Bella watched as Ace tossed the pancakes up and down like a professional chef cooker. He moved elegantly around the kitchen, his body swaying everywhere but with precision and skill. By a clap, he commanded the cabinet to open automatically, revealing splendid plates and high-fashion red and crimson pots that brightened up the kitchen.
Bella watched him fry and prepare the dish, and within twenty minutes, he was done preparing breakfast for her. Her mouth was watering at the aroma that filled the room.
"This smells so good," Bella signed, sniffing the aroma coming off the pancakes.
"And to add the final touch, your favorite… dark cream chocolate," he uttered, spreading the syrup on the pancakes. "Anddd done," he said, presenting the plate to Bella.
Her smile instantly faded. Realization once again kicked in. These people kidnapped me. Why are they so nice to me? Is this some type of prank or joke I cannot understand? she thought to herself. My father must be worried sick. I don't understand why they are so nice. It feels… odd.
"What's wrong? Don't you like the pancakes?" Ace asked, signing.
Bella looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away; she didn't like crying in front of people, but a tear managed to escape.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Ace asked, bringing her chin up.
But silence filled her eyes. If only I could speak, if only I could voice out my anger with my voice, not hands, she frustratedly thought to herself. Please take me home, her eyes pleaded with Ace more than words or gestures could ever convey.
Ace's heart softened. He was strong as a rock outside but had the softest heart among the Alpha Mate group.
"Uhmmm, don't worry. I'll talk to the boss," Ace sighed, defeated. How could he plainly tell her that this was her world now, and in just a few hours, she would notice her father selling her to Riven and walking away from her life forever?
Bella barely knew Ace, but she trusted him enough to nod, a tear falling down her cheek.
"Okay, now stop crying. How am I going to convince the boss to let you go? Because if he doesn't, you might break every bone in his body," Ace sighed, pursing his lips in sarcasm.
Bella chuckled, wiping the rest of the tears away, and pulled the plate toward her. Ace took one pancake himself.
"Well, I am not a great chef, so you decide," Ace said, scooping one full pancake into his mouth. Bella widened her eyes. Ace noticed and added, "Don't worry, boss—Boss can put two pancakes at once. I'm normal," he joked.
Bella giggled, taking a pancake and gobbling the entire thing in her mouth. Ace was merely surprised and, taken aback, found it very cute and charming.
The sensational feeling exploded in Bella's mouth. These were the best pancakes she had ever eaten—more than how her mother used to make them, or how Aunt Serra did in the kitchen. They were out of this world, like a candy boom had just exploded in her mouth.
She nodded her hands joyfully, like a child enjoying her pancakes.
Ace's smile faded as he watched Riven walk toward them. He tugged at the hand that had a support, holding his arm. His body radiated danger, his gaze sharp, leaving no emotion visible.
Bella turned her sight away from Ace, after looking at Riven.
She swallowed hard upon looking at him. He was a perfect disaster… a perfect disaster standing before her eyes, yet anger only filled her heart.
"Who said you could eat my food?" Riven asked, his voice sharp and deadly, slicing through the quiet of the kitchen.
"Come on, man, the girl was starving," Ace defended her, his hands raised slightly as if warding off danger.
Everyone in the Alpha Mate Mafia feared Riven. Nobody dared question him or even meet his gaze—except for Ace, his most trusted friend in the world. It was a day when one of the mafia gangsters caught up to Riven; some of his men had double-crossed him, selling him out to one of Riven's alleys. But Ace was there with him, taking down almost two hundred men, just the two of them. They were still young, barely seasoned in the mafia world, but Ace had been willing to take nine bullets for Riven. He called himself a living miracle for surviving that day.
To Riven, Ace's words carried weight. He rarely questioned them, even though sometimes Ace could be sharp and cheeky. Ace had understood Riven like no one else ever could.
"You're becoming soft, and I hate that about you," Riven turned his piercing gaze on Ace, his tone ice-cold.
"I'm not soft,it's called humanity," Ace replied firmly, standing his ground.
"And must I remind you what humanity did to us?" Riven asked, his voice low and threatening. Before Ace could answer, he continued, "Anyways, Mr. White is going to be here any moment now. Make sure she looks miserable," he uttered coldly, his eyes flicking to Bella.
Father? My father is coming to get me… Bella's mind raced. But why do they both look so calm about this? Are they planning to harm my father? No, no… I won't allow that to happen.
And like that, Riven took the two pancakes on the plate and shoved them into his mouth, chewing deliberately as he stared at Bella nonchalantly, as if telling her, Ace must have told you. Then, without another word, he walked away.
Bella was baffled. She stood frozen, her mind trying to process the chaotic mix of fear, awe, and confusion that Riven seemed to stir.
.