Third Person's POV
Sunny lowered her head under Leo's stern gaze, biting her lip until it turned pale. Her voice trembled faintly, "I'm worried about Olivia. She hasn't contacted me in so long."
Leo narrowed his eyes. Of course she was worried about Olivia.
What amused him was how desperately she tried to hide that anxiety from him.
"Why don't you check online for unidentified female corpses? Maybe one of them is Olivia," he said coldly, deliberately provoking her as punishment for keeping secrets before.
Because of her words, Sunny's already pale face drained of color.
Her body shook, tears pooling in her eyes as she glared at him.
"Olivia isn't dead!"
Leo hadn't expected her to take his cruel joke so seriously.
He shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Villains live long. After all the harm she's caused, trust me—she's not dying that easily."
Sunny fell silent.
There was no defending Olivia's actions. The woman had betrayed the Royal Pack for money, and no excuse could absolve her.
"Come here. I brought you food," Leo abruptly grabbed her uninjured hand, dragging her to the dining table.
The enticing roast chicken aroma made Sunny's eyes widen in delight.
Leo unwrapped a takeout box, revealing half a roasted chicken neatly sliced.
"I thought you banned 'unhealthy' foods? Why buy it again?" Sunny eyed the golden-brown skin glistening with spices, secretly pleased yet unable to resist teasing.
"You like it. What else could I do?" Leo spread his hands in mock resignation.
The savory aroma finally lifted Sunny's gloom. She reached for a fork just as Leo froze, realizing something.
"Did you even eat lunch?"
"I ordered delivery," Sunny admitted.
"You had strangers come to my doorstep?" Leo's jaw tightened.
"No! I didn't give your address!" she hurriedly clarified.
"With your injury, you went outside to get it?" Leo was amazed.
"I was hungry," she mumbled, cheeks flushing.
Leo's irritation melted after her words.
Strangely, since her injury, he'd become hyper-aware of her meals—as if this woman who'd survived decades independently might suddenly starve without his supervision.
While he brooded, Sunny bit into a crispy wing with a contented hum.
"It's amazing. Want a piece?" she asked with a satisfied smile.
"No." His diet was meticulously controlled—grilled steak occasionally, but never casual indulgence.
"Just one bite? You're missing out," she pressed, licking paprika from her fingers. She thought Leo was too strict with himself. She could never say no to any delicious food.
"I said no." Leo refused firmly.
"More for me then." Sunny muttered.
Leo stepped back, then grabbed the plump drumstick.
"Hey!" Sunny had been eyeing that drumstick for a while, thinking about savoring it later. But to her surprise, she saw the chicken leg being taken away right in front of her.
Leo took a deliberate bite, grease glistening on his lips.
"Not bad." Leo, who had just refused to eat, let out a satisfied sigh.
Sunny gaped as he devoured her prize. "Hey, you said you wouldn't eat it!"
"I wasn't planning to eat it, but seeing you enjoy it so much, I'll have a bite too. If we're living together, we should sync our diets," he said through a mouthful, his earlier coldness replaced by warmth that smelled of black pepper and pine—the comforting pheromones of an Alpha subconsciously shielding his mate.
Sunny's eyes were once again filled with confusion. Why did his words always give her a feeling of a lifetime?
But she was always prepared to break up with him... oh, no, to be broken up with by him.
"Stop staring like that. You're drooling," Leo teased, though his ears reddened slightly.
"I wasn't!" Sunny wiped her mouth hastily, cheeks burning.
"I've alerted the police and mobilized East Coast packs to search for Olivia," Leo said casually, heading toward the bedroom. "If she's stateside, we'll find her soon."
He headed toward the bedroom.
Sunny turned, gratitude in her eyes.
Moonlight caught the tremor in Sunny's lashes as she finally noticed the protective scent he'd been quietly releasing all evening.
Leo had activated his Alpha protective instinct and mobilized the East Coast wolf network, despite his verbal complaints.
Sunny realized he was all bark and no bite.
Her heart swelled.
Tonight, she decided, she'd show her gratitude properly.
And for a woman in love, what better way than offering everything she had to give?