Chapter 6 To Be Strong

• "Thank you," he said softly.
• Victoria and Maggie had never bothered to thank me for cooking, but here was Lucas—a guy I hardly knew—showing real appreciation just because I offered to cook up a meal for him. It was such a little gesture, yet it really meant a lot to me.
• "Tonight, you can sleep on the sofa. Sleep well," he said, erasing the smile. Then, he turned and walked off without saying anything more.
• “Maybe I had him all wrong,” I thought.
• All the gossip about him made him sound like a wild monster. But what I saw now was a guy with a calm strength, someone who got the fine line between love and hate. Lucas was straightforward—if he didn’t like something, he’d say it, but when he cared, he went all in. And he had come through for me—putting himself at risk for my sake.
• He didn’t seem to hold any hard feelings toward me, considering everything. Why else would he offer me his couch?
• A life with tough Lucas... That thought kept bouncing around in my head.
• What if I proposed a trade? He could show me some fighting skills, and I’d sook up meals for him.
• “Since I’m aiming to get stronger, maybe I should offer Lucas about this.”
• With that new plan in mind, I shut my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
• ** **
• The next morning, I woke up to soft sunlight streaming through the cabin window, painting the sky outside in a brilliant blue. The sun had been up for a bit, and I guessed it was around 9 AM.
• I couldn’t believe it—I had peacefully dozed off in Lucas’s cabin!
• Trying to shake off the last bits of sleep, I lightly slapped my cheeks and muttered, "Janelle, get it together. You can’t just waste the day away."
• "Why did you just hit yourself?"
• I froze in place.
• That voice—his voice—came from behind me, and before I could think, I turned around to find Lucas right there, so close it felt almost electric.
• He was just a breath away. My heart raced, and I stumbled back, suddenly realizing how delicate the distance between us had become. The warmth of his breath brushed my forehead, and I flinched, heart racing as I scrambled back on the couch.
• "Ahh!" I screamed.
• "You're really loud, you know," Lucas remarked, arms crossed and looking all too relaxed about it.
• If he had a problem with how loud I was, I definitely had my own issues with him.
• "And what about you?" I shot back, wrapping my arms around myself. "You were practically in my face!"
• "I kept my space," he replied with a smirk. "But then you jumped up and glared at me. You came closer, not me."
• At first, I thought he was just messing around, but the serious look on his face made me pause. After a moment, I had to admit he was right.
• I bit my lip, narrowing my eyes at him. "What do you want?"
• He shrugged, looking completely unbothered. "Just trying to wake you up."
• "Why?" I asked, genuinely curious.
• "Because it’s breakfast time," he said matter-of-factly.
• I blinked, a bit taken aback.
• Did he really make breakfast? For me? Was he actually trying to wake me up so we could eat together?
• It was the kind of moment I had always fantasized about—a cozy experience with someone who actually cared enough to whip up a meal for me. I imagined that with my mate before. But after what happened, I couldn’t envision that future with Zack.
• "Your cheeks are getting all red," Lucas remarked abruptly.
• I quickly pressed my hands to my cheeks, feeling embarrassed, and turned my gaze away.
• "It’s nothing," I mumbled.
• Luckily, Lucas didn’t push it. He just turned and walked toward the kitchen. "Come on. Let’s go."
• I trailed behind him. As we entered the kitchen, I came to a halt. The table was spotless—no plates, no silverware, no cups. And, most importantly, no food.
• Confused, I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. But the table stayed just as empty as when we walked in.
• Before I could think twice, I blurted out, "Where’s the food?" Then, my hand gripped the hem of his shirt.
• Surprised by my own actions of holding his shirt, I froze. Time seemed to stand still as we both remained there, motionless, until I quickly yanked my hand away.
• "I swear, I didn’t mean to do that," I stuttered. "S-Sorry."
• "It’s cool. I’m used to it," Lucas said, his voice surprisingly calm, like this wasn’t the first time something like this had gone down.
• His response made me raise an eyebrow. "Used to it?"
• Did he mean that people often bumped into him by mistake? Or was he suggesting that others kept their distance because of his curse?
• The uncertainty gnawed at me, but what really hit hard was the sadness that settled in my chest. I knew that feeling all too well—the sense of being seen as just an object instead of a person. The loneliness that came with it.
• I didn’t ask though. It felt like he didn't want me to know more.
• "I was just curious about where breakfast is," I said, trying to steer the conversation.
• "I actually came to wake you up because I was looking forward to trying your cooking," he said.
• Ahh. I understand it now. He didn't cook for me. Instead, he woke me up so I could cook.
• "The meal you cooked last night really left an impression on me," he said. "The meat was out of this world, honestly the best I've had in forever. I can't wait to try your cooking again."
• My heart raced, pounding like crazy in my chest, and I had to fight back tears. For years, I had dedicated myself to cooking, hoping to win over my stepmother and half-sister, but all I got were complaints, never a word of praise.
• ["Is this really your best effort? It’s awful. Do it again!"
• "How sad. No wonder it tastes terrible. Our so-called chef is just a joke."
• "What kind of pathetic meal is this? I can't even eat it."
• "Janelle, you really don’t belong at this table. This food wouldn’t even feed a couple of ants. Just go."]
• Those words rang in my ears, all too familiar. The harsh jabs from Victoria and Maggie were always ready to bring me down. I was the girl who had spent years trying to fit in at their table, only to face mockery and rejection.
• But then there was Lucas, a stranger, genuinely appreciating my cooking. He was excited to taste more, to enjoy what I had made, and that meant the world to me.
• If I went back to my Pack right now, it would be the same old story. Victoria and Maggie would make my life a nightmare, piling on chores and treating me like I didn’t even exist.
• I needed to break free from this cycle, and to do that, I had to be as strong as Lucas. I had to stand up for myself and stop letting their words control how I felt.
• "Can you cook something up again?" Lucas asked, pulling me back to reality.
• I glanced up at him, our eyes locking, and I smiled.
• "Absolutely, I’ll cook," I replied, feeling like I was making a promise.
• His face changed for a moment and he quickly looked away. He muttered something I couldn’t quite hear.
• "Why?" I asked, leaning in a bit, curious to catch his words.
• "Nothing," he shot back, avoiding my gaze. "The ingredients are there. Do whatever you want with them."
• I nodded, sensing something was off but deciding not to push it. "Got it. I’ll let you know when it’s done."
• As Lucas left the kitchen, I was left alone with my thoughts. “He sounded awkward back there.”
• I shrugged my shoulder and went on cooking.
• Last night, I whipped up a sautéed deer dish loaded with spices and tomato sauce. But this morning, I wanted to switch things up and go for something bold—a zesty, spicy soup with tender pork. It seemed like the perfect way to warm us up on this chilly day.
• Once I finished cooking, I called Lucas into the kitchen, and the delicious aroma of the soup filled the air.
• We sat across from each other, and I watched him closely as he took his first spoonful.
• His eyes lit up in surprise, and there was a moment of silence as he enjoyed the flavor.
• Without saying a word, he dove right back in, relishing the meat with pure joy. A smile crept onto my face as I watched him, my heart swelling with happiness. Knowing that my cooking made him happy was everything I needed at that moment.
• We sat there eating quietly. Each bite brought a sense of calm that I hadn’t experienced in forever. But as I finished the last spoonful, anxiety started to creep in. I knew I had to bring up training, but the words felt like a ton of bricks in my mouth.
• [“You got this,”] Genie encouraged me.
• Taking a deep breath, I started, “Um, I…”
• “I’ll take you back to the pack. I know you want to get home. After this, I’ll make sure you get there,” Lucas said.
• I bit my lip, gripping my fork tightly. This was what I had wanted all along, right? To return to my pack, to go home... but now it felt different somehow.
• I wasn’t meant to be Lucas’s bride. I didn’t want to be a rogue. Yet, being near him, feeling his strength, awakened a desire in me for something I couldn't just walk away from.
• “We’ll head out after breakfast and—”
• “No.” I cut him off and locked eyes with his.
• He seemed surprised. "What do you mean, you won’t?"
• I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my next words. But I had made up my mind.
• “I want to stay here with you, Lucas,” I declared.