Lorien POV

The sizzle of the pan filled the silence, the scent of toasting bread grounding me in the only bit of normalcy I could claim tonight. I hadn’t been here long, but already the pack’s eyes were heavy on me even when they weren’t in the room. Through the window, Auren was a shadow among warriors, watching… always watching.

I ran my tongue across my lips as I stared down at the pan, watching the food sizzle and spit with heat. It had been so long since I’d had a proper meal ...