"What was that for? Why did you lie to her?" I rounded on him as soon as the door clicked close behind my mother.
"You're welcome." He touched the tip of nose.
I wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off of his face. "I am not grateful for what you did."
"You're still welcome."
I groaned in frustration and annoyance. "You clawed my back, why?"
"Why not? To make our story believable." Was his careless reply.
"First off, it was your story not ours. Secondly, was that necessary? How were you able to grow claws in a matter of seconds?" I studied his nails, they were neatly trimmed. So how come?
"Alright, I agree it was my story but it just saved you. Secondly, I'm a werewolf. An Alpha werewolf for that matter, so I can let out my wolf without transmuting."
"So you just let out your wolf's claws?" That sounded ludicrous to me. Unbelievable even.
"I let out any part of my wolf I want. Don't look so surprised. I'm unique, I get it." He winked.
I frowned. "You wish." I told him, then winced. "You caused this, now come clean it up. It hurts."
"Sorry. Let's go to the bathroom." He led me to the bathroom and diligently helped me cleaned the wound.
His hands were surprisingly gentle and whenever I winced, he said a genuine sorry. I could not stay mad at him. He was the only one who'd comforted me and was still here with me. I might not understand him but in this moment, he was helping me and I should at least be grateful.
"Thank you." I said.
"I knew you'd thank me." That stupid smirk again.
I eye rolled. "Not for clawing my back though. But for being here. For comforting me."
"It's no big deal."
"But I have to ask, why did you lie though?"
It was a while before he replied, and he was done by this time. He was just packing up the first aid kit and placing it where it belonged.
"It was necessary."
"Necessary?"
"Let's go back to the bed. The bathroom is not a comfortable place to talk."
As we were both coming out, I saw Melissa and another maid holding two trays of food. I was guessing the second maid was Baron's assigned one.
"Thank you, please drop it on the bed." I instructed them. The other maid bowed at both of us but Melissa hated me so she only acknowledged Baron. One day, she's going to have to tell me my crime and why she disliked me that much.
"Enjoy your dinner, your Highnesses." The maid told Baron and I, a pretty smile on her face. Melissa was still her usual self when she left.
Alone, I climbed into the bed, Baron climbed in after me. "Your mother really outdid herself." He studied the food trays before us.
"She really did." The amount of food heaped on each tray was enough to feed three to four men comfortably.
"Well, let's dig in." He plucked a seedless grape and threw it into his mouth.
"Yeah, let's." I tore a small piece of bread and chewed with cheese.
For a while, neither of us talked. I was enjoying the taste and flavor melting in my tongue. The soup was really nice, so was the gateau. I could not believe she even had the time to make a gateau. There was a big slice of it on my food tray, as there was on Baron's.
"I have to give it to your mom, she's a great cook." Baron complimented between mouthfuls. "Did she attend any cooking school?"
I shook my head, relishing in the rich taste of the iced cake melting in my mouth. Thirty minutes ago, I would have been unable to stomach any food, my appetite would be non-existent. But here I was, forgetting my problems for a while and eating with Baron. I sighed as I swallowed.
"You have your own strange way of offering comfort, you know that?" My gaze travelled over his face. He was in every way like Aaron. Physically, I meant. And he was very attractive.
"You want to eat my face now?" He winked when he saw I was staring long at him.
"Nope. Just wondering how two persons can look so much alike."
"That's why we're identical." He pointed out, eating the last piece of his bread with cheese. "Though I wish we weren't." He deadpanned.
That reminded me, him and his twin brother were not in good terms. Though with what I'd witnessed earlier today, that was putting it mildly. They loathed the other's existence from the look of things and the rest of the boys were obviously in Aaron's side. I was dying to know what the problem was. What might had led to the fight? Why was Baron not in school like the rest of the boys? Why did he leave home and return suddenly? What was the story?
"Eat your food, Katherina. Don't worry your head about it. Aaron and I have a score to settle."
"But I'd like to know what this score is."
"It doesn't concern you, Katherina." Then he pointed to my half eaten bread. "Are you done with that?"
"Yes, you can have it if you want."
He took the bread. "And the cheese?"
"You can have them both."
"Thanks." He devoured the bread and cheese. Watching him, one might think he had been starved. So Lucas was not the only glutton in the family.
"I don't know why mom heaped so much on my tray, she knows I can only eat so much."
"Maybe she thought food would comfort you."
"Mom knows I'm not that big on food. Yes, I love eating her meals but my stomach can only fit in a specific amount of food."
"Tonight's different. She saw you crying and felt pity for what you went through."
"She felt pity for what you made me go through."