I watched as Magnus ordered a rare steak, raw beef, and a few other undercooked dishes. It surprised me.
“You really like your food raw,” I remarked.
“Hmm… that’s right. I think raw meat has a better texture, though I do enjoy cooked food as well,” Magnus replied, adding some grilled chicken and fries to the order. He then handed me the menu so I could choose something for myself.
Of course, I couldn’t bring myself to eat like Magnus. When the steak arrived, still bloody, he began cutting it with elegance. He ate it as if it were the most delicious meal in the world. I couldn’t fathom how anyone could enjoy a rare steak. Wasn’t it just like eating raw meat?
Despite Magnus’s refined manner, his eating habits reminded me of wild animals-like wolves, who prefer fresh meat and turn their noses up at anything less. This made me think of the werewolf topic Magnus had brought up earlier. Did werewolves also prefer their meat raw, like Magnus?
“What’s wrong, Seraphina? Want to try a piece?” Magnus noticed my gaze and looked up at me.
I shook my head. “No, I’ll stick to my own food.”
I looked down at my medium-well steak, cut into it, and took a bite. Honestly, the beef here was far superior to what I’d had elsewhere. It was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. Each bite was so satisfying that I couldn’t help but close my eyes in delight.
I had to admit, the steaks I’d eaten before were of much lower quality. I was grateful to Magnus for treating me to this meal. Otherwise, I might never have dined at such a high-end restaurant.
After dinner, Magnus insisted on driving me home.
“Have you seen that werewolf again?” he asked.
“No, not recently.”
“Good.”
“But I don’t know when it might show up again,” I admitted, feeling a bit troubled. I still hadn’t figured out why it had targeted me, which meant I didn’t know how to keep it away.
“Don’t worry, Seraphina. If it really wanted to hurt you, it would have done so by now.”
Maybe.
From now on, I’d focus on training and improving my physical strength. After calming down, I realized Kael’s suggestion wasn’t bad. However, I wasn’t keen on training with him.
The next day at work, Kael called out to me.
“Seraphina, come with me to the training room. It needs cleaning.”
With many people around, watching curiously, I had no choice but to follow him. Once inside, Kael closed the door. He tossed my broom aside and said, “Good girl, let’s train.”
“I don’t need you to arrange things for me,” I said, stiffening and stepping back to keep a safe distance.
“Seraphina, I want to help you get stronger, quickly,” Kael insisted. He threw me a pair of boxing gloves and told me to put them on.
“Or maybe you can use this to vent your frustrations. I’ve noticed you haven’t been happy lately.”
His words surprised me. He was right-I hadn’t been happy. Too many chaotic things had happened recently, but I was determined to grow stronger and handle them.
“Boxing isn’t just about improving your physical strength. It’s also a way to release your emotions. Hit the punching bag, and I think you’ll feel better.”
I’d done this before, and it had made me feel good. If it could make me happy, why not do it again? So, I started punching the bag with all my might, each strike harder than the last. Unlike yesterday’s aimless flailing, today I incorporated the techniques Kael had taught me-jabs, hooks, uppercuts.
As I punched, my body warmed up, and I felt fully engaged. The combination of moves felt more satisfying than yesterday’s efforts. By the time I stopped, I was out of breath. Kael leaned against the wall, watching me. When I finished, he gave me a thumbs-up.
“Impressive, Seraphina. You’re improving faster than I expected, and your stamina seems better too.”
Was I? I wasn’t sure about my progress, but I did feel much lighter after the workout. Exercise really could help release negative emotions. I hadn’t believed it before, but now I did. Though my body was tired, my mood had improved significantly.
Then, Kael moved closer, wrapping his arms around me. He kissed me, his scent overwhelming me, his tongue exploring my mouth. I leaned into him, responding eagerly. I couldn’t deny it-I was addicted to Kael’s body. Just his kiss made me feel like I was melting.
“Seraphina, come to my apartment tonight, okay?” His hands groped my breasts, squeezing hard. The pain made me more sensitive, and I couldn’t help but moan. I felt like a slut, but, even to my own surprise, I felt I was actually willing to be Kael’s plaything.
Still, I didn’t want to agree too quickly. My body craved him, but I didn’t want him to think I was easy.
“We’ll see,” I said.
“Then I’ll come to your place.”
“No, Evelyn will find out.”
“It’s fine. She won’t know if you don’t tell her.”
Kael was insane. Evelyn and I were practically inseparable. Even though she was dating Judy and often went out, she hadn’t started staying out overnight yet.
“It’s not happening,” I said, pushing the door open and leaving.
As soon as I stepped out, I ran into Lucian.
God, what a terrible day. My mood, which had improved after punching the bag, soured again.
Lucian’s eyes lit up when he saw me. He grabbed my arm. “Seraph, I finally found you! Are you working part-time at the club? I’m so happy to see you every day!”
I yanked my arm free and glared at him. “We’re broken up. Stay the hell away from me!”