ALPHA'S ETERNAL OBSESSION

Breakfast

Chapter 8: Breakfast

Camilla's POV

When I came out of the bathroom, I met a whole lot on the bed. Lotions, perfumes—some things I didn’t even recognize, but I guessed they were all meant to be applied on the body.

Though I doubted all of them were for me.

I decided to dress and wait for Malakai to come, but then I found an oxblood t-shirt. Not a gown.

I frowned.

Picking it up, I gave in to the temptation of smelling it. Musk, wood, and delicious spice filled my senses. Just like Malakai.

I swallowed the heat that crept into my chest. Why would he offer his shirt?

I concluded none of the things were meant for me after all.

The door creaked open, and I hastily dropped the shirt back onto the bed.

Malakai walked in.

"You're done." His gaze swept over my body in a careful way, like he was choosing where to look so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

I caught something flicker in his eyes, regardless. Gone too quickly.

"The clothes I ordered haven’t arrived yet,” he said, nodding to the shirt on the bed. “I figured you might just manage mine until then.”

I followed his gaze, blushing. He really wanted me to wear his shirt. It felt... strange. But I didn't hate it.

"Thank you," I appreciated softly, picking it up.

"I had them send a variety of the lotions because I wasn’t sure which one would suit your skin."

I blinked, stunned by how intentional he was being over something I had never thought much of. My once porcelain skin had already grown dull from lack of care. I didn't have the luxury for maintaining beauty.

I checked the lotions, a little confused. "I don’t know which to choose. I don’t use creams back at… Moonlight." I couldn’t say home. It never was.

He came closer and looked at each of the five lotions. Then handed me one called Gavie.

“This should be okay. The hydration, vitamin E, and aloe vera extract will help your skin feel less dry and bring out your glow.”

I felt my eyes sting. The last thing I ever expected was to receive this kind of care from a man like him.

“But if you’re skeptical, we could go see a dermatologist first.”

A soft laugh slipped from my lips. He was really taking this a little too seriously. But it warmed something inside me.

“I’ll just stick with this,” I murmured, beginning to apply some. I loved the cool, soothing sensation on my skin.

After he showed me how to use most of the products—which I have now realized were indeed for me—I moved away to put on the shirt.

But before I could get it over my head, his voice stopped me.

“Camilla, wait.” His voice halted me mid-motion.

“What are these marks on your back?”

The panic in his voice made my heart lurch harder than the memories did.

I turned quickly to face him, hiding my back. I wanted to vanish. Those marks had always made me feel ugly.

“Come here,” he said gently, motioning for me to sit on the bed beside him.

“Tell me who did this to you.” His voice was soft, too soft. But his eyes burned with restrained fury.

My fists tightened on the sheet. “I—I angered him,” I said, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. “He used his whip whenever I did.”

Malakai’s face turned red with rage. His jaw clenched so tightly I could hear the grinding of his teeth.

“Arthur did this to you.” It wasn’t a question. But I gave a tiny nod.

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration before looking at me again. His gaze softened as he reached toward my face.

Unconsciously, I leaned away.

He paused, eyes dark with emotion. “I’m never going to hurt you, Camilla,” he said gently. “I’m not him.”

I balled my fists to stop them from shaking. He was right. He wasn’t Arthur. But his touch still made me think of him. Of the hard grip. The lashes. The forceful and painful intrusions.

“Does it still hurt?” He leaned back slightly, choosing to keep his hands to himself. Though I appreciated the understanding, I felt a small pang of guilt in my chest.

“Not much. Only the few recent ones still healing.”

His fingers curled around his knees, crumpling his jeans slightly. The way he seemed so affected by my pain made my heart c***k with something I couldn’t explain.

“After you have breakfast, I’ll take you to the pack hospital, alright?”

I offered a quiet nod.

“I want you to know you’re safe now. But if you ever feel any discomfort, you immediately let me know, okay? Anything at all.”

He leaned forward, and I instinctively shut my eyes tight. I had thought he wanted to kiss my forehead, and I didn’t want to hurt him again by recoiling.

But instead, I felt his hand make brief contact with my hair.

“You can open now, I’m only trying to remove this.” I opened my eyes and saw the thread he was holding. It had been stuck in my hair.

“Thank you,” I murmured with an embarrassed smile.

I finally dressed, then followed him as we stepped out of the room. We passed one more floor, which he said was for his Beta, before arriving downstairs.

The architectural design of the house made my mouth hang open in awe.

My heart pounded louder as we entered the living room. It was just as opulent as the rest of the house.

I felt too self-conscious, too shy to meet his family—especially while wearing his shirt.

Malakai came to a sudden stop, and I instinctively did the same.

"You're nervous," he said, his eyes searching mine.

"I can't help it," I admitted, staring at my feet. "What if your family doesn't like me?"

Silence followed. My heart thudded harder.

Then he broke it. "Look at me."

I slowly lifted my gaze and met his steady one.

"What my family thinks of you doesn’t matter to me," he said. "You're my mate. And as long as you want to be here, I’ll make sure you’re treated the way you deserve. With respect."

I swallowed the thick knot in my throat, blinking as if that might help me believe this was real.

"But I know they’ll like you," he added, his voice gentler now.

I tried to smile, hoping he was right.

His gaze dropped to my hand, hovering there as if waiting for permission.

I hesitated, then let him take it.

His palm closed over mine, large and warm, sending a jolt of electricity sparking through me.

We arrived at the table of five, and all their eyes turned to me. I shook under their weight. Forcing a tight smile, I lowered myself stiffly on the chair Malakai pulled out for me, my fingers curled tightly on my laps. He took the seat beside me offering me an encouraging smile.

The brunette and the brown-haired woman across from me smiled. They looked the friendliest.

The other three people, two boys and another girl, just stared at me curiously.

“I thought he was going to hide you from us forever,” the brunette said, shooting Malakai a teasing look. Her baby blue eyes sparkled when she turned back to me.

Malakai placed a plate in front of me and quietly began to fill it. His words were on replay in my mind.

“He probably didn’t want to show her your ugly faces,” said the brown-haired guy in formal attire, looking prim and proper. His eyes were still blue, but sharper, just like Malakai's. Something that resembled a small mirror sat beside his plate.

“Morning, beautiful.” he greeted with a warm smile. My cheeks turned pink. “Welcome to the Fellthorne. I’m Karson—the loveliest of my siblings.”

I chuckled.

The others rolled their eyes... except for one. A silver-haired guy sitting to his right. He looked the calmest.

“This is Ruben,” Karson introduced. “That one’s Heaven, but hell fits better.”

The brunette glared at him.

“And this charming one is Elani... the Gamma’s mate.” He gestured to the short-haired woman beside Heaven, whose brown bob stopped just below her chin and covered one side of her face. “And the last one here—can’t say if she’s least—is Gianna.”

The blonde didn’t say a word. Just kept cutting into her pancake, the knife clinking a little harder than it needed to. Something her reminded me of Audrey. The quiet arrogance, perhaps.

A pang of guilt hit me. I had left without saying goodbye to my sister.

“Thank you, Karson,” I said shyly. “It’s my pleasure to meet you all. And I’m sorry if I kept you waiting.”

They welcomed me warmly, each expressing how delighted they were to have me in the pack.

Except for Gianna.

She didn’t say a word. She just looked… upset. Or rather, irritated by how attentive Malakai was to me. There was a silent tension between them that unsettled me, even if I couldn’t quite place it.

When breakfast ended, she was the first to leave.

I tried not to dwell on her attitude.

The warmth I received from the others was more than enough, especially considering I had never, in all my twenty years of existing, experienced such heartwarming acceptance.