4 Isabella's cooking and spice bag

THE NEXT DAY

ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:

The sunlight filtered through the trees as I stepped out of the cave, feeling the cool morning breeze on my skin. My body was sore from sleeping on the hard ground, but I needed to keep moving. Today is about survival, I reminded myself, mentally pushing aside the memories of the pack house. As I rummaged through my small stash of supplies, I suddenly heard footsteps approaching. I turned to see a familiar face from the pack, one of the members I had seen during my time there. His name was Liam, and he wore a friendly smile that did little to ease my wariness.

"Hey, Isabella!" He called out, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice. "I'm glad to see you're doing okay out here."

"What do you want, Liam?"I asked.

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer. 

"I actually came to ask if you could help us out with something back at the pack house."He said.

He was a beta and one of the members of the pack who was friendly to Isabella no matter of her villainess status. I raised an eyebrow, instantly suspicious. Why they needed me now? 

"What kind of help?"I asked.

"Um, well, we're short on food, and I was hoping you could cook something for the group. You were always great at that in the game, so we thought-"He started.

"No." I cut him off sharply. "I'm not interested in cooking for anyone. I got kicked out for a reason, remember?"

His expression faltered, and for a moment, I could see the disappointment on his face. 

"But Isabella, we really need your skills. The new members could use a good meal, and you used to be so good at it."Liam explained.

"I don't care. I'm not your cook, and I'm not going back to the pack house. I'm trying to survive out here, and I don't need the stress of being used again. You all laughed when I was kicked out, deal with it."I said.

Liam frowned, a mix of confusion and concern crossing his features.

"We're all part of the same pack. You don't have to feel that way."Liam said.

"I don't want to be a part of it anymore." I said firmly. "I'm not going back to the pack. I'm just trying to get by."

He opened his mouth to protest, but I turned away, not wanting to hear any more. I needed to focus on my own survival, not on the expectations of others.

"Just think about it." He called after me, but I didn't respond. 

I took a deep breath, shaking off the encounter. I'm here for me, not for them. I went back to my cave. I sighed heavily as I sat in my cave, staring at the pot that had just materialized beside me.

"Great, another task from the system. Just what I needed."I said.

"Task Alert: Cook a meal in your cave to enhance your survival skills." System said.

 I rummaged through my supplies, gathering what I could find, some wild herbs, roots, and a few berries I had picked earlier. This should be simple enough. I was tired of eating raw food, and a warm meal would certainly lift my spirits.

"It's going to be a great meal."I muttered.

I set the pot over a small fire and as the stew began to simmer, the fragrant scent filled the cave, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. I chopped the herbs and roots with care, grateful for the skills I had learned in the game. As I stirred the pot, my mind wandered to the strange new life I found myself in. I heard a sound and I turned to see Liam walking into my clearing, a hopeful look on his face. Not him again.

"Hey, Isabella!" He called out, his eyes widening as he caught a whiff of the stew. "What are you making?"

I crossed my arms defensively, bracing myself for his usual charm. 

"Just some food for myself. What do you want, Liam?"I asked.

He hesitated for a moment, glancing at the pot.

"It smells amazing. Could I… could I have some?"Liam asked.

"Seriously? You just asked me to cook for the pack, and now you want some of my food? I thought you were here to help me, not take advantage of me."I said with an anoyed tone.

"It's not like that!" He protested, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I just thought maybe you'd want to share since it smells so good. I didn't mean to impose."

"Look, I'm not interested in sharing anything." I said firmly, my tone sharper than I intended. "I'm just trying to take care of myself, and I'm not your cook."

Liam's expression shifted from hopeful to disappointed, and I could see the disappointment settling in his features. 

"But Isabella, we are all were part of the same pack. We should help each other out."Liam said.

I shook my head, feeling a mix of guilt and frustration. 

"I'm done being useful to everyone else. I need to focus on surviving out here. I got kicked out for a reason, remember?"I said.

"Okay, I get it." He replied softly, his tone dropping. "I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought… if you could help with the food, it would bring everyone together."

"Bringing everyone together? Is that what you think I want? To go back to the pack house and cook for a bunch of people who look down on me?"I asked angrily.

 I was made to leave and now they want me to be nice to them. Like they didn't hurt my feelings every single day treating real Isabella as a villainess. I remember Isabella's story. No way in hell i am helping them.

"Isabella, I'm just asking for a little kindness. You're not the only one who's struggling. We could use your help. Just one meal to keep the spirits up, that's all I'm asking." He said.

"Look, I appreciate your concern, but I can't. I need to focus on myself right now." I said, my voice softening slightly but still firm. "I'm not going back to that life. I'm just trying to get by."

Liam's shoulders slumped, and he looked away, disappointment etched on his face.

"Alright. I won't push. Just… if you change your mind, I'd appreciate it."He said.

With a sigh, I returned to my stew, stirring it thoughtfully. The rich aroma surrounded me, and I realized how much I had missed the simple act of cooking. Maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all. Finally, I poured myself a bowl of the warm stew and took a moment to savor the flavors. Suddenly, a thought struck me. What if I could trade some of this soup for something I needed?

"Liam! Are you still there?"I asked.

He turned back, his face lighting up with curiosity.

"Yeah? What's up?"He asked.

I took a deep breath, feeling a bit hesitant but determined.

"How about this? I'll give you some of my soup if you can find me a knife. I need one for cutting and gathering."I explained.

Liam's eyes widened with surprise, and then a broad smile broke across his face.

'Really? You'd share your food with me?"He asked.

"Only if you can get me that knife." I replied, trying to sound more casual than I felt.

"Deal!" He exclaimed. "I'll be right back!"

He dashed off, and I watched him go, feeling a mix of relief and satisfaction. Maybe this could work out after all. It wasn't long before Liam returned, panting slightly as he held out a small knife, its blade glinting in the sunlight.

"I found this! It's not the best, but it should work."He said.

I took the knife from him, examining it closely. It was sturdy, with a sharp blade, and I couldn't help but smile. "This is perfect. Thanks, Liam."I said.

"Now, can I have my soup?" He asked eagerly, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

I nodded and handed him the bowl I had prepared. "Here you go. Enjoy!"I said.

Liam took the bowl with a grin, and as he took his first sip, his eyes lit up.

"Wow! This is amazing, Isabella! You should really cook for the pack."He said.

"Maybe. I am not sure."I said.

As soon as I said that I saw a system message.

"Task Complete: Reward – Spice Bag Unlocked."System said.

I blinked in surprise as a small bag appeared in front of me, the aroma of various spices wafting through the air. Liam looked at the bag with interest.

"What's that?"He asked.

"It's a spice bag." I said.

"That's awesome! You'll be able to make your food even better now." He said.

I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.

"I guess cooking isn't all bad."I said.

As we stood there, enjoying the moment, I felt a warmth grow in my chest. Maybe I could find a balance between taking care of myself and helping others, even if just a little. It could give me some of the resources that I truly need.