The Cold She-wolf

Chapter Twelve: Is that why you're worried?

Arabel's POV

   I swung my legs back to forth, humming as I chewed on the nicely made food in my mouth. Cyrus's cooking was better than I thought. It was like eating the combined work of mom and Amabel. He was that good. For the first time, I could compare someone's cooking to Declan's. I'd eaten a lot of food from different chefs, but I always preferred Declan's cooking. It made it difficult to enjoy meals outside, so, it was a real delight how much I was enjoying this one. Perhaps it was fate trying to prove to me that she didn't make a mistake by sending Cyrus to me.

   I was almost done with my food but Cyrus was preparing the second meat dish or something like that. I didn't care, I cared more about the food in front of me. Oh yes, Chloe. "Where's Chloe? Isn't she supposed to be down for dinner?" I asked, swinging my fork gently in the air. He hummed absentmindedly and at that moment, fire burst out of the pan he was using. I screamed and jumped to my feet but Cyrus shook his head calmly. "Your food is on fire! I'll get the fire extinguisher—"

   "Arabel, it's supposed to do that," he said indifferently, almost coldly. I remained there standing with my fork in my hand as I glared at his back. He was like the older version of Declan in the kitchen. Cyrus might have played along at first, but he later dropped my ass on the stool and gave me the food to keep me distracted. He literally told me to disturb the food and let him concentrate. Declan did that too. Geez! Am I getting married to the older kitchen version of my younger brother?

   My face heated up as I realized what I thought about. I was already considering marriage. I was getting ahead of myself. I didn't like it even though I loved it. I still didn't know much about Cyrus, though I could tell his personality was an open book. I could guess how his personality would be, especially as the alpha of a pack of powerful werewolves. I wasn't stupid enough to think he didn't have a lot of dominance and possessiveness packed in there. I had a problem with being controlled so I was having doubts. Well, I thought I was but my mind clearly was already ahead of me.

   I returned to my seat and kicked off the fluffy slides slippers he gave me to wear. My legs were larger than Chloe's but the slippers fit me like a glove. I didn't want a repeat of the jealous girlfriend scene, so I didn't ask even though I was dying to. I drove the fork back into the tender Mongolian beef. I felt Cyrus glancing at me from over his shoulder but I pretended not to know and remained quiet. My mind kept going from marriage to the owner of the slippers. What if she's a lovely woman? Not all rivals are vicious like movies and books make them out to be. For example, Sharia, Drake's fiancée. She wasn't exactly my rival but she was a good woman who was acting possessed because she was threatened by me. I mean, why wouldn't she be? I was an actress, famous, and had a lot of big-shot friends. I was also wealthier and prettier, while she was nothing but the daughter of a local farmer and a midwife. She was just a nurse, but her personality was better than mine. Sharia was kind, sweet, and a very good person. So good that the first time I realized that, I pinned Drake to a wall with a knife to his throat and promised him that if he dares cheat on her as he did with me, I'd make sure he's never born. Of course, Sharia didn't know I did that because I also threatened to ruin his life if he told anyone about what I said, and Drake knows I don't bluff.

   Wait, I'm swinging out of point. The point is that Sharia could have been like me, born into a rich home and had a great career, then she would be better than me even if my beauty surpassed her. What if my rival is kinder, sweeter, and every good novel girl personality, and even prettier? What if the only thing I had to her was the fact that I was Cyrus's mate? What if he wished she was his mate? The food suddenly tastes sour. I dropped my fork and pushed the almost empty plate away as my stomach churned with discomfort. I wasn't going to lie to myself, I was a total brat. I was worse years ago but I hadn't changed completely. Plus, I wasn't confident with my new appearance. If it was my old, I would have been, but I still wasn't used to the whole ice queen look I was sporting. This is bad.