Knot The One They Want

Chapter 41: Why Is He Being Kind?

Lorali Pov

"I thought you’d sleep in. You looked quite exhausted last night." His warm voice hums in the air as he enters the room, carrying a tray. I don’t say a word. I just stare, frozen in my spot having no idea what is happening here.

"I brought you breakfast," he says, setting the tray down on the table near the bed.

Breakfast? How is there breakfast already? I haven’t cooked it yet. "I cooked it," Torin murmurs, his voice low and gentle, as if he knows exactly what’s running through my mind. "I’m sure it’s not as good as anything you’ve ever made, but it will get the job done."

He gives me a tight smile, and my nerves shoot through the roof. My fingers clench hard around the blanket. What is happening here? Why is he being nice? Did the witch put him up to this? Is this some new way to torment me? Do they plan to kill me with kindness?

Suddenly, I feel warm, large, gentle hands on my cheeks. The touch pulls me out of my spiraling thoughts.

"Are you okay? For a second, Sugar Plum, I felt like I lost you there for a second."

His voice melts me, filling me with calm. My bond reacts instantly to my fated mate’s touch. The dark cloud above my mind ceases to exist, replaced by peace, as I become enveloped in his musk scent.

But just as suddenly as he grasps my cheeks, he lets go and I notice that his ears are burning bright red. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you like that without permission."

Sorry? He’s apologizing for touching me? What is happening here?

"You should eat," he says, motioning toward the food, then back at me. I don’t move still, I just look at him. Seeing my refusal, he sighs, a long, worried sigh, and sits at my feet on the edge of the bed, dipping the mattress slightly.

"Look," he begins, his voice steady but heavy, "I know you’re probably wondering what’s going on. And I know you probably don’t trust the food I made. That’s understandable. Over the past few months, my pack has done everything to make your life miserable. I know no amount of apologizing will ever fix what’s been done. But I will apologize for their actions."

He lifts his eyes to me, but I look away, avoiding his warm gaze. freewebnøvel.coɱ

"I was an unworthy fated mate. I failed in my duties. I should have taken care of you. Instead, I buried myself in work and entrusted my pack to look after you. But something was miscommunicated and Walter thought you were here to replace him, and my mother... she just wanted to protect him. That led to you being hurt. This is all my fault."

His voice hitches. My body stiffens.

Then I hear it, whimpering. Hold up. Is this grown man crying?

I snap my head toward him, and there it is. Torin is crying. Full‑on waterworks, tears streaming down his face, tugging at something deep in my chest I thought was long dead.

Without thinking, without hesitation, on pure mate instinct, I move closer to him and slowly reach out one hand and wipe his tears. His eyes lock into mine, red‑rimmed and filled with... guilt.

"I know I don’t deserve you after my negligence," he whispers, voice breaking. "But as selfish as it is for me to ask... will you still have me? And my pack?"

His eyes search mine, desperate for an answer, while my eyes are lost in his.

This feels like a dream. My mate is so close and is crying in front of me, asking me to be his. It can’t be real. It must be a dream. "Will you have us, Lorali?" He suddenly takes my wrist, pressing his lips against my palm before planting a small kiss on it and inhaling my non-existent scent deeply with his eyes closed.

A shiver runs down my spine.

No. This isn’t a dream. It feels too real. Too raw. Too alive.

Which means... he’s really here.

"I don’t... know?" I manage to murmur, my voice low and trembling. His lips move away from the inside of my palm, and his eyes open to stare at me with a deep, raw want... for me.

"It’s alright. You don’t have to answer me now. I’ll wait as long as you want me to," Torin says softly, offering me a small smile before rising from the rim of the bed.

"I’m sure you’d like to eat your breakfast alone. Please, help yourself. I’ll be back soon enough."

He turns his back to me and walks toward the door. My chest tightens. I want to tell him to stay. I don’t want to be alone anymore. But I don’t. I don’t stop him, instead I ball my fists and let him walk away. I still don’t know what’s happening, and I can’t fall into their trap. For all I know, Torin was sent to give me another venomous mate bond, like Oracle’s.

The door shuts, and I am alone in the room once again.

"That was odd," I mumble, staring down at my hand, feeling the wet sensation left behind from wiping his tears.

"Whatever. I shouldn’t be distracted by all of this. I need to clean."

I get off the bed and stretch my limbs. They feel stronger, lighter and more rested than they usually do after a night’s sleep. As I roll my neck, I catch sight of the breakfast waiting on the table, gleaming like a holy grail.

Perhaps a tiny bite won’t hurt. Then I’ll get back to my duties.

I lick my lips before attacking the food. I shove the toasted bread into my mouth. It’s a little burnt, but I don’t care. This is food, actual food. Tears spill down my face as I stuff my mouth, unable to stop.

I cook every day, but other than the small tastes I take to make sure the flavor is right, I never eat much of it. I’m sure when the witch made that cruel rule, that I eat only the scraps the pack leaves behind, because she knew there would be no scraps left when more than two Alphas were eating. No matter how much food I cooked, there was never enough left for me. Most nights, I starved.

The goddess must still see me, to grant me such a meal.

I reach for the cup of orange juice and gulp it down, barely tasting it, eating fast with the sole purpose of filling myself quickly. Madam Trina, our table etiquette teacher, would faint if she saw me now. She hated when we ate fast, not only because it made us bloat, but because it made us look like undignified Omegas that were desperate and unrefined.

Had it been any other day, when I wasn’t starving, I would have taken my time. But today is not that day.

I finish my breakfast in two minutes flat. My mouth is full, my plate shining, not a crumb left behind. And even after such a filling meal, hunger still gnaws at me.

I could go for another round.