Chapter 314: A Taste of Independence

Vivian’s POV

"I can’t cook."

I know that. I really know that. Actually, I think the entire world might know that about me by now.

Haha, so what am I supposed to do about dinner then? I asked through our bond, already cringing internally at where this conversation was definitely headed.

What makes you think that is your responsibility, love?

I frowned at the empty air. Because you are clearly busy right now?

And that somehow automatically makes dinner your job? His voice in my head was so casual, almost thoroughly amused. I could feel the warm, playful curl of his emotion slinking smoothly through the bond, brushing against my own feelings with a teasing warmth.

So you are saying... you are going to cook for everyone, then? I raised a brow even though he couldn’t physically see my face.

No.

I sighed out loud, shifting my weight over onto my left foot and awkwardly adjusting the random pile of grocery items tucked under my arms. His amusement pulsed stronger through the bond now warm, deep, and thoroughly smug. He was actively laughing at me. Silently, sure, but he was definitely laughing.

Okay, if neither of us is cooking, then what exactly are we feeding everyone tonight? Unless we are starting a pack fast together? I shot right back, my patience fraying just a little bit.

I ordered takeout an hour ago, he replied mentally, entirely unfazed by my sharp tone. Everything is already taken care of.

Oh.

That instantly shut me right up.

I glanced down at the random grocery items I had cradled clumsily in my arms stuff I hadn’t even originally planned on buying when I walked in and let out a heavy sigh. Looking off to my right, I spotted an abandoned shopping cart sitting near the aisle. Without a second thought, I veered out of line and dumped the whole armful right into it. My stomach gave a hopeful, hungry twist.

I wonder if he ordered pot stickers for dinner. I really hoped he did. I desperately wanted some. Craved them, actually.

"Right," I muttered under my breath, giving the metal cart a gentle pat in awkward farewell. I glanced up to find a couple of human shoppers staring at me with pure curiosity. I offered them a small, tight smile and backed away slowly, pretending like I hadn’t just committed some weird domestic heist in the middle of the store.

Well okay then, I sent through the bond, trying my absolute best to brush the whole embarrassing situation off.

Were you actually grocery shopping just now? His mental voice was heavily laced with humor, carrying that unmistakable teasing tone he always used whenever he knew he was catching me red-handed.

I froze dead in my tracks right as my fingers touched my car door handle, quickly scanning the open parking lot while feeling oddly exposed.

No.

Are you sure about that?

Yeah.

Really?

Yup.

Okay.

I grinned triumphantly to myself as I slid into the leather driver’s seat. Pure victory. Feeling remarkably smug, I started up the car engine and was just about to reverse out of the parking spot when he chimed in through my mind again.

So your pack guards really are standing with you right now, and not back at the pack house gym working out?

Crap.

My smug smile evaporated instantly.

Okay, okay... I may have completely forgotten about my four guards this morning when I dashed out of the house to visit Aurora.

Now hunched low behind the steering wheel like a scolded pup, I drove out of the lot with my shoulders practically glued to my ears. I could feel his deep disappointment like the icy electric blue of his glowing eyes was burning straight through my soul from miles away. I quickly turned the radio volume way up and tapped my fingers rhythmically against the steering wheel, desperate to drown out his mental presence.

You completely forgot about the four guardsthe actual trained werewolf warriors who have been following your every step every time you leave the house since practically day one?

I turned the volume knob up even louder.

Sorry, I can’t hear you over the music! I sang out sweetly through the link.

What

What?

Vivian

I firmly shut the mental bond down with a sharp flick of resistance and bit my lower lip, a sudden wave of genuine guilt bubbling beneath the surface.

I honestly didn’t even know why I was acting like this today. Rebellious? Maybe. Stupid? Possibly. Irresponsible? Definitely. Especially after everything he had revealed to me about Fate and Joshua last night. I knew better than to wander around alone. But there was something nagging under my skin something deeply restless.

It felt like I was constantly forgetting something crucial. Or like I urgently needed to do something, but I had zero idea what it actually was.

Shaking off the odd sense of unease that clung to my thoughts like static, I forced myself to focus on the road ahead. Zahliver was probably going to be in an absolute mood when I saw him later tonight. And honestly, that was completely fair.

Could you imagine how furious he would be if we drove to the exact beat of the music right now? my wolf snickered in my mind, pure mischief practically vibrating through her voice.

What do you mean? I asked her mentally, already grinning despite myself.

Like, for every high beat or fast rhythm in the song, you swerve the car right. And for every slow beat, you turn left.

I laughed out loud, the clear sound echoing inside the quiet car.

This was definitely going to be a long night.

"Do you want to physically crash this car?"

I rolled my eyes up at the ceiling. Seriously?

"Of course not."

Liar, my internal beast growled from somewhere deep in the background of my mind, pulling away from my wolf as if she might catch whatever crazy idea she was radiating.

I am not a liar! My wolf huffed indignantly. It would just be... fun. A little harmless excitement.

I narrowed my eyes at the dark road ahead, gripping the leather steering wheel a little tighter. "When is the absolute last time I actually let you out for a proper full run? You are significantly more unhinged than usual today."

If my wolf possessed physical hands to flip me off with, I’m pretty sure she would have done it on the spot. Instead, she unleashed a colorful string of mental curses that had me stifling a loud laugh behind my hand. I half-heartedly apologized for daring to question her basic sanity. Sort of.

I didn’t say the words out loud to her, but I genuinely liked being alone like this every once in a while. No heavy voices, no hovering guards monitoring my breathing. Just the open road stretching out and the steady hum of the engine beneath my feet. That was probably the real reason why I had left the house without the four guards this morning and chosen to drive myself around. True independence was a rare luxury in my life lately, and I missed it far more than I had realized.