After bringing the dress , she dressed up and immediately,The kitchen was finally quiet again.
The food Hazel had been preparing was now finished, arranged carefully across the long dining table by the staff who had returned once the strange tension between her and Ryan faded. The aroma of roasted meat, herbs, and warm bread filled the mansion.
Hazel stood near the sink, trying to steady her breathing.
Her cheeks were still warm.
Every time she remembered how close Ryan had stood behind her earlier, her heart started racing again.
She shook her head softly, whispering to herself, "Focus, Hazel… just focus."
But it was impossible.
Because Ryan was still in the room.
Leaning casually against the counter, arms crossed, watching her like he was enjoying every second of her embarrassment.
His dark hair was slightly messy, his sleeves rolled up, and his expression carried that same quiet amusement.
"You're avoiding looking at me," he said calmly.
Hazel grabbed a towel and began wiping the counter that was already spotless.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not," she repeated quickly, though she still refused to meet his eyes.
Ryan pushed himself off the counter and walked toward her slowly.
Every step he took made Hazel more aware of his presence.
The space between them shrank until she could feel the warmth of him again.
Her breath caught.
Ryan reached past her, grabbing a glass from the cabinet above her head, his arm brushing lightly against her shoulder.
Hazel froze.
He poured himself water like nothing had happened earlier.
But when he turned back to her, that teasing look was still there.
"You did well tonight," he said.
Hazel blinked. "Cooking?"
Ryan lifted one eyebrow slightly.
"Among other things."
Her face instantly turned red.
"Ryan!"
He chuckled softly.
Before she could respond, footsteps entered the hallway.
Bella walked in first, followed by Liam, Klara, Nick, and Sera.
Bella stopped immediately when she noticed Hazel's flushed face.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"…Did we interrupt something?"
Hazel nearly dropped the towel.
"No!"
Ryan calmly drank his water.
Nick glanced between them, clearly amused.
Klara leaned toward Hazel and whispered quietly, "Your face is glowing."
Hazel groaned.
Sera smirked. "Interesting."
Ryan simply walked past them toward the dining table like nothing had happened.
"Dinner's ready," he said.
Everyone gathered around the large dining table.
Lucifer and Veronica joined them soon after.
The atmosphere felt almost peaceful for once.
Hazel sat between Bella and Klara, trying very hard not to glance at Ryan across the table.
But every now and then she felt his eyes on her.
Watching.
Observing.
Like he knew exactly what she was thinking.
And it made her stomach flip every time.
Across the table, Liam leaned toward Ryan.
"Pack borders are secure again," he said quietly. "But rogues have been moving around the outer territory."
Ryan's relaxed expression hardened slightly.
"They're not random," he replied.
Nick nodded. "They're searching for something."
Ryan's gaze flickered briefly toward Hazel.
Everyone at the table understood.
The Eclipse Heir prophecy was beginning to draw attention.
Later that night, after dinner ended and most of the pack members went to their homes, Hazel stepped out onto the balcony to get some fresh air.
The moon hung high over the territory.
Below, the lights of the Red Moon pack houses glowed softly. Cars moved through the streets and warriors patrolled the gates.
It really was a modern pack, a powerful one.
Footsteps approached behind her.
Ryan.
He stood beside her silently, resting his arms on the balcony railing.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Hazel sighed softly.
"Do things ever get normal around here?"
Ryan glanced at her.
"Normal is overrated."
She laughed quietly.
For a moment the tension between them faded into something calmer.
Something comfortable.
Ryan looked out over the territory, but his voice softened slightly.
"You handled yourself well today."
Hazel shrugged.
"I'm still learning."
"You're learning fast."
She glanced at him.
"Is that your way of saying you're impressed?"
Ryan smirked faintly.
"Maybe."
Hazel smiled to herself.
But neither of them noticed the shadow watching the mansion from far beyond the pack borders.
Far in the distance…
A pair of cold eyes observed the territory.
And a quiet voice whispered into the night.
"So this is the girl…"
The figure disappeared into the darkness.
And somewhere far away…