Being a Bitch

CHAPTER NINE

Elara's pov

"I thought you would appreciate some snacks after all the walking" Ronan said in way of explanation when I cocked a questioning brow at him.

"Aren't you a charmer" I commented dryly, trying my best to ignore the loud pounding of my heart. We settled onto the mat and Ronan began removing some plates along with sandwiches and setting them in-between us. He also brought out a bottle of champagne and two flutes and I couldn't help but wonder how everything fit into the little basket.

"What is in this?" I scrunched my nose in false disgust as I took a bite of the heavenly sandwich.

"It's just cheese filling" he looked at me in confusion.

"It's disgusting" I threw the sandwich down, ignoring my rumbling stomach.

"You should fire your cook if this is what she makes" I continued, sticking my nose up in the air defiantly.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with it and none of the pack members have ever complained" he scrunched his brows as I knew he was trying to control his temper.

"If I am to stay here I would require a new chef" I argued, levelling my gaze on him.

" I think you can make do with Greta. If there are any preferences you would like to be added to the menu then you can discuss it with her" he bargained.

"I would not have a woman who doesn't know how to make a simple sandwich handle my meals" I countered.

"Then you can make your own meals then but Greta stays in the kitchen. This has been her source of livelihood for years and I'm not about to take it away from her simple because you dislike a sandwich" he retorted and my brows shot up at the aggression with which he spoke.

'This was going to be much harder than I expected' I thought as I took a sip of my champagne.

"What?" I asked when I noticed Ronan looking at me with a quirk of his brow.

"You aren't going to complain about the champagne?" He mocked.

"There's nothing wrong with the champagne" I mumbled, ignoring the heat rising up my cheeks.

"Obliged to have pleased the queen" he taunted but I remained silent and looked away from him.

"I would like to return to the pack house now" I said once Ronan finished eating off all the delicious sandwiches that were laid down on the tray.

Without another word, he picks up the basket and folds the blanket and we begin to stroll back to the pack house. The silence between us is awkward but I knew it was necessary for me to do everything possible to keep him at arm's length.

"Thank you for today" my lips tugged upward into a little smile when we reached my door and I tried not to squirm under his unflinching gaze.

"Look Elara" he began after he let out a loud breathe.

"I know it can't be easy for you to be here against your will but you gave me your word you would try to make this work. That means no sabotaging" he looked at me pointedly.

"I don't know what you mean" I looked away from him, knowing I probably looked as red as a tomato.

"I think you do and it was quite obvious you liked the sandwiches. I don't know what you were trying to prove except starve yourself" he announced and pure embarrassment shot through me as I internally cringed.

He knew what I was trying to do even before I got my head in the game.

"Don't presume you know me because you don't. The only thing we share is a stupid bond otherwise, you know absolutely nothing about me" I retorted, careful to keep my face blank.

"You are right Mi alma, I don't know you but I would very much like to get to know you" he stared at me intently, almost as if he wanted to see into my soul.

"I don't think that's necessary. You already know I'm from a small pack and my boyfriend which I had planned the rest of my life with cheated on me the night of my birthday and in a fit of rage I drove away with his car" I said in one breath.

"What else is there to know?" I asked when he remained silent, ignoring the flash of his eyes and the thunderous look on his face.

"What was his name?" He asked after a moment.

"What?" I furrowed my brows.

"What was your... boyfriend's name?" He gritted out.

"How is that important, he is in the past now" I commented and his features relaxed.

"That's right. You belong to me now and I will kill anyone who tries to take you away from me" he levelled me with a hard stare, letting me know he would make good on that promise.

"We might be mates but I don't belong to anyone Ronan, not even you" I argued, clenching my fists by my side.

"The fact that we are mates already binds us together. You are mine as much as I am yours" his voice was dangerously cold and a feeling of warmth spread through my chest at the thought of claiming Ronan as mine.

"I'm tired Ronan. I'm not ready to have this argument with you" I squeaked, turning away from him but he grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks as sparks flew where he held me.

"You feel it so why are you fighting it so hard?" He questioned and tears stung the back of my eyes.

"Because I don't want to rely solely on another human being I know nothing about. I don't want to give into a bond I know nothing of and give someone the power to break me so completely" the words rushed out of my mouth.

"I would never hurt you" he said softly as our eyes met and held and I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Of course you won't. I won't let you" I cleared my throat as I snatched my hand away from him.

"I don't know of it was this boyfriend of yours who hurt you but you cannot judge me based on some other person's faults" he argued and I hated to admit he was right.

The memory of my mother wailing helplessly on the floor right before she lashed out and attacked me surfaces in my mind and I shake my head.

No, I couldn't second guess my decision. The mate bond was more a curse than a blessing.

"Good night Ronan" I gulped and gripped the door handle.

"Good night mi alma" he let out a breath of defeat before he strolled towards his room and I stared after his retreating figure.