24 Tension in breakfast (1)

Expecting a private luxurious breakfast or a normal meal in the bedroom, or just a completely private breakfast! Ophelia had no idea she'd be dining with a complete family of royal pure blooded lycans. The Novikovs. She gulped in response to their glances.

Their presence was overwhelming and strikingly similar, revealing their connectedness as a family.

Tugging his cloak, Ophelia turned her gaze away from the beings that perceived her as a threat and onto the unconcerned figure standing next her. She desperately wanted to punch that beautiful face of his, but she was in front of his family.

"Nikolai," Alexander said, a warning tone in his voice.

"You brought her here?" Vladmir had no intention of holding his outburst.

"Oh my! She's stunning!" An excited-looking girl about Ophelia's age squeaked, and Vladmir scowled aggressively at her.

"Sasha, are you serious?" He inquired, his teeth clenched.

Aside from Alexander, there were three older males sat at the table. Devin Novikov, the Alpha's Beta. Albert Novikov, the Gamma, and Yakim Novikov, who had an eye patch, was the chief warrior.

They exchanged glances while their spouses, Maria Novikov and Anastasia Novikov, ate their meals neatly. Tiana Novikov, Yakim's late wife, was the only one who was not present at the table.

Alexander called "Nikolai" once more, this time with great rage. He was vehemently opposed to Ophelia's presence, and she was well aware of it.

"I am not surprised that you do not want me here. You are undoubtedly unhappy to learn that I am still alive and thriving after three hundred years." Nikolai made a fake sniffle. "Don't you miss your son?"

Viktor rolled his eyes at Nikolai's dramatic behavior and narrowed his eyes viciously at Ophelia, who was doing a great job of dodging the pure-breds' stares by focusing on Nikolai and tugging at his coat.

"You're obviously not wanted here." With his attention on his meal, Devin spoke up.

Without saying a word, Nikolai took Ophelia by the hand, drew out an empty chair, and motioned her to take a seat while his smile evaporated. "She needs food," He snapped, his eyes blazing with rage, and then a unsettlingly smile spread across his face.

Ophelia soon lost her appetite due to the extreme tension. She cast a quick glance at Nikolai, who had pulled out a chair and was sitting next to her.

He gave her a soft stare as a sign to eat and not to feel under pressure by his family.

Ophelia gently nodded. She observed that the women were keeping their heads down and avoiding eye contact. Something was definitely off. Nikolai didn't even seem to be troubled by their hostility towards him.

If Nikolai had spent three hundred years in Nexus, a prison for untamed, powerful beings, that meant he wasn't someone to tangle with. She couldn't help but think, though, what he must have done to his own family to warrant sending him there.

"Father, there is a dragon on the table, and I don't like it." Suddenly, a girl spoke up, staring at Ophelia as if she had just murdered her beloved pet or abducted her lover.

Ophelia's countenance remained unaffected by the tension and curious looks, and it seemed to disturb them.

"Ignore, Yulia." Yakim Novikov was the one who spoke before turning to look at Alexander, who was looking menacingly at his unconcerned son as he was leisurely slicing a large piece of steak with a knife and fork.

"I feel incredibly uncomfortable!" Like a spoiled child, Yulia shouted out.

"Then you screw yourself." Nikolai stated in an aloof voice.

Yulia froze and turned her head away from Nikolai, who had taken a piece of meat into the fork and was pointing it at Ophelia's lips.

His behavior in front of his family astounded Ophelia, and to make matters worse, his gaze were locked on her lips, reminding her of last night. She blinked in shock. She spread her lips and took the meat in an effort to divert her attention.

Ophelia started toying with the salad as Nikolai grinned and went back to slicing more meat. Not because she was anxious, but rather because she wasn't used to eating, and when she did, she ate very slowly.

As he pointed another piece of steak at her lips, Nikolai took note of this. He decided to feed her. He was desperate for her to eat.

She accepted once again and he resumed carving the meat.

Silence.

Nikolai took pleasure in the suspense during breakfast. He did, however, harbor some sympathy for his mother, who, like his aunts, remained mute throughout the meal.

Alexander made the decision to loosen the reins a little because he knew that nothing he did would actually scare his son away, who appeared to be invested in feeding the dragoness.

"Since you have returned from Nexus, your responsibilities as the Alpha heir will start now. On the evening of the full moon festival, you will be crowned Alpha." Alexander began.

A sharp clatter was heard, and upon closer inspection, Pavel Novikov, son of Albert Novikov, was the source of the noise by dropping his spoon on his plate. He didn't look anyone in the eye.

"I apologize." He exhaled, but Ophelia could see that his hands were quivering.

"So?" Nikolai deadpanned.

"How dare you!" Yakim spat out, glared at Nikolai who casually cocked his head to the side and offered Ophelia a piece of meat, which she hesitantly accepted.

Nikolai clicked his tongue as he pulled out the fork, then placed it on his lips, causing Ophelia's eyes to widen "Yakim, don't bark at me."

"Nikolai, I would appreciate it if you would respect my father." Yakim's son and Yulia's brother, Boris, spoke gently, mirroring the way he carried himself. Evidently, it was a phony.

"Hmm." Nikolai inserted the fork into his mouth.

"Do you intend to reject the title?" Viktor curiously questioned Nikolai.

"Speaking when the elders are speaking is.." He wandered off, picking up a glass of fresh lemon juice and pointing it at Ophelia, who took hold of it. "All of it." As he pulled the fork from his mouth, he firmly fixed his gaze.

Everyone was staring at them. Except for Alexander and Alina, their expressions were shocked and strangely twisted.

Alexander was upset, but Alina had a pale face and a small smile on her lips. Her son was really concerned about someone. Finally.

Ophelia sighed deeply before finishing the juice and pointing the glass at him. "Are you happy now?"

"Are you satisfied?"

Ophelia held a smile.

"Tell me the truth," Nikolai drewled sensing an impending lie coming from her.

"No." Ophelia confessed. She hadn't eaten in a while. She was ravenous.

"Good." He took the glass from her, and set it on the table. He drew more dishes towards himself. He would continue feeding her till she was satisfied.

"You will be given a wife on the day of your coronation." Alexander said in an instant.

Ophelia almost choked but managed to stop herself. Nikolai noticed her strained reaction and quickly poured her a glass of water, which she drank down.

"Father..."

"The dragoness will be put to death for entering Celestia."

"Father..."

"You won't challenge me!" Alexander yelled louder. All he wanted for his son was the finest! Despite the mistakes he had committed in the past. "Since you still haven't found your mate, you will be gifted a wife on the day of your coronation, and you must consummate!"

Something in Ophelia twitched as she heard the alpha desiring another woman to enter Nikolai's life, and she snorted possessively. "I am his mate, he is mine, and no one else will have any claim to him but me."