world effectively forgotten.

The sudden hush that fell over the café made the rest of us look up, though I’d been half expecting this confrontation. I’d first noticed these women when we arrived at the mall—their perfectly coordinated outfits and calculating stares had stood out even among New Vale’s fashionable elite. Over the past two hours, they’d been like expensive shadows, always just visible at the edges of our shopping expedition.

They’d been outside the boutique while I cooed over the floating bat charm, pretending to examine window displays. When we visited the crystal accessories store, they’d lingered by the fountain, their designer shopping bags suspiciously few for an afternoon at Crystal Palace. Even during our brief stop at the beauty counter, I’d caught glimpses of them browsing nearby shelves with too-casual interest.

Now they entered the café like they owned it, designer heels clicking against marble in sync. They moved like a perfectly choreographed K-pop group, if K-pop groups wore couture and radiated pure social superiority. Up close, their predatory intent was unmistakable—they’d been waiting for this moment all afternoon.

Their leader scanned the café like a queen surveying her domain. The moment she spotted our table, her perfectly painted lips curved into a smile.

“Alpha Archer,” she practically purred, leading her group toward us. All five women dipped into elegant curtsies. “What a lovely surprise.”

“Lady Isabella.” Archer’s usual playful tone held a careful politeness that made me sit straighter. “Enjoying your afternoon?”

“Always.” Isabella smiled, her gaze sliding over our shopping bags before landing on me. Her perfect eyebrows arched just slightly. “And who might this be? I don’t believe we’ve been introduced to your… companion.”

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