7| Pure satisfaction

LAURA'S POV

I sat on the edge of the bed after the maids left, staring at the tray they had brought earlier. The food smelled different from what I was used to. My stomach growled, but I did not trust the food fully. I swallowed before picking up the spoon, feeling weird to try something totally different.

I picked up the spoon and took a small bite of the stew and the taste hit my tongue right away. It was bland, almost watery, with too much salt and not enough of anything else. I chewed slowly, then spit it back into the bowl. The meat was worse, definitely cooked differently. I pushed the tray away and stood up carefully, testing my ankle. The pain was still there, but I could walk if I limped.

“Is this what Raven Claw eats?” I muttered to myself. “No wonder everyone here looks pale… yeah asides Cyrus but every other person looks real pale.”

I limped toward the door. My stomach gave a small sharp and sudden cramp, making me pause for a second. I pressed a hand to my belly and waited for it to pass, knowing it came from either hunger or the way I quickly stood. It reminded me of other pains I did not want to think about right now. I pushed the feeling down and opened the door, only to see a guard standing there with a flat face.

“ I need directions to the packs kitchen.” I said, looking at him dead in the face.

“ What do you need from the kitchen my lady. I'll order maids to get it..”

“ Just direct me to the kitchen man!!.” I yelled but winced a little from stressing my belly while yelling.

He simply directed me with uncertainty. I rolled, heading towards the hallway leading to the kitchen when I saw two maids. They looked surprised when they saw me.

“Miss Laura, you should stay in bed,” one of them said quickly. “The Alpha ordered rest and your ankle is still healing.”

“I need real food,” I said. “Not that… whatever that was.”

The other maid stepped in front of me. “Please do not go to the kitchen. The Alpha will be mad if he hears his guest is walking around the pack house like this. Especially the kitchen… It is not proper please.”

I looked at both of them. “I don't care about what's proper right now. Move. I need to eat something I could swallow.”

They tried again to stop me with their voices soft but worried. I ignored them and kept walking, holding the wall when the limp got worse. The cramp came again, milder this time, but I kept going.

It was large and busy, a few workers were chopping vegetables and stirring pots. They all froze when I walked in.

“Miss, you cannot be here,” one older she-wolf said, wiping her hands on her apron. “Please go back upstairs. We can bring you something else if the food was not to your liking.”

I shook my head and limped past her. “I will cook it myself. Just show me where the pots are and leave… I don't really like cooking with a crowd around me.”

They argued a little more, but I did not listen. I found a clean pot, some meat that looked fresher, vegetables, and spices. My hands moved from memory. I had cooked many times while I snuck into the kitchen as a child. I believed one day I'll be with my mate living a simple happy life, not knowing I'll end up marrying an alpha and a monster as well.

CYRUS'S POV

I sat behind my desk, reading through my mails when I heard I knock on my door.

“ Walk in.” I said with aow voice and a maid ran straight in, panting.

I stared at her with an unreadable expression and after a few seconds of silence, I turned back to my laptop — she immediately knew she had to start talking.

“Alpha,” she started with a nervous voice. “I know you will not be happy, but the new lady… Miss Laura… she is in the kitchen. She is not listening to anyone. She is…. She's cooking.”

I did not stop typing right away, I kept my eyes on the screen for another few seconds, then spoke in a flat voice. “I know she is stubborn. She will not leave even if you ask ten times. Let her be for now.. as long as she's safe.”

I could feel the maids surprised face because they all know I was never this soft on anyone… but I had my reasons….

The maid bowed and left while I stayed at the desk a little longer, not longer concentrating due to the smell of food coming from the kitchen.

It was different from the usual pack house food, A smile creeped through my face as I closed the laptop, and stood up.

“ I couldn't believe such a powerful woman was good at the kitchen… I sure hope her food tastes just as good as it smells.”

LAURA'S POV

I was still at the stove when the kitchen door opened again. I did not turn around, instead I kept stirring the pot, tasting the sauce, adding a pinch of something more. The workers had gone quiet. I felt eyes on me from the window but I ignored them… they actually had to learn to do something right at least.

“Why did you decide to cook yourself?” Cyrus asked from the doorway. I wasn't surprised to hear his voice… I was actually expecting him looking at the way the maids panicked.

But I kept stirring, totally ignoring him. I hummed a little under my breath, closing the pot to let it boil.

After a few seconds, he walked closer and spoke in an almost angered tune. “I asked you a question.”

I still didn't answer. I reached for a spoon and tasted the sauce again. It was better than what they had given me earlier. Much better.

His hand closed around my arm immediately in firm but slightly painful manner. He turned me just enough so I had to look at him…. And I could see his face was hardened from anger and for some reason it pleased me.

“I don’t have a habit of repeating myself Laura,” he said. “And no one dares ignore me in my own pack house.”

I yanked my arm free and took a step back. My ankle protested, but I stayed upright. I looked at the pot one last time, then turned off the heat. I poured most of the food into a clean bowl, covered it, and left the rest in the pot.. it was very little and could barely fill a child. Without another word I limped out of the kitchen, humming again as I walked down the hallway toward my room, knowing how deverstated anyone would feel after smelling what they won't end up eating.

This was real satisfaction.

CYRUS'S POV

A maid stepped into the kitchen right after Laura left. She looked into the pot, then at me who still stood there with a tight jaw, annoyed with Laura's actions.

If I didn't have a reason to tolerate her, I wouldn't have kept her here…

“She only cooked for herself, Alpha,” the maid said quietly. “Just enough for one person.”

“ Just leave!.” I yelled out of frustration and the maid bowed in a shaky manner, rushing out of the kitchen.

I turned my heels to leave when my phone rang in my pocket.

“ Mom?.” I cursed under my breath knowing this was definitely trouble. I finally answered after a short pause.

“Cyrus,” her voice came through. “ I'll be coming to the pack house tomorrow morning. Earlier than I planned…. And I guess I'll be returning for good this time. I feel so uncomfortable leaving so close to these pathetic humans my boy.”

I stayed silent for a few seconds, clearly unsure of what to say because if my mom recognizes Laura… it'll definitely be trouble.

“Isn’t that good news?” she asked. “Aren’t you happy I am coming earlier than normal?”

“Okay,” I said simply, hanging up before running my hand on my hair.