7. Saving Lycan is an achievement

AT THE SAME TIME

ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:

For some reason Adrian smirked like he found me amusing, but he didn't argue. Instead, he stretched slightly, his movements too fluid, too controlled for someone who had supposedly been unconscious just moments ago. I turned away, grabbing a small knife to start cutting some herbs for my next meal. When I glanced back he was gone. I blinked. The furs where he had been sitting were empty. No sound, no footsteps, no trace.

"What the hell?"I whispered.

I spun around, scanning the cave entrance, but there was nothing. No one moves that fast. Did I hallucinate him? No, I had definitely been talking to him. He had been awake, smirking, speaking in that annoyingly smooth voice. But now he is gone.

"Great. Just great." I whispered.

Maybe I should be relieved. A strange man randomly collapses near my home, only to wake up and start analyzing me? Yeah, not ideal. If he was gone, good. One less problem to worry about. I shook my head and turned back to my cooking. But just as I started tossing some herbs into the pot, I heard it, a loud splash.

I froze. Then, heavy footsteps. Dripping footsteps.

Adrian strode into the cave, completely dry although he held two massive fish, each nearly the size of my arm. Their silvery bodies still twitched slightly, fresh from the water.

"...What."I whispered.

He smirked. Again.

"Thought you might need dinner." He said smoothly, tossing the fish onto the ground with a solid thud.

I kept staring, my brain short circuiting.

"You, you just where the hell did you?"I tried to make sense of my words.

He tilted his head, eyes glinting with amusement.

"I went fishing."He said with a proud look.

"Fishing?"I asked.

"Yes."He said.

"In the two minutes you disappeared?"I asked again.

"Yes."He said.

I looked at the giant fish. Then back at him.

"You're lying."I said.

He chuckled.

"Think what you want."He said.

"People don't just vanish and come back with whatever these are!"He said.

He shrugged.

"I do." He said.

I ran a hand down my face. This man was impossible.

"...You're not human, are you?" I muttered, more to myself than anything.

Adrian didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward, crouching beside the fish as if nothing about this was weird.

"Do you have a proper knife?" He asked casually.

I just stared at him shocked. This was not how my night was supposed to go. I folded my arms, watching as Adrian effortlessly handled the massive fish.

"You're not human, are you?" I muttered.

Adrian didn't flinch. Instead, he smirked, those sharp green eyes glinting with something almost predatory.

"No." He said simply. "I'm a Lycan."

I stiffened. The word sent a chill down my spine. Lycan. Not a regular werewolf, a stronger, faster, more ruthless breed. I had written about them in my book, but seeing one in front of me? That was different. It seems I wasn't wrong when I saw him unconscious in forest.

"What, never seen a Lycan before?"He asked.

"No." I admitted.

At least, not in real life. He seemed pleased by my reaction, as if he enjoyed the fact that I was startled.

"You're not from this pack, are you?"He asked.

I hesitated. Shit. What do I say? Technically, I was part of this pack… but in this body's history, not mine. I was just a nobody. An Omega. The realization hit me harder than I expected. My chest felt tight. I had written this world, this pack… I knew exactly what an Omega was.

I was the lowest of the low. A disposable wolf. Someone meant to serve, not to be respected. My jaw clenched.

"...I'm an Omega." I said finally.

Adrian's smirk faded. His eyes narrowed slightly as if he was reassessing me. Judging me. An uncomfortable silence settled between us. The air felt thick, and for some reason, I hated how heavy his gaze felt on me.

"Omegas don't usually live alone. "He said tilting his head.

"Yeah, well, I do."I said.

He let out a short chuckle.

"Stubborn little thing, aren't you?"He asked.

I scowled.

"Call me that again, and I'm feeding you to the next rogue that passes by."I said.

Adrian grinned. A full, amused, cocky grin.

"I'd like to see you try, little Omega." He said. "I've never had a meal prepared by an omega before too. I hear it's the best." Adrian smiled.

"I am Isabella."I said.

His possessiveness hung in the air like an unspoken promise, making my cheeks heat up. I felt a rush of emotions as I prepared to cook the fish, his presence filling the cave with an undeniable energy.

"Wow, these are huge! I never saw anyone to gut the fish so fast. You really didn't have to do this, Adrian." I said.

"I wanted to. And you'll find that I take care of what's mine." He said, a hint of possessiveness lacing his words. 

I quickly diverted my attention to the task at hand, starting a fire with the kindling I had collected earlier. As I began to cook the fish, the aroma wafted through the cave, and I could feel Adrian's eyes on me, watching intently.

"This smells incredible. I've never had a meal like this before. It's like you have magic in your hands."He said.

I chuckled, a bit embarrassed. 

"It's just cooking. Anyone can do it."I said.

"Not anyone can make a meal taste this good." He replied, leaning against the cave wall, his expression one of admiration. "You're special, Isabella."

"I'm just trying to survive like everyone else." I said, trying to downplay it.

"Surviving and thriving are two different things. You've saved me, and now you're cooking this amazing meal. You're more than just an omega to me." He said.

Finally, the fish was ready, and I plated it. Adrian took a piece, his eyes lighting up as he took his first bite.

"This is the best meal I've ever had. I'll never forget it."He said.

As we sat together, sharing the meal, I realized just how much I enjoyed this moment. The warmth of the fire, the delicious fish, and the way Adrian looked at me, it all felt weird and yet comforting. It was weird, I was scared not a long while ago, but now I feel happier with someone around. The warmth of the fire and the comforting scent of cooked fish wrapped around me like a soft blanket. As the sound of Adrian's satisfied eating filled the cave, I felt my eyelids growing heavy. I curled up in the corner of the cave, the stone cool beneath me, and closed my eyes. The warmth from the fire and the rhythmic crackling lulled me into a deep sleep.