Sold To The Alpha
Hated Ties That Bind Chapter 25

Pushing open the door, Vaughn walked into the room, leading the rest of the men, the smell of roast chicken meeting their noses as everyone inhaled deeply. Walking over to his wife Vaughn pulled her close as she smiled up at him, the prince placing a soft kiss on Olivia laughed as she shook her head in amusement, 'you were upstairs for half an hour' she replied.

her cheek, 'I missed you' he murmured softly.

'Thirty minutes too long my love' the hybrid replied fondly as Valentino wriggled out of Rowan's arms and ran to his mother, grabbing the material of her dress, as he pouted.

'A cookie mummy?' he asked, his eyes wide and innocent as he gazed up her through his lashes.

Rolling her eyes, the she wolf picked one up from the plate and handed it too him, the little boy grinning as he bit the edge, his mother watching him happily as she gently stroked his hair.

'Hey, that face never works when I ask' Vaughn complained.

Olivia arched her eyebrow as she looked up at him, 'you, Prince Vaughn, are nowhere near as cute as your son' she replied evenly.

Vaughn growled low i his throat as he started to pepper kisses down his wife's neck, 'you know what happens when you use my title' he rumbled hungrily.

'Ahem' came Vallance's voice from behind him, drawing the hybrid's attention, 'I really don't think the kitchen is the place for this' he scolded in amusement.

Vaughn scowled in annoyance as he retorted, 'umm, what were you and dad doing in the office again?'

Vallance flushed as Jason laughed, 'that isn't the kitchen though is it!' the Vampire King grumbled.

'No, it's the room that I have to sit and work in, I really don't need that kind of imagery whilst I'm trying to sort out clan arguments over territory' the Prince huffed back.

Jason sniggered as the door to the pantry opened and the vampires Erica stepped out, a tray laden with ingredients in her hands. Walking over to her, the werewolf Queen took the tray from her hands and carried it over to the island as Erica followed him, 'such a gentleman' she murmured in amusement.

'Only for you Erica, you know that' Jason flirted back as Vallance rolled his eyes.

'Umm hello? Mate standing right here' he grumbled in annoyance.

Looking over at the Vampire King, Jason gave him a wink, 'you know I love you for eternity babe, but this is Erica! she feeds me, I can't help but swoon whenever she's near me' he replied. Striding over to the werewolf, Vallance pulled his match toward his chest possessively, extending his fangs that he traced down Jason's neck over his mark, making the werewolf shiver. 'Eww! Seriously, old people, get a room' Vaughn groaned as he placed his hands over his own mate's eyes, 'my baby is pregnant, she doesn't need anything else turning her stomach!' 'Please son, you moan about our PDA's yet you had no problem with me and your dad walking in on you groping your wife in the library last week' Vallance growled back drolly.

Blushing, Vaughn mumbled under his breath as the visitors laughed, waving to the kitchen chairs, Vallance added, 'no need to stand on ceremony everyone, take a seat and Erica will make us some coffee!

The vampiress turned to face the Vampire King, her eyebrow quirking as she replied 'Erica will do no such thing unless certain royal members don't want feeding today!'

Valance opened and closed his mouth as Erica held his gaze challengingly, before dropping his gaze defeated, 'I will make us all coffee' he grumbled as he walked over to the coffee maker mumbling under his breath. 'I'm the King and still getting ordered around by my own damn help!'

'I didn't take orders from you when you were a little Vamp Vallance, I am not going to start now' the vampiress replied airily as she skated around the kitchen grabbing bowls and utensils to bring back to the counter.

'You were here when dad was a baby?' Vaughn asked in shock, 'just how old are you Erica?'

Erica grabbed a wooden spoon and brought it down on the Prince's hand harshly, making him yelp, 'you do not ask a Lady her age young man, now sit down before I use this spoon somewhere else on your body' she warned. Eyeing his father's smirking face, Vaughn added, 'yeah, don't know what you are laughing at, she put you in your place too old man.

Scowling, Vallance ordered, 'hit him again Erica, he didn't learn the first time' causing his son to scramble into a seat quickly, his hands under his buttocks.

Walking over to Vallance, Jason grabbed some mugs and placed them on to the counter in front of his mate as he kissed his cheek, 'and now you know why I love Erica so much, she's the only person in this place who can make both of you behave' he said with a grin.

Soon everyone was sat with a steaming mug of coffee in front of them, Valentino looked up at Erica with his big innocent eyes, his hands clasped around a glass of milk. 'Erica, can we have cookies too?' he asked hopefully.

Turning her gaze from the pastry she was rolling toward the young hybrid, Erica frowned deeply, 'have you had your dinner Tino?' she asked sternly.

Looking at the floor, the little boy shuffled his feet uncomfortably, 'noooo' he drew our reluctantly.

'And what is the rule in this castle?' Erica prompted, her gaze never wavering.

Taking a deep breath, the young vampire prince replied defeatedly, 'no cookies until I've eaten all my veggietables' he muttered.

'Correct' the vampiress said curtly as she turned back to her pastry.

Looking up at his mother, Valentino said, 'mummy...'

'Nuh uh' Olivia replied immediately, 'you heard Erica, no more cookies until after dinner young man.

Dropping his shoulders, Valentino's bottom lip trembled as he walked back to Rowan and held up his free hand to be picked up and comforted, snuggling in as the warrior immediately placed him on his lap. 'You are mean to this boy' Rowan grumbled with a smile.

'And you spoil him rotten so it balances out' Olivia retorted with a giggle.

'If we are good, maybe Erica will give us both a big slice of that pie she's making' Rowan whispered to the boy who immediately cheered up.

After they finished their drinks, Erica shooed the group from her kitchen, moaning that they were interfering with her cooking mojo, everyone heading out into the dining room and taking a seat.

Servants walked out ten minutes later with their first courses, everyone started on the food ravenously, the only sounds being heard were the moans of appreciation from the warriors as they ate.

The main course soon followed, and then dessert, Valentino squealing happily as a large slice of apple pie with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, was placed in front of him, delving into the treat as the warriors around him smiled. 'oh to be that excited about something so simple again' Landen mused with a grin.

The child looked up at the watching adults, his brow furrowed, his mouth smeared with the remnants of his ice cream, 'what?' he demanded.

'Nothing little man' Rowan replied as he cut his pie in half and placed one of the sections onto the young child's plate.

Beaming, Valentino started to shovel the second piece of pie into his mouth as Olivia glared at the warrior, trying to keep the scowl on her face as her lips twitched in amusement.

Shrugging, the ex-Rogue gave a sheepish grin, 'too much for me to eat Liv' he mumbled.

'Soft touch' the she wolf mutters back under her breath as she looks away and continues her conversation with Alessia.

Polishing off his plate, the young prince looked up at Rowan expectantly, 'will you play wolves and bats now uncle Rowan?' he asked.

Rowan shook his head regretfully, 'I'm sorry mate, it's a bit late to start that game, but I can read you a story before bed if you want?'

Valentino's face clouded for a moment before he perked up again, scrambling out of his chair and grabbing the warrior's hand. 'Yeah! Come on! I got to have my bath and brush my teeth first, you can help me' he replied eagerly.

'What? Umm.. shouldn't mummy do your bath with you' Rowan protested weakly as the tiny vampire's pulling on his hand became more insistent.

'That's OK Rowan, I definitely think that you are more than capable of helping Tino have his bath' the she wolf Princess called out over the table with a wicked grin.

Sighing deeply, the warrior stood up and headed toward the door behind the excited four year old.

'Enjoy your bath baby' Olivia added with a smile, 'make sure you do LOTS of splashing, show Uncle Rowan just how high you can make the water go!

Sending back a murderous look, the warrior disappeared out of the dining room door to the sound of sniggers from the others that were sat at the table.