Transmigrated: The Lycan King's Pet-Chapter 388 Like Family

The next morning felt strangely peaceful, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

I sat at the long dining table with Damon beside me, the smell of warm bread and roasted meat filling the room, yet my appetite came and went in waves.

Sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting soft golden patterns across the polished floor. It should have felt normal, comforting even, but nothing felt normal anymore. Not when it felt like a knife was hanging above my neck, ready to drop any second. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Damon had barely left my side since we woke up. If I shifted even slightly, his attention snapped back to me as if I were his center of attention... Maybe I was. I could feel his gaze on me even when he pretended to be focused on his plate.

I was just about to tease him for it when the doors opened.

Alaric walked in first, his posture slightly relaxed as always, but what caught my attention was the woman beside him. Seraphina walked calmly at his side, her expression composed, her chin lifted with quiet authority. My brows pulled together immediately.

Before I could process that surprise, another presence entered the room.

Theo strolled in with a woman holding his hand, and the look on his face made me do a double take. He looked proud, not playful, but genuinely proud in a way I had never seen before.

"Well," I said slowly, tilting my head as I looked between them, "this is new."

Theo grinned, clearly waiting for this moment.

I narrowed my eyes at him, a familiar smirk forming on my lips. "Mr. Four Eyes," I said teasingly, "you’re just going to walk in here like that and not tell us who the girl is?"

Hazel stiffened slightly beside him, but Theo’s chest swelled as he tightened his grip on her hand. "This," he said confidently, "is Hazel. She’s my mate."

The word hung in the air for a brief moment before it truly sank in.

My eyes widened. Damon’s head snapped toward Theo instantly, and Alaric did the same. Then Damon and Alaric exchanged a knowing look, one filled with surprise and something close to relief.

I broke into a smile before I could stop myself. "Your mate," I repeated, my voice warm. "Theo... that’s amazing."

Damon nodded approvingly. "Congratulations."

Alaric added, "It’s about time."

Theo rolled his eyes. "Wow. Such heartfelt words."

Hazel relaxed a little at that, her shoulders easing as she glanced around the table. Her gaze flickered to me, and she smiled softly, a little shy but genuine.

They all sat around the table, the atmosphere shifting into something lighter than it had been in days.

Alaric sat across from Seraphina, and for a moment, I noticed him turn toward her, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something. Whatever it was, he hesitated, then closed his mouth and looked down at his plate instead.

Seraphina noticed... of course she did. Her eyes flickered briefly to him before she looked away, her expression unreadable.

We began to eat together, the clinking of cutlery filling the silence.

I glanced at Hazel now and then, unable to help myself. There was something about her eyes, large and soft, filled with quiet warmth. They reminded me so much of Caroline that my chest tightened painfully. I pressed my lips into a thin line, forcing the thought away before it could drag me under.

Damon must have noticed the shift in my mood because he leaned closer, his hand brushing mine under the table. "Eat," he murmured softly.

Before I could respond, he wiped the corner of my mouth gently with a napkin. "You missed a spot."

I blinked at him. "Damon," I whispered, "I can manage."

"I know," he replied calmly, "but let me help."

He proceeded to place small portions of food onto my fork and guide it toward me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. When I finished chewing, he stood up behind me and began massaging my neck lightly.

"You’ve been sitting too long," he said quietly. "It might strain you."

Theo stared at us for a second, his mouth hanging open. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

I glanced at him just in time to see him roll his eyes dramatically before turning to Hazel. He cleared his throat, then awkwardly wiped her mouth with his napkin. "Uh... you too."

Hazel let out a small laugh, her cheeks turning pink.

Across the table, Alaric shifted uncomfortably before quietly placing some chopped meat onto Seraphina’s plate. It was subtle, almost hesitant. She paused, then looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them, heavy and lingering, yet neither of them said a word.

Hazel glanced at me curiously. "Can I ask you something," she said softly.

"Of course," I replied.

"Why do you call him Mr. Four Eyes," she asked, nodding toward Theo. "Is it because of the glasses?"

I nodded. "Yes. He’s the only werewolf I know who wears glasses."

Theo paused mid-bite.

For a moment, I thought he might brush it off with a joke, but instead, he set his fork down. "I wear them because of my mother, she was a human," he said quietly.

The table went quiet.

"She used to wear glasses whenever she read," he continued. "That’s what I was told. So I decided to wear them too... in memory of her."

My chest tightened instantly.

I bit my lower lip. "Theo," I said softly, "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have teased you about that."

He looked at me, his eyes holding a flicker of sadness before he waved his hand dismissively. "It’s fine. Really."

Then his lips curved into a grin. "Besides, you’re still a bypass skeleton."

I snorted despite myself. "You... you’re unbelievable."

The tension eased after that, laughter trickling back into the room in small doses. For the first time in a while, it felt like we were a family sitting around the same table, sharing a meal instead of plans for war and sacrifice.

Still, as Damon’s hand rested protectively over mine and my thoughts drifted back to everything we were facing, I knew this peace wouldn’t last long.

However, life was about living in the moment, and these little moments are what matter the most.