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I stepped into the dining room, and the first thing I noticed was that Roman was already there, seated at the table, his posture straight, his hands resting in front of him… though he wasn’t eating yet.
“Good morning, Luna,” he said, his voice calm, steady.
“Good morning, Roman,” I replied, smoothing the hem of my top and trying to mask my surprise. I couldn’t help the small, almost mischievous smile that crept onto my face. It was rare to see Roman down here for breakfast–rare for him to step out of his routine.
“You came down for breakfast,” I said, sliding into the chair across from him. I raised my eyebrows slightly, trying not to sound too surprised, though I couldn’t help it.
Roman shrugged just slightly, a small tilt of his head that seemed casual, yet everything about the
movement suggested otherwise. “Just felt like doing something different today,” he replied, and there was that tiny smirk that suggested he knew it caught me off guard.
I nodded, still amused, and started to adjust my plate, moving my utensils into place.
Before I could even take the first bite, Alexander appeared at the doorway. My stomach gave a little lurch at the sight of him–already dressed, already that perfectly composed version of himself that somehow made him look like he belonged in a different world entirely.
He caught my gaze as he paused, and that small, knowing smile lifted his lips before he leaned down and
pressed a quick, soft kiss to my temple.
“Morning,” he murmured, the warmth of his presence brushing against me in a way that made my chest feel a little lighter.
“Morning,” I said, my voice catching just a fraction, though I tried to sound casual.
Roman’s gaze shifted, briefly assessing Alexander, and then he inclined his head slightly. “Morning, Alpha,”
he said.
Alexander returned the nod, his eyes flicking toward me for the smallest fraction of a second before he seated himself across from Roman, sliding into the chair next to mine. I noticed immediately how crisp his outfit looked in the morning light–the edges of his suit jacket sharp, the tie perfectly straight. My mind ticked over automatically–I must have dozed off again after he came to bed, and he probably went off early for one of those morning meetings I could never fully wrap my mind around.
I set my fork down and exhaled quietly. It was one of those mornings where everything felt a little too normal, a little too calm, and yet the lingering echoes of my dreams from the night before made it impossible for me to settle entirely.
We began to eat. The clinking of cutlery against plates, the soft scrape of chairs on the wooden floor, the
< Chapter 373
occasional shuffle from the staff in the kitchen–it was all normal, ordinary.
+25 Points
Alexander broke the silence first, casually, effortlessly. “Did you sleep well?” His tone was light, teasing even, though I knew better than to read too much into casualness. He always asked, but there was a way he asked that made it feel personal, like he actually wanted to know.
I shrugged, trying to keep my expression neutral as I picked up my fork again. “Probably would have,” I
said, letting the words hang just long enough for the teasing to land, “if you hadn’t disappeared on me all
through the night.” I added the last part casually, letting it slip out almost as an aside. Then I added, “Also
… I had the weirdest dream last night.”
Roman was holding a glass of water; his hand trembled slightly, and a small wave of water sloshed over
the rim, spilling onto the table and leaving a glistening trail across the surface. His face went pale for a
second, eyes widening. He quickly grabbed a napkin, dabbed at the water, muttering a rapid apology under
his breath.
“It’s fine,” I said automatically, brushing it off, though my mind lingered for a moment on how nervous he
seemed, how unsettled. Alexander, on the other hand, didn’t react at all–he was already focused on his
plate, eating casually as though the spill hadn’t happened.
I took a deep breath and began again, letting the words roll out in a slow, measured way. “It was probably
just… a dream,” I said softly. “Just… odd. Strange, that’s all.”
Alexander, his curiosity piqued, tilted his head and set his fork down. “What kind of dream?” he asked,
genuine interest flickering across his face.
I hesitated, glancing toward Roman briefly. His head was down, fingers fidgeting with the napkin he had
balled up, and I could feel the unspoken question hanging in the air: should I even say this in front of him?
I considered holding back, leaving the dream tucked away in the corner of my mind where it wouldn’t disturb anyone, but something in me said it was okay. Roman was practically family; he’d never judge, and it was only a dream.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
