When I return with his dinner, he's perched at his desk, a pen twirling lazily between his fingers.
His head is slightly bowed as he reads through a stack of documents, the dim light from the desk lamp casting sharp shadows on his chiseled features.
There's a dark elegance to him, a commanding presence that makes the air in the room feel heavier.
It's unsettling how effortlessly intimidating he is, even when he's doing something as mundane as reading.
I clear my throat softly as I set the tray on the table in the corner. He doesn't look up, doesn't acknowledge me, as if I'm invisible.
That's fine by me. The less interaction I have with him, the better.
With the tray set, I straighten up and move toward the door.
"Wait," he says abruptly, his voice slicing through the silence.
I stop in my tracks, glancing over my shoulder. His gaze finally lifts from the papers, sharp and assessing as it lands on me.
"This is too much food," he states, gesturing toward the tray with a flick of his hand. "What do you take me for? A glutton?"
I blink at him, momentarily thrown off by the question. "That's how they prepare your dinner in the kitchens," I reply a little irritated. "I'm not the one who decides the portions. I just deliver it."
His eyes narrow slightly. "You're my personal attendant. You're supposed to manage my personal needs, not just play messenger."
"Oh, is that so?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
The corner of his mouth twitches—irritation or amusement, I can't tell. He leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest.
"Yes, that's so. Do I need to spell it out for you?"
I can't help the smirk that creeps onto my face.
Don't say it, Lilah. Lilah, don't say it...
"Well, why don't I wipe your ass then? That's a personal need, isn't it?"
Oops, I said it.
The pen slips from his fingers, clattering onto the desk. His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think I've gone too far.
But then he exhales sharply, shaking his head as if to dispel his annoyance.
"Can I ever complain without you running your mouth?" he snaps.
"Probably not," I admit, crossing my arms.
He glares at me, his piercing eyes practically daring me to say something else. "Shut up," he orders, his voice low and firm.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from retorting. Instead, I drop my gaze to the floor, clenching my fists at my sides. The silence stretches between us, tense and heavy.
He picks up his fork and takes a few bites of his dinner, chewing thoughtfully. After a moment, he looks up at me again. "Sit down," he says, nodding toward the table.
I blink at him, confused. "What?"
"You heard me," he says impatiently. "You brought enough food for three people, so you might as well help me clear this plate. Besides, you look like you're about to keel over from hunger."
I hesitate, unsure if he's serious. But the look on his face tells me he won't take no for an answer.
Slowly, I move to the table and take a seat across from him. The extra set of cutlery is already laid out, so I pick up a fork and start eating.
The food is better than anything I've had in weeks—probably months—but the idea of sharing a meal with him feels strange.
Almost intimate...like a date.
For a while, we eat in silence. It's not as awkward as I expected, though the tension lingers just beneath the surface.
He's quiet, focused on his food, but his presence is impossible to ignore.
After a few more bites, he sets his fork down and leans back in his chair, studying me with an intensity that makes me squirm. "What was life like for you in Moonhaven?" he asks suddenly.
I glance up at him, surprised by the sudden out of pocket question. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just making conversation," he says, shrugging. "Did you have any friends? Anyone who should have come looking for you?"
I take a moment to consider my answer. "Not really," I admit finally. "I didn't have anyone. The only person who might care is my cousin, Theo. But even that's a stretch."
He raises an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
I poke at the food on my plate, avoiding his gaze. "He likes to keep our... relationship quiet. Says it's better that way."
"Better for who?" he pokes further, a little too invested in the conversation.
I glance up at him, startled by the edge in his voice. "For him. He thinks no one will respect him when he becomes Alpha if they know he's close to someone like me."
His jaw tightens, and for a moment, he doesn't say anything. When he finally speaks, his voice is calm, but there's an underlying tension. "Interesting."
"What's interesting?" I ask warily.
"Someone's been reaching out to neighboring packs, looking for you," he says, his gaze steady. "Word got to me today. Whoever it is, they're keeping their identity hidden."
A chill runs down my spine at his words. "Do you think it's him?"
"It's possible," he says. "But if it is him, then he might possibly want to take you back with him. If he does, don't go with him."
I stare at him blankly.
I mean, duh. I'd rather die than go back there. I chose to be here. But I'm curious. What are his reasons for not wanting me to go back?
So I ask, "Why not?"
"You're happier here," he says simply, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
I let out a scoff. "And how would you know that?"
"Well," he begins, leaning forward slightly, "I don't know that for sure. But I do know this: if you went missing for even an hour here, Cassidy would tear the world apart looking for you. But it's been two months since you wandered out of your pack, and someone you've probably known your whole life is just now starting to ask questions."
His words hit harder than I'd like to admit. I look away, focusing on the half-empty plate in front of me.
He's right, of course. Theo's absence has been louder than any search party ever could be.
We fall into silence again, though this time, it feels heavier. He picks up his fork and resumes eating, his movements slow and deliberate.
Across from him, I do the same, though my appetite has all but disappeared.
When the meal is over, I stand to clear the plates, but he stops me with a simple gesture. "Leave it," he says. "I'll have someone else take care of it. You're dismissed for the night."
I hesitate but nod, heading toward the door instead. As I reach for the handle, his voice stops me once more.
"Delilah," he calls after me, his tone a little softer than before.
I glance over my shoulder.
"Think about what I said," he murmurs, his gaze steady. "If that person is your cousin and he wants to take you back to Moonhaven... don't go. You're better off here."
I don't respond. Instead, I turn and leave, his words echoing in my mind as I close the door behind me.
I wasn't going to leave either way. But his words...I'm better off here as a stranger. An omega.
If I was missing for an hour here, Cassidy would crack the earth open to find me.
And that would be a fact, if it was possible to crack the earth open.