BREED&QUEEN

GARDEN DINNER

Alpha Tristian invited me to dinner. I didn't know if I should be excited or scared. The last time that we spoke was the morning that I went into his bedroom. Which was yesterday morning. I was nervous because he made me nervous. I wanted to say the right things to him, but I always managed to say the wrong things. I didn't like the fact that he was putting me in a position to have alone time with him. I didn't want to have alone time with him, but I knew I couldn't deny his request. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I decided to wear my hair down tonight. I picked a simple pink dress that I packed with me. It wasn't very elegant or expensive, but it looked nice. I didn't want to keep him waiting so without wasting another second, I left my room. We were having dinner in the garden, and I was excited. Tonight, seemed like the perfect night to sit under the moon.

I approached the table and smiled. The table was full of food and fruits of all kinds. Tall candles were burning to give us light. The large garden lights were also turned on which helped me see a little better. Everything looked so elegant and well put together. I was still shocked that he invited me to dinner. I was expecting other people to be here, but it was just me and him.

"I'm glad that you were able to make it, Eden."

He looked so handsome in his black button-down shirt and black dress pants. He was sitting across the table from me smiling. I took my seat slowly and forced a smile.

"Thank you for inviting me."

He leaned back in his chair and grabbed his glass of wine. "I feel like we started off on the wrong foot. I'm having this dinner with you, to apologize for my temper with you."

"I appreciate that very much. But you are the king and what you say goes. I shouldn't have been so disrespectful. I should be careful with the things that I say."

Some servers appeared and placed our plates down in front of us. The white plate was covered in noodles with a creamy white sauce on them. The pasta smelled amazing. I couldn't think of the last time that I had a delicious-looking meal like this.

"So, you mentioned that you had a sister. How old is she?"

Was he seriously trying to make small talk about my family? "She's six years old. She's my biggest headache but my heart at the same time. I miss her so much and I can't wait to go back home and see her."

"You two must be very close?" He asked taking a bite of his pasta.

"Yes, we are very close." I was nervous to eat in front of him but I was hungry at the same time. So, I picked up my fork and started to take small bites of my food.

"Do you like it?"

I looked up quickly, "oh yes. It's amazing and creamy. Whoever made this deserves a promotion in the kitchen."

He laughed a little, "that's good to know."

I looked at him and smiled before continuing to eat. I wanted to make small talk with him, but I didn't know what we would talk about. The last thing that I wanted to do was offend him again.

"Why are you deciding to stay a virgin?"

That question caused me to choke on my food. I coughed loudly and grabbed my cup of water to help push the food down my throat. I swallowed quickly and grabbed my napkin wiping my mouth. "I'm sorry, that question took me off guard. I'm not deciding to stay a virgin. I mean, I don't know how to answer that question."

He folded his arms across his chest. "I want to know, Eden. I find you interesting."

Well, I never got the opportunity to lose it. My mother never allowed me to be around boys. I don't socialize with other people back home in my village. I have one friend and she is just as innocent as me."

"So, it's because of your mother?"

I shrugged, "maybe."

"Well, what do you want? Are you interested in losing your virginity?"

"I don't know. It's special to me and that's all that I know. I mean, I want to lose it to someone special. I guess I just never thought that deep into my virginity. My mother never allowed me to think about it. I think I'm learning to cherish it more every day."

"I think that you should start making your own decisions. You're old enough and you don't need your mother telling you what you can and can't do with your body."

"That's true," I whispered. But it's my duty to take care of my family. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that they don't go without even if that means saving myself for the right man. Even if that means selling my virginity. My mother made it very clear to me and I understand now. That's why I'm so grateful that you allowed me to work in the village."

He smirked, "you still don't desire me? Working for me makes you happy. Do you think that I wouldn't be able to please you?"

"No, that's not it. I'm not ready to be a wife and have responsibilities. I want to make my own decisions and decide when I want to have kids. I don't want that decision forced on me because of someone else. It has nothing to do with you. But I've been controlled my whole life and I don't want that anymore."

He sat up slowly, "but that's not ideal. You know that women are breeders. That is your role as a woman. You shouldn't have to work and take care of your family. If you had a husband or a mate, they would do that for you. Women are not supposed to be working and you know that."

I held my head up high, "correct. But that's not what I want. I am an independent woman, and I can take care of myself. I don't need a man to take care of me or my family. I'll work myself to the bone before I lay with a man just for financial security."

"You think you have it all figured out?"

I folded my arms across my chest, "I know I do. I know that it's not appealing. Most women would look at me as if I was crazy. I know that it's not a normal part of society for women to be independent. But that is what I desire and that is what makes me happy. The only reason that I came here to be your mate is because it was being forced on me. I don't desire to be with you and have your children."

I wasn't trying to be rude, but I needed him to understand. It was nothing against him as a person, it's just not what I wanted for my life.

"So, you're okay with working for me? You're okay with never losing your virginity? You're okay with never having a family of your own if that means being able to take care of yours? The way I see it, you're still being controlled. You're not free, Eden. You're not living life the way that you want to. If I chose you to be my mate, you would do it for your family. If you wanted to be a free woman, you would live for yourself, not for them. You would do what makes you happy and work to support yourself."

What he was saying was true. I wasn't technically free yet. I was still being controlled by him and the need to provide for my family. If it was up to me, I would work in the larger village and earn money. The last place that I would've come to was his territory.

I looked down at my hands, "you're right. But that won't happen, and we both know that. You won't choose me as your mate because I'm not fit to be a queen. I will continue to work in the village for you. I'm willing to sacrifice a piece of my happiness to make sure that my sister has a better future than me."

He smiled, "your devotion to your family is amazing."

"They are all that I have. If I don't take care of them, who will?" I picked up my fork and continued to eat my pasta slowly. We sat in silence enjoying the night which I was grateful for. I wasn't in the mood to talk about my family. The more that I talked about them, the more I missed them.

"I think it's nice how headstrong you are. But you have to realize that you will eventually become a breeder. That is a part of being a woman. You will never make enough money to provide for yourself and your family. You need to start thinking about your role as a woman. I know that it's hard because you're still young but it's time to grow up. It's nice to live in a world where you daydream but that is just a world that you wish existed."

I shook my head, "you're wrong. There are women who think like me, and I know they exist. Our role as women should be so much more. We shouldn't have to become wives and that's the end for us."

"Who will march with you on this road to change? One thing I know about being a ruler is you have to have an army. Without an army, you can't win a battle. You need people behind you willing to die for what they believe in. From what I can see, no woman around here wants that. They want to find a mate. They want to be breeders. Their mothers taught them from the moment they were born. It's life, Eden and you can't change that. Your mother should have taught you more about womanly duties."

I closed my eyes and sighed. "My mother did teach me. She would be upset with me right now for speaking so freely. It looks as though she taught me nothing at all and I regret that. I don't want to embarrass my mother at all. You are correct, it is my duty as a woman. But it's okay to want to be different and that's who I am. How would you feel if you had a daughter? Would you try to ship her off to the highest bidder?"

"My daughter would be a queen. She would understand her duty and I would make sure that she knew. But that's the difference between you and my daughter. I am royalty and you are not. She wouldn't have to marry for money and support. She has all the money and support she needs.

I stood up slowly clearing my throat once my stomach was full enough. "Thank you for dinner tonight, it was delicious. Have a good rest of your evening, Alpha."

"Good night, Eden. I appreciate you coming to have dinner with me. I feel like I have a new perspective on you now."

I forced a smile, "that's good to know. Oh, if you were having a hard time deciding who to mate with, I could help you. Danielle is so kind and patient. I think you two would make an amazing match. She wants to be your wife, that's all she talks about. She is beautiful as well. I can only imagine what your children would look like."

I didn't wait for him to respond. I walked away leaving him sitting alone at the table. I wanted the best for my king. I wanted him to be happy, but I wouldn't supply him with that. I needed him to stop focusing all his attention on me and start focusing it on the other women. They were all here to be his breeder and they were happy about it. I was not one of those girls and I never would be.