21~ BREAKFAST IN THE OFFICE

KNIGHT POV

I was buried under a stack of reports when a soft knock came at the door. I didn’t even glance up until a familiar scent drifted in, warm and delicate, cutting through the stale air of my office.

Instinct pulled me to my feet before my mind caught up. In seconds, I was at the door, swinging it open.

There Sage stood, this was the first time she had come to my office. A tray of food trembled slightly in her hands, steam curling around her wrists. Her eyes flickered from the tray to me, hesitant, as though unsure if she had overstepped.

“Why are you here?” The question left my mouth without thought.

“Oh… I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she murmured. “You haven’t eaten all morning. I thought you might need this.”

I stared at her, more startled than I wanted to admit. Food? In my office.? No one had ever done that. I rarely touched cooked meals at all… yeah I had eaten the previous one she cooked but I only did because I didn't want to tell her no now she is bringing me another?

“I don’t eat…” but before I could finish, she walked past me, the soft scent of her hair brushing against me as she crossed to the table.

For the first time, someone ignored my unfinished words and wasn’t frightened by it.

She set the tray down carefully. Only then did I notice her fingers twitching, her hand flexing as if burned. I moved before I could think, closing the space between us and catching her wrist gently.

“What happened?” My voice came out low, rougher than I intended. “Are you hurt?”

“It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “The food was just hot.”

I hesitated, her words pulling at something in me. Another reason I never ate cooked meals is the heat, spice, and the taste of home I had long denied… Weirdly for my mate, I am breaking the rules.

“I didn’t know,” she whispered, lowering her eyes. “I only wanted to try fulfilling my Luna duty. Since I am your mate… I thought I should do this for you.”

Her voice dipped at the end, like she regretted saying it at all. My wolf stirred at the words.

(She’s finally accepting the bond.)

(I don’t accept her.) My beast growled back, but I ignored it.

“Luna duty,” I said quietly. “Is that all you see yourself as? Fulfilling some duty, never thinking about what you want?”

She blinked at me as if my words were strange. “I am the Luna of this pack, right? You told me to think about the people.”

I took her hands fully this time, holding them between mine to still their trembling. “Sage. I am not forcing you to sacrifice yourself for this pack. That’s my duty. You deserve happiness first.”

For a moment she only stared at me, and then a small, self-conscious smile curved her lips. “I do love cooking,” she said softly. “So maybe I am making myself happy.”

The smell of the food rose between us. My wolf rumbled. (It smells good. Try it.) I exhaled slowly.

“Alright. I don’t usually eat cooked food,” I admitted, “but I will try this. Just to see how well you did.”

Her eyes brightened a little. I moved to the sofa, gesturing for her to sit beside me.

She hesitated. “Is it proper for me to sit next to the Alpha?”

My fists tightened. What had she been told to make her think she didn’t deserve to sit with me?

“Of course. You are min… You have my soul in you so…” I said, the words heavier than I intended. She blushed faintly and lowered herself onto the cushion.

“Serve me,” I told her.

She coughed, startled. “But..”

I caught her wrist before she could pull away. “Weren’t you just talking about Luna’s duty? Feed me, then.”

She let out a tiny sound of exasperation and then sighed. “Fine. I will feed you.”

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. She spooned up a small portion, blowing on it first, and then held it out to me. I leaned forward, my eyes locked on hers, and took the bite straight from the spoon.

The moment the food touched my tongue, my body reacted. The flavor burst against my senses, savory, rich just like the previous night… I enjoyed her meal.

My beast rose, eager, clawing at my control. I swallowed hard and leaned in for another bite before she could even lift the spoon again.

She gasped softly as I took the utensil from her hand, my fingers brushing hers. “Knight…”

But the hunger had already broken through. I scooped another mouthful, this time with urgency, tasting it as though the meal itself was prey.

My jaw tightened as I chewed, fighting the growl that vibrated at the back of my throat.

I caught the flicker of alarm in her eyes. She froze, startled by the shift in me, the rawness of it.

My beast didn’t care, the food was warm, good, made by her hands. It settled in my stomach like heat, and for a moment I forgot the weight of the Alpha’s chair.

When I finally set the spoon back down, my fingers still tingled from where I had brushed her skin. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted as though she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or run.

“That was…” I exhaled slowly, my voice softer now. “Better than I expected…. I want more.”