A Werewolf's Unexpected Mate-Chapter 93: Morning Feasts and Stolen Heartbeats

•Inn’s First Floor•

Ovelia’s POV

The warm aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon enveloped us as we stepped into the inn’s bustling dining area. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting golden patterns on the wooden floorboards. Villagers looked up from their meals, their faces brightening as they greeted us with cheerful "Good mornings" that we returned in kind - Ann with her usual polite smile, Ace with a curt nod, and me with perhaps too much enthusiasm, still buzzing from our rooftop morning.

My eyes scanned the room, searching for Mrs. Melinda and Chief Gareth but they were nowhere to be seen. The clatter of pots from the kitchen suggested they were busy preparing more food. The thought made my stomach growl in anticipation.

A sudden burst of laughter from the staircase drew our attention. Philip descended first, his usual composed demeanor replaced by boyish excitement, his purple long hair sticking up in odd directions. Behind him came Shin, attempting (and failing) to smooth down his impeccable hair, while Ray and Colt were engaged in what appeared to be an exaggerated retelling of some event, their arms waving dramatically. Kai brought up the rear, still picking feathers from his shirt.

"Good morning!" they chorused, their voices overlapping in cheerful disarray. We returned the greeting, and I couldn’t help but notice how Ace’s grip on my hand tightened slightly when Philip’s gaze lingered on me a beat too long.

"You all seem unusually... energetic this morning," Ace observed, his voice carefully neutral though I could see the corner of his mouth twitching.

Kai beamed, his brown eyes sparkling. "We just had the most epic pillow battle in history!"

"It was morning exercise," Ray corrected, though the pillow crease still visible on his cheek undermined his serious tone.

"Extremely childish morning exercise," Shin added, though the faintest smile played on his lips.

Colt threw an arm around Shin’s shoulders. "Admit it, you enjoyed it, too!"

The warmth radiating from their group was contagious, and I found myself smiling despite the sudden flutter in my stomach when Philip turned his attention to me.

"Did you enjoy your night under the stars?" he asked, his voice light but his eyes searching.

The question instantly brought back last night’s memories - Philip’s heartbreaking confession about his sister, his revelation about being the old man who’d tried to help me escape, and then... Ace. The way we’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms, the whispered "I love you" that might have been real or might have been a dream. My cheeks burned as if someone had lit a fire beneath my skin.

"I, uh..." My fingers twisted in the fabric of my skirt as I scrambled for a response that wouldn’t reveal too much.

"It was perfectly adequate," Ace interjected smoothly, though his grip on my hand turned almost possessive. "Now if you’ll excuse us, I’m starving." He tugged me toward the buffet table before anyone could ask more questions, leaving our companions exchanging amused looks.

The buffet was a feast for the senses - platters of golden-brown pancakes dripping with syrup, bowls of fresh fruits glistening with morning dew, sizzling sausages that snapped when prodded, and towers of fluffy scrambled eggs that smelled of butter and pepper. My mouth watered just looking at it all.

"Lady Ovelia, what would you like? I’ll prepare your plate," Ann offered, already reaching for a clean dish.

Before I could answer, Ace stepped between us, holding out a plate heaped with a little of everything - a perfectly folded omelet, two slices of honey-glazed ham, a cluster of roasted potatoes, a rice and even a small bowl of mixed berries. "I’ve got it," he said, his voice softer than usual.

My breath caught as I accepted the plate, our fingers brushing briefly. "Thank you," I managed, touched by the unexpected gesture.

"You’re welcome," he muttered, then turned away so quickly I almost missed the pink tinge creeping up his neck.

Ann’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "I do believe Sir Ace is blushing," she whispered conspiratorially.

I bit my lip to suppress a giggle, watching as Ace practically fled to join the others. "What would you like, Ann? I can help you," I offered, trying to regain my composure.

"Thank you, Lady Ovelia, but it’s just some bacon, eggs, and bread, so I’ll get it myself. I’ll head to the bread station," she said, already moving toward a basket of freshly baked rolls..

As I turned toward our table, a faint glow from my pocket caught my attention. Peeking inside, I found the fairy practically drool as he stared at the food, his tiny wings pulsing with rainbow light.

He wiped his mouth hastily. "The glow means I’m maintaining an invisibility barrier," he explained, though his eyes kept darting back to the dessert table. "If I eat at your table, your werewolf friends will smell me. I’ll just... help myself over here."

Before I could respond, he zipped away to land on a strawberry tart nearly as big as he was, immediately sinking into the cream with a contented sigh. I smiled and joined the others at the long wooden table.

Our seating arrangement is as follows:

Left side: Colt, Ray, Philip, Shin

Right side: Kai, Ace, me, Ann

The table buzzed with conversation and the clatter of cutlery as everyone dug into their meals. I was halfway through my eggs when Philip leaned across the table with a smile.

"Here, try this," he said, placing a reddish sausage on my plate. "I think it’s a local specialty."

"Thank you," I said, touched by his thoughtfulness. The moment my teeth pierced the sausage’s crisp casing, sweet and savory flavors exploded on my tongue. "Oh! It’s sweet! And delicious with rice!" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Shin adjusted his glasses. "If I’m not mistaken, they call that ’longganisa’."

"My first time trying it," I admitted between bites. "Thank you, Philip."

"You’re welcome," he replied, though his smile faltered slightly when Ace’s fork clattered a bit too loudly against his plate.

Colt elbowed Ray sharply, nodding toward Ace, who was glaring at Philip with an intensity that could melt steel. Ray’s grin turned wicked. "Ace, why are you staring at Philip like he just kicked your carrier pigeon?"

All eyes turned to Ace, who sat frozen with a piece of bacon halfway to his mouth. Philip touched his face self-consciously. "Is there something on my face?"

"I wasn’t staring," Ace ground out, though his white-knuckled grip on his fork suggested otherwise. "I was just... thinking."

Ray opened his mouth, undoubtedly to tease further, but Ace cut him off. "Ovelia, Ann, Ray and I are leaving the village today."

His words hit me like a bucket of cold water. Of course. Our mission was complete. There was no reason to stay, and no more excuses to delay our return to the Silverhowl Kingdom.