Raul hesitated; his throat suddenly dry. He glanced at Olivera, who nodded subtly, encouraging him to speak. Gathering his courage, Raul finally spoke up. "This is Olivera," he began, his voice steadier than he felt. "She's... she's my mate. She's come with me to see you."
His father's eyes flickered with surprise; a hint of recognition mingled with something unreadable. Another heavy silence settled over the room, the weight of unspoken words threatening to suffocate them all.
After what seemed like an eternity, his father finally nodded, his expression guarded yet not unkind. "Welcome, Olivera," he said gruffly, his tone betraying a hint of weariness. "What brings you both here?"
Raul shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to navigate this delicate conversation. "We... we wanted to see how you were doing," he replied evasively, the words feeling inadequate even as they left his lips.
