Lean's POV:
The scent of sizzling cheese and butter coaxes me awake like a lover's whisper.
I blink groggily, the remnants of my nap clinging to my lashes like dew. The sky outside has melted into a dusky orange, and the apartment is flooded with warm kitchen light. My stomach growls in sync with the bubbling pan sounds.
He is cooking
Puppy can cook?
With a grin stretching lazily across my face, I slide out of the blanket cocoon and tiptoe toward the kitchen, socked feet making the softest of shuffling sounds on the hardwood floor.
And there he is.
Broad back, muscles rippling under a fitted black tee, sleeves rolled halfway up his arms, veins threading down to strong, sure hands handling the skillet. He's scowling at the food like it offended him. Which honestly might be his default cooking face.
I don't even hesitate. My body moves before my brain can caution me otherwise.
I creep up behind him and throw my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his warm back.
He flinches.
Then—barks. Like an actual angry wolf bark.
"What the fuck!" he snaps, nearly elbowing me in the face. I flinch just a bit—but I don't let go.
"Good evening to you too, Mr. Hotty Grumps," I purr. "Did I startle the big scary doggie?"
"Get off me, you big oversized Bat."
"Hey Puppy that's rude!" I pout, as if he cares "Make me." I mutter as I pressed my cold vampire cheeks against his warm back more, and smell him like he is a warm hotdogs! Wait! Hotdogs? It kinda suits him! He is hot and smells like dog! But I am sure if I call him that he will snap my head off!
"You're unbelievable." He snaps.
"I've been called worse."
He huffs a breath that could probably power a wind turbine and tries to shrug me off. I cling tighter, like a stubborn little burr. "You're warm," I murmur, breathing him in.
His scent is... rich. Earthy. A bit wild. Like forest fire and leather and something painfully addictive.
"You're clingy leech!"
"Ouch! I'm sweet," I correct, chin propped against his shoulder. "And look at you, being all domestic. My big cooking doggie!"
"Get the fuck Off, or i am gonna put you on this pan and sizzle you with garlic "
"Wait we are not getting that aggressive here, and I am allergic to garlic, dont you see I am cute vampire! Ok ok I will get off, Only if you tell me your name."
He stares at me like I've just confessed to murder.
I blink up innocently. "Wait—don't tell me. Let me guess. You give off... big Grumplestiltskin energy."
His entire face hardens like granite. Murder is absolutely on the table. Maybe he is really gonna toss me on the pan!
"Yup," I nod with the solemnity of a judge. "Alpha Grumps-a-lot. That's what I'll call you now."
"You try it again and I swear I'll toss you out the window."
"Rude. Grumplestiltskin it is."
He glares. I beam.
Then, his phone buzzes on the counter.
He glances at it—and smirks.
Immediately, my stomach twists with something I pretend isn't jealousy. I get off him, and stand by the kitchen door! Like a hungry baby messing with his mom!
He wipes his hands and picks up the call. His voice drops an octave—smooth, amused. "Yeah. I'll be there in twenty."
I blink. "where are you heading?" I ask lightly, trying not to sound I really care.
He doesn't even look at me. "None of your business."
Ouch PUPPY!
He plates the food with efficiency, then tosses a bowl at me—not to me. At me. Like I'm some stray he's feeding.
"Don't set the place on fire and mayhem" he mutters, grabbing his coat and heading for the door.
"Rude," I mutter. "Again."
He pauses at the door. "And don't go through my shit. Or I'll lock you in the closet next time."
"Kinky," I call after him, grinning. The door slams shut.
I sigh.
Well, that hurt a little more than expected.
Still, I shake it off. I'm Lean. I bounce. That's what I do.
And tonight? I'm gonna do something nice. For him. For Grumplestiltskin Puppy.
I look at the bowl he made. A decent pasta cheesy and spiced just right. Wait he didn't add garlic!! He really remembered I can't have that! How cute! I blushed like kid called handsome by a granny!
"I can do that, I will cook for him, well i know how to boil water, and what is salt and what is suger! Thats more than enough! I will experiment! Afterall that what make great dishes" I whisper to myself proudly.
Cue disaster music.
Dominic POV:
She was beautiful. I'll give her that.
Red dress, long legs, eyes full of interest. She'd been easy to talk to, easier to flirt with. At dinner, her laugh had been too loud, but her perfume hit right. Jasmine and honey.
For a moment, it felt like something I could enjoy. Normal. Human.
We headed back to the motel. She was excited. I was... eager. My body buzzing with the need I keep trying to bury. I kissed her neck. She giggled. Her nails scratched down my chest.
And then—
Then everything went sideways! Like every fucking time before!
My grip turned bruising. Her breath hitched, not with pleasure but panic. My hips moved faster, too rough. She whimpered. Not the sexy kind.
"Stop," she said. "You're hurting me."
Her whimper cut through the fog, and something inside me twisted—but the wolf didn't stop.
I tried. God, I tried to stop. But my wolf—it didn't want to.
She pushed me. Scrambled to gather her things. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
"Wait," I said, sitting up, breathless. "I didn't mean—"
"You're a fucking freak!"
The door slammed behind her.
I sat on the edge of the bed, fists clenched, eyes closed, heart pounding.
It keeps happening!
I didn't ask for this!
I didn't want this!
I feel like a monster again!
I drive home without the music on. The streets are quiet. My thoughts aren't. I feel like murdering anyone anything that crosses me now!
I unlock the apartment door—
And I smell it instantly.
Smoke.
Something's burning.
I throw the door open.
I panicked as I called out—
"BAT!"