#Chapter 25: Unexpected Connections

The mountain of RSVPs on my desk had grown to alarming proportions. I'd been sorting through them since dawn, categorizing responses by pack affiliation, dietary restrictions, and status. Each card required a handwritten note in return—a formality that had seemed quaint when I first learned of it, but now felt like an exercise in torture. My stomach growled, reminding me I'd missed breakfast. Lunch, too, apparently—the clock on the wall showed it was already past two. I ignored the hunger pangs and continued writing, determined to finish before day's end. A knock at the door interrupted my focus. "Not now," I called without looking up. The door opened anyway. Kane stood in the doorway, holding a large paper bag that filled the room with the tantalizing aroma of food. "I noticed you missed lunch," he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "And breakfast." I frowned, setting down my pen. "Have you been monitoring my eating habits?" "No need to monitor what's o