ZADE’S POV
I’d never imagined that one day I would willingly stand in a kitchen before sunrise.
If any of my friends had told a month ago that I would wake up early just to impress a woman’s parents, I would have laughed in their faces.
Yet there I was.
The first rays of sunlight ca in through the large windows of Sky Mansion as I rolled up my sleeves and stared at the vegetables spread across the kitchen counter.
The house was quiet. Everyone in it was still asleep, including Sophia.
My wolf, however, was unusually energetic. He had been in a good mood ever since Sophia returned ho from the hospital.
The thought of her imdiately softened sothing inside .
I looked at the staircase. My wolf perked up instantly.
Sophia was upstairs, safe.
She was away from Damien, away from the people who had hurt her. That knowledge gave a strange sense of peace.
"Alpha Zade."
I looked up to find one of the servants staring at with wide eyes. She looked completely confused.
Honestly, I couldn’t bla her. Even I found this situation ridiculous.
"Can I help you with sothing?" she asked.
I shook my head. "No."
This morning, I decided to cook breakfast for Sophia as a surprise.
The issue was .....I didn’t know the first thing about cooking. I’d never had the need to cook sothing throughout my life.
She looked at the cutting board, then at , then back at the cutting board.
"You’re making breakfast?" she asked.
I sighed "Is it really that shocking?"
Her expression answered the question imdiately.
I almost laughed. Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice spoke from behind .
"You’re holding the knife wrong."
I turned around.
Marco stood at the kitchen entrance with his arms folded across his chest. His expression remained as stern as ever. The man rarely smiled.
Most people found him intimidating. I wasn’t most people.
Still, I straightened. Sothing about Sophia’s brother made feel like I was standing before a strict military commander.
"Good morning," I greeted.
Marco walked closer. His eyes moved toward the half-destroyed vegetables on the counter, then he looked at .
I saw disappointnt in his eyes.
"Those poor vegetables." He muttered.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
For the first ti in years, I actually felt embarrassed.
Marco shook his head. Then, to my surprise, he picked up another knife.
"Move." He said.
I blinked "What?"
"Move."
I stepped aside.
For the next few minutes, Marco silently demonstrated the proper way to prepare the vegetables.
I watched carefully.
The entire situation felt surreal. Sophia’s brother was teaching one of the most powerful Alphas on the continent how to chop carrots.
My wolf found it amusing. I found it humiliating.
Still, I paid attention. If learning how to cook earned points with Sophia’s family, I would learn every recipe in existence.
Marco suddenly looked at “Try it”
I took the knife and started cutting. This ti, my cuts were cleaner. They weren’t perfect but they were much better.
Marco grunted. Oddly enough, that felt like praise.
By the ti breakfast was ready, Patricia had also co downstairs.
The mont she entered the kitchen, she stopped walking.
Her eyes widened then she laughed. "Marco, am I dreaming?"
Marco rolled his eyes "No."
Patricia pointed directly at "Zade is cooking?"
I sighed dramatically "Please stop making sound like so spoiled prince."
Patricia laughed harder "You are a spoiled prince."
Even Marco looked amused.
For a mont, everything felt light and normal. This was sothing Sophia desperately needed.
Eventually, I heard footsteps coming from the staircase.
My wolf imdiately beca alert. Her scent hit instantly. My wolf and I could recognize that presence anywhere.
Sophia.
I turned toward the entrance. The mont I saw her, my heart squeezed painfully.
She still looked pale. The bruises on her face had faded slightly, but they were still visible. Her body remained weak. Her wolf was healing, but I could still sense the exhaustion inside her.
Sophia paused when she noticed standing in the kitchen. She blinked in confusion.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Patricia imdiately answered "He’s been trying to impress us since dawn."
Sophia blinked again. She looked at , then at the breakfast table, then back at .
A small smile appeared on her lips. It wasn’t a big smile. It wasn’t even a full smile but it was enough.
My entire chest ward instantly. My wolf wagged his tail like an idiot.
I would have cooked an entire restaurant nu just to see that smile.
Breakfast went on. Everyone gathered around the dining table.
The atmosphere felt peaceful. I knew this was sothing Sophia hadn’t experienced in a very long ti. She deserved everything good in this world.
I noticed how carefully Patricia watched Sophia.
Every ti Sophia reached for sothing, Patricia imdiately offered help. Every ti Sophia looked tired, Marco’s expression beca filled with concern.
Their love for her was obvious. And seeing it only made even more determined to protect her.
I promised myself that no one would ever hurt her again, not while I was alive.
During breakfast, I placed food onto Sophia’s plate.
"Eat more." I told her.
She frowned "I already am."
"You need protein." I added more food.
She stared at the growing pile "Zade."
"You lost blood."
I added even more food.
"Zade." She groaned.
"You need strength." I said.
Patricia covered her mouth to hide a laugh. Marco remained silent but I noticed sothing important. He wasn’t stopping anymore.
A few weeks ago, he could barely tolerate my presence. Now he simply watched. It felt like he was observing . That alone felt like progress.
Sophia sighed. “You’re impossible."
I smiled "I know."
To my surprise, Marco spoke.
"At least he’s useful." Marco grunted.
The entire table went silent.
Patricia looked shocked. Sophia looked shocked. Even Marco seed surprised by his own words.
Then he calmly continued eating, as if he hadn’t just given the greatest complint of my life.
My wolf practically danced.
The rest of the al passed peacefully. For the first ti in weeks, Sophia seed relaxed.
-
That afternoon, a car arrived outside Sky Mansion.
I was helping Sophia organize her dication when the doorbell rang.
A servant entered and said "Miss Sophia, soone is here for you."
Sophia looked up "Who?"
The servant smiled politely "Mr. Lance."
I imdiately frowned. My wolf growled.
Sophia’s eyes went wide "Oh."
She stood slowly. I helped her to her feet and tried to steady her.
I helped Sophia to the living room. Lance stood there, dressed neatly as always. He looked like a respectful man. Unfortunately, he was also entirely too interested in Sophia for my liking.
The mont he saw her, concern filled his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better." She said.
He smiled "I’m glad."
I stepped closer, close enough that nobody could possibly miss it.
Lance’s eyes moved to . His smile faded.
Good.
"What’s the plan?" I asked.
Lance looked annoyed “Sophia and I are going to dinner”
I nodded. "I’m coming."
His expression darkened “What?”
Sophia rubbed her forehead “Zade”
Lance crossed his arms "This invitation is limited."
I looked at him "I’m sure they’ll survive."
My wolf remained stubborn.
There was absolutely no chance I was letting her attend so dinner while she was still recovering, not without . Especially not after everything that had happened.
Before I could say sothing else, another voice interrupted.
"He’s going."
Everyone turned. Marco stood at the doorway with a calm expression..
Lance blinked in shock "What?"
Marco looked directly at him "I said he’s going."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Even I was surprised.
Marco slowly walked closer and looked at "He’s irritating but he protects her."
Sothing warm spread through my chest.
Sophia looked stunned.
Marco continued "And right now, that’s what matters. Sophia isn’t strong enough yet”
Lance sighed "Fine."
“Victory” My wolf practically howled.
I moved beside Sophia. I got cllose enough that our shoulders almost touched.
She gave a warning look but I ignored it completely.
A few minutes later, we prepared to leave.
Sophia wore a simple dress. It was nothing extravagant yet she looked beautiful. She always did.
The bruises had faded more. This ti, her eyes looked brighter.
I couldn’t stop staring at her in awe.
She noticed.
"Why are you looking at like that?” she asked.
I smiled "Because you’re beautiful."
Her face turned totally red. She looked away from as a blush crept to her cheeks.
Patricia laughed. Marco pretended not to hear.
As we approached the car, I opened the passenger door for Sophia.
Lance looked increasingly irritated. I found it entertaining.
Once Sophia settled inside, I walked around and took the seat beside her.
Lance glanced at through the rearview mirror. The expression on his face was as hard as stone but I paid him no mind.
Instead, I leaned back comfortably and wrapped my arms around Sophia.
Sophia shook her head but I caught the tiny smile she tried to hide.
Lance drove. Throughout the journey, I remained beside her, holding her.
My wolf was extrely pleased with himself.
As the city passed outside the windows, I reached over and gently adjusted the blanket covering her legs.
The movent surprised her.
"You worry too much." She muttered.
I smirked "Not possible. I told you before. I’m not giving up."
The vehicle went quiet. Even Lance seed to freeze.
My wolf stood proudly inside . Because this was the truth.
Damien had his chance and he wasted it.
I wasn’t going to waste mine.
No matter how long it took. No matter how many obstacles stood in my way, I intended to stay beside Sophia.
I was going to protect her and fight for her.
And eventually... I’d make her mine.
The determination inside only grew stronger as I looked at her.
This ti, I wasn’t backing down.
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