When Hugo parked, I didn't wait for Kai to open my door. It seemed to irritate him, but my lungs were begging for fresh air. I had been taking shallow breaths, too afraid to allow myself to breathe heavily. After the whole intimate moment, his scent got stronger. The smell of smoke, leather, and spice were almost too much for the small car. And it was a sexy smell, too. We walked into the store and I began brainstorming what to make. Male wolves loved their meat so I figured that steak was a good way to go. I headed towards the meat aisle and looked at my options. I grabbed two large steaks and placed them in the handbasket that I had picked up. I grabbed a third pack that had two small steaks in it and added it to the basket. When I looked up at Kai, I saw that he was looking around.
"People are going to realize who I am soon." I told him.
"Yes."
"It's gonna be stressful, but it'll calm down once the word is out." We walked towards the produce section.
"It will be dangerous."
"I know…. I believe that you'll keep me safe." I looked at a bag of potatoes. "I need… these. " I reached for a small bag only for Kai to grab it first.
"Hey!" I looked up at him. "I can hold my own items."
"You don't have to with me around."He reached for the basket and I pulled away.
"Let me have at least a LITTLE independence." I frowned slightly. He studied me for a moment before raising his hands like he was giving up. "Thank you. Now. Do you eat asparagus?" I pointed to a bundle of fresh asparagus.
"I will eat anything you put on my plate. Even you." He leaned closer to me on the last part. My body shivered in response. I grabbed the asparagus, trying to distract myself from the warmth between my thighs.
"Um… e-excuse me?" A woman behind me said. I turned quickly, surprised. It was a blonde woman in a long blue dress. She had one hand on her large, pregnant belly while her other hand held the hand of a little boy.
"Oh… hello." I said, confused. She looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out why. Kai stepped forward, defensive, but I stopped him. She looked up at him, seeming afraid.
"I-I'm not sure if you remember me, b-but my name is Julie." She said, looking back at me. Julie? Why is that name familiar? Suddenly it snapped in my mind. Memories flooded past my eyes. Memories that I had buried deep down. Julie. The prized possession of the Wolfhound pack. Julie. The slut that was supposed to marry Kai. Julie, the one that hand delivered me so much pain along with who I thought were my brothers. I blinked, looking at Julie. She looked different now. Instead of a flat stomach, she was pregnant. She looked like a mother who couldn't afford the air she breathed. Kai really did make sure she couldn't get a good job.
"I w-wanted to apologize for everything I put you through. It wasn't right or fair." She lowered her eyes to the floor. I could feel the anger and pain welling up inside of me. "I was hoping… that maybe you will clear my bad reputation so that I can get a job. I need to be able to feed my kids. Please." I stared at her for a long moment, taking in the woman before me. She was suffering, but she seemed to have enough money to get by. She and her son weren't skinny. Julie's face was actually rounder than it had been before. It may not be lavish, but she and her son were surviving.
"Normally, I would do everything I can to help someone." I paused. She looked up at me, hopeful. "But those people didn't torture me my whole life. Traumatize me. Watch me get raped over and over." I could see the hope leaving her eyes and Kai's hands balling into fists.
"I should hurt you. I should return all of the pain you've caused me." I glared at her, but my face relaxed. "But I won't…. You got what you deserve."
"B-but my babies will starve!" She nearly screamed. I looked at the little boy before kneeling. He had chubby cheeks and he was chunky. He was maybe a year and a half old.
"Are you starving? Does mommy give you food to eat?" I questioned.
"Yes. Mommy gives me lots of food." The boy smiled. I stood and looked at Julie.
"You don't need a lavish home to survive. I'm not giving you what you don't deserve." I began to turn away but noticed that she was beginning to cry. A voice in the back of my head questioned my decision. As I fully turned away, she grabbed my arm roughly. I spun around just as Kai pushed her away and growled. She staggered back, her angry face becoming afraid. I touched Kai's arm as people began to stare. It was tense and hot.
"We don't hurt pregnant women so stop trying to hurt us." I said calmly. "Come on, Kai. I have a few more things to grab." I slid my hand down into his. We began to walk away.
"You'll regret this, Renley Wolfhound! You'll regret this!" She shouted. My hand tightened in his as my anxiety rose. He responded by squeezing my hand slightly.
~~~
When we got back to the apartment, I set one of the three bags on the kitchen counter. Kai placed the other two bags on the counter as I rubbed my face with my hands.
"You don't look so good." Kara leaned on the bar. "What happened at the store?" I looked behind her to Lucah who was standing up from the couch. It was cute to see that they liked each other.
"Wanna talk while I cook?" I asked.
"Sure." She looked at Kai. "Make yourself comfortable." He looked at me.
"Go." I chuckled. "I'm right here." Slowly, he went and sat on the couch.
"So? What happened?" She leaned closer. As I began to unload the groceries and start cooking, I told her about the car ride and what happened at the store. Every once in a while I would look at Kai and Lucah on the couch, talking quietly with themselves.
"I feel like I made the wrong choice." I sighed, dumping boiling water into the sink. I used a strainer to keep the potatoes inside. I had already cooked the asparagus with bacon bits and now I was cooking the steaks and making the mashed potatoes. I put the pot on the stove before rotating and grabbing the potato masher.
"What? Why? You told me all about her. She's evil!" Kara looked at me with an 'Are you stupid' expression. I blinked, seeing myself pinned on the floor beneath Lucas while Julie watched and kissed Zade. I blinked away the memory.
"Because she's pregnant and has a young son." I replied, using a lot of strength to mash the potatoes.
"I can understand that, but the son was well-fed, correct?"
"It looked like it." I nodded.
"Then what's the problem?" She crossed her arms on the bar. I sighed, adding milk and spices to the pot. I took a pair of tongs and flipped the steaks, grease, and butter splashing up my arm. I gasped, jerking away so fast that I lost grip on the tongs. They hit the counter behind me before skittering to the floor.
"Ow! Damn it!" I hissed, going to the sink and turning the water on. I put my arm under it, the cold water stinging the new burns down the inside of my forearm.
"Are you okay?" Kara asked, worried. I looked at her to see that Kai was in the kitchen in the corner of my eye.
"I'm fine. Just some minor burns." I looked back to my arm.
"Let me see." He ordered softly. I hesitated but pulled my arm out of the water. He took it gently with both hands, inspecting the trail of red dots. "Keep it under the water. I'll finish cooking." His voice was so deep and enticing that I almost said okay.
"What? No!" I turned the water off, taking the tongs he picked up. "I'm cooking and you're gonna sit down until I'm done."
"I don't want you getting hurt again." He looked down at me.
"Getting burned in the kitchen is normal. Now, get out of my kitchen!" I placed my hands on his abs, feeling how hard and rigid they were. A feeling ran through me, burying itself in my core and it took a lot in me to not run my hands down them.
"Yeah, she doesn't like anyone in the kitchen when she's cooking." Kara added. He lifted his hands, surrendering as he backed out of the kitchen. I turned to Kara and mouthed 'Oh my god' while lifting my hands to chest level. She smiled at me and I quickly washed the tongs and finished cooking. I began to set the plates, the larger steaks going to Lucah and Kai. I set the plates on the table and wondered if the table was big enough. It was a simple, square table about 5 feet across. Once the table was set, I looked at my masterpiece.
"Wow! It looks so good!" Kara gasped.
"Oh… yeah… hopefully it tastes good, too." I smiled nervously, rubbing the back of my head. Everyone sat down, Kai next to Lucah, Kara next to Lucah, and me between her and Kai. Kara started eating immediately while the rest of us ate more slowly.
"Mmm! I've always loved your cooking, Ren. You should be a chef." Kara nodded. I smiled slightly, looking at my plate. It did taste pretty good.
"She's not wrong, Renley. You should be proud." Lucah agreed.
"Thanks." I replied awkwardly. My eyes flicked to Kai. He was staring at his plate like he couldn't believe what he was eating. I took it as a compliment. My eyes traced over his large frame as he sat at our little table. He looked like an adult sitting at a kid's table. My phone binged, stealing my attention. I pulled it from my pocket, looking at the message.
Kara: He's so damn big! You think he'll crush you when you have sex?
I thought my eyes were going to bug out of my head. I turned my screen off and placed my phone in my lap before taking another bite. My phone dinged again and I looked.
Kara: I bet you can't wait to feel that muscular body on yours.
I nearly choked, clearing my throat as I texted back.
Me: Get your mind out of the gutter and eat your food.
I put my phone face down on the table. Kai was looking at me and images of him on top of me flooded my mind. Heat filled my face as I looked down at my plate. I lifted my cup and began to drink.
"So, Kai. Is… every part of you big? Asking for a friend." Kara asked like it was a common topic to talk about. I inhaled hard, water shooting down into my lungs. I slammed my cup on the table, gasping and coughing violently. I turned away from the table as pressure began to fill my face. A hand patted my back, but I stood and coughed my way into the bathroom. I coughed for what felt like forever before I could breathe even semi clearly. I put my hands on the sink and looked in the mirror as I panted.
"Ren…? Are you okay? Kara questioned from outside the door. I pulled the door open and stared at her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that." She looked like she wanted to laugh, but held it in.
"Keep embarrassing me." I hissed through my clenched teeth. "I will go into your room while you sleep and mother you with a pillow!"
"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!" She lifted her hands in submission. "Many you're scary. Come on. Let's finish eating." I followed her back to the table where Kai and Lucah waited. I avoided eye contact with Kai as I sat down and began eating again.