Chapter 5 Unpredictable Man

• When I opened my eyes, I realized I was back in Lucas’s cabin. My legs were wrapped in fresh bandages, and a solid stick was propped against my injured leg, looking like it was meant to help me out.
• “Did Lucas patch me up?”
• If it wasn’t him, then who else could it be?
• I closed my eyes, trying to piece together what went down last night. Just before the rogues could get to me, Lucas jumped in to save the day. In my panic, I bit him. So, he knocked me out to bring me back and take care of my injuries.
• “Did he really save me… or does he have other motives?”
• What if he wants my body, just like those rogues in the woods tried to take?
• The thought of their hands on me made my stomach turn. I shot up from the bed, feeling queasy. I stumbled into the tiny bathroom and barely made it to the toilet before my stomach decided it was time to revolt.
• “Bwah!”
• The heaving hit me hard, my throat on fire while tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt so weak, and that awful taste in my mouth just made everything worse.
• “Ugh… ugh…”
• Once it finally stopped, I slumped against the wall, gasping for air and staring up at the cracked ceiling. The bathroom felt suffocating, but I took a moment to calm my breathing before dragging myself out. When I stepped into the main room of the cabin, I heard some faint noise outside that piqued my interest. I followed the sound and peeked through the open doorway to see Lucas.
• He was in the zone, training hard as he unleashed a flurry of punches on a bag hanging from a sturdy tree branch. I couldn’t help but watch, captivated. His fists struck with such accuracy, the sharp whoosh of each hit slicing through the still morning air. The bag swung wildly from the impact, and I could hear the tree creaking under the pressure.
• It was no wonder he had managed to take down three dangerous rogues singlehandedly.
• Lucas threw an uppercut with such force that the punching bag shot backward, its chain clanging loudly from the impact. As the bag swung back toward him, he sidestepped it effortlessly, like a pro, then pivoted to deliver a powerful sidekick.
• Thud!
• The sound echoed, causing the sturdy tree it was hanging from to tremble a bit.
• I was glued to the scene.
• He was incredibly strong—each move showcasing pure, unstoppable power.
• ‘If only I had that kind of strength… no one could push me around or make me feel small.’
• The thought remained bittersweet in my mind. efore I realized it, time had flown by. Lucas seemed to wrap up his training session. He wore a simple sleeveless white shirt and ripped jeans, but somehow it didn’t come off as casual at all. The shirt hugged his body, showcasing the defined muscles. His damp black hair danced with his movements, sticking to his forehead a bit, while sweat trickled down his sharp jawline and fell to the ground.
• With a quick swipe, he wiped the sweat from his face, his expression calm and almost peaceful, before diving back into his intense workout on the bag.
• I took a deep breath, my heart racing in my chest.
• He’s seriously… good-looking.
• The thought startled me, but I couldn’t deny it.
• "You're up," he remarked.
• "Ugh!" I quickly shut my mouth as a hiccup slipped out. "Ugh!"
• Lucas noticed me staring. His gaze locked onto mine, and for a second, I was completely still. My throat felt parched, my heart was pounding, and I couldn't help but gulp awkwardly.
• 'What do I say now?'
• My brain raced for a response. I knew I couldn't just stand there looking dumb. Especially after ignoring his orders to stay put at his place last night and nearly getting into trouble with those wild beasts.
• Should I thank him for rescuing me? Or say sorry for biting him?
• I opened my mouth, torn between the two choices. "I..."
• Thud!
• Before I could even say a thing, something thudded to the ground by my feet. I jumped a bit, surprised, and glanced down.
• It was a bottle.
• Lucas had tossed it with perfect aim, not saying a word.
• I paused, staring at it for a moment, then slowly bent down to grab it. The bottle felt cool in my hands, the cap a bit loose.
• Out of curiosity, I twisted it open and took a whiff. Just water.
• When I looked back at Lucas, he had already turned away, and he was picking up his bag.
• Did he really think water would fix my hiccups?
• Another loud “Heuk!” escaped me, and without thinking, I gulped down the water. The cool liquid slid down my throat, easing the dryness and stopping my hiccups.
• I felt relief, but I couldn't shake the urge to keep an eye on Lucas as he walked away in silence. I stood there, bottle still in hand.
• Where did he go? Is he still upset with me?
• I bit my lip and glanced in the direction he had vanished. I wanted to chase after him, to understand what he was thinking, but the memory of those rogues made me hesitate. Staying put seemed like the safer option, even if it left me feeling uneasy.
• Did he leave because he didn’t want me watching him train? I shifted my weight, trying to push aside the guilt that lingered after interrupting his practice.
• Minutes dragged on, and my legs started to ache from standing still. Just when I was about to give in and head back inside, Lucas came back, stepping out of the woods with a deer draped over his shoulder.
• ‘Is catching deer part of his training routine?’ I wondered.
• Not even glancing my way, he brought it into the cabin. Curious, I found myself lingering by the door, unable to resist peeking inside.
• Inside, Lucas was focused, working quietly as he prepped the deer. The gentle clinking of tools and the occasional sizzle of cooking meat filled the small space. He didn’t utter a single word, even as the mouthwatering scent of freshly cooked meat drifted.
• 'Ahh. I am hungry.'
• When he finally settled down to eat, I stood there, frozen, watching from the shadows like a stray dog waiting for a handout. My stomach twisted with hunger.
• I really wish I could have a taste of that.
• But I knew the score. This was Lucas—the same werewolf I had insulted, fled from, and even bitten. Just thinking about the bandage on his arm made me feel embarrassed.
• I don’t deserve anything from him.
• I tried to push aside the gnawing hunger, but it only intensified as I watched him enjoy his meal. Each bite he took felt like a taunt, and my willpower started to crumble.
• Then, the unthinkable happened.
• GRRRR!
• The loud growl of my stomach shattered the quiet like a bolt of lightning.
• Feeling totally embarrassed, I grabbed my stomach like that would somehow erase the noise. My face was on fire, and I couldn’t help but stare at the ground, wishing it would just open up and swallow me.
• 'I just want to vanish!'
• I took a quick glance at Lucas, my cheeks still burning. He wasn’t looking at me; he was focused on my stomach. When our eyes finally locked, my heart raced. Without saying anything, he got up.
• “W-What?” I stuttered.
• My stepmom and stepsister always hated it when I watched them eat. They’d tell me to go sit in the corner and wait for leftovers. I thought Lucas would feel the same way, but then…
• “Do you want to eat?” Lucas asked, breaking the awkward silence as he offered me a juicy deer leg.
• He's not mad. He was actually asking me to eat.
• Somewhat, that eased the tension in my body. Swallowing, I stared at the meat. It was so tempting.
• 'But, do I really deserve to receive food from a person I had mocked before?'
• I said, “I’m not hungry,” even though my stomach was growling like crazy.
• Lucas looked at me, clearly taken aback. Without saying a word, he pulled his hand away and set the deer leg back on the plate.
• For a moment, I felt a twinge of regret. But it was done. I had made my choice, and now Lucas was probably going to devour the whole thing.
• ‘No way! He didn’t! You should totally ask him for a piece!’ my hungry wolf chimed in, and I couldn’t help but glance at the leftover meat on the table. It was there, almost mocking me, as if it wanted me to take a bite.
• Then, out of nowhere, Lucas stood up and walked away! My gaze shot back to the meat. My feet inched closer to the table, my mind wrestling with my cravings.
• “Lucas isn’t coming back, right?” I whispered to myself, trying to convince myself it was just leftovers, nothing more.
• I let out a deep sigh and took a big breath before grabbing the deer's leg. But as soon as I took a bite, I felt the thunder roaring inside my head.
• “What on earth is this?!” I yelled, almost spitting it out.
• It was terrible. Honestly, the worst thing I’d ever tasted! This meal was a total flop. The flavor was so off that I couldn’t even handle it. Was there something wrong with Lucas’s taste buds? Or was he just used to eat... well, whatever this was?
• I gagged and tried to push through with another bite, but it just made my stomach churn even more. It felt like my insides were staging a protest.
• "No way. I couldn’t deal with it any longer!"
• I tossed the meat aside and trudged back into the kitchen. It has all the tools, ingredients, and spices. I glanced at the messy counters and the tempting jars of spices Lucas had left behind. If I could just fix this...
• "He had all these spices and still managed to mess it up," I grumbled to myself. Of course, I wouldn’t dare say that to his face.
• I rushed around, picking out a handful of carefully selected spices. The kitchen was soon filled with the delightful scents of fresh herbs and seasonings as I worked on the deer meat, determined to make it taste good this time.
• Cooking has always been my jam. My stepmom rarely stepped into the kitchen, so it was up to me to whip up meals for everyone. The problem? I never got to eat until they were done, leaving me with whatever was left. Still, I took pride in making every meal I prepared top-notch—even if I was stuck with the leftovers.
• My dad always claimed I got my cooking talent from my biological mom. That always brought a smile to my fac.
• 'He was the only one who truly appreciated my kitchen skills.'
• “Done!” I exclaimed, feeling a little proud of myself.
• With a few finishing touches, the dish looked way better than before. The smell made my stomach rumble, and without a second thought, I grabbed my fork and dove in. The flavors were out of this world, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes, relishing every bite.
• “This is incredible!” I mumbled, completely lost in the deliciousness.
• But then—
• “You’re eating the meat.”
• I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard Lucas’s voice. My eyes darted to the door, and there he was, arms crossed and looking all serious.
• Busted.
• I quickly glanced at the plate, still loaded with that mouthwatering meat, my stomach rumbling despite the awkward vibe. Lucas just stood there, watching me like I was guilty of some major crime.
• I took a breath and knew I had to fess up.
• “Sorry about that. I was just so hungry, I couldn’t resist…” I began, but Lucas interrupted me with a sharp question.
• “What did you do to the meat?” His tone was more curious than mad.
• I blinked, taken aback by how calm he sounded. He really seemed interested, not upset at all.
• “I heard you say it was really good. Is it actually that tasty?” he asked, his tone lighter now, almost friendly.
• I was taken aback. This wasn’t the Lucas I had pictured. After everything that went down, I had thought of him as this icy, distant figure. But this… this felt different.
• “Actually, I made it again,” I confessed, feeling my face heat up, “and it turned out pretty delicious.”
• Before I could elaborate, Lucas snatched a fork and took a bite for himself. I watched intently as his eyes widened, and a gentle smile began to form.
• He was quiet for a moment, and I couldn’t read his expression. My heart raced as I waited for his thoughts.
• “So?” I blurted out, immediately regretting the obvious question.
• But Lucas just nodded slowly, his smile growing. “It’s good,” he replied, his voice soft and genuine.
• I blinked in disbelief. This tough, battle-ready guy was smiling shyly, almost like he was embarrassed.
• Shy? That seemed hard to believe. This was the same guy who had taken down a group of rogues without breaking a sweat.
• I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it.
• Lucas confessed, “I’m not the best cook,” glancing away for a second before looking back at me with a pensive look. “Do you think you could whip up something like this more often?”
• More often. Was he suggesting for us to live together? But what about the curse?
• They said being near with the cursed rogue would take someone's life.
• 'But you're alive, Janelle. That man saved you,' my wolf uttered.
• It was as if she was telling me that there might be a possibility that the curse isn't true. Take this an example: Many said that Lucas is ruthless and violent. But he's the man who saved me, aided my injured leg, and offered a meat to eat.
• With all the uncertainty swirling in my head, I nodded at Lucas and answered, “Yeah, I can cook for you."
• The next thing that happened really went out of my expectation.
• “THANK YOU,” the rumored cursed rogue said with a smile.