Chapter 20 Breakfast as a Family
DAHLIA
It had been two full moons since that night. Two full moons since Dagnoth had called to me to his chambers, and I have been disoriented since then.
I told myself it didn’t matter. That I didn’t care. That I was only here for my pups. But every knock on the door made my chest tighten. Every sound of footsteps in the hallway made my heart jump before disappointment quickly smothered it again.
Sometimes, I’d catch myself looking out the window at the distant tower where his chambers were, wondering what he was doing, if he ever thought about me.
Pathetic, right?
I shouldn’t have cared. But I did.
He had breakfast with my pups few times since then—two, maybe three. Always brief, always polite. Never a word directed at me. Not even a glance that lingered long enough to mean something.
And every time he left, I was left with the same ache, like something unfinished was clawing at my chest.
This morning, I was brushing Lily’s hair when there was a knock on the door.
My heart betrayed me again; it was skipping and hoping.
I hated it.
But it was only Maren, the palace maid who usually came to call us for meals.
“Breakfast is being served, my lady,” she said, bowing her head slightly. “The King requests your presence… and the pups as well.”
The King.
I tried not to let the flicker of hope show on my face. “We’ll be there soon,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm.
As soon as she left, the kids started bouncing around.
“Do you think Daddy will be there?” Liam asked, eyes wide with excitement.
“Maybe!” Lily squealed. “I want to sit next to him this time.”
“I’ll sit on his lap!” Libby announced proudly, clutching her stuffed wolf.
Their innocent joy twisted something deep in me. I smiled anyway. “We’ll see, my love. But remember to behave, and don’t make too much noise, alright?”
They nodded eagerly, though I knew that was a promise they’d likely forget the moment food arrived.
When we entered the grand dining hall, the golden light spilling through the tall windows made everything gleam. The long table was filled with silver dishes, crystal goblets, and platters of steaming food.
And there he was.
Dagnoth.
Sitting at the head of the table, powerful and calm as ever, his broad shoulders framed by the morning light. His aura filled the room before he even spoke.
And beside him, his queen, Mayra.
I had an unsettling feeling; I didn’t like her on the table with me, my pups, and Dagnoth.
She looked exactly like I remembered from the ceremony, the kind of beauty that froze instead of warmed.
My stomach knotted.
The children froze for a moment too, their eyes widening at the sight of her. But then Liam, brave as ever, grinned and said, “Good morning, Daddy!”
Libby followed, shyly. “Morning, Daddy.”
And then Lily added with a giggle, “You look serious today, Daddy.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, barely visible, but it was there. “Good morning,” he said softly, his voice deep enough to echo faintly against the stone walls.
My heart fluttered before I could stop it.
Then Mayra turned, her smile tight and fake. “Oh, how adorable,” she said in a tone dripping with sweetness that didn’t reach her eyes. “The little ones think they can talk to the king as if he were their pet.”
My spine stiffened.
Dagnoth’s expression darkened slightly, but he said nothing.
Liam blinked innocently. “He’s not a pet. He’s our daddy.”
Mayra let out a cold laugh. “Is he now? My, my… children can be so imaginative.”
Lily frowned. “Mommy said...”
“Lily,” I said quickly, resting a hand on her shoulder. My voice was calm, but my wolf stirred beneath my skin, irritated.
Mayra’s eyes flicked to me, sharp and assessing. “Ah, the lovely Dahlia,” she said smoothly. “You must be proud, teaching your children to lie so confidently.”
My jaw clenched. “They’re only speaking from what they believe,” I replied evenly. “Children are honest that way.”
Her smile thinned. “Honesty,” she mused. “Such a dangerous habit for a woman like you.”
Every part of me wanted to bite back, to show her that broken didn’t mean weak. But I held my ground, meeting her gaze squarely.
“Dangerous habits are only dangerous when someone feels threatened by them,” I said softly.
Her expression faltered for a heartbeat.
The children, oblivious to the tension, started chattering about pancakes, syrup, and who could eat more. I used their noise as cover to steady my breathing.
And then, something unexpected happened.
Mayra rolled her eyes and made a snide remark about “commoners with their uncivilized manners.” Before I could react, Dagnoth spoke.
“That’s enough, Mayra.”
The tone was quiet, but the authority in it made even her stiffen.
She turned to him, disbelief flashing across her face. “Enough?”
He didn’t look at her. His gaze was fixed on the children and then briefly on me. “They’re my family,” he said simply. “You will treat them as such.”
For a second, I couldn’t breathe.
The smallest spark of warmth bloomed in my chest.
He’d stood up for me. For us.
The meal continued, awkward but manageable. Mayra sulked in silence. The children laughed and babbled through most of it, occasionally making Dagnoth’s mouth twitch into something dangerously close to a smile.
Liam, bold as ever, asked if he could have a sword like Daddy’s someday. Dagnoth told him perhaps—when he was older and wiser. Libby offered him his favorite stuffed wolf as “protection,” which actually made him chuckle. A low, deep sound that I hadn’t realized I’d missed until I heard it again.
For that brief, fragile moment, it almost felt like… family.
But I knew better than to believe in moments.
When the plates were cleared and the maids began to tidy the table, Dagnoth finally spoke again.
“There’s an upcoming gathering,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “A meeting of all Alphas and Lycans across all regions. Every leader will be present.”
Mayra straightened instantly, her chin high. “Of course,” she said. “I’ll prepare the formal garments—”
“You won’t be coming,” he said without even looking at her.
Her head snapped toward him. “What?”
He ignored her disbelief and turned to me instead. “You’ll accompany me, Dahlia.”
The room went utterly still.
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him. My hands froze where they rested on Lily’s shoulders. “Me?” I breathed.
Mayra shot up from her chair, outrage flaring across her face. “Her? Her? You can’t be serious, Dagnoth! She’s...”
He cut her off with a look that made even her falter. “My decision is final.”
Silence pressed down like a weight.
The children looked between us, confused by the sudden tension.
Lily whispered, “Mommy, are we going too?”
I forced a small smile. “Not this time, sweetheart.”
My heart was racing so fast I thought he could probably hear it.
Mayra stood there fuming, her face pale with fury. I could feel her gaze burning into me, but I didn’t dare meet it.
Why me? Why now after two full moons of silence?
When I finally looked up, Dagnoth’s eyes met mine; they were dark, unreadable, and yet… something flickered there. Something that made my pulse skip.
He turned away before I could understand it.
“Prepare yourself,” he said quietly. “We leave by sunrise tomorrow.”
And just like that, he walked out.
Mayra stormed after him, hissing something under her breath.
The children started asking questions about why Daddy was angry and why the pretty lady was mad, but their voices felt distant, fading behind the rush in my ears.
He wanted me to go with him.
After all this silence. After all this time pretending I didn’t care.
Why me?
I didn’t know.
But deep inside, beneath the confusion, the anger, the fear… a spark of something wild and dangerous stirred.
And I couldn’t tell if it was hope
or the beginning of my undoing.