Chapter 568: Sweet Teeth and Sharper Truths

Chapter 567: Sweet Teeth and Sharper Truths

Everyone turned to Dren.

Then, slowly—almost in sync—they turned back to Cat.

Cat did not look even remotely bothered.

She bit into the sugar-glazed fruit skewer in her hand, the hardened shell cracking cleanly under her teeth. The glossy coating split just enough to reveal the soft fruit beneath, and she chewed calmly.

Then she noticed them staring.

Her brows pulled together slightly.

"What?" she asked, completely unfazed. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

Dren blinked at her.

Then at his empty hand.

Then back at her.

"You—"

Cat didn’t let him finish.

She reached forward, grabbed the pouch she had dropped on the bed earlier, and pulled it open in one smooth motion.

"Joren’s mother sent food," she said simply. "Good food. Focus on that instead."

There was a pause.

Then Sophia laughed.

It slipped out of her easily, warm and soft, her shoulders shaking slightly as she tried—and failed—to hold it in.

Dren looked at her, then back at Cat, then exhaled through his nose.

"You won this time," he said, pointing at Cat. "But I’ll pay you back."

Cat took another bite.

"I’ll be waiting," she replied calmly.

That only made Sophia laugh again.

Dren shook his head, muttering under his breath as he turned and dropped into one of the chairs Laia had brought in. He stretched slightly, settling in.

Micah moved next, taking another chair without a word, though his gaze flicked briefly to the pouch before settling again.

Cat sat too, and soon everyone was seated.

Joren and Sophia started opening the pouch properly.

The moment it opened, warmth slipped out along with the rich, layered aroma of delicious food.

Joren grinned immediately like a proud son.

He grabbed a thick woven cloth and spread it carefully across the bed, smoothing it down with both hands like it actually mattered how it looked.

Sophia started unpacking.

First came a wrapped bundle.

She unfolded it slowly—and revealed spiced honey-roasted chicken cuts, the skin burnished to a deep golden brown, edges slightly crisped, the glaze clinging thickly and catching the light. The scent hit immediately—sweet, smoky, and spiced just enough to make her stomach tighten.

Nia sat up straighter.

"Oh, that smells illegal."

"Nothing is illegal about my mother’s cooking," Joren said proudly.

Sophia snorted softly and reached for the next container.

Inside was a stack of soft grain flatbreads, slightly puffed, brushed with garlic oil that glistened faintly across the surface.

She placed them beside the chicken.

Another cloth was opened.

This time revealing butter-tossed green vegetables, lightly charred at the edges—slender beans, sliced roots, and bits of leafy greens all coated in a thin sheen of herb butter.

Then came a small wooden pot.

Sophia lifted the lid and paused.

A thick, fragrant steam curled upward.

Inside was spiced pepper broth, darker than tea but lighter than stew, flecked with herbs and oil, the scent warm and sharp in a way that promised heat down the throat.

"Now I know why Cat had difficulty carrying the pouch," Nia said with a laugh.

"I’m shocked too," Joren said. "She outdid herself."

"I’m not complaining. My dad can hardly scavenge anything together. Thank the goddess for the dining halls; if not, we’d likely starve to death," Micah said, making the others laugh.

"There are still things in the pouch," Dren pointed out.

Sophia brought out a smaller wrapped bundle. Joren opened it delightedly, like he knew what was inside.

Inside sat slices of honey-layered soft cake, slightly uneven, the top glazed lightly, with crushed nuts pressed into it. It looked soft enough to melt the moment it hit the tongue.

He giggled delightedly and turned to the others. "This is her specialty. Try it," he said.

"Don’t need to tell me twice," Cat said as she leaned and took a piece at the same time Micah leaned in.

Sophia shook her head, amused, and removed the last things in the pouch. They were two flasks—one filled with spiced herbal tea, the scent warm and comforting, and the other with plain water for them.

Nia moaned. "Goddess tits! I fucking love your mother."

"I do too," Joren said to her.

They chuckled as they all leaned in, picking apart the food and eating. Dren didn’t let his bandaged hands stop him, nor did Micah, who had slight pain in his shoulder as he moved, nor did Nia, whose wrist ached a bit, nor Joren, who still felt pain in almost every part of his body, though not enough to stop him from moving.

Chicken was taken.

Vegetables were scooped without ceremony. The broth was passed carefully between them.

For a while, no one spoke. The only sound that could be heard in the room was the quiet sound of people eating like they had been starved for days and enjoying every bite of it.

Low hums of satisfaction slipped out now and then.

It continued silently for a while until Dren finally swallowed and looked directly at Sophia.

"Sophia."

She glanced at him.

"Mm?"

He leaned back slightly, one arm draped over the chair.

"Since no one is going to say it," he began, "I’ll say it."

Sophia frowned slightly. "I’m confused. What do you have to say?"

Dren held her gaze.

"I already have a few people I look up to in this pack," he said. "You know that."

She nodded slowly.

"But I look up to you too."

Sophia stilled. "Um..."

Dren continued, not minding her.

"How were you able to fight those beasts like that? You were the last person to join training," he went on. "And yet it’s like you’ve dusted the rest of us. I still remember the day we were spying on Alpha Orion and Brynhild, and then next thing I know, you were running laps with me and trying very hard to keep up, and now... you really left us in the dust."

Sophia shook her head immediately.

"That’s not true."

"It is," Joren said.

"I was surprised too," he continued. "Though I didn’t doubt for a moment that you were a good fighter, but the way you moved... the way you were in tune with Alpha Orion..."

He exhaled slightly.

"It was like I should have stopped fighting and just watched you."

Sophia blinked. Her cheeks warmed faintly.

"You’re exaggerating."

"I’m not," Joren said.

Micah nodded from his seat.

"I agree too," he said calmly. "Like Dren said, I’m scared to admit you left us in the dust, and this is not because you were with Orion when you fought. You were... blinding."

"She was like a goddess with the way she fought. You’d think she had been taking down beasts in Nirvana all along," Nia added.

Cat and Laia leaned forward.

"Okay, guys, I’m curious. What happened when the both of us..." Laia gestured between herself and Cat. "...were watching she who shall not be mentioned?"