My mom glanced over at me as we stood in the small kitchen, pulling out some food to prepare. Her eyes were soft, a quiet smile on her face as she handed me a plate.
“Make sure you serve him properly, Aria. He’s a guest, and an important one at that,” she said gently, though I could hear the slight edge of excitement in her voice. This wasn’t just any guest—it was the Lycan King. The fact that he was here, in our small home, was still mind-blowing.
I nodded, focusing on the task at hand, though my thoughts kept drifting back to the man sitting in our living room. Magnus. Just thinking of him made my heart race. He was twice my age, and yet I found myself drawn to him in ways I couldn’t fully understand. Was it the mate bond? Or was it something more?
Mom followed me to the door with a small pat on my back. "Go on now. He’s waiting."
I took a deep breath and headed into the living room, carrying the tray carefully. I expected to find Magnus sitting there quietly, but instead, there was Owen, sprawled across Magnus’s lap, telling him one of his ridiculous school stories. I froze for a second, wide-eyed.
“...and then, the ball went flying through the window! You should’ve seen Coach’s face, it was hilarious!” Owen babbled, practically bouncing on Magnus’s lap, completely oblivious to how inappropriate the whole scene was.
Magnus, to my surprise, was actually listening, nodding slightly, his lips curled into an amused smile. I groaned inwardly. Owen. Always pushing boundaries, never knowing when to stop. I couldn't believe he was actually sitting on the Lycan King's lap, acting like a child.
“Owen!” I snapped, trying to sound stern. “Get off him! What’s wrong with you?”