CHAPTER 10

Caspian POV

I sit by the table and pick up the cutlery as I prepare to dig into the meal I made. At this point, I am sure all I do is cook but since I don’t have anything else to do in this house and I don’t particularly hate it, I don’t see why I shouldn’t.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

I freeze with the food halfway to my mouth. I have to applaud her timing, she never fails to catch me off guard. I bring the cutlery down as I try to find an answer that will make sure she finishes this meal with me.

“Irrespective of how I look, I am a gentleman at heart,” I say. This isn’t true at all, I will never do this for anyone. I know I am only doing this to get her to like me and join my pack. It stings a little that she doesn’t trust me even though it is quite understandable why she doesn’t. 

I can see the disbelief written all over her face and I brace myself for her response. Her hair is tied up but a few strands have escaped, they rested on the sides of her face, and I want to tuck them behind her ears.

“Still doesn’t explain why you are going out of your way to do this much. The fact that you are staying with me is something I can’t pay back.” She looks down as she finishes speaking.

“I like to cook. Besides, there is no way I will leave a damsel in distress all by herself in such dangerous woods.”

She raises her head abruptly, her face is all scrunched up in annoyance. “I am not a damsel in distress.” She says stiffly. 

“You definitely were when I found you.”

“Are you saying you are going around helping every damsel in distress?”

“I am not actively looking for but I am not going to leave a lone wolf by themselves besides, I am only here because you refused to join my pack.”

“Why do you want me to join your pack?”

I blink as I fight the urge to stab my food that was starting to taste ashy the more she asks these questions. I control myself, however, because these questions mean that I am getting somewhere.

“I don’t particularly want you to join my pack.” This is a lie as I intend to fight any other pack that wants to take her in. “I just think it beats being stuck up in this house, alone.”

She doesn’t respond, just takes another bite out of her food.

“Why don’t you want to join my pack?” I ask.

She stops chewing and her eyes dart from left to right. “No reason really. I am just not ready, it is hard getting kicked out of the only home you know.”

“Why did you get kicked out? I don’t see you doing anything that would warrant you getting kicked out of your pack. Besides, you are so young, what about your parents?”

She doesn’t say anything, just stares at me weirdly.

“What?” I ask, wondering if I said something wrong or worse I have somehow smeared the food all over my face.

“I just realized you are staying here without knowing anything about me,” she says, bending her head and fiddling with her food.

“Well, technically it is not important. So, if you don’t want to talk about it is fine.” I definitely have things I don’t want to talk about.

She stops and looks up at me without raising her head. She quickly brings her head down. “Most people will say it is. Besides, it is no secret. You asked about my parents, they died a long time ago.”

“Oh, I am so sorry for your loss.” I genuinely mean this. I know what it is like to lose a loved one, especially one's parents. 

“Don’t sweat it, It was a long time ago.”

“Still. How did they die?” I find that I am very curious about her.

“Um…” She pauses and clears her throat. “That is the worst part, I don’t really remember. I just know we were attacked here.”

“Here?” I ask, looking around in horror.

“Yeah.”

“And you don’t mind staying here?” I ask.

She sighs, “As I said, it happened a long time ago and I barely remember anything. Also, I have nowhere else to go.” She says and fiddles with her necklace, I don’t think she is aware of doing this.

I try not to bring up my offer again, I don’t want her clamping up on me. “Why were you chased out of your pack then?” I hope I am not bombarding her with questions but I can tell I will never get a chance like this again.

“My brother died.”

“Whoa, I am sorry about that.”

“And my mate rejected me.”

I choke and I start a coughing spree. 

 “Oh my god!” She says, standing to her feet. She sounds alarmed, it is nice to have her worried about me. “Are you okay?”

She shoves a glass of water in my face and I readily accept it. I really am dying. Her words were so unexpected, I swallowed my food wrong.

“I am fine, thank you,” I say after finishing the entire cup.

She touches my arm, eyes me warily, and sits back down.

Where she touched me feels hot.

“Your mate rejected you?” I ask, I am even more curious about this and I hope my coughing spree has not ruined the moment.

“Yeah, barely a week after my brother’s death then he kicked me out of the pack.” She says this casually but I can see the pain in her eyes.

Mate? I can’t comprehend this because I am certain I am her mate. Every hair in my body tingles just from sitting across her. My wolf literally wants to snuggle beside her and just breathe her in all day. Does this mean she has two mates or something is not right?

“Why? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“He got himself a new mate and maybe I am a reminder of something he wants to forget. I don’t know. Either way, I am here, and all that is in the past.”

It has just been a few days, I know nobody gets over something like that that fast. However for me to say something like that will be to destroy the front she was trying to put up. I make a fist when I meet him, I want to put a dent in his face. It also means that I can’t tell her, she won’t believe me. Heck, even I think something fishy is going on here. 

“What about you?” She asks suddenly.

I adjust in my seat, I was afraid of her asking about me but I know I can’t get away without telling her anything. “What about me?” I ask. 

She frowns but doesn’t back away. “What about your family?”

“They are fine,” I say nonchalantly. This is true as my pack is my family now even though I know that is not what she means.

She glares at me, “Your parents?”

“My father died when I was young and my mother is gone too.”

“Oh my, I am so sorry.”

“It is fine, it happened a long time ago.”

She raises a brow at me but doesn’t comment on my response. “Got any siblings?”

“Yeah, a younger one.”

“Really?” Her face brightens up and she leans forward. “What is their name?”

“His name is Kay. He should be around your age.”

“Huh, how do you know my age?” She asks.

“Hmm, how old are you?”

“It is rude to ask people their age.”

“No, it is not. It is only rude if that’s the first thing you ask but I am really curious here. How old are you?”

I frown, “How old do you think I am?”

She brings her hand to her chin, “Twenty-four,” she says without hesitation. 

I am sure I look horrified. “Twenty-two. Don’t tell me I look that old.”

“What is the difference?”

“There is a difference!” I protest. “Two years is one too many.”

“Yeah, two years is a long time.” She looks lost.

“How old are you?” I ask.

She smiles and says, “It is rude to ask a lady her age.”

I glare at her, “Haha, very funny.”

“I am seventeen.”

“I thought as much.”

She sneers at me, “ I know I look my age. Want me to help with the dishes?” She looks at the table as she asks.

I study her face. I am tempted to say no as I don’t mind doing the dishes myself but I don’t want her to leave. “Sure.,” I say.

She looks up immediately and smiles, I blink at the brightness, I am blinded. She jumps out of the dishes and picks her dishes. I follow after her and watch her drop it in the sink.

I wonder if this means she will stop being hostile to me. I wonder if she trusts me a little. I know it is still too soon for that. However, I know I am a little closer to convincing her to join my pack as long as nothing goes wrong.