Chapter 320: Pre-Dinner Buffets and Tactical Seating

Vivian’s POV

For whatever reason, we were both grinning at each other like two absolute fools caught right in the middle of some silent joke. I couldn’t tell you what was so funny we hadn’t even said anything out loud but there we were, trying our best not to laugh like children sneaking candy right before dinner. Feeling a little ridiculous, I stuck my tongue out at Zahliver before turning quickly on my heel and heading downstairs.

We still had about twenty minutes before anyone arrived for the party, but the house was completely quiet... and entirely empty of food.

And I was absolutely starving.

I flopped onto the soft couch in the living room and turned on the TV, flipping aimlessly to some random channel. That was when I realized neither of us ever actually used the damn thing. It felt weird, like using a fancy guest towel you are definitely not supposed to touch. Zahliver sank down onto the couch right beside me, slipping his broad arm over my shoulders like it was simple second nature.

I didn’t even bother pretending I wasn’t going to lean my body into his side.

"So," I asked, staring blankly at a television commercial for some medication that listed far more side effects than actual health benefits. "What exactly did you order for us tonight?"

He didn’t answer me immediately, his fingers gently brushing through the soft ends of my hair, looking far more focused on the texture than my question.

"I didn’t really ’order’ anything," he said absently. "I just told the head chef at the pack house kitchen to throw together a large mix of different dishes."

"So... a massive buffet," I said, shutting the TV completely off with the remote. "And when is this glorious buffet supposed to actually get here?"

"Why?" he teased softly, his voice dropping low and knowing. "Feeling a little ravenous, my love?"

"Yes. Very much so," I admitted without a single shred of shame.

After a quiet beat of silence passed between us, curiosity finally got the better of me. I turned my body a little toward him on the couch. "Does it bother you that I cannot cook at all?"

That question made him pause. He shifted back just enough to look at me directly, his stormy blue gaze studying my face as if I had suddenly grown a second head.

"No, of course not. Why on earth would it?" he asked, his brow slightly furrowed in confusion. "Where is this sudden thought coming from anyway? You are usually all ’I can’t cook, deal with it.’"

I burst into completely uncontrollable laughter, nearly doubling over on the cushions from how totally unexpected that ridiculous imitation was coming from the Lupus Deus.

"I I do not " I wheezed out, wiping stray tears of laughter from the corners of my eyes. "I do not say it like that!"

He just grinned at me, clearly thoroughly pleased with himself. "That is definitely the exact vibe you give off to the world. But just for the record..." His playful tone dropped into something significantly warmer as he cupped my jawline, his thumb gently grazing across my bottom lip. "I actually really like that you cannot cook. It means you will always need me to make you something real, something warm to eat. I love taking care of you."

Any other time in my life, I might have swooned over that statement. Or kissed him deeply. Or done both at the exact same time.

But my stomach chose that exact romantic moment to let out a loud, embarrassing growl.

So... no.

Instead, I quickly changed the subject. "So, how are we doing the seating arrangements tonight? I doubt it is just going to be a casual ’sit wherever you want’ situation with Hogan and Joshua."

He tapped my lower lip twice before gently pulling his hand away, his posture suddenly shifting into something serious.

"I will sit at the head of the long table," he began, completely confident as always. "You will be placed directly on my left, with Aurora sitting beside you. Albericus will take the opposite end of the table. Hogan and Joshua can pick any of the other remaining seats they will end up sitting right next to each other regardless."

I mentally arranged the seating layout in my head, frowning a little.

"We are not eating at the kitchen counter, are we?"

"No. Dining hall," he confirmed evenly.

My frown deepened as I thought it through. "Wait... that grand dining table is absolutely huge. Their seats will not be that close to each other unless " I narrowed my eyes sharply at him. "Did you literally switch our dining room table out for a smaller one today?"

That damn smirk tugged at the corners of his lips again.

"Don’t worry, love. The original table will be back by tomorrow morning."

I opened my mouth to ask him what kind of territorial pack sorcery allowed him to rearrange heavy furniture like small chess pieces, but the sudden sound of a large vehicle pulling up outside the driveway made my sharp ears twitch involuntarily.

"Food is here," Zahliver announced, already rising from the couch and heading straight for the front door.

I stood up too, but the second the rich smell hit my nose from the hallway, I almost physically buckled. It was like the air in the house turned into pure culinary aroma sizzling seasoned meat, roasted fresh vegetables, rich buttery sauces and it hit my senses so hard I had to grab the wooden couch armrest just to steady myself on my feet.

Damn, I was so much hungrier than I had originally thought. Hospital food was barely edible, let alone satisfying to a wolf.

Pack wolves dressed in crisp white kitchen uniforms entered the house like a well-oiled military machine, moving efficiently down the main hall and straight into the formal dining room. Each worker carried multiple oversized silver dishes that made my mouth water instantly. If it were socially acceptable for the Luna of all Lunas, I might have dropped directly to my knees and begged them for just one early bite.

But I held my head high and didn’t.