The Midnight Prince

The Breakfast Table

(Flint)

After the shower incident I didn’t see Natalie again last night. Her mother said she was laying down with a headache. Which is ironic because it seems she tends to be the one giving headaches. Maybe if you tried being nice to her, she wouldn’t be so bad. I’d hate you if I were her too.

I ignore my wolf and pull a pillow over my head to mute the sounds coming from the other side of my wall. How do any of them get any sleep around here? The walls are so paper thin I can hear every cough, every sneeze, and now every alarm in this entire damn house going off at 5am.

I drag myself from bed and start looking for something to wear. Various black, charcoal, and navy blue dress shirts are all I have. With a sigh, I take a minute to think about what I should do. I could wear this shirt and a pair of slacks. The mirror hung on the back of the door reflects my image back to me. I’m wearing a white tee shirt for bed, I can’t possibly go out there in this and a pair of slacks, it’s entirely unprofessional. Look around. You’re on a f*****g farm. Nobody cares what we look like. Damn, he’s got a point.

Dylan’s room is next to mine and as much as it pains me to do this, I step into the hall and knock on his door. He answers with no shirt and his jeans still unbuttoned. “Oh, I’m sorry Flint. I thought you were my dad. Let me finish getting dressed and I’ll be right out.”

I put my hand on the door to keep it from swinging closed. “Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with something really fast. I didn’t bring any jeans or things that would be more appropriate for your lifestyle. Do you have any spare clothes I could borrow until I can run to the store this evening?” I ask, trying to mask the embarrassment threatening to flush my cheeks. The idea of having to use another man’s clothes sets the toxic masculinity I so despise about myself into overdrive, but now isn’t the time to be prideful.

Dylan seems taken aback but opens the door and gestures for me to come in. His room is similar to mine. It’s simple, with a navy blue bed spread and various sports pictures and trophies on the wall.

“Here’s a pair that should fit you. They’re too big on me so I’ve only worn them once or twice when I ran out of my others. They may be a little short but they should do for the day. We also have work boots in the shed but surely you won’t be needing those.” He finishes buttoning his own pants and grabs a gray shirt off the bed.

“Thank you for these, I appreciate it. I’ll see you downstairs.” I exit his bedroom and return to my own to change.

By the time I head downstairs everyone else is already at the table. Georgia is setting out an absolute feast of foods. Various styles of eggs, bacon, sausages, and toasts are laid out along with orange juice, milk, and coffee. To my surprise, Chance is even down before me. She looks so uncomfortable in the clothes I bought her, and her hair is pinned in a tight bun to hide her feral curls.

Natalie’s here too, sitting beside my sister. Her hair is hidden under a ball cap, with a ponytail sticking out the back and the bangs framing her face. Natalie sports a graphic tee shirt with the sleeves and neck cut off. I can see her light green sports bra through the holes. How is it her father and brother let her walk around a bunch of horny wolves dressed like that?

“I’m sorry I’m late everyone. I had to find some clothes that were made for the hard work you all do.” Natalie never looks up from her phone, scrolling through whatever app she’s on.

“Oh that’s quite alright Flint. You don’t need to dress down for us. You can wear whatever you like. I’ve also set up a spare room for you as an office so you have a quiet place to do your work.” Alpha Darrell says, passing me a mug.

I take it and pour the thick black coffee into it. “Actually, if it’s alright with you Alpha, I’d like to join your son today and start working alongside your people while I’m here.”

Everyone seems to stop what they’re doing and look at me simultaneously. Chance chokes a bit on her bite of egg, and I shoot her a glare. Even Natalie’s rich amber eyes are on me now. I chuckle gently to ease the awkwardness.“Don’t all look so surprised. If I’m stuck here in the house doing meaningless paperwork, then my men are here guarding me, not out there protecting your people and looking for the rogues. If I’m out with you, maybe we can find where they’re hiding, how they’re coming in and out unseen. And find out what it is they want. Plus, I’m a pretty interesting target for a bunch of nobody rogues. If one of them killed me, they could assume my position as future King.”

Dylan pats my shoulder. “I appreciate you willing to do that for us. You can be with me today and I’ll show you around. We’re just mowing the grass along the sides of our fields down today but it’ll give you a good idea of what the territory looks like. You ever ridden in a tractor before?”p

Chance snorts. “Dylan, I have a feeling you’ll be popping a lot of his cherries today.” If looks could kill, my sister would be dead by now.

Natalie laughs entirely too hard at Chance’s joke and wraps an arm around her. “As much as I’d love to see that-“ she pointed a painted nail in my direction, “try to do some real work, Chance why don’t you hang out with me today? I can show you what goes on at the horse barn.”

My sisters face lights up like it’s Christmas morning and she just got the Red Rider BB Gun. “Really? That would be incredible!”

“Chance I’m not sure that’s such a great idea. Perhaps you could hang back with Georgia today.”

Georgia looks up from the newspaper she was reading. She opens her mouth to reply but Natalie’s speaks first. “And what’s so wrong with her spending time with me? We’re the same age, we have the same interests.”

I snort. “And what exactly would those be?”

Natalie crosses her arms and scowls at me. “Getting as far away from your grumpy ass as possible. Let go of her leash, big brother, and let Chance make her own f*****g decisions.” She seethes. Fire erupts in her amber eyes, and I have no doubt she would torch me right now if she could. Gods her temper is almost as bad as yours. Drago grumbles.

“Natalie! You cannot speak to people like that, especially not a Kingston. Have you completely lost your mind? Apologize this instant. It’s not our business what Flint decides for his sister, and we have no place givin’ our opinions.” Georgia reprimands her daughter and I raise a cocky brow to Natalie, which only adds to the inferno of rage I can practically feel rolling off her.

“You’re right Mama, I’m sorry for being disrespectful.” Georgia nods curtly and pats Natalie’s arm, accepting her apology and getting up to start clearing the table. As soon as Georgia walks away, Natalie makes a face, flips me off and turns to Chance. “Do you want to stay here and clean silverware, or do you want to come learn to ride a horse?”

Chance turns to me, pleading silently with me.

I roll my eyes and shrug. “If that’s what you want to do, just please be safe.”

Chance and Natalie share a glance of victory. I stand to clear my plate and get out of here before I change my mind.