Chapter Eight: jealousy

Ara's POV

I tossed on the bed uncomfortably. I didn't feel relaxed or chilled, something felt off. Mindy and I returned from another interview, more on my retirement and my so-called illness. I received a lot of sympathy from people and I was surprised people did believe the illness Raquelia cooked up.

I sat up and huffed. "Gingerbread and cocoa," I murmured. I thought Mindy didn't like gingerbread. I flung the blanket away and stood up, I wanted a taste of that. I walked down the stairs gently. The aroma didn't smell like food, it smelt more like perfume but who would wear such a fragrance? I walked into the living room sniffing the air.

I was salivating already. I love gingerbread and cocoa. My eyes stopped at the sharp piercing blue eyes of a man, a man I can swear I've seen before somewhere. He was staring at me with a look I couldn't understand. It was so obvious that the scent was coming from him. How did I perceive it from way up there? And why was he looking at me like that?

The man smiled at me and I stared back awkwardly, my cheeks heating up. I was paralyzed by his eyes and the warm smile on his sexy lips. Something was dragging me to him, to touch him all over, to kiss him. It was strange but I loved it. It was confusing and terrifying in a pleasurable way. I won't forget to mention how rapidly my heart was beating. I had never felt like that before and never had I been attracted to someone at first sight. I was certain I was going mad.

Is this a winter thing or something? Why can't I look away?!

Cyrus's POV

My wolf celebrated in my head, running around in circles. It was cool that I finally found my mate but what wasn't cool was that she was a vulnerable human. No wonder I didn't find her, she was far away. I always wanted a mate but a human, that is just my life becoming more difficult. First of all, there was how I was going to tell her about my kind. Second of all, I had a lot of enemies so they will target her.

"Mindy, are you baking gingerbread?" She asked, her eyes focused on me.

"I hate gingerbread," Mindy said coldly. "It's from him,"

"He brought some?" Now she was brazenly ogling me.

"No, it's how he smells," she averted her eyes to Mindy reluctantly and tilted her head confusedly. "He's a weirdo," she shrugged.

"Who's he?" She asked. I'm literally sitting right here. Ask me. "I could perceive it from way up there? Why wear it so strong?"

"As I said, he's a weirdo," she said chucklingly.

"I'm sitting right here," I said frowningly. She smiled sheepishly and shook her head immediately, trying to regain her senses. The mate bond must be affecting her too. That will make my job easier. Why does she have to be a human? It will be much harder to explain to her, I mean I can't just go up to her and say, "hey, beautiful babe, my name is Cyrus Moonstone and I happen to be a werewolf and your mate", that doesn't even make any sense! How do I even start the conversation?!

"I thought it was gingerbread, I was hungry already," she muttered lowly. "I'll be upstairs," she made a move to leave.

"No!" Mindy and I screamed. She flinched with a small scream and then looked at us flustered and as if we grew extra heads. "Sorry," we said simultaneously.

"He bought some, why don't you wait here and let me get one for you?" Mindy lied. She wanted to give us time to talk. How was I going to do that? My mate felt like a cold-hearted killer and her face almost looked like a snooty bitch's. She's beautiful though. Hot even.

"I can go get it myself," she said, turning to the kitchen.

"Go sit down, girl," Mindy said sternly. My mate snorted but still obediently walked to the other pink teddy couch and sat down. Mindy smiled proudly. "Good girl," she patted herself on the back. "Now wait here. Be good to her," she said to me. I looked at my mate and winked at her. She turned her face away but her pale cheeks tinted pink. Mindy left and the silence that followed was expected.

«Let's mark her already» My wolf complained.

«Be reasonable, Kent, she's human.»

«But she's so beautiful. Can't you see her sitting there calmly like the Luna she is? Her body yearning for our touch?»

«She doesn't have a wolf, Kent, the human form is mine» I reminded him, rolling my eyes mentally. He chuckled softly.

«Either way, we get to enjoy mating with her. Now get your ass off this stupid soft thing and mark her before someone else takes her» He groaned. «She's a human, they are loose and don't understand the principle of mating.»

«Exactly! She might have a boyfriend or is carrying someone's child. What if she's married?» I asked angrily. Kent let out an angry growl. She flinched.

Damn it, Kent!

"I'm sorry, I just remembered something," I lied. She nodded with a creeped-out smile on her face. Great, I'm creeping her out. "Hi," she nodded, shifting deeper into her chair as if she was trying to enter it to avoid being in the same room with me.

«Great! You scared her» I yelled at Kent.

«I'm sorry, I just couldn't take the thought of her being with another man» He apologized.

«Tell that to our terrified mate» I snapped. He kept quiet. I sighed. "I'm Cyrus Moonstone, you?"

"A..A..A.." She inhaled and smiled. "Arabel Lee."

"I've heard that name countless times from Mindy," I lied. She bit her lip shyly.

"What did she say about me?"

"That you are a stubborn but beautiful woman, a go-getter," I said the first lie that came into my mind. It wasn't a total lie. She looked like a stubborn one.

She blushed so I was right. "Thank you," there was silence all over again until she spoke again. "Who are you to her? Mindy?"

"Best friend,"

"Oh! The big-mouthed dog boy!" She squealed and covered her mouth. "Sorry,"

"It's okay, I don't mind but please don't ever call me that," I muttered. She smiled and dropped her hands. Dog boy? I hate that woman. I'm going to kill her.

"How close are you two?" She asked with an uncertain tone in her grim voice. "Close or close close?" She asked again. Oh, I see what she's trying to do.

"Close close and triple more close," I lied innocently.

«No no, Cyrus, please don't mess this up like the fool you are. It will end badly» Kent pleaded with a whimper.

«Just a little won't hurt.»

"That's nice," she said sarcastically, folding her arms with a sneer on her lips. She leaned back into the chair and suckled on her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Is she like your first love? You know since best friends fall in love with each other." She bit her lip and held her breath, her left eye twitching.

"Yes, she is," I smiled. The anger that took over her beautiful face was satisfying. For a brief second, I thought I saw a snowflake flash in her eyes, making her beautiful blue eyes enchanting. That's not possible.

"How could you fall in love with your best…" she trailed off with a deep, calming breath and her eyes closed. She opened her eyes and gave me a tight, plastic smile. "Do you still love her?" She asked jealously.

"Maybe,"

«Cyrus stop messing around and be serious» Kent panicked. I'm not really sure why I was messing with her, but I was enjoying riling her up.

"How can you still love her?! She's married!!!" She yelled, suddenly standing up. "How dare you say this to my face?!" Okay, I did not expect her to get this angry. Her pale face was red with anger and her body trembled like she was having a cold. Maybe she was because the room temperature was getting colder. If I could feel it despite being a wolf, then it must be intense for her.

"It's not…"

"Be quiet!!! You are a prick!!!" She screamed. Oops! Too far.

«You think!»

"I was ki…"

"Don't talk to me ever again!" She snapped and stomped back upstairs. That was both dramatic, unexpected, and hot. She didn't even realize how unreasonable and erratic it was to get jealous over someone you just met. If she was a werewolf or any kind of shifter, then her jealousy was justified. However, for a human, it was not and I knew she would punch herself when she calms down.

«Sometimes I wish I can kill you!» Kent huffed and went silent.

"You just had to test her, didn't you?" I turned to Mindy with a sheepish grin. She stood at the kitchen door with a tray of gingerbread and hot chocolate and a frown on her beautiful, plump face. "Three things you must know about Arabel. One, she's a no-nonsense person; two, she has serious anger issues just like you and lastly, she's extremely possessive and straightforward. If you want to survive with her, then get those things stuck into your coconut head." She said calmly and walked upstairs with the tray of gingerbread and cocoa. She forgot about my share.

«And he's thinking about food instead!»

Ara's POV

I anxiously paced around in the guest room. I acted out of character back there and I was certain he thought I was a crazy bitch. My first impression was ruined. Why did I get so jealous over something that is not my business? I sat down and massaged my temples. Mindy walked in carrying a tray of hot chocolate and gingerbread.

"Cocoa and gingerbread," she chirped. I eyed her from head to toe with disdain. She's the reason he won't love me. What? Arabel! "If looks could kill, then I would be six feet under by now," she said chucklingly. Her beautiful laugh annoyed me. "I bought it,"

"I lost my appetite," I said flatly.

"What did that maniac say to you?" She asked frowningly. I took my bag and walked out on her instead. I was too angry to talk to her. I felt like piercing her heart with an ice spike or tearing her into two with my ice blade. It wasn't safe to be in the same house with both of them.

"Can you not take what I said seriously? It was a joke," the handsome idiot said, coming after me. I ignored him and jumped into my car. I shut the door and drove off, almost running him over. That kind of joke.

I seethed back home, freezing most of the things in my car with my temper. By the time I parked my car in the garage, the wheels and the whole thing were frozen. I left it there to thaw and stomped into my house, icing the floor underneath my feet. I flung myself on my bed once I got to my room and then I searched for my two phones in my bag and called the only person I could think of, Ama. Thanks to Mindy, we were on talking terms again.

"Hey, Amabel,"

"It's Blake," oh great, the husband.

"Oh," I said disappointedly. "Where's she?"

"Asleep," he said tiredly.

"Okay, tell her I called,"

"Okay, I w.…" One of the twins started crying. He groaned. "Oh come on! Your mother just stayed away from you boys for five hours!" He cried and hung up. I called Iso instead.

"My puppy!" She squealed. Just what I needed.

"You will never give me a permanent name," I smiled.

"Exactly!" She squealed and laughed. "So? Why so distant lately?"

"Nothing."

"You retired without telling us,"

"Because it's my life, not yours," I said coldly.

"Ouch! Okay, let's put a pin on that topic. Who angered you, Snow White?"

"I'm not angry," I snapped. She snorted.

"Was I born yesterday?" I clicked my tongue. I wish she was.

"Okay, I did something stupid in front of a hot guy today,"

"Sex handsome or date handsome?"

I rolled my eyes. I just met the guy. I didn't even think about dating him or having sex with him. Okay, I did think about the date part but still. "just-met-him kind of handsome,"

"What did you do? Belda stupid or my stupid?"

“Yours," I said with a small chuckle. She clicked her tongue thoughtfully. "He's Mindy's best friend from far away. He came to visit, we met and somehow ended up alone. He confessed he has feelings for her and then I lost it and went Bevin on him."

"Yeesh, that's deep," I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "So it basically means that you dig the guy and please, don't lie." I wasn't planning to. The guy was hot and he was the only guy I've been this attracted to since Drake. The other men I dated were just for publicity and fun. There were never any deep feelings and after the accident, there no feelings at all. "Do you dig him for sex or love?"

"Love is a strong word," I deadpanned, "and I don't date for sex anymore."

"Finally! Gosh, I'm so proud of you!" I moved the phone away from my ear.

"I didn't say we were dating yet, I just met the dude and ruined it because he loves Mindy."

"Fuck that crap, babe! Just win his heart as the Arabel Lee you are and he will throw her away. Remember Mindy is madly in love with her boyfriend."

"Husband," I corrected.

"Even better. Now go get him, tigress!"

I smiled. "Thanks, love, you helped me feel better," I said sarcastically. She gave me no clue on how to fix my mess. This is why Amabel is better.

"That's my job as the crazy sister," she chirped. I chuckled. "Oh yea, I know you are mad at Ama and me but please forgive us. Once Ama gets better, we will have a Lee kids' night, no one else," she promised, like always. "I swear on the Lee pact."

"I will be looking forward to seeing your husband there, bye Iso." I scoffed.

"I swear, we won't invite our husbands again,"

"Love you, sis. Bye." I hung up before she could say anything else to annoy me. They made our meeting their husbands' meeting as well so I wouldn't be surprised to see them. Not that I was going to attend. I dialed Raquelia's number next.

"Hey Raquel," I said lowly.

"Don't hold back. Everything happens for a reason. Follow the flow of destiny and let it lead. The time is near but you will overcome it. Control your anger and don't be afraid to share your secret with the ones that have always been there for you. It will free the burden in your heart." What a nice greeting.

"Thanks for confusing me, love," I said sarcastically.

"Always welcome, bye." She hung up on me. Wow. That was rude.