“Alright, I’ll make sure you’re prepared when the time comes,” Kael said, instantly breaking into a smile.
He seemed genuinely pleased by my agreement, which made me feel uneasy. It was as if I held some significant importance in his heart. But I also knew that even if he truly liked me, there were still countless obstacles standing between us. I couldn’t bring myself to disrupt the peace of my life, nor did I want to.
Fortunately, the day’s work went smoothly. I had been worried that Lucian might show up to bother me, but as it turned out, my concern was unnecessary. Lucian never appeared.
After finishing up and leaving work, I headed back to my apartment. By then, Kael had already texted me: “Seraphina, should I come to your place, or will you come to mine? Honestly, I’d like to cook for you.”
The mention of Kael cooking for me made me pause mid-step. I didn’t want him coming to my place anyway, since I lived with Evelyn, and it would be inconvenient. It would be just like when Marek and I had dinner together-Evelyn would come home in the middle of it, and things would get messy.
“Alright, I’ll come to your apartment,” I replied. Perhaps I couldn’t keep avoiding whatever was growing between Kael and me.
Kael didn’t seem like the ruthless werewolf I had initially imagined him to be. So, I thought, maybe I could try getting to know him better. After all, I hadn’t planned on starting a relationship with him anyway.
With that thought, I relaxed a little.
When I arrived at Kael’s apartment, he was already in the kitchen cooking.
“Seraphina, there’s fruit on the table if you’d like some. Dinner will be ready soon,” he called out.
Kael was bustling around the kitchen. He had already seared a steak, which looked delicious, juices oozing out and filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma. I had to admit, Kael’s cooking skills were impressive.
This made me think back to my earlier suspicions. Kael seemed to prefer cooked food, while Magnus, on the other hand, liked his meat raw. I had doubted it at first, but seeing Kael eat the same kind of food as I did made me realize there was no need for further speculation. Werewolves living in human society would naturally hide their true habits.
Soon, Kael finished cooking and brought the dishes to the table. There was steak, grilled lamb chops, beef ribs, a vegetable salad, and mac and cheese.
I was shocked when I saw the mac and cheese. Did Kael know I loved it?
“Seraphina, I know this is your favorite,” he said, placing the dish in front of me.
“How did you know? I don’t remember telling you,” I asked, surprised.
“If I want to know something, I’ll find a way to figure it out,” Kael replied with a smile.
Looking at his smile, I felt an unexpected warmth. It was as if Kael had seen right through me. If he wanted to understand me, I might as well be transparent in front of him.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“The takeout I ordered is here,” Kael said, heading to the door.
When he returned with fried chicken, fries, and grilled chicken wings, I was stunned.
“Kael, so you like these?”
It felt more like something only a child would enjoy.
“I do. Honestly, I think they’re delicious,” Kael said, biting into a piece of fried chicken. “The combination of grease and meat gives this explosive burst of energy. It’s great, don’t you think?”
“Your taste is really unique. Do all werewolves have different preferences?”
“Of course. Many prefer fresh meat, like they’re still wild animals. But I don’t. I grew up eating human food.”
Watching Kael eat, I noticed how much more human-like he was compared to Marek. His ability to blend into society was remarkable. No wonder he was a star at school without anyone suspecting his true nature.
I ate until I was full, but there was still plenty left. Kael finished the rest, and I was amazed by his appetite. Then again, given his size and the amount of training he did, it made sense.
After he was done, I started clearing the table, but Kael stopped me. “Let me do it, Seraphina. You’re my guest,” he said, carrying the dishes to the kitchen.
Watching him, I was genuinely surprised. I hadn’t expected him to be so capable-cooking, cleaning, and more. It wasn’t just that, though. He was also an exceptional boxer and came from a wealthy family. His father even had assistants, so it was natural that Kael would have help in his daily life. That’s why seeing him do these things himself was so astonishing.
“Seraphina, why are you looking at me like that?” Kael laughed. “Is it that unbelievable that I can cook and wash dishes? As you can see, I keep this entire apartment clean and tidy.”
I glanced around. Indeed, the apartment was spotless and well-organized.
“My father trained me to be independent from a young age. He forced me to do many things, teaching me to live like any human. Only then could we blend into human society,” Kael explained.
I could see how much effort Kael had put into fitting into human society.
“So, you can’t reveal your true identity to humans?”
“Not in principle, but Seraphina, you’re not an ordinary human,” Kael said, walking out of the kitchen.
He looked at me intently.
“You know all my secrets. You haven’t told anyone, have you?”
“No…” I thought of Evelyn. I had shared some information with her, but I hadn’t mentioned that Kael was a werewolf. I knew it would trouble her. No human would feel safe around a werewolf, especially with more of them nearby. Even though Evelyn had inherited her family’s medium abilities, it didn’t mean she’d be comfortable with this. I didn’t want to complicate things, so I kept it to myself.
Kael seemed satisfied with my answer. He walked over, pulled me into his arms, and kissed my cheek, then my lips.
“Seraphina, since you came here yourself, did you really think you could run away?”