Chapter 10 10

_Selene's POV_

I walked into the dining room and stopped in my tracks. The table was covered with food-more food than I had ever seen in one place before. There were golden pancakes stacked high, glistening with syrup. Crispy bacon and sausages sat on a large plate, next to scrambled eggs and warm, buttered bread. Fresh fruit-grapes, apples, and berries-were arranged in neat rows. A jug of orange juice sat in the center, along with a pot of steaming coffee.

I hesitated. I wasn't used to this. Back in my old pack, meals were simple. And ever since I left, I had been surviving on whatever I could find.

Damon sat at the head of the table, watching me. His dark hair was slightly messy, and he looked far too relaxed for an Alpha. His lips curled into a small smirk.

"Are you just going to stand there and admire the food, or are you actually going to eat?" he asked.

I blinked. "I was just-"

"Thinking about how delicious it looks?" he teased. "I know. I have excellent taste."

I rolled my eyes. "I meant the variety. There's a lot of food here."

He leaned back in his chair. "Of course. You're staying in my pack now. I take care of my guests."

Guest. That word made my stomach twist. I wasn't sure if I was really a guest or just an outsider he had taken pity on.

I moved toward a seat at the far end of the table, but Damon raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

I hesitated. "To sit?"

"Sit here," he said, gesturing to the chair next to him.

I froze. Sitting close to him felt... dangerous. But there was no good reason to refuse, so I slowly made my way over and sat down beside him.

"See? Not so bad, right?" he said, grinning.

I focused on the food instead of answering. There were too many choices, and I didn't know what to take. My fingers hovered over the plates.

Damon noticed. "What's wrong? Not hungry?"

I shook my head. "I just... don't know what to pick."

His smirk grew. "Are you always this indecisive?"

I glared at him. "No."

He leaned in slightly. "What do you like to eat?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" He raised an eyebrow. "Come on, everyone has a favorite food."

I picked up a pancake to stop him from pushing further. "This is fine."

Damon chuckled. "Fine? That's not very convincing."

I took a small bite and avoided his gaze.

"You eat like a little rabbit," he teased. "Small, careful bites. Are you scared I poisoned the food?"

I almost choked. "What? No!"

His grin widened. "You sure? You look suspicious."

I groaned. "You're impossible."

"And you're fun to mess with," he said smoothly.

I shook my head, focusing on my food, but he wasn't done teasing me.

"So, tell me," he said, his voice playful, "am I the most handsome Alpha you have ever met?"

I nearly dropped my fork. "Excuse me?"

He smirked. "It's a simple question. Yes or no?"

I narrowed my eyes. "You expect me to say yes?"

He shrugged. "I wouldn't be surprised."

I scoffed. "You're really full of yourself, aren't you?"

He placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "I'm confident, not arrogant. There's a difference."

I shook my head, but I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.

Damon noticed. "Ah, there it is. A smile. I was beginning to think you didn't know how to do that."

I sighed. "You really enjoy annoying me, don't you?"

"Very much," he said with a grin.

I took another bite of my pancake, trying to ignore how close he was sitting. His scent was distracting-something fresh and warm, like the forest after rain.

The teasing faded, and his voice became softer. "So... what are you running from, Selene?"

I stiffened. "What?"

He leaned forward, his gaze searching mine. "You were all alone in the forest when I found you. Did you run away from your pack?"

I hesitated.

"Yes," I finally admitted.

Damon didn't look surprised. "Why?"

I placed my fork down. My appetite was fading. "That is none of your business."

He sighed. "I need to know something about you. You're staying in my pack now. What if you were exiled for a crime?"

I turned to glare at him. "Do I look like a criminal?"

He smirked. "Even innocent-looking people can be double-faced."

I exhaled sharply. "Fine. I ran away because my mate rejected me."

Damon's expression changed instantly. The teasing was gone. His eyes darkened. "Your mate?"

I nodded. "He is the Alpha of my pack. Kade Stormraven. He rejected me for another woman. I couldn't stay there. Seeing them together... it would have killed me. And the pack-" My voice caught, and I swallowed hard. "They would have laughed at me. No one respects a rejected mate."

A long silence stretched between us.

Damon's gaze softened. "I'm sorry, Selene. I didn't know."

I forced a small smile. "It's fine. I need to move on. I'll be alone forever anyway."

Damon tilted his head. "Maybe not."

I let out a short laugh. "Maybe."

A beat of silence passed before I turned to him. "What about you? Have you found your mate?"

The moment I asked, something shifted in Damon. His whole body tensed. His jaw clenched, and his fists tightened.

The easygoing, flirtatious Alpha was gone.

He didn't answer.

Instead, he stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the dining room.

I stared after him. My heart was pounding in my chest.

Did I say something wrong?