Out of curiosity, she followed him into the kitchen.
She paused at the doorway, watching as he tied an apron around his waist and got to work. Seeing him move around the kitchen so effortlessly felt unreal. His steps were graceful, his hands steady as he handled the knife, the pans, the pots.
"How do you know how to cook?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.
A king was not supposed to know how to cook. He was not meant to stand in a kitchen or handle knives and stoves. Yet Orionn moved as though he had done this many times before.
"My mother," he replied simply.
Of course. His mother again.
"She taught me. It was just the two of us for a while," he added.
"Oh," Melody responded softly.
She imagined a younger version of him standing exactly where he stood now, learning from a woman who must have been calm and patient. "Okay."
He did not elaborate, and she did not push.
When the food was ready, he carried the plates to the dining table and set them down for both of them. He gestured for her to take a bite.
She did.
"Well?" he asked.
She chewed slowly, pretending to think deeply about it. "It's… slightly better than I expected."
"Slightly?" he repeated, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Yes. Slightly. You could improve."
He scoffed lightly. "Of course I could."
"I'm sure you can't even light a stove," he said smoothly.
She froze. That was true,but she was not about to admit it. "I can," she lied.
"You can?"
"Well… no," she muttered. "I can't cook for anyone. I'm not a fan of cooking."
"That's an excuse."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't push it."
He smirked but let it go.
Still, she had to admit,it was impressive. "It's surprising," she said. "You're a king."
"It's a life skill," he replied. "One a princess should probably learn."
She hoped he was joking.
By the time they finished eating, night had fallen. The moon hung in the sky,not full, but bright enough to cast silver light across the garden.
"Are we going outside?" she asked eagerly, excitement curling in her voice.
"There's no need. You won't see wolves," he said.
"I thought you said they'd shift tonight."
"They will."
"So you're not going to shift?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to," he answered calmly. "I'm not obligated to shift for you, fairy princess."
She huffed. "Still…"
He chuckled softly. "Follow me."
They stepped outside and walked into the garden. The grass was lush beneath them as they sat down. The night air was cool, the sky filled with more stars than she had ever seen from the palace.
"So… how do you know when the others have shifted?" she asked.
"You'll know," he replied.
"How?" she pressed.
"You'll know."
She frowned at his secrecy but leaned back, staring at the sky. The stars shimmered beautifully. Something about the peace of the evening gave her courage.
"Do you ever miss your mother?" she asked quietly.
Silence stretched between them.
She thought he wouldn't answer.
"Every day," he said at last.
Her chest tightened.
"Do you think she would have liked me?" The question slipped out before she could stop herself.
Immediately, she regretted it. Why would his mother like her? She was nothing compared to him,just a wife in name only.
"I mean,you don't have to answer," she added quickly, embarrassed.
He studied her expression carefully.
"She wouldn't have liked you," he said.
Melody's face fell instantly.
He watched the shift in her expression with quiet amusement.
"She would have loved you," he finished.
Her head snapped toward him.
"She and you share certain… similarities," he added. "So yes. She would have loved you."
A slow smile returned to her face. "You're being different tonight."
"Perhaps the moon is affecting me," he said casually, unwilling to admit she had softened something inside him lately.
Just then, a howl echoed through the night.
Her eyes widened. "Is that a wolf?"
"Yes. The shifting has started. I told you—you would know."
More howls followed, rising and overlapping from different directions. Some sounded closer than she expected.
She gasped, thrilled.
After a while, the howls slowly faded.
She turned back to him. "So you're really not going to shift?"
"No."
"Please. Just once."
He raised a brow.
"I can't stay here and not see it," she insisted. "At least let me see."
He stood slowly. "You truly want to see me change?"
"Yes."
"You'll owe me."
She hesitated. "Owe you what?"
"I'll decide later."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously,but her curiosity won. "Fine. Anything."
He chuckled again, and she realized he had been laughing far more tonight than she had ever seen before. Something about being here, away from the castle, made him lighter.
He stepped a short distance away from her.
And then—
A golden light shimmered around him.
It wrapped around his body like living fire—bright but not burning. In a matter of seconds, where he had stood was now a massive wolf.
White fur gleamed under the moonlight, streaked with faint golden stripes. Black freckles marked his coat. His eyes glowed like a blend of sun and crescent moon.
Melody stared in awe.
"Wow…" she breathed. "You're magnificent."
I know.
She gasped. "Did you just—?"
You can hear me, his voice echoed in her mind.
Her eyes widened further. "How is that possible?"
We are married. Bonded. You remember the ceremony, right?
Melody nodded.
It allows you to hear me telepathically, like the rest of the inner pack members, when I'm in my wolf form.
Orionn replied calmly.
He had not told her the other aspect of the bond.
Melody walked in front of him, then slowly knelt and caressed his fur. It was soft and flowy. She would not dare touch man-Orionn like this—but fur-Orionn seemed harmless. Almost… cute.
He nudged his head, signaling for her to climb onto his back.