Kane

I imagined her growing up with a chef. No wonder she couldn’t cook. My Luna mom would definitely have a heart attack if she found out about that little detail, if she didn’t already know.

"Which restaurant?" I asked. I only ate at a few restaurants because they used healthy, fatty oils, and I was very careful about my diet.

"Kettle Island," she replied, trying to keep a straight face. It was one of the best restaurants in the City, my second choice after Bread and Butler.

"I’ll have a drink."

"You can freshen up in the guest room; there are clean towels in the closets. I’ll heat the food." She pointed to the guest room and left.

I sighed in my apartment, and I am a guest. Standing up, I leisurely walked into the room. It had a girly feel: blue and purple hues, bright colors. From the bedspreads to the walls.

Reaching the bathroom, I washed my face and ran a wet hand through my hair, pushing it back.

After drying my face, I walked out of the bathroom and headed for the exit. The smell of food hit me, and my mouth watered. I seemed hungrier than I imagined.

Zara set the table. Having lost her pumps, she was left in her white and orange bunny-shaped slippers. They looked fluffy and comfortable, and I found her much calmer than before as I ran back to the kitchen.

"Coke?" she asked from the kitchen as I settled in at the dining table.

"Diet, if you have it," I replied, watching the white wisps of smoke rising from the hot wings.

"Yes." Soon she brought two cans of Coke. A diet one for me and a regular one for herself. She placed it in front of me, sat down on the chair opposite, and spoke wearily. The weariness was clearly evident in her voice.

"Please! Go away, I’m sorry, I’m not a very hospitable host."

"Don’t worry, that’s enough," I tried to reassure her, spooning some spicy-looking wings onto my plate.

She smiled resentfully, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say my wolf missed her genuine smile. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

When they touched my taste buds, all I could taste was the spiciness.

It was too spicy, it hit me in the throat, and I started coughing. Smoke seemed to be coming out of my ears. Grabbing a napkin from the box, I coughed out everything that had gotten into my mouth.

"Oh! Are you okay?" Zara asked worriedly, rising from her seat and running toward me. She patted me on the back and handed me a glass of water.

I drained the entire glass and only pulled it away from my lips when it was empty. It seemed like tears had welled up in my eyes from the loud coughing.

Sniffling, I grabbed a few more napkins and wiped my eyes and mouth.

"Why is it so damn spicy?" I finally growled, turning to face her, and she tried not to laugh.

"It’s fine as far as spicy goes; the thing is, you just hate spicy things."

I shook my head. "I don’t hate it, but I don’t want too much chili in my food."

She giggled at my words, and my eyes narrowed. Sometimes she literally forgot I was her Alpha boss. No one else would have dared laugh at my statement.

She crossed her arms and tapped her bunny slipper on the floor.

"You like everything bland and tasteless. Coffee, cookies, wings..."

I looked at her challengingly and deliberately smirked.

"Not everything, Zara. I don’t like my mate; she’s bland."

My comment brought a flush to her round cheeks, and she quickly looked away before muttering something under her breath.

"Seeing Cassie wasn’t that strange..."

What?

Was she jealous of Cassie, or did she find her personality repulsive? I had to hide my smile.

"She’s not that bad..." I paused meaningfully, and when Zara settled down in front of me, I finished the sentence: "In bed."

A blush spread from her cheeks and neck to her ears.

"Aha!" That doesn’t excuse her disgusting behavior, she blurted out; sometimes, I wondered if she realized she was completely unfiltered most of the time.

"Right."

She pushed a plate of dumplings toward me.

"These are unspiced and will suit your taste better."

Nodding, I picked one and carefully placed it in my mouth. That’s just how I preferred it, and I loved dumplings.

No oil, no unnecessary spices, and tons of vegetables. Although I liked the dumplings, she took a few bites of the wings, but she didn’t eat as greedily as usual. Her thoughts were still preoccupied.

Afterward, she offered me some exotic chocolates.

After that, I helped her clear the table before heading out to the guests’ room. I needed to change, but I doubted she’d have anything for me. I had just bought this apartment, so I hadn’t put any of my stuff in yet.

Before I even closed the door, she approached me.

"I have some shorts that would fit you. Do you need them for the night?" she asked.

’Would I fit into her shorts?’ Griss smirked.

Well, if they had drawstrings, I was sure they would fit.

"I can try." I shrugged, and she disappeared into her room before returning with purple shorts with strawberries on them.

"Damn," I thought. I’d never worn anything so outrageous in my life, and now I’m going to have to wear shorts with strawberries on them.

She couldn’t be serious, but her expression said otherwise. My lips pressed together as I stared incredulously at her and the shorts she held in her hands, and asked,

"You don’t have anything else?"

She blinked innocently, but there wasn’t a trace of innocence in her mischievous expression.

"Yes, but they won’t fit you. They’re only for bed, not exactly office wear. They’re quite comfortable."

With a loud snort, I snatched them from her hands and closed the door. I swear I saw her giggle as she turned around.