Chapter 96: Her parents

The next morning, the dining hall was unusually peaceful, and Hazel quickly found out the reason why. It was because Roman wasn’t present, and Damien was one to eat in silence, even the sound of his cutleries could not be heard.

Hazel ate ravenously, her manner of eating evoking Damien’s appetite and he smiled calmly, a trace of warmth flashing in his eyes.

On Hazel's lap, Little Red curled up, sleeping peacefully and occasionally making low, cute whimpers that made Hazel's heart melt just listening to the sound of it.

Little Red had her fluffy tail wrapped around her small self as she slept, she seemed completely uninterested in the food on the table at all.

Hazel could not help but glance worriedly at her, and Matilda, who was standing by the sides noticed this.

“She will be fine, she finds her food herself.”

Hazel raised her brow, “What does she eat?”

“I have no idea, she seems used to finding her own food. So it will take her a while for her to accept the food given to her.” Matilda replied and Hazel could only nod.

Little Red seemed to discern that they were speaking about her and her ears twitched slightly before it went back to normal.

Across the table, Damien watched this scene without saying anything. Actually, towards Little Red, he doesn’t know how to describe his feelings.

He never had any interest in small animals no matter how cute or good looking they were. He prefers useful animals, ones that could help during war or attacks.

But for the first time, he experienced what it meant to have one’s heart melt just by seeing a cute animal. This was the reason why he seemed patient towards Little Red, because if it were any other animal, he would have thrown it away since.

Just then, foodsteps echoed and Killian entered the dining hall.

“Alpha, I have some news you might want to hear.” He reported calmly.

Damien raised his head to send the maids away, but Matilda remained where she was. She was never considered an outsider to begin with, so Killian did not think much of it.

But before he could start saying anything, Hazel beat him to it.

“You should at least eat before you start talking about business so early in the morning.” She pointed out and Killian turned towards her.

He did not say anything until after a few seconds had passed.

“I just remembered that I haven’t formally introduced myself to Lady Hazel yet.”

Hazel chuckled, “First of all, I am no lady and secondly, I know you. Beta Killian, it’s nice meeting you.”

A small smile appeared on Killian’s face as he slowly sat down, a few maids approaching to serve him before disappearing. “Pleqsure is mine. I hope you don’t mind if I join you guys.” When Hazel shook her head to show that she doesn’t mind, he turned to Damien and scoffed. “Finally found someone who really cares, you never stopped me to have breakfast before.”

Damien raised his brow and sneered, “Are you a starving ghost? Don’t you have your own personal chefs?”

Killian almost choked on the spoon of tea he just took, he quickly calmed himself and muttered, “Still as savage as ever. It’s my fault for ever thinking you could be gentler, it seems that side of yours is only reserved for someone else.”

Damien ignored him and continued eating, while Hazel smiled silently from her seat.

She had always thought that Killian was a too serious person, but it seemed that she had been wrong.

As Killian ate, his eyes finally caught on the little figure on Hazel's lap.

“I heard that you brought in a fox cub yesterday, seems that it’s true.” He pointed out and Hazel nodded.

News sure travels fast.

“Yes. Damien won her from a game yesterday, her name is Little Red.”

“She even has a name?” He asked, slightly surprised. Then, he leaned slightly closer to study the little thing. “Well, she looks quite adorable.”

He extended his hand carelessly to pat the cub’s fur, but who would have expected that the fox who was still sleeping peacefully a while ago would suddenly have her eyes snapped open.

“Rrrr…”

She bared her teeth, growling as she swiped her sharpened claws towards Killian’s fingers. If his reflex hadn't been fast enough, her claws would have dug into his flesh and considering the force, it would definitely break through his skin.

Killian was surprised.

He stared at Little Red, who was already standing on her limbs, glaring at Killian threatenly as though warning him to back off.

Even Hazel was surprised.

At that moment, Damien called out, “Little Red.”

His voice was calm, but when it reached the fox’s ears, she froze.

Her ears dropped slightly and she jumped down from Hazel's laps. Her paws made no sound on the ground as she quickly reached Damien, settling on his lap.

Then, she rubbed her tiny face against Damien’s shirt, making soft whining sounds like she was apologizing and acting cute.

It looked exactly like she was currying favor with him.

Killian blinked, completely taken aback.

Then, he leaned back against the chair and sighed, “I have never seen such a smart cub, it looks like it had grown sentiment.”

After saying this, Killian’s gaze darted between Hazel, Damien and the cub. Then a mischievous grin appeared on his face.

“Considering how close she is to the best of you, can we say that the two of you are basically her parents?” He said and Hazel choked on the food she had just taken a bite of, her face turning red as we coughed.

Damien calmly passed a cup of water to her while giving Killian a look. But the culprit was busy laughing his head off.

Hazel’s face turned even redder.

When Hazel finally recovered, she glared at Killian.

“Can you eat your food and shut up?”

Killian only laughed harder.