Chapter Six - Stay Away From Me

Lyra’s POV 

I helped him as much as I could. It was sheer torture since he avoided having any contact with me! I had no idea what happened suddenly, but he forcefully kept me at a distance. When I walked into the pantry, I saw him sorting through the stuff we bought. I picked up the stuff too and helped him with the job.

“What the f*ck do you think you’re doing?” He scowled at me as if I had committed a crime. “Helping you.” I blinked at him in confusion. 

“Then do it by yourself. I’ll sort the refrigerator!” He stormed out of the kitchen while I gaped at him. What made him react so strongly to me? Why did he hate me suddenly? I had no answers to those questions and sifted through the pantry supplies while he sorted the refrigerator! 

When I reached the refrigerator, he wheeled his suitcase of clothes to the master bedroom. 

“What’s the matter with you?” I demanded, but he banged his door shut on my face without an answer. His weird behavior annoyed me tremendously! Would we behave this way for a week? 

I glanced at the darkening sky! A wind had picked up speed, and it howled outside. It reminded me of my childhood spent in my village! 

For the last two years, I had been accustomed to city life, living in uncle Felixe’s luxurious mansion! I had no idea how it would feel like to live in a rustic little home in the lap of nature! In White Ridge Village, our home was palatial since my family and been the Alpha of the Whiteridge Pack for generations! 

Wrapping up the work in the kitchen, I longed to freshen up. My glance fell upon the suitcase filled with new clothes Leandros had bought for me. I really couldn’t wait to take a warm shower! What if the power went off later? 

I trudged towards the other bedroom with the suitcase. The room was quaint but cozy and I wondered who stayed in this cabin all year round? Did Leandros bring his women here? With his good looks, I was sure he was no saint! My mom and granny had always warned me against these male wolves with panty-dropping good looks! But Leandros hadn’t made a move towards me despite being the enemy. 

Yes, he was reckless and carried me around, but didn’t take advantage of our situation as I had expected him to. In fact, he was avoiding me like I had a contagious disease! 

The warm water felt so good. I forgot about my so-called mate and my predicament! The cabin might be compact, but it had all the luxuries I needed! Afterward, I put on a warm fleece pink set and pulled on a matching pullover, too. I felt so fresh after ages, but my stomach grumbled for food and I set out towards the kitchen. 

Strangely, Leandros had disappeared inside his bedroom for hours. I wondered what he was doing in there! The urge to take a peek was too strong to ignore. Yet I didn’t cross the line. I didn’t want to provoke a predator in his lair! 

Instead, I concentrated on making lunch for the two of us like a dutiful mate! The thought excited me immensely. Leandros was too gorgeous to not feature in my dreams! He did! I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to be kissed by him! Why didn’t he kiss me yet when we were all alone, trapped in a romantic log cabin? I looked at myself in the dowdy clothes covering me up from head to feet. Did he not find me attractive? But it was too cold to wear seductive clothes, and I blinked the thoughts away. 

There were lots of caribou meat in the refrigerator and I ended up making burritos and sliced a carrot cake Leandros had bought from the store. 

The food was ready, but where was he? 

I stormed towards his room to check! The moment I opened the door and peered in, I knew I had made a mistake! 

The sight of Leandros on the floor in nothing but a pair of sweatpants busy with his push-ups was a sight to behold. I had never seen such a sculptured male with a drooling hot body right in front of me within the close confines of a room! His rippling muscles flexed as he exercised while I watched him, too mesmerized by him to look away. 

“Wipe the drool and tell me what you’re here for!” I blinked and looked away, coming out of my daze. He looked up at me with a smirk and amusement reflected in his eyes. He knew how irresistible he looked! 

“Why would I drool? I’ve seen better. Anyway, lunch is ready! It’s up to you to feed yourself or exercise all day!” I scoffed and walked away, still seething at his remark. Yes, I was drooling. Who wouldn’t? 

He followed me out with a frown on his face. “Who have you seen? Your boyfriend?” I rolled my eyes but served the food and brought the plates over to the table. “What? I asked you something, dammit!” 

“I’m not answering that!” He frowned and munched his food, watching me all the time like a hawk.

“Why? Can’t you remember them all? How many boyfriends do you have then?” I gaped at him in disbelief. Wasn’t he overdoing it? How could he judge me without knowing a thing about me?

“How many did you have? One each week?” I counter attacked, watching the shocked look on his face. 

“I don’t do girlfriends! It’s just se*, a onetime affair!” I gaped at the player in front of me. He seemed so proud of his conquests. It was just the thing I hated! 

“You’re disgusting, Leandros! I hate such males!” He scoffed and walked away with his plate to his room. 

“I’m just bloody honest, unlike you. Just stay away from me and my room!” He walked away while I gaped at him in disbelief. Why was he overreacting to everything? It seemed he was experiencing a heat cycle! Or was he? I wouldn’t know since I hadn’t shifted yet! 

Snow pellets started hitting at the walls outside and I ran to the windows to check. It was pitch dark already, and the wind howled incessantly as it snowed. I could hardly see a thing outside. With Leandros sulking in his room, it would be tough to while away the time for seven long days! I was already bored out of my mind! 

After wrapping off the work in the kitchen, I returned to my room. There was a pin-dropped silence in the house and I wondered what Leandros was up to! 

But I couldn’t check! He had warned me about entering his room. 

The urge to defy him drove me crazy! Why did he bring me here if he didn’t need me? 

After five minutes, I couldn’t stay in the room anymore. I was bored out of my mind. Opening the door, I tiptoed outside towards his room. I could hear him busy on a phone call. 

“I’ll be back after the blizzard! Yes, she’s with me, bro! I swear I haven’t touched her. Why would I? She’s underage, dammit!”  

I felt insulted by his statement. I was just four months short of my eighteenth birthday. How did that make me underage? If he didn’t desire me or consider me suitable for him, why didn’t he release me? 

I pushed open the door and stormed inside in a fit of rage! Leandros looked shocked at my intrusion and disconnected the call. “What the f*ck are you doing here, Lyra? I thought I made it clear to stay away from me! I’m busy, can’t you see?” 

“No, I can’t see. I’m bored with nothing to do and no one to talk to. Why can’t you release me if you don’t need me?” He closed the distance between us in two strides and gripped my arms, making me wince. 

“Stop this immediately, Lyra. It’s not working on me.” I glared at him, wondering what he was talking about. 

“Stop what, Leandros? I have not done a thing to you!” He searched my eyes and pushed me away from him. 

“Get out of my room before I change my mind and punish you.” I was desperate to know why he was behaving this way with me. 

“Punish me then. I won’t get out until you tell me why you’re behaving so rudely with me. Have you changed your mind about me? Did you realize I can never be your mate? Then release me, enemy Leandros. I’m sick of your games!” 

He gaped at me for a second before coming to his senses. 

“Get out!” he gritted out, but I stood my ground. 

“No, punish me, but I want my answer. If you don’t have an answer, I can punish you for making me go through this shit!” I faced him fearlessly while he blinked and gave me a confused look. 

“I see! So what punishment do you have in mind for me?” The amusement was clear in his voice. 

“The same that you wanted to give me!” I put up a brave front, but I was actually clueless about what he had in store for me. 

“Fine! Let’s punish one another!”