ALEX POV
Dinner unfolded smoothly in the intimacy of our private dining room. Dad and Beta Mateo delved into discussions about integrating MMA training into the warriors' schedule, while Mom and Max's mom indulged in light gossip. The three of us sat in silence, Max devouring a huge steak practically moaning – dude needs a chick ASAP - while Alice seemed lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts, more preoccupied with the whirlwind of her reflections than the food on her plate. Absently, she nibbled on something, shifting it around rather than actually eating, her mind clearly elsewhere.
Observing her closely, I couldn't help but notice her mood had completely switched in ten minutes. I knew something troubled her, yet in such a public setting, I couldn't inquire about her worries. A faint,
