Mirabelle stirred awake, blinking against the morning light filtering through the curtains.
Her body felt warm, and it took her a moment to realize why—she was cradled in Caspian's arms.
His crimson eyes watched her intently, filled with a mix of softness and something unreadable.
The moment their gazes met, he stiffened. Caspian quickly released her, rising from the bed with an almost flustered air. "Rest a little longer if you have to," he muttered before striding out of the room without another glance.
Mirabelle sat up, bewildered and unsure of what had just transpired. She rubbed her temples, trying to piece together her thoughts, but eventually pushed them aside.
She needed to freshen up. Sliding out of bed, she padded toward the adjoining bathroom.
The sight inside made her pause. A new toothbrush and hairbrush were neatly laid out on the counter, along with small toiletries. Her lips parted in surprise.
Did he prepare this for me?
Quickly, she brushed her teeth and combed through her hair before stepping into the shower.
The warm water helped clear her mind, soothing away the remnants of the previous day's chaos. Wrapping herself in a fluffy towel, she stepped out and paused by the sink.
Her heart sank. She had no idea what to wear. Repeating yesterday's clothes felt unbearable, but she didn't have any other options.
With a sigh, she stepped back into the bedroom, hoping to figure something out—only to gasp in shock.
Caspian was sitting on the bed, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert as he took her in. "Good morning, Bunny," he said, his voice deep and warm.
Mirabelle instinctively clutched her towel tighter, her cheeks burning. "What… what are you doing here?" she stammered.
He rose to his feet, closing the distance between them with measured steps. "Relax," he murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss to the curve of her neck.
She froze, clutching the towel like a lifeline as his touch sent an unfamiliar shiver through her.
Guiding her gently to the edge of the bed, Caspian motioned to a neatly folded pile of clothes he'd brought with him. "I brought you something to wear," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
She frowned, inspecting the items. A large t-shirt and—her face twisted in disbelief—boxer briefs. "These are… boys' briefs," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance.
Caspian laughed, the sound rich and amused. "I've never worn them, if that's what you're worried about," he said, pulling out a small box containing two identical briefs still sealed. "See? Brand new. They're yours now."
She scowled, still unconvinced. "This is all you have?"
"For now, yes," he said with an unapologetic shrug. "Get dressed, Bunny, and meet me in the living room."
Before she could protest further, he stepped closer, his hand brushing her cheek in a gesture so tender it left her speechless. "I'll wait for you," he murmured, his tone unexpectedly gentle.
With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Mirabelle standing there clutching the towel, her mind racing and her heart pounding.
When Mirabelle came downstairs, the aroma of breakfast greeted her. She found Caspian already seated at the dining table, waiting.
The spread was luxurious—pancakes, eggs, fresh fruit, and a pot of steaming coffee. His crimson eyes lit up when he saw her.
"Good morning, Bunny," he said with a playful smirk, motioning for her to sit beside him.
Mirabelle hesitated briefly, feeling self-conscious in the oversized t-shirt and boxer briefs, but Caspian didn't seem to care. His gaze followed her every movement as she took her seat.
The meal began in silence, though Caspian's occasional flirtations made her cheeks flush. "You look cute in my clothes," he said with a grin, clearly enjoying her bashful reaction.
"Stop," she mumbled, focusing on her plate.
Despite her shyness, she ate heartily, the rich flavors a stark contrast to the scraps she was used to back home.
Caspian leaned back in his chair, watching her with an amused expression. "I like a woman who eats well," he said, his tone teasing but sincere.
Mirabelle shot him a small glare, but it didn't last long. She finished her meal and sipped on her glass of juice, trying to ignore the fluttering sensation in her chest under his intense gaze.
Once they were done, Caspian set his utensils down and leaned closer. "We need to meet the family," he said, his voice firm but calm. "You're my mate, Bunny. I've chosen and picked you. They need to know, and we'll have to wed soon."
Mirabelle froze, her fork mid-air. "Wed?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," he said matter-of-factly. "You're mine, and the family will expect us to formalize it."
Her heart raced as she processed his words. She wasn't ready to face his family, much less discuss something as monumental as marriage. "But my family…" she began hesitantly. "You have to forgive them, Caspian. They shouldn't be gravely punished. Please."
Caspian's jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened at the mention of her family. "After what they did to you? To us? You're asking me to let them off?"
Mirabelle bit her lip and nodded, her lashes fluttering as she gazed at him with pleading eyes. "Yes, I am. Please. For me."
His resolve wavered under her gentle persuasion, and when she leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek, he sighed. "Fine. To appease your heart, Bunny, I'll pretend to forgive them. But they'll need to stay out of our business."
Relieved, she smiled brightly. "Thank you."
Caspian leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Now, let's get ready."
Mirabelle looked down at herself and frowned. "I can't meet your family like this, Caspian. I'm not comfortable going anywhere in a t-shirt and briefs."
His brow furrowed. "You look fine."
"Fine?" she scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "I need a proper dress and heels. Something formal. I can't make a first impression like this."
He sighed, clearly not a fan of the idea, but her determined expression left him no choice. "Alright," he relented. "After breakfast, we'll go and get you a dress."
Mirabelle smiled triumphantly, already imagining herself in something elegant. Caspian, however, couldn't help but mutter, "You're lucky I can't say no to you."
With breakfast over, he stood and extended a hand to her. "Come on, Bunny. Let's go get you what you need."
Then Mirabelle insisted they don't let anyone see them.
After sneaking out to avoid being seen, as Mirabelle had insisted, they returned to Howlcrest Manor with her dress in hand.
Caspian indulged her request, though he couldn't help but smirk. "You do realize they've already seen you, Bunny," he teased as they stepped out of the car.
Mirabelle frowned, clutching the bag containing her new outfit. "Not everyone. I want to make a proper first impression. The parents haven't seen me yet."
Caspian chuckled, shaking his head. "If that's what you want."
They entered the estate quietly, avoiding unnecessary attention. Once inside, Mirabelle hurried to her room to get ready.
Caspian watched her retreat with an amused expression before heading to his own quarters.