BEASTLY

Chapter 35

Belgian styled waffles, a veggie wrap and cinnamon rolls. That was what they had ended up making, throwing the whole kitchen into a disorientation Ava had never witnessed. The great Alpha Xander couldn't handle himself in the kitchen, then again she hadn't expected him to. She had watched him struggle with trying to mix the batter, the shells of the eggs falling in numerous times and making him start again. Ava found it endearing how he didn't know what went where and when he had almost cut himself while trying to slice the veggies, she couldn't help it anymore and stepped in. Along the line, she had gotten decorated with flour and he had the front of his shirt painted with soy sauce, thanks to her. It was a good thing that Gladys wasn't around. She'd have had a heart attack watching them fumble around in the kitchen.

She set two coffee mugs on the dining table, admiring the meals they had created. To her, it looked like they were lost in an illusion; a one where they were perfect and making waffles was what they did every other morning before they tumbled into bed again for the rest of the day. He had not once been imposing or controlling and had given her space to move as she wished. He had been so gentle and soft in everything he did, except for when he was damning the kitchen appliances to hell, that she hadn't realised how relaxed she was around him. 

"Are you going to keep standing or are we going to eat?" her eyes met his, the calm ocean in them sucking her in. He didn't bother to change his shirt and proudly sat at his usual spot, wiping his hands on a table napkin 

She positioned herself in the one opposite him, feeling conscious at the fact that he would watch her eat. There was no amount of effort that she put in that could get rid of her PTSD. As she met his eyes again, she waited patiently yet anxiously to see how things would unfold. The sound of music suddenly filtered through the air, her ears perking up at the wonderful melody.

"I didn't know you listened to this kind of music." she said, surprised at hearing how soft it was, warming her up inside

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." he answered simply "I love music, although I don't fancy words as much as I fancy instrumentals."

"Is that so?" she asked, folding her arms on the table with an amused expression on her face "What kind of music would you call it then?"

He had been twirling the fork in his hand but looked at her once more at her question "I'm not entirely sure. When I am, I'll let you know." There was something in the way he was looking at her. It told her of things she hadn't yet come to understand

"It's strange sitting here. I've hardly had a meal at the dining." Her hands moved to pick up some waffles to fill her plate "Especially since my family isn't here."

"Your family?" he sought for the right words, watching as she filled her glass with water "What was it like?"

She snorted before a wide smile broke out on her face. Memory upon memory erupting nostalgia in her "It was everything. They practically raised me. There wasn't a moment I was there that I felt unwanted, even when I felt like I didn't belong. We ate together all the time and whenever we did, there was always a prayer; short yet so warming. It would make you happier to eat whatever was in front of you."

Xander saw how animated she became. It was the first time he had seen it, leaving his heart clenching and with a sense of longing. "Do you miss them?"

Ava wasn't sure if he was being serious when she heard it, but when she saw the lines of the frown on his face, she knew he was. "Of course I do. They were taken away from me and I don't even get to contact them. Although, I understand the reason, even more so now with what's going on, but it doesn't still stop it from hurting. It's the first time since..." she licked her dry lips, shaking her head "I just miss them."