Adrianna:
The dining room was alive with chatter as Ashton and I stepped inside. The smell of fresh coffee, bacon, and something sweet—pancakes, maybe—filled the air. The long tables were full of pack members eating, talking, and laughing, their voices overlapping in a constant hum of activity.
I wasn’t used to this. The farm had been quiet, peaceful, and solitary. Here, everything felt loud and intrusive. People turned to look at us as we walked in, their curiosity evident. Whispers spread across the room, and I caught snippets of phrases: *“That’s her…” “She’s pretty…” “Do you think they’re really mates?”*
I swallowed hard, staying close to Ashton’s side. His presence was steady and reassuring, and as if sensing my unease, he placed a comforting hand on the small of my back, guidi
