A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 56: A Shared Meal

Ace’s POV

The bathroom mirror fogged over as steam curled through the air, damp tendrils clinging to my skin even after I’d turned off the water. I knotted the towel around my waist, the coarse fabric scratching against my still-damp hips. The wooden floorboards creaked underfoot as I crossed to our travel bags, my fingers leaving wet prints on the leather straps.

The clean shirt smelled faintly of lavender and sunlight when I pulled it from the neatly folded stack. The fabric whispered against my skin as I dressed, still warm from the shower’s heat.

A quiet scratching sound drew my attention to the corner. Pati’s tiny nose twitched between the bars of his cage, his beady black eyes fixed on me expectantly. I crouched down, the metal latch cold against my fingertips as I opened his cage.

"Hey there, little one," I murmured as Pati scampered onto my palm, his tiny claws pricking my skin. He chirped impatiently while I measured out his food, the seeds rattling into his dish. As he ate, his whiskers twitching with each bite, my thoughts drifted to Kala.

She should have returned by now.

My jaw tightened - even if she found my father immediately, reinforcements and information wouldn’t reach Thunoa in time.

The door hinges whined as I exited, nearly colliding with Ray leaning against the frame. His arms were crossed, one foot propped against the wall.

"Did Ovelia notice the blood?" he asked quietly, pushing off the wall to let the door click shut behind me. His usual playful tone was absent.

I exhaled through my nose, my fingers flexing at my sides. "She smelled it. Just a few specks - invisible unless you know what you’re looking for."

Ray’s eyebrows drew together. His fingers tapped an uneven rhythm against his thigh. "She recognizes the scent of blood that easily?"

The growl built in my chest before I could stop it. My canines pressed against my lower lip. "Did you forget those monsters beat her since childhood? The moment she learned she was adopted—" My voice cracked. I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. "They made her believe she was nothing but a bargaining chip."

Ray’s gaze dropped to the floor. His throat worked as he swallowed. "Right." The single word carried the weight of understanding.

We descended the stairs in heavy silence, each step echoing in the narrow stairwell.

•Dining Area•

The air smelled of crisp apples and wood polish. Chief Gareth sat at the head of the table, juice glistening on his fingers as he took another bite. Philip lounged beside him, tossing an apple core onto his plate with a dull thud.

"So, you two have already taken a shower?" Chief Gareth asked around a mouthful of fruit.

I pulled out a chair, the legs scraping against the hardwood. "Yes, Chief." The word came out rougher than intended.

At that moment, the kitchen door swung open. Steam billowed out first, carrying the rich aromas of seasoned meat and fresh bread. Then Ovelia appeared, balancing three bowls in her arms. Our eyes met - just for a heartbeat - before I looked away. The last thing she needed was my predatory gaze adding to her unease.

Ovelia’s POV

The ceramic bowls clinked softly against the wooden table as Ann, Mrs. Melinda and I arranged the meal. The lingering warmth from the dishes seeped into my fingertips as I adjusted their positions. My cheeks no longer burned from earlier, but the memory of Ace’s abrupt glance away still pinched at my chest. He’d tried so hard to reassure me, and all I’d done was stand there trembling, unable to form a single word of response.

We settled into our seats around the oak table. The arrangement placed me between Ann and Ace, with Ray across from us. The chair legs scraped against the floorboards as everyone adjusted their positions.

"Let us bow our heads in prayer," Mrs. Melinda announced, her hands folding together. Her voice carried the gentle authority of someone who’d said these words countless times.

We all joined hands - Ann’s fingers were warm and steady on my right, while Ace’s large palm hovered just above my left before making careful contact. His skin felt slightly rough against mine, but his touch was feather-light, as if afraid to startle me.

"Dear God," Mrs. Melinda began, "we thank you for this nourishment and the hands that prepared it. May this meal strengthen our bodies and our bonds with one another."

"Amen," we chorused together. Ace’s deep voice rumbled beside me, his fingers giving mine the briefest squeeze before releasing.

As dishes began circulating, I noticed Ace studying the food with unusual intensity, his silver eyes scanning each platter. The memory of our previous meal together surfaced - his horrified reaction to the rat meat.

Leaning slightly toward him, I kept my voice low. "Don’t worry, Ace. No rat meat this time."

His shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly. "Thanks," he murmured, finally serving himself a portion of roasted vegetables. The tension lines around his eyes softened as he took his first bite.

I inhaled discreetly. The metallic scent that had clung to him earlier was gone, replaced by the clean aroma of soap and something distinctly woodsy. "You... already took a bath?" I asked between bites, keeping my tone casual.

"Yes." His spoon paused mid-air. "Sorry for startling you earlier."

The rice turned sticky in my mouth, clinging uncomfortably as I struggled to swallow. My chest tightened with guilt. It wasn’t your fault, I wanted to say, but the words came out quiet, hesitant. "I’m the one who should apologize... I overreacted."

Ace shook his head, just a faint movement, but enough to make my breath catch. "Don’t apologize," he said, his voice softer than I expected. Then, after a pause, the corner of his lips lifted slightly. "Also... thank you for doing the laundry. My clothes smell nice." The warmth in his tone wrapped around me, easing the weight in my chest.

I looked up to find his silver eyes already on me. A small, surprised smile tugged at my lips. "You’re welcome."

The quiet exchange warmed me more than the steaming food. After my reaction in the kitchen, I’d feared he might avoid me, but here he was, making careful efforts to bridge the distance.

"Mmm!" Philip’s enthusiastic moan broke the moment. He cradled his soup bowl like a treasure, steam curling around his beaming face. "This soup is incredible! It’s like drinking liquid warmth!"

I studied him as he enthusiastically devoured his meal. The more time I spent with Philip, the more contradictions he presented. His merchant’s attire and polished manners clashed with his occasional bursts of childish excitement. If he truly was a spy as he claimed, he was either exceptionally skilled at playing the fool, or...

The thought trailed off as I caught Ace watching me from the corner of my eye, his expression unreadable but attentive. For now, surrounded by the clatter of utensils and comfortable chatter, I pushed my questions aside and allowed myself to simply enjoy the meal.

The cheerful clatter of utensils froze mid-air as Mrs. Melinda’s voice cut through the dining room like a cold wind. "Gareth, Ace, Ray, Philip," she said, each name dropping like a stone. Her fingers tightened around her spoon until her knuckles turned white. "I won’t ask where you went this afternoon. But this evening - why did you all disappear without a word to me?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

A piece of carrot slipped from my fork, landing with a quiet plop in my bowl. Across the table, Chief Gareth’s throat bobbed visibly as he swallowed. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple despite the evening chill.

"Darling, please," he stammered, his hands fluttering like startled birds. "We just... questioned the bandits about their hideout. Right, Ace? Right, Ray?" His gaze darted between the princes like a man seeking lifelines.

Ace kept his eyes fixed on his plate, his jaw working silently as he gave a curt nod. Ray scratched at his neck, suddenly fascinated by the grain of the wooden table.

"Mrs. Melinda is terrifying when angry," Ann whispered beside me. Her fingers had gone still around her teacup, the steam curling forgotten between us.

I studied Mrs. Melinda’s face - the way her lips pressed into a thin line, the vein pulsing at her temple. But beneath the anger, her chest rose and fell too quickly, and her fingers trembled slightly where they gripped the table’s edge.

"Asked?" Mrs. Melinda’s eyebrow arched sharply. "Bandits don’t just answer questions." She turned to Philip, who immediately hunched his shoulders. "Philip, when I went to gather herbs behind the house, I saw you slipping into the forest. What were you doing?"

Philip’s spoon clattered against his bowl as he choked on his soup. He grabbed his water goblet, liquid sloshing over the rim as he gulped desperately. "I was... rat hunting!" he blurted, wiping his mouth. "That rat meat from breakfast was surprisingly good, so I thought..." His voice trailed off as Mrs. Melinda’s stare intensified.

"You’re all lying." The words fell like a judge’s gavel. Her eyes glistened unnaturally bright. "I see it in your faces. I understand you have your reasons, but have you considered those of us who worry?" Her voice cracked on the last word.

Chief Gareth reached for her hand. "Darling, please—"

Mrs. Melinda pulled away, turning instead to Ace. "Do you know how Ovelia worried?" Her voice softened, but the urgency remained. "While we cooked, while we folded laundry - I saw her hands shake each time the door creaked."

"Mrs. Melinda," I whispered. The wooden chair dug into my back as I shrank slightly.

"And Ann," Mrs. Melinda continued, her gaze sweeping to my maid. "She polished the same spoon three times, waiting for news."

I glanced at Ann. Her usual bright smile had dimmed to something fragile, her fingers pleating the edge of her dress.

"Ovelia?" Ace’s voice pulled my attention back. Before I could respond, his warm hand settled on my head, fingers threading gently through my hair. "Sorry for worrying you," he murmured. Then his arms wrapped around me, solid and secure.

My breath hitched. His scent - pine and something uniquely Ace - enveloped me. My hands hovered awkwardly before settling lightly on his back, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing. My pulse roared in my ears, heat flooding my cheeks so intensely I feared they might catch fire.

"Now I really need to find a girlfriend," Philip declared, his grin audible even as I buried my face in Ace’s shoulder.

Too soon, Ace pulled back, his silver eyes searching mine before he smiled - that rare, unguarded smile that made my stomach flip.

"Ovelia, Ann," Ray said from across the table, his usual teasing tone replaced with genuine warmth. "Thank you for caring about us."

"You’re welcome," I managed, my voice embarrassingly breathless. Then Ann smiled—bright and effortless.

Around the table, the tension dissolved like spring frost under sunlight. Chief Gareth’s hand moved in slow, comforting circles on Mrs. Melinda’s back as she finally took a hesitant bite of her now-cooled soup. Ann exhaled, her shoulders easing as her familiar grin returned, as if the world had righted itself.

The rest of the meal drifted by in a quiet, contented hum—shared dishes, murmured conversations, the clink of utensils against plates. Later, as Ann, Mrs. Melinda, and I gathered the dishes, our arms laden with stacked porcelain, the simple, domestic rhythm of it all settled the last of my frayed nerves. Together, we carried the remnants of the meal into the kitchen.

Ace’s POV

I watched Ovelia disappear into the kitchen, the sway of her hair catching the firelight as the door swung shut behind her. Something warm and unfamiliar tightened in my chest. The way her hands had trembled earlier, the concern in her eyes when she thought I wasn’t looking - it stirred something primal in my wolf. My fingers flexed at my sides, still remembering the softness of her hair when I’d touched her. This wasn’t just duty or instinct anymore. I was... falling for her.

Chief Gareth’s chair scraped against the wooden floor as he leaned forward. "Now that the women are in the kitchen," he said, his voice low but carrying an undercurrent of tension, "we need to finalize our plan for—"

Ray’s head snapped up suddenly, his nostrils flaring. His orange eyes darkened as his wolf surfaced. "Someone’s coming," he hissed, his body going rigid.

The hair on my arms stood on end as my own wolf bristled. "Khaleed," I growled through clenched teeth.

Chief Gareth’s weathered face hardened. "All three of you - hide. Now." His knuckles whitened around his tankard.

Ray, Philip and I exchanged a single glance. Without words, I jerked my chin toward the kitchen where the women worked, the clatter of dishes masking our movements. Both men nodded sharply. Chief Gareth gave us a tight-lipped smile of approval before schooling his features into casual calm.

We moved silently. One wrong sound. One misplaced shadow. If Khaleed caught wind of our presence, every bandit in the forest would know we were coming. The element of surprise would be gone. Our mission would collapse before we even reached their hideout.