Ember

"Stop judging me with your eyes," Kane said.

"I'm not judging you," I protested, watching him scrape a charred lump into the trash bin. "Not much anyway."

I grinned, moving closer to get a better look at the mess of ingredients on the counter. We'd both gone up to take a shower (separately) but it looked like a tornado had passed through in the short time Kane had been back down here. Spilled flour, pieces of shredded chicken, the remains of a bell pepper that seemed to have died a terrible death and other slaughtered vegetables were all laid out. Evidence leading to a single conclusion: Kane was bad at cooking.

"You know this means I outrank you in the culinary world, right?" I said.

He set the pan down, stalked over and caged me in with his arms on both sides. He leaned down, blue gaze intent and on my lips. I lifted them, closing the distance...

He held up his hand, displaying the flour on his palm. Then- before I could register what he was trying to say by showing me his dirty hand- he wiped it across my face, gave my parted lips a kiss with a loud SMACK and darted away when I tried to hit him.

I grabbed a tissue and wiped my face with it. "That's the last time someone dirties my face and gets away with it. Come here."

He smiled, taking out his phone. "Let me order us pizza first."

I glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. "It isn't too late to cook dinner," I said. "I can put something together real quick."

"You sure?" he asked. "Helen is already headed to a pizza place with Bluebell and Tom. I can ask them to get us a few boxes on their way back."

"It's fine. I like cooking, and maybe you can pick up on a few things by watching a true master." I washed my hands at the sink, then went over to inspect the vegetable massacre. Kane stood next me while I sorted through what could be salvaged.

"My mom liked to cook too," Kane said, leaning against the counter.

He watched me closely, but not in the way I'd suggested. In fact, he was actually ogling my butt. I tapped my knife against a plate. "Eyes up here, Wilder. I told you to watch how a true master cooks."

He didn't move his eyes as he gestured towards his ears with a smirk. "I'm listening to you cook."

I laughed. "In that case, take your superior werewolf hearing and go listen to me somewhere else."

He straightened, holding out his hand for my knife. "I'll behave. Let me help you."

I gave him an uncertain look. "Can you help?"

A wry look. "I'll try."

"Your mom never let you help her?"

"No, the kitchen was her territory."

I pursed my lips at that. "Are you telling me she took care of the house and Theo took care of the pack issues?"

He stopped holding out his hand. "That's how things worked for them."

"That's how you want things to work for us too," I guessed, remembering how he kept telling me not to worry about the pack. "You do realize I won't go along with it?"

His jaw tightened. "Are you going to threaten to leave me again?"

"No," I said slowly. "You give in when I say I'll leave but go right back to your old ways right after. I won't threaten you anymore."

He relaxed visibly.

"And I understand your need to keep me physically safe, but it doesn't excuse you from keeping information from me."

He shook his head, took my hand in his. "I'm not."

I lifted a brow. "Oh, really? Will you tell me where you've put your ring?"

Cue the jaw clenching.

I shook his hand off. "That's what I thought. You can go ahead and watch some manly TV or go for a manly walk, I don't want your help."

I stomped over to the cupboards, flung them open and started rummaging around for some black pepper. I pretended to be absorbed in the task even while I listened for the sound of him walking out of the kitchen. I dreaded the feelings I'd have to confront when he left, but this was definitely necessary if I wanted some peace of mind in the future. Staying in the dark about important things didn't sit well with me and he had to be made aware of that fact.

My hand pushed aside the salt, chili powder, but there was still no black pepper...

Footsteps from behind me...

Soy sauce...

I found the black pepper, but Kane beat me to it, holding it out for me to take with a blank look on his face.

I didn't reach for it.

"I still have the ring," he said, giving the pepper a shake. "I never planned on getting rid of it."

I took the pepper from him although dinner was the last thing on my mind now. "Why?"

"I have no intention of failing to protect you ever again."

I scoffed. "Yeah, and you'll do a perfect job at that once the ring drives you loco!"

"I've been working on that part with Jett and Fiona," he replied.

That gave me pause. "You found a way around the insanity?"

He nodded. "We're almost there."

I raised my brows. "Were you ever going to tell me?"

The nod came slower this time. "If it was successful."

I pointed the pepper at him. "You promise to tell me everything right away from now on?"

He sighed. Nodded.

I smiled. "Let's get cooking then, Chef Wilder."

***

We cooked and ate in silence, but the silence was the comfortable sort and I got a feeling Kane felt better about confiding in me more than he was letting on. I knew I was content with everything: cooking with someone for once (I'd tried cooking at Ian's place before and he'd set the kitchen on fire so I'd abandoned engaging in that particular activity with him), getting actual praise for my efforts (once the food was on the table Kane had kissed me until I started to think eating was overrated, then released me with a quiet 'Thank you.') and cleaning up with help (although the majority of the mess wasn't my fault). Throw in Kane's promise to me and I was a beaming ball of sunshine by the time we were done.

I didn't even mind the scolding I got from the college administration when I called to tell them the reason for my absence. I made apologetic sounds on my way to my room, smiling when Kane told me he was going to brush his teeth.

"I won't do it ever again," I promised after ten minutes of a lecture on my behavior. The scolding came as a surprise, I hadn't thought anyone would care if I'd dropped off the face of the earth. I've never met her and she probably treated all the other students the same way, but it still felt nice to be seen by another human being. "No more faeries and no more skipping."

"There better not be, you might not survive a second time," she said curtly.

I wondered if she meant I wouldn't survive the fae or wouldn't survive her wrath. I didn't ask though, listening instead to her list all the work I'd have to do to catch up. When I finally finished the call I went into the adjoining bathroom and brushed my teeth, worrying about the short time frame I'd have to do everything. And wondering when Arius would show up again so I could give him his much-needed punch.

I found Kane stretched out on my bed when I got back.

"Move into my room," Kane said.

I took in a deep breath, preparing myself. Then blurted it out. "I'm moving out as soon as I get a new job."

His hooded eyes roamed over me lazily. "You can move in right now."

I swirled my index finger in a circle. "I mean I'm moving out of the house."

He sat up, alert. "The house still makes you uncomfortable?"

I pressed my lips together, gaze flickering away. "Yes. No, I mean-"

"It's the memories isn't it? I never made you feel wanted here and the feeling is lingering."

"Well that is true, but-"

He was off the bed, grabbing my hand and tugging me towards the door. "We'll buy a new house. We'll look some up on my laptop now."

I pulled my hand out of his. "It's not the memories."

"What is it then?" he asked tersely.

I folded my arms, frowning. "Why do I have a feeling you'll just brush it off?"

"What. Is. It?"

I threw up my hands. "Fine. The pack will talk if I move in, the girl that disappeared for a month, brought a bloodthirsty fae king to their door and moved into her boyfriend of a single day's home. It'll sound like I'm using you."

He narrowed his eyes. "I wasn't your boyfriend while you were gone that month?"

I shook my head. "You know what I mean."

"You're allowed to use me, I'm yours."

"Your statement can be viewed in an entirely negative way, you know that right?"

"Are you going to spend the rest of our relationship worrying about what the pack thinks of it?" he asked.

"We're the alphas, shouldn't we try to accommodate them?"

"We're the alphas, we protect them from harm and make sure they are fed. We don't bend to their will. When we do everything they want we're no longer the alphas."

I pursed my lips. "When you put it that way..."

"When I put it that way you're moving into my room."

I held up a hand. "Wait. Stop."

He sighed, leaned against the door. Lifted his brows. "I'm listening."

"I'm not ready to share a room with you."

He straightened. "You don't want to live with me?"

"It's just I've never shared a room with anyone-"

"You'll like sharing one with me."

"It would be awkward-"

"Do I make you feel awkward?"

"Sometimes."

"If you share a room with me I won't make you feel awkward."

"How do you know you won't?"

"Because I won't."

"Anyway," I said, ignoring his answer, "I think it's better if we get used to being in a relationship first before moving into each other's rooms."

The hand Kane had on the doorknob clenched. "You're already a target, moving out of my house will make you easy prey. Jett can't watch you twenty-four seven."

"I'm open to compromise, so I'll stay here until we deal with the threats."

"My room is the safest place in the house."

"Kane."

"Alright. Stay here then."

Before I could register his angry words, he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.

I blinked. Was that just our first argument as a couple?