"I'm fine, I'm not that hungry," she replied with a shrug.
But all I heard wasthat.She wasn’tthathungry. So shewashungry.
Any clumsy hesitance on my part vanished instantly, replaced by a solid need to provide for her.
"Come on, I'll make breakfast."
I led the way through the door in the back and up the stairs to my flat, becoming very aware of how small and cramped the rooms were. Big enough for two people, but certainly cosy.
"I don't have much in the kitchen here; I usually go over to the clubhouse for meals. But I could do scrambled eggs and toast if you're not opposed. Or allergic," I added, realising how little I knew about Luna. My mate. My mate who was here in my flat.
I jumped a little when she closed the door behind her, sealing us inside my home, together.
She still trusted me.My heart galloped.
"You don't have to make breakfast; I'm fine," she insisted, which I chose to ignore, moving through the open plan living-room-kitchen and grabbing milk, eggs, and bread from the fridge. "Butyou're stubbornly making food anyway," she added with a little laugh.
"Iamstubborn, especially when it comes to people skipping meals." I put the kettle on and plopped two teabags in mugs. "Sugar? Milk?"
"Milk, no sugar," she replied, and startled the hell out of me by leaning against the counter beside me. "Sorry I got angry and stormed off. I should have stayed to talk; I was just so … disappointed."
Ouch.
I covered a wince with a nod, flicking on the oven and putting a frying pan on the hob. "I didn't keep it a secret to hurt you. That's the last thing I want to do."
"It was jarring," she murmured, crossing her arms over her chest. "I know I haven't known you long, but I still thought I knew the kind of person you were. And I didn't think you'd lie. But I guess—it wasn't a normal situation, right?"
"No," I murmured, not sure where this was going. Did she want to spend time with me again or was she here to let me down gently?
"Would you have told me if … all that stuff didn't happen at the Hunters’ house?"
"Instantly," I replied, cracking eggs into the pan and whisking them as they cooked, glad for something to keep me occupied. "I knew you were my mate the second I found your scent. The thought of you being with the Hunters, all the things they could have been doing to you—"
I cut the words off, swallowing hard. All the things theyhaddone to her.
"My only priority was getting you to safety andkeepingyou safe. Forcing a mate bond on you when you were struggling just to sleep was not keeping you safe."
She sighed heavily. "I really want to be mad at you, but I get it. And for the record, it wouldn't have beenforcinga bond. I've had a very enlightening conversation with my new friends about mates and bonds and bites and all that stuff."
I glanced at her sideways, and noticed she wouldn't meet my eyes. I didn't press for why she was embarrassed, or what those friends had told her.
"It's not as if you've ever been forceful," she added, slanting a look my way. "The only thing you've forced on me is this breakfast, and—actually, I am kinda hungry. So you don't need to do much forcing."
A smile kicked up my mouth; I returned to scrambling eggs, made sure they weren't sticking to the pan, and then poured boiled water over the tea.
It felt … good, taking care of her like this, giving her food and drinks, vital things she needed. I'd never realised how fulfilling being a mate was.
I watched her sip the hot tea and a ripple of pleasure went through me.Yes, my soul purred.This is what I'm meant to do.
"And now?" I asked, not daring to look at her. "Are you still angry at me?"
"Not angry. I just…" My shoulders tensed at the pause. "I think you're a dumbass for keeping it a secret. If you'd spoken to any of the omegas in the sanctuary, you'd know a bond can help with—with situations like mine."
A strange flutter went through my belly. She wasn't angry. She was insulting me—that was a good sign, right? Women teased the men they liked. Didn’t they?
"So you think … being my mate is a good thing?" I asked cautiously, fiddling with the tie on the bread bag while I waited for her answer.Dreadedher answer, even if hope strangled me at the same time.
"That depends," she replied, watching me with clever brown eyes. "What will you do if I freak out again like I did in the supermarket?"