My Bully, My Mate | Complete

Chapter 16

My fingers wrap around the cold metal door handle before shoving it open. I sigh as the familiar scent of my family welcomes me into the house, and the sound of my sneakers against the tiled floors echo in the hallway. I look around, my gaze falling on the empty furniture and switched off TV and I take a while to realize I was actually walking in the dark.

Was I really the only one awake?

With my eyebrows furrowed, I reach to take my phone out of my pocket, my finger pressing on the home button.

12:21 am.

How am I not tired?

I shuffle to the kitchen, making sure to stay equally quiet as I approach the fridge hoping to find a small apple to munch on. I open the fridge door, wincing as it makes a loud noise. Sighing, I pick out an apple before taking a bite.

"You're up late, or should I say early?"

I whip around immediately, my apple still hovering in my mouth. My eyes squint as I search for the voice, only to find a grinning Theo. My gaze darkens before finishing my attempted bite.

"It's how you interpret it isn't it," I mumble as I lean on the counter. His eyes wonder over me questionably and I shift beneath his gaze.

"You smell like alcohol," He states. I snort in response, lifting my chin slightly as I do so before taking another bite. His frown deepens as his gaze intensifies. "Why do you smell like alcohol?" He asks, scorning me like a child. I furrow my eyebrows, genuinely curious as to why he would care.

"I was out with a few friends, why does it matter?" I ask, ignoring the attitude that lays thick in my tone. His brows arch closer together, "Oh. You aren't drunk are you?"

I shake my head, ready to make my leave when he interrupts me mid-step.

"Everybody ordered pizza for dinner," He states, his voice wavering as he keeps his gaze on the ground, "I make a mean lasagna if you want." I stop, quick enough to let him know that I want some lasagna. But, if my stomach weren't growling like a whale, I wouldn't consider the offer.

"If you poison me, I will kill you," I say as I watch him give me a small smile. "Wouldn't dream of it," He says before making his way through the fridge and freezer collecting his ingredients. I chuckle as he halts, food stacked in his hands as he sends me a sheepish gaze.

"Where are the trays?"

I give him a warm smile before pointing to the cupboard beside me. I smile as I watch him grab his pots and point to where everything is kept. Every time he sends me a small apologetic look as he asks where to find the item he wants, and every time I find myself smiling wider.

"When'd you learn to cook?" I ask, still munching on my apple as my eyes follow his every movement.

He switches on the stove as he shrugs, "Just beside the orphanage was a new restaurant, a small startup business that was just opening their second shop. I was 14 at the time and they were looking for workers. Let's face it, Margret, my guardian wanted to keep me out of trouble so she sent me there. I was mellow about it at first, but the chef there wanted me to cook. I was like 'man, I burn water. Does this asshole really think I can cook', but he kept encouraging me and soon enough I was cooking everything, from simple fish and chips to ratatouille."

I nod, smiling at the thought. It doesn't take me long to realize the passion in his eyes as he cuts the ingredients, the professional feel he sends as he puts his focus on nothing else but that. It makes me jealous in a way, watching his expertise and passion for something most would consider a small craft.

But it's the way he approaches what he was doing that made me enjoy watching him.

"Have you ever thought about opening your own restaurant?" I ask, placing my apple core on the counter. His eyes glitter for a moment, the corner of his lips etching up, and then it disappears.

"I've thought about it a lot actually, even trying to get John to hand his business to me. But then I reality slaps me in the face and I continue on walking," He admits, transferring his chopped ingredients to the heated pan before facing me. I nod, still watching him carefully.

How does a wolf that looks like he would rather kill be so passionate about cooking?

"I suppose life has a way of slapping people across the face," He angles and I can't help feeling like it was directed for me only. I shift my gaze immediately, staying silent as he wipes the counter clean of his mess.

"Well let's hope my reputation doesn't fail me," He jokes as he places the tray into the oven. I smile in response, my gaze moving back to him. My eyebrows arch together as he slides down the kitchen cupboards on his way down to sit on the floor, his eyes never once leaving the oven.

"Don't tell me you did that every time you were cooking a meal," I say, eyeing him questionably. He chuckles before shaking his head, "Nah. I had a lot more dishes to make than just one."

We wait in comfortable silence until he pulls out the tray. I do my best to hide the drool that escapes my lips when I see the beautiful lasagna come out of its cocoon. With a strange look blazing in his eyes, he scoops out the lasagna carefully before placing it onto a plate each. He walks to a draw where he grabs a fork and passes it to me before grabbing his own.

He watches me in silence, a cheerful expression across his features. "What?" I ask, my fork barely moving close to the lasagna. His smile widens, "I like to watch my customers eat theirs before I eat mine."

I chuckle at this before playfully rolling my eyes. "Well, if you insist," I say as I lower my fork to the delicacy before me. I feel the lasagna give way immediately as I stabbed at it, the food staying on the spikes effortlessly. Soon enough, I bring it to my mouth and chew.

My eyes widen immediately and I have to hold myself back from grabbing any forkful before finishing this bite.

"And?" He asks, leaning in as he watches me eat.

"Absolutely disgusting," I lie, holding back a laugh as I see his features drop immediately. "Kidding. This is truly amazing, whoever taught you to cook must have had people cueing for miles around!" I beam, my fork reaching for a second bite.

His smile widens, "yep. That man really did deserve it." He takes a step closer, starting up another conversation as he too digs into the food. We laugh a few minutes before chatting more, and I feel myself getting lost in conversation even after the food is all gone. Completely forgetting that this man wasn't already part of the family.

"Well, it seems I won't have to wait a week until you two get it on."

My heart sinks. Of course Dad rolls in with this statement, his eyebrow raised as a small smirk is slapped across his lips. I imagine the food flying across the table and landing on his silk smooth pajamas.

Theo however straightens immediately, his hands retreating behind him as he gives Dad a curt nod. I eye his stance questionably, wondering why he would react that way.

Oh wait.

"I'm going to bed," I say bitterly, already retreating past Dad as Theo's eyes bore into my back.

Dad sends me a scolding look, "I wasn't interrupting a moment was I?"

"No Dad, but you sure as hell created a really bad one. So goodnight." I huff before running upstairs, silence wrapping me once more as I climb under my covers. 

I will not mate with Theo, I may not love Xavier, or even want him. He may not even be worth my time, but Dad sure as hell doesn't need to replace him. 

***

Um... what do you think? This is more of a filler chapter but I hope you enjoyed it either way. 

What is you overall opinion about Theo, now that you know a little more about him. If you were in Nicola's situation, what would you do? Please let me know what you think in the comments :) 

Please vote if you liked :)