Avery’s POV
"My goodness, Avery, I only made a request earlier, and yet here you are."
Father’s voice carried through the grand dining hall, warm but laced with something I couldn’t quite place.
I tilted my head, studying him. "Father, I might have missed you a tad bit too much that I stood up and started coming almost immediately... Am I not welcomed here?"
His brows lifted ever so slightly before his lips curled into a placating smile. "No, Avery, of course you are! You are always welcome back home." His eyes flickered to Aidan. "Alpha, thank you for bringing her here."
"My pleasure," Aidan beamed, executing a slight bow, his movements precise, almost courtly. If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he was a perfect gentleman. But I did know him better. And this? This was just another
