My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 165: Meat

Violet

Rowan moved as if to stand, his hands bracing against the floor like he was about to get up and come to me.

Panic flared in my chest.

"I—I was just going to go rest," I blurted out, taking a step back. "I didn’t mean to interrupt—"

"Nonsense!" Mira’s voice cut through my words. "You should sit and eat with us, dear. You’ve barely had anything today."

Rowan’s eyes brightened slightly, hope flickering across his face in a way that made my stomach twist.

"No, really, I am fine," I said quickly, shaking my head. "I don’t want to—"

"Please, Violet." Mira’s tone shifted, growing softer. Her shoulders dropped slightly as she sighed. "This food can’t go to waste, and... well, I can’t help but feel you two have been avoiding each other."

Her eyes moved knowingly between us.

"Are you both fighting? Mates shouldn’t act that way."

I stared at her, dumbfounded, before my attention snapped to Rowan, searching his face for some sign of whether he had told her. But he looked just as caught off guard as I felt, his eyes wide and his mouth full with food stuck in it. His posture was frozen.

I looked back at Mira, and realization dawned slowly. She had already asked me about it more or less. Maybe my reaction might have given it away.

’Oh, this is so embarrassing...’

"I..." My voice came out weak. "We’re not—"

But the protest died in my throat when I saw the gentle sadness in her expression.

I swallowed hard and, against every instinct screaming at me to leave the room, I lowered myself to the floor.

But I sat beside Mira. Not beside him or near him at least.

Heaps of food divided the space between us.

The older woman’s face brightened immediately, and she reached over to pat my hand with warm approval.

Rowan strangely looked nervous now. His hands fidgeted slightly with the edge of one of the plates. His eyes kept darting toward me, then away, like he didn’t know where to look or what to do.

What was he doing?

"Rowan," Mira said, her tone shifting to something that almost sounded like gentle scolding. "You were eating much faster before she came in. Don’t slow down now. You need your strength back."

His face flushed slightly, and he ducked his head, returning his attention to the food in front of him. But I noticed his movements were more careful now, less frantic, like he was suddenly self-conscious about the way he had been tearing into the meat moments before.

Was he... nervous because of me?

Bae appeared again, this time carrying her own plate. She glanced at the scene; me sitting stiffly beside her grandmother, and Rowan trying very hard to focus on eating, along with her grandmother watching us both with barely concealed satisfaction. Bae said nothing and just moved to one of the sofas against the wall and settled there, balancing her plate in her lap and eating in silence.

The room felt too small suddenly, and also too warm.

But not just because of the food.

I could feel Rowan’s presence like a weight pressing against my side even though he was several feet away. As if I should be seated beside him and not here. The bond hummed faintly in my chest aside from that pull, leaving behind a constant reminder of something I didn’t want to acknowledge.

Mira handed me a plate, her smile kind and encouraging.

"Eat, dear. You’ll feel better with something warm in your stomach."

I took it wordlessly, my hands gripping the edges tighter than necessary.

The garnished meat smelled good, and it looked very mouth watering too.

But my appetite had somewhat subsided. The bond was making me a bit uncomfortable.

The food was still sweet enough that I ate some of it. Mira handed me a cup of cool water, and she filled the silence in the room.

"You know." Her tone was light and conversational as she talked. "My husband used to eat like that too. Especially after long hunts. He surely did not eat as much as you Rowan, but he’d come home and devour everything in sight." She laughed. "And I’d just sit there amazed at just how much one wolf could put away. Little did I know I would get to see someone put his record to shame."

She laughed softly, her gaze distant for a moment before returning to the present.

"But he always slowed down once I joined him. Said he didn’t want to look like a savage in front of me."

Her eyes flicked meaningfully toward Rowan, and I saw his jaw tighten slightly.

Alright, now I wanted to leave.

I thought of getting up and immediately coming up with some excuse so I could retreat to the safety of the room she gave me and just enjoy this delicious food there.

But I forced myself to stay and pretend everything was fine.

Minutes dragged until I couldn’t take it anymore.

"I think I’ll take this to my room," I said quietly, already standing up. "The room is a bit too warm and I might want to fall asleep after eating."

"Violet—" Mira started, but I was already on my feet, clutching the plate like a lifeline.

"Thank you for the food," I added quickly, and without waiting for her response, I made my way out of the room and towards mine.

I stepped into my room and closed the door behind me, leaning back against it with a shaky exhale. Their voices faintly reached the door and for some reason, I remained still to listen.

Mira’s voice was soft and concerned. "Is there... a problem between you two?"

There was a pause before Rowan could answer and I sure hoped he wouldn’t say anything strange.

"Not necessarily," he said quietly. "She’s been worried about a few friends of hers. We... we’re looking for them, actually. Her mind has been on that and it has been troubling her for quite some time now."

"I see." Mira’s tone was thoughtful as she responded. "That must be difficult."

"It... it is," Rowan agreed and I could sense the undertone of guilt in his words.