Oliver shifted beside me, his posture slightly tense, his voice careful as he asked whether his Alpha—no, my presence—was truly acceptable for a shared meal. His uncertainty carried the weight of pack awareness, the instinct to respect boundaries within hierarchy even outside formal settings.
I realized then that I had never clarified my situation to him. The truth sat plainly in my chest, uncomplicated yet defining, and I offered it without hesitation. I had no mate bound to me. I was raising a child alone, navigating both independence and the silent expectations of those who observed from within the pack.
A flicker of surprise crossed his expression, though it did not linger long. His thoughts seemed to align quickly, piecing together fragments of what he had already sensed.
"Isn't the man I saw at your home last night your mate?" he asked, his tone lowered, careful not to press too hard yet unable to hide his curiosity.
