Eila could barely contain her excitement.
Dinner at Leonard Blackwell's home—alone, just the two of them. The thought made her heart race, and Sera purred in delight.
For the first time, Leonard was taking the initiative, choosing to spend time with her outside of their pack duties. It felt like progress, a step toward something deeper.
As she finished freshening up, she took a moment to assess herself in the ornate mirror. The warm glow of candlelight cast a soft radiance on her face, highlighting the anticipation in her golden eyes.
"Do I look alright?" she asked Sera nervously.
"You look stunning. Now stop wasting time and go to him!" her wolf huffed impatiently.
Smiling at her reflection, Eila sent a quick mind-link to her mother.
"I'll be having dinner at Leonard's home tonight. Don't wait up for me."
Celena's response was instant, amusement laced in her tone.
"Enjoy yourself, sweetheart. And behave."
Eila rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small blush that dusted her cheeks. Her mother knew.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the guest room, eager to finally have an uninterrupted evening with her mate. But as soon as she reached the dining hall, her excitement evaporated.
Sitting at the beautifully set table were two familiar figures, their silver-grey eyes fixed on her with amused curiosity.
Lukas and Zois Baldwin.
Her heart dropped.
Instantly, her gaze snapped to Leonard, but he merely shrugged, his expression unreadable.
Eila wanted to turn around and run, to vanish into thin air before either of the twins could say anything. This was supposed to be her moment with Leonard—not an awkward dinner with these two uninvited guests.
Before she could take a step back, Leonard's hand wrapped around hers, firm yet gentle, keeping her grounded. He tugged her forward, guiding her to sit beside him.
And to make matters worse, the twins followed suit, taking their places next to them—one on each side.
Eila clenched her jaw, barely holding back a frustrated groan.
She was about to say something she knew she'd regret later—something bold and most likely reckless—when the arrival of the butler, Mr. Woldroff, saved her.
The elderly man entered with practised elegance, his mere presence commanding attention. Servants followed closely behind, carrying trays of exquisitely prepared dishes.
With precision, they set the food on the table, arranging the plates according to each guest's preference.
Eila swallowed hard.
This was nothing like dinner at home. Back at her house, meals were simple and warm, filled with laughter and chaos, each sibling scrambling to get their share before the others devoured everything. She was the one serving food, making sure everyone ate before she took her portion.
Here… the sheer luxury of it all made her uneasy.
Even as the dishes were laid before her, her stomach twisted. Not with hunger, but discomfort.
Meanwhile, Lukas and Zois barely acknowledged the food at all. Instead, they were watching her. Not bothering to hide their intrigue, they studied her every move—her expressions, her reactions, the slight tension in her shoulders.
Eila shifted uncomfortably, pointedly ignoring their stares as she focused on the meal in front of her.
Once the servants finally retreated, the table fell into silence, the only sound being the soft clinking of silverware as they started eating.
Or rather, Leonard, Lukas, and Zois started eating.
All three men had large appetites, effortlessly consuming the rich meal before them. Compared to them, Eila barely touched her food.
Leonard noticed first.
His sharp blue eyes flickered toward her plate before he looked at her questioningly. "You're not eating much."
Lukas chimed in, his voice teasing yet observant. "What's the matter? Not to your liking?"
Eila quickly shook her head. "No! It's delicious."
Zois arched a brow. "Then why do you look like a starved rabbit barely nibbling at her meal?"
She sighed, realizing they weren't going to let it go. "I am eating more than I usually do at home."
Leonard's gaze softened slightly. "You don't have to hold back here, Eila."
She hesitated before murmuring, "It's not that… I just—"
She trailed off, feeling too self-conscious to admit the truth.
That she wasn't used to this.
Being served like royalty instead of running around ensuring everyone else was fed felt unnatural to her.
That despite everything, she didn't quite belong in this world of lavish dining and effortless luxury.
Leonard didn't press further, but the slight tension in his posture told her he understood.
The rest of the meal passed with casual conversation, though Eila was hyper-aware of Lukas and Zois the entire time.
They weren't just watching her anymore. They were studying her.
And for reasons she couldn't quite understand, that made her even more uneasy.