Chapter 22

I was about to respond when I felt it—Aina’s confusion bleeding through our bond. Damn. She must have woken up… and she was hungry. “You’ll tell me everything later, Father,” I said, pushing back from my chair. “I have to go attend to my mate.” He nodded, but before I left, I paused at the doorway and glanced back at him. “Also… tell Mom.” With that, I stepped out. Shit, I thought, already moving faster. I needed to get to Aina. Pulling out my phone, I dialed the kitchen. “I want your finest food in my room. No delays.” By then, I was practically sprinting down the hall. Anyone watching me right now would think I was a love-struck fool… which, I suppose, I was. When I reached my door, I took a moment to breathe, a smile tugging at my lips before I opened it. What I saw made my chest tighten—Aina, sitting curled up on the couch, her head resting on her knees. She looked small, withdrawn. But the moment she heard the door open, she lifted her head, and her entire face lit up. In an instant, she was in my arms. “Hey, sugar plum… there now,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair. She tipped her face up at me with a pout, and I kissed her lips softly. “Why did you leave me alone here?” “Ah,” I said, brushing my thumb along her cheek. “Your mother was here.” Her eyes widened, darting past me toward the door. “She’s gone,” I assured her. “She came with your brother.” “For what? Did she hear about me losing control of myself?” she asked, worry lacing her tone. I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yes… but don’t worry, Aina. Everything’s perfect. And—” I let the suspense build just a second “—we’ll be talking about our mating ceremony soon.” Her eyes lit up brighter than I’d ever seen, pure joy radiating from her. “Really?” she squeaked. “Really,” I said with a laugh, holding her closer. The kitchen staff soon arrived, wheeling in trays piled high with everything imaginable—platters of roasted meat, fresh bread still warm from the oven, ripe fruits glistening with juice, and more dishes than the table could hold. The moment the scent hit the air, my foodie of a mate’s stomach let out a loud grumble. I burst into laughter, and she immediately looked down, cheeks pink with embarrassment. Once the staff had left, I pulled a chair out for her. She sat, and I began piling her plate with generous portions of everything within reach. “This is too much,” she said with an amused smile. “Do you want me to get bigger than this?” “You’re perfect, Aina,” I replied without hesitation. “Being chubby isn’t a bad thing. You should learn to love yourself, you know?” She gave a small nod and picked up her fork, starting to eat. “I know… but when it’s too much, it becomes a problem.” “True,” I agreed, leaning back to watch her with a grin. “But seeing you like this makes me want to pounce on you.” Her head snapped up, face flushing crimson. “Don’t say that,” she muttered, clearly flustered. “But it’s true. Where you see fat, I see a delicious meal.” She dropped her spoon, groaning. “Stoppp,” she whined, covering her face with her hands. I chuckled but didn’t stop. “Who says a little fat would ever make me not want you?” That earned me the sweetest sound I could ever hear—her laughter. My sweet Aina’s laughter, ringing bright and unrestrained, filling the room like sunlight breaking through clouds. I let her eat, simply watching her in quiet amusement. I hadn’t realized before how fascinating it could be—just seeing someone enjoy their food. It pulled me back to the first day I ever saw her. She’d walked into my life without even knowing it. A cute girl with glasses slipping down her nose, a big bag slung over her shoulder. I’d been sitting in my favorite fast-food place, halfway through a plate of something greasy and satisfying, when the door swung open and she stepped in. The moment my eyes landed on her, my breathing hitched, as if my chest had forgotten how to work properly. She wore a simple gown, her bag weighing against one shoulder, and she moved with quiet purpose to the counter. I tracked her every step, unable to look away as she placed her order. And then I heard them—two boys at the next table, their voices dripping with mockery. “You’re this fat and you still wanna eat?” one sneered, followed by the other’s cruel laughter. She didn’t respond. Not a word. She just stood there, composed on the outside, waiting for her food. But then I noticed it—her teeth worrying her bottom lip. She was nervous. Maybe even hurt. Then her eyes met mine. Just for a moment. And my breath… stopped. I broke the contact quickly, not wanting to seem like some creep staring at her. When I dared look back, she was seated, eating her meal in silence, ignoring the insults that still buzzed in the air like flies. My hands curled into fists under the table. No one deserved to be treated like that. Across from me, Alex caught me looking. “Oh, Osborne,” he said with a laugh, “I can’t believe you’re watching that fat fool.” I turned to him sharply. “Don’t you think your words are a bit excessive?” He blinked, as if I’d just spoken a foreign language. “But everyone calls her that.” “You’re bigger than that, Alex. You’re the future Beta, not ‘everyone.’” He tried to laugh it off. “It’s not that deep.” But to me, it was. Watching him join in the mockery only made me hate the way people could treat someone for no reason. When she got up to leave, my eyes followed her again, and I found myself wondering… what must it feel like, to live in a world where people decided your worth before you even opened your mouth? After that day… should I say I became her stalker? Maybe. I found out everything I could about her, without ever crossing the line. And then came the part that nearly broke me—she was sixteen, and I was twenty. So I did what any reasonable adult would do: I stayed away. I didn’t approach her. I didn’t speak to her. But I prayed—prayed to the Moon Goddess with every fiber of my being—that one day she would be paired with me. She always seemed like the only kind soul in the entire pack. I remember one incident that still burns in my memory. Some bastard had grabbed the hem of her skirt, trying to raise it in front of others, laughing as he taunted her about wanting to see her “fat thighs.” No one stepped in. Not one person. But I wasn't going to let it slide. I waited until later that day, following him quietly until we were away from the crowd. Then I cornered him. One second he was smirking, the next he was slammed against the wall with all the force I had in me. My fists connected with his face, over and over, until the arrogance bled out of him along with his lip. He tried to shift, but the moment he saw it was me, his courage crumbled. “Please, Alpha Osborne—” he started. I cut him off with a growl. “You will go and apologize to the girl whose skirt you lifted. If you don’t, I will kill you and put you in a pit. Do you understand me?” Blood dripped from his mouth as he nodded frantically. “Yes. I’m sorry, Alpha Osborne.” And that… was the first time I ever got my hands dirty for her. I thought about that now, watching her eat across from me, completely unaware of the battles I’d fought in the shadows for her. Back then, she’d been just a girl the pack overlooked—or worse, mocked. Now she was my mate, my responsibility, my future. The thought made something fierce and unshakable coil in my chest. No one would touch her, no one would speak to her like that again—not while I breathed. “Aina,” I said softly. She looked up, cheeks full, eyes curious. I smiled. “Nothing. Just… eat.” She laughed, a little confused, but went back to her food. And I sat there, memorizing every small expression, every sound, knowing I’d never stop protecting her.