Page 23 of Once You Go Pack
But focusing proved impossible when her scent hit him like a drug. Sweet lavender flooded his senses, making his head spin with want. His wolf clawed at him, demanding he claim what was his, audience be damned.
“Good morning,” he managed, his voice huskier than expected.
Mila’s cheeks flushed pink as their eyes met, and he caught the flicker of awareness in her expression before she quickly looked away.
She’s being deliberately distant.
He crossed to her with swift, sure steps, placing his hand on her lower back to guide her to the table. The innocent touch nearly undid him—even through the soft cashmere, he could feel her warmth and could sense the way her breath faltered at the contact.
“Please, sit here,” he said, pulling out the chair beside his father’s place at the head of the small table.
Their fingers brushed as she accepted his assistance, and her pupils dilated slightly, making his control fracture around the edges.
Not here.
He forced himself to step back and settle into his own chair across from his father while Lyra claimed the seat on King Drake’s other side. The arrangement put Mila directly in his line of sight, which proved both blessing and torture.
“Father,” Cade said, working to keep his voice steady, “I’d like you to meet Mila.”
King Drake nodded with obvious effort, but when his gaze met Mila’s, something remarkable happened. His weathered features softened into what could only be called a genuine smile—the first Cade had seen from him in months.
The unexpected display of warmth caught Cade off guard. His father had always been a master of emotional restraint, showing affection through action rather than expression. To see him offer such open welcome to a stranger—a human stranger—defied everything Cade thought he knew about the man.
“So you’re the one who’s captured my son’s attention,” Drake said, his voice carrying none of its usual commanding edge. “Welcome to our home.”
Mila’s posture straightened with obvious nerves. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Cade has been incredibly gracious.”
“Please, call me Drake. We don’t stand on ceremony at breakfast.”
Through their fragile mate bond, Cade felt the mixture of excitement and apprehension rolling off Mila in waves. She was trying so hard to make a good impression and to navigate the complex dynamics of royal protocol, that tension radiated from every line of her body.
She doesn’t need to try so hard. Father already likes her.
That realization should have been pure relief. Instead, it only intensified the weight pressing down on him. Every passing moment reminded him how little time remained—with his father, with the luxury of choice, with the illusion that he could somehow balance love and duty without sacrificing one for the other.
“Tell me about Earth,” Drake continued, leaning forward with genuine interest. “Cade mentioned you work in law. That must require considerable intelligence and skill.”
Mila’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “It’s... different from your world, certainly. Less exciting and dramatic. Though I suppose that depends on which lawyers you’re dealing with.”
A rusty chuckle escaped Drake’s throat—a sound Cade hadn’t heard in years. “Ah, so you have a sense of humor as well. Good. This family needs more laughter.”
As Mila began to open up, sharing carefully chosen details about her work and her world, Cade found himself studying every micro-expression that crossed her face. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about something that truly interested her. The small gesture she made with her hands when she grewanimated. The careful respect she showed his father even as her natural warmth began to shine through.
She’s perfect. How is she this perfect?
But beneath his admiration lurked a constant current of anxiety and doubt. Every word she spoke, every interaction with his family, was a test she didn’t know she was taking right now. But he knew.
Would she fit into their world? Could she handle the pressure of royal life? Would she want to stay once she understood what being his mate truly meant?
Yet he couldn’t shake the warm feeling that came with having everything he’d never dared hope for suddenly within reach. His wolf wanted to wrap around her protectively and ensure nothing could drive her away.
“What about your family?” Drake asked. “Are they supportive of your... adventure?”
Something flashed across Mila’s face—hurt, but it was quickly masked. “They’re practical people. They believe in safe choices and steady paychecks. This probably isn’t what they’d consider wise.”
“Wisdom often looks different in hindsight,” Drake said quietly. “Sometimes the greatest risks yield the greatest rewards.”
The weight of his father’s words settled heavily on Cade’s chest. Here was the man who’d taught him that control equaled strength, that emotion was weakness, and that duty came before all else—encouraging Mila to take the very leap Cade himself feared.
