Chapter 16

Valerie

For breakfast, we sat at the long dining table. Once again. Lucas sat on one side while I sat beside the Alpha on the other. The only difference now was that Lucas’s pet hadn’t shown up.

I wondered where she was. Had she left last night?

Her presence, from what I had noticed, had entirely vanished.

For dinner the night before, the Alpha and I had sat at a completely different table to eat. It was a much smaller room, with much more comfortable chairs. I wondered why we didn’t eat there again. Was it Lucas’s presence that brought us to this table?

I liked the other room much better.

I could hear my own thoughts there.

Breakfast, however, was just as marvelous as always. Smells wafted from the table and roused a hunger in me I didn’t know I had. Not just savory meats and side dishes this time, but desserts as well—fresh baked bread and cookies and cakes.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had cake.

And then, goodness, the fruits! Fresh fruit littered about, sliced elegantly i