Chapter 16: Cooking

-Rhys-

My little mate froze as I asked her to give me a reason why we couldn’t be together. Yes, I understood it, she was a rogue, and this was very unusual, but after what happened last year with the hunters and everything, it didn’t seem so unusual to me anymore. No, I had never imagined my mate would be a rogue, but now that I knew she was, I was not sad about it, especially because I knew she wasn’t someone who hurt others. She was good or at least trying to be. She said she wanted to hurt people because it was who she was meant to be, but I saw something else. I could see she didn’t actually want to hurt anyone. She just thought she had a certain role to live up to. I would show her she had a different role she could fit into.

“Well?” I asked.

“I …”

“Yes?”

“I shouldn’t have to give you one,” she said.

I chuckled, shaking my head a little, and then leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“You are so sweet,” I said.

“What?! I am not!”

I laughed again, shaking my head a little, and then got off her. Not that I wanted to. As I told her, I wanted to get carried away. I wanted to explore every little inch of her beautiful body and figure out what made her pant and what made her scream, but as her mate, it was also my job to make sure she was fed and taken care of. Mates took care of each other. They didn’t just have great sex. And I definitely didn’t want to neglect any of my duties.

“Come,” I said and reached a hand down to her.

Nova fixed her pants and then looked at my hand, looking a bit skeptical.

“Where are we going?”

“As I said, you need to eat,” I said.

“I am not eating so we can get “carried” away,” she told me.

I shook my head.

“No, but you need to eat,” I said.

“If you let me go, I could go find—”

“Nova!”

She sighed and then grabbed my hand. Fuck, it felt so right. Like her hand just fitted perfectly into mine, and I quickly led her back to where the kitchen was. I thought it was better we just ate by ourselves, to begin with. Just like Rogan and Serena had done. The pack had to get a chance to get used to the idea of Nova. It would take some time, but I knew if they could accept Serena and the other hunters, they could accept Nova too.

“So, what are you hungry for?” I asked as I walked over to the fridge.

Nova stood behind me, looking into the fridge, and I could just read her mind at that moment. She was starving! Anything seemed to be good.

“How about I cook you something?” I asked.

“You can cook?”

“A little. I know how to fry something on a pan,” I told her.

“Maybe I should assist,” she said.

“Oh, so you can cook?”

She nodded and then dug under my arm, coming in front of me. She was so adorable, and I had never used the word adorable before. I just couldn’t help it. Nova did something to me. She changed me without even trying. She quickly started to find a lot of things and I watched as she walked through the kitchen trying to find everything she needed. I didn’t help much, because I loved just watching her. She was so beautiful too. She looked like something out of a story. How could anyone be so beautiful?

She felt my eyes on her though, and I saw her glance at me, before looking away, and I chuckled a little, as I watched her begin to fry some eggs. I walked up behind her, resting my hands on her hips, and I heard her inhale a little sharply. She couldn’t help but be affected by my touch. I loved it. I loved knowing I affected her just like she affected me. I leaned down and kissed her neck.

“I … I think it would probably be best if you gave me some space. I am cooking. Something could go wrong,” she said.

I chuckled a little.

“I’m thinking about eating something so much better than eggs,” I whispered in her ear.

I could almost hear her swallowing hard, and I smiled, as I wrapped my arms around her, placing my hands on her lower stomach.

“Rhys!”

I couldn’t help but tease her a little, but I knew I shouldn’t play too much with her. She was right. She was cooking, and something could go wrong, and I didn’t want her to get hurt. So, I let go of her and backed away, just settling for watching her. Nova was quick and a good cook actually. I could see how easily she did everything and did it even with a smile on her lips.

“Who taught you to cook?” I asked.

I knew the dish wasn’t a hard one to make, but some people just weren’t supposed to be in the kitchen.

“Eh … actually myself,” she said.

“Really? I thought your parents might have done it.”

“They are … dead,” she said. “They died when I was young.”

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“You aren’t though,” she said and looked over her shoulder. “They were rogues.”

“You’re right, I am not sad about that, but for you to be left alone, that I am sad about,” I told her.

Nova just nodded, but I knew that sorry was just a word. It didn’t really bring her parents back.

“Did pack members kill them?” I asked.

She nodded and looked away.

“I can see where your hatred might come from.”

“It’s … complicated.”

“How so?” I asked.

She just shook her head, not wanting to answer.

“I am just trying to learn more about you,” I said.

“You shouldn’t …”

“Because we are enemies?” I asked and smiled.

She nodded and looked over her shoulder again.

“You shouldn’t smile.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Don’t you see how serious it is?” she asked. “No one will accept this.”

“Why should we care?”

“Because you are an important beta!” she said.

“Rogan was willing to sacrifice it all for his mate. How can I not do the same?” I asked.

Nova sighed, and I felt like there was something she was not telling me, but I wasn’t sure if I should ask her about it. She seemed guarded in some way and very open in another. She was interesting my little mate. I couldn’t wait to learn more about her though.

I watched as she arranged all the food on two plates, and then we went to sit by the kitchen island. She was good. I had to admit. That first bite was perfect.

“You like it?” she asked.

“I love it!” I told her.

She seemed to blush at my compliment, and I had to remember to praise her more. She seemed to respond well to that.

“You really taught yourself?”

She nodded.

“I had a lot of time.”

“A lot of time?” I asked. “I thought rogues liked to move around.”

She didn’t look at me and just nodded.

“Or is there a certain place you are staying?” I asked her, wanting to know more about her rogue pack.

“No,” she lied.

I knew instantly she wasn’t telling me the truth. My little mate was not a good liar, but I could also hear her pulse going faster. I was glad she wasn’t a good liar though. I wanted my mate to be honest with me. No secrets between us.