Page 55 of Chased By My Grumpy Alpha
But she’s already plucking them.
I scowl. Arguing with this woman is pointless. She simply doesn’t listen.
A few minutes later, she sighs heavily. “I can’t get them all myself.” She gives me a look that’s trying very hard to be pitiful. “My leg is so weak.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Your leg is fine.”
“What?” Her expression shifts to exaggerated innocence. “No, it’s still really bad. I can barely put weight on it.”
To demonstrate, she takes a step and lets out what might be the most unconvincing “ouch” I’ve ever witnessed.
“Astra.”
“It hurts,” she insists, but I can see her fighting back a grin. “I don’t think I can manage all this bending and digging by myself.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I just watched you practically dance in front of me as we were walking.”
“That was...adrenaline,” she says solemnly. “From the excitement of…the fresh air.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“I’m an excellent liar,” she protests. “You’re just unusually observant.”
Despite myself, I feel my mouth twitch. “Flattery won’t work, either.”
“Please, Lucian?” She drops the act entirely, her voice taking on a note of genuine appeal. “I really do need your help. These herbs could make me a lot of money someday, and honestly, I can’t dig them all up properly by myself. The roots are very delicate.”
When she asks me this way—directly and candidly, without any attempt at manipulation—I find my resolve crumbling. There’s something about her earnestness that makes it impossible for me to say no.
“Fine,” I hear myself saying. “But I’m not doing this again.”
Her grin is triumphant and bright enough to light up the entire forest. “You’re the best.”
I try not to feel pleased at her praise as I—the crown prince of the entire Wolf Kingdom—crouch in the dirt, pulling weeds because a pretty girl batted her eyes at me.
Chapter Ten
Astra
“I need to bathe,” I announce as days of grime and sweat finally begin to overwhelm me.
Lucian’s head turns toward me, and I catch him sniffing subtly, like he’s scenting the air. His expression remains neutral, but there’s something almost appreciative in his eyes that makes my cheeks warm.
“No, you don’t,” he says, his voice gruff. “You smell fine.”
“Fine?” I wrinkle my nose at him. “I hate being dirty, Lucian. I usually bathe several times a week, and this is the longest I’ve ever gone without a proper wash. I feel disgusting.”
“You don’t smell disgusting.” The fact that he just said this seems to surprise even him, and he clears his throat.
But I’ve already spotted a small river winding through the trees below us, its water catching the late afternoon sunlight like scattered diamonds. Perfect.
“Look, there’s a stream down there.” I point it out with growing excitement. “It won’t take long, I promise. Just a quick bath.”
“Astra—”
“Please?” I turn to face him fully, putting on my most persuasive expression. “I’ll be fast. And I’ll feel so much better once I’m clean.”
His jaw tightens, and I can see him preparing to refuse. Over the past few days, I’ve learned that if I wheedle and cajole long enough, Lucian eventually gives in to almost anything I ask for. Most likely to shut me up. The thought should bother me, but instead, it makes me smile to myself. If being annoying gets me what I want, I can live with that.
