24

fedora pov

I had absolutely no idea how he always managed to read through me so easily, but I couldn't afford to break character now. I just forced myself to keep playing along, staring hard at the screen and desperately pointing at the different folders while explaining how to edit the raw files. My mind was spinning with a million questions, completely wondering what was going on inside that dark head of his. He would probably never believe a single word that came out of my mouth ever again. It was becoming a recurring nightmare; he just kept catching me red-handed in my silly lies, one after the other. A heavy wave of embarrassment washed over me, so thick and suffocating that I secretly wished the floorboards would just open up and swallow me whole. I wanted nothing more than to hide under the ground where nobody could ever look at me again.

His face had been dangerously close to mine while I was leaning over the laptop, our shoulders almost brushing with every movement. Because of that proximity, I was completely certain that his sharp alpha senses were piercing right through the scent of filth clinging to me. I had been holding my breath the entire time, my heart hammering against my ribs, so the very second those words left his mouth and he muttered that he had seen enough, a massive sigh of relief escaped my lips. Finally, the torture was over.

I didn't waste a single second. I rushed straight into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind me, and turned the shower on full blast. The hot water felt like heaven as it washed over my battered body, rinsing away the lingering dirt, the physical pain, and the disgusting memory of the restroom stall. It was the most refreshing bath I had taken in ages. But the moment I turned off the faucet and wrapped the towel back around my skin, a sudden realization hit me. I hadn't brought any spare clothes into the bathroom with me.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly pushed the door open and stepped back into the bedroom, expecting to face another awkward moment. Instead, the room was completely empty. I blinked in surprise, my eyes drifting toward the center of his massive bed. Laying right there, neatly folded, was a pile of brand-new women's clothes. I walked over and touched the soft fabric, my heart softening just a little. It was such a caring, thoughtful thing for him to do. The man was a complete mystery; the way he carries himself made it absolutely impossible to tell if he was happy, sad, or burning with anger at any given moment. He hid everything behind an icy mask, yet he went out of his way to make sure I was taken care of.

I picked up the main piece, a stunning red dress. It was absolutely beautiful, the fabric feeling like pure silk against my fingers, but I couldn't help but wonder why on earth he chose red of all colors. It felt a bit too loud, almost like I was getting ready to attend a high school prom or a royal ball.

Once I finished slipping into the dress and fixing my hair, I stood in the center of the quiet room, wondering where he had gone. Just as I was about to sit down, the faint, elegant sound of piano keys started drifting through the walls, coming from the adjacent room. The music was incredibly soft and beautiful, pulling at my curiosity.

I walked over to the connecting door, my fingers trembling slightly as I gripped the handle and pushed it open. My jaw dropped instantly. This room was even larger and more grand than his bedroom. Right in the middle of the space stood a massive, polished wooden dining table, surrounded by beautiful, fresh flowers that filled the air with a sweet scent. The arrangement was so perfect, so incredibly deliberate, that it looked like a scene straight out of a movie where someone was about to get proposed to.

Looking closer at the table, my stomach gave a hungry rumble. A lavish feast of the absolute finest foods was spread out from one end to the other, the table completely full of steaming, delicious dishes that looked like they belonged in a five-star restaurant. Glowing candles were lit in every single corner of the room, casting a soft, flickering light over the entire setup. The atmosphere was just too romantic to handle. I froze at the entrance, rubbing my eyes as panic gripped me. *Did I stumble into the wrong room or something? Is this meant for someone else?*

Before I could turn around and run back, a shadow shifted near the piano. Michael was standing there, his tall figure illuminated by the candlelight as he stared at me with an unreadable look in his dark eyes. He stepped forward, his boots clicking softly against the floor as he closed the distance between us.

"Ever since you arrived at my pack, I haven't formally welcomed you the way I should have," he murmured, his gaze tracing the lines of the red dress before locking back onto my face. He paused, his jaw tightening slightly. "Forgive me, Fedora, but I have been a little too busy with pack matters lately. This might not look like much to you, but please accept this little token as my welcoming gift. Have dinner with me tonight."

A breathless laugh escaped my lips, and I actually scoffed in pure disbelief, looking around the room to make sure he wasn't playing a joke on me. *Did he really just say this was 'not much'?* I shook my head, completely stunned. This was, without a doubt, the most magnificent and beautiful gift I had ever received in my entire life. I couldn't even find the right words to describe what I was feeling at that point. It wasn't even the pure luxury or the expensive food that touched my soul; it was the sheer amount of thought and effort he had put into creating this whole setup just for me.

Michael noticed my hesitation and walked closer, a soft expression crossing his features. He reached down and gently took my hand, his warm fingers wrapping around mine as he raised it slightly, guiding me forward with the utmost respect. He pulled out the heavy chair at the head of the table, waiting for me to settle into my seat before walking all the way to the opposite end to sit down directly facing me.

For the first few minutes, a quiet intensity filled the space. We began to eat, the food tasting incredible, but our eyes kept catching across the table every time the candles flickered. The silence between us stretched, thick with unspoken questions, until Michael finally set his utensils down. He leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes locking onto mine with absolute seriousness.

"So," he spoke, his voice dropping into a low, demanding rumble that made my heart skip a beat. "Tell me everything that happened."