The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 185: Dawn 2 ()

"You must be hungry. And I believe I can help with that, then maybe we can... talk?" Caedmon’s words drew Zariah out of her thoughts.

Before Zariah could say anything in response, Caedmon had gone off on his way to the kitchen at the back of the inn.

Zariah just stared after him for a moment before she returned her attention to the book she had left on the table the previous night.

Zariah flipped it open, carrying on from where she had left off reading.

Invested in her book, Zariah only shifted her attention when Caedmon returned with a tray filled with food that still let out steam to show they had all been freshly prepared.

"You cooked?" Zariah asked with a raised brow.

When Caedmon had spoken of fetching her a meal, she had assumed it was something already prepared by the innkeeper, she had not expected Caedmon would prepare something from the scratch.

Caedmon nodded, chuckling awkwardly as he placed the tray down before Zariah and took a seat across from her, still looking awkward.

He lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck when Zariah just kept staring at him.

"I do not mean to make you uncomfortable, or anything like that and I am sorry if I have. It is just..."

"I was going to fetch the meal the innkeeper had prepared but it had gone cold and the vegetables looked soggy... you are still in recovery, you need to eat healthy in order to heal faster." Caedmon explained.

"That is... very thoughtful of you." Zariah murmured slowly.

Caedmon smiled sheepishly, taking Zariah’s words as approval. If only he knew it was quite the opposite.

Caedmon’s actions triggered a sense of Deja vu, it was not the first time a scene like this had played out.

Infact, Zariah recalled vividly that this was one of Caedmon’s favourite methods to appease her whenever he had done something that he knew she would find offensive.

It was always Caedmon’s tactic to do something wrong and then make up for it before Zariah would even find out of his wrong.

And then Zariah would already have softened and would never give his wrongdoing as much thought as she should have.

Zariah shook her head slightly, forcing away the memories that were stirred in that moment.

’Indeed...he had been this kind of man. The kind who was so lovable that it was impossible to see him as anything else.’ Zariah thought.

Zariah chuckled in derision as she glanced down at the tray of food which had an assortment, all of which were meals Zariah had taken a liking to since arriving the Ethereal Domain.

’He could not sleep...he must have been too busy finding out my tastes.’ Zariah thought to herself.

"I cannot eat all of this." Zariah said as she picked out a bowl of porridge from the tray and slid the tray back to Caedmon.

"That will not do. Not even humans eat that little and you are a wolf shifter. How could you eat a meal with no meat in it?" Caedmon disagreed.

Caedmon took out another plate from the tray, it was roasted game that had been chopped up nicely and sauced.

The aroma it gave off was undeniably inviting, had it not been for the hands by which it was prepared.

Zariah did not protest when Caedmon placed the plate beside her bowl of porridge, instead she picked up her utensil and begun eating quietly.

Zariah was certain the meal was flavorful, but she could barely register a taste when her mind only revisited past memories.

Caedmon watched Zariah closely, like he was studying her every move and committing it to memory and it took everything in Zariah to keep her composure and not lash out at him.

He stared at Zariah, so intrusively that Zariah wondered how she had ever found this trait of his alluring in the first place.

It was the longest, most uncomfortable meal Zariah had ever had and at the end of it, she forced a grateful smile to her lips and hoped it was half as misleading as his own smiles.

"Thank you. That was quite a meal." Zariah expressed and she did mean every word, it truly was quite the meal.

Caedmon smiled brightly, shaking his head at Zariah.

"No need to thank me, I have never quite found a use for my cooking skills. My pack never let me near the kitchen area." Caedmon revealed with a smile.

"Apparently, it is unusual for an Alpha to prepare his own meals. I have not been Alpha long, there is so much restrictions and rules to adapt to." Caedmon admitted, sighing heavily as he got up and gathered the plates.

’Alpha...he had come to me claiming the identity of an Omega...’ Zariah thought.

"What I mean to say is, you are infact doing me a favour." Caedmon rephrased, chuckling to himself as he carried the plates and headed off to the kitchen area.

Zariah returned her attention to her book, it was still early in the day and she did not have any engagements planned till noon.

Caedmon soon returned and sat down once again, still staring creepily at Zariah.

"Do I have something on my face that I am unaware of?" Zariah finally gave up ignoring his stares.

Caedmon chuckled quietly, shaking his head in response.

"I just... You are just so perfect... how can someone like you be mated to...me?" Caedmon asked in amazement.

Zariah was tempted to agree that it was a very good question. The Creator had eyes, how could she ever have been bonded to someone like Caedmon? It had never made any sense.

But Zariah kept her thoughts to herself with much difficulty.

"Someone like me, you say. What is so special about me? My title? My magic? My pack’s legacy?" Zariah asked, tilting her head to the side in question. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"I... that is not what I meant, Zari. You are more than just your titles... you are more than your abilities, or the legacy of the Crimson Moon."

"You are special because you are you, Zariah." Caedmon said.