Chapter 13

Kat's POV

I quickly sat up from the bed, brushing my hands over my leggings to straighten them out.

My heart beat a little faster. Maybe it was Cindy with the food.

I rushed over to the door and pulled it open.

Sure enough, Cindy was standing there, a big tray of food balanced carefully in her hands.

The smell hit me right away — it was so good it almost made me dizzy.

"Here you go," Cindy said, smiling brightly as she handed me the tray.

I took it from her, being careful not to tilt it.

I was honestly a little shocked by how much food was on it — scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, buttered toast, some roasted potatoes, and even a bowl of fresh fruits.

There was a tall glass of orange juice sitting on the side and a small cup of what looked like coffee.

"Thank you," I said quickly, my voice soft but full of real gratitude.

Cindy laughed a little, waving her hand like it was no big deal.

"Really, it’s no problem," she said warmly. "I’m happy to help. Enjoy your food!"

Before I could say anything else, she turned and disappeared down the hallway, her long brown ponytail swinging behind her.

I stood there for a second, tray in my hands, feeling warm inside at her kindness.

Not everyone here was mean, it seemed.

I kicked the door closed gently with my foot and carried the tray to the bed.

I sat down cross-legged and placed the tray on my lap.

I stared at the food for a moment, my mouth watering.

It all looked so good that I didn’t even know what to try first.

I picked up a fork and stabbed a piece of scrambled egg, bringing it to my mouth.

The eggs were fluffy and soft, like tiny clouds that melted on my tongue.

I chewed slowly, savoring the buttery taste.

Next, I picked up a slice of bacon, which was perfectly crispy and salty, just the way I loved it.

I couldn’t help the little hum of happiness that escaped my mouth.

It felt like forever since I had eaten something so good.

The toast was warm and buttery, and the roasted potatoes were seasoned just right — a little salty, a little spicy.

I picked up a few grapes from the fruit bowl, popping them into my mouth.

They were juicy and sweet, and the burst of flavor made me smile.

Halfway through the meal, I remembered the orange juice.

I took a sip and almost sighed in relief. It was cold and fresh, not too sweet, not too sour.

Everything about this breakfast made me feel a little more at home — even if I wasn’t sure I belonged here yet.

By the time I finished eating, I was full and happy.

I sat back against the headboard, rubbing my stomach a little, feeling lazy and comfortable.

The tray was now mostly empty, only a few crumbs left behind.

Just as I was thinking about maybe napping again, there was another knock at my door.

I jumped a little, startled.

I quickly got up and opened it, and there was Cindy again, but this time she didn’t have a tray.

She was standing there with a small, polite smile, her hands clasped in front of her.

"Hey," she said softly. "Alpha Liam wants to see you in his office."

My stomach flipped.

The good feeling I had from the food started to fade away.

Why did he want to see me?

Had he heard about me running out of the dining room like a scared rabbit?

Or maybe he wanted to tell me I didn’t belong here.

I must have looked worried because Cindy gave me a small reassuring smile.

"Don’t worry," she said kindly. "It’s probably nothing bad. Alphas like to check in with new people."

I nodded slowly, feeling nervous all over again.

I grabbed a hair tie from the nightstand and quickly tied my messy hair into a low ponytail.

I wiped my hands on my leggings even though they weren’t dirty — it was just nerves.

Cindy waited patiently while I got ready, then motioned for me to follow her.

We left the room together, my heart pounding in my chest.

The hallway was quiet, with only the soft creaks of the old wooden floors under our feet.

As we walked, I noticed how the walls were decorated with fancy paintings — big ones, showing forests, rivers, wolves, and mountains.

It was beautiful and a little intimidating at the same time.

The air smelled clean, like fresh flowers and something woodsy, maybe from the furniture.

We walked down a long hallway, passing a few closed doors, until we finally reached the end where a large door stood.

It was bigger than all the others and made of dark wood with gold handles.

There was a shiny plaque on it that read: "Alpha's Office."

Cindy stopped and turned to me.

"You can go in now," she said with a little smile.

"I’ll leave you here."

I swallowed hard and nodded.

"Thank you," I whispered, even though my voice shook a little.

She gave me a friendly wink before turning around and walking away, her footsteps echoing softly.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the big door, feeling small and a little scared.

I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders the best I could, and raised my hand.

I knocked softly, the sound seeming too loud in the quiet hallway.

After a second, I pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside, not sure what was waiting for me.

I walked into the office slowly, my heart thudding in my chest like a drum.

I gently closed the door behind me, but even though I was being careful, the soft click of the door echoed loudly in the big, quiet room.

The office was huge, way bigger than I expected.

The walls were covered in shelves filled with books, and a big window behind the desk let the morning sunlight pour in, lighting up the room in a warm glow.

There was a dark red rug on the floor, and the furniture looked expensive, like something out of a magazine.

Alpha Liam was sitting behind a massive dark wooden desk that looked like it belonged to a king.

He had some papers spread out in front of him, but when he heard me come in, he looked up.

The sight of him made me freeze for a second.