Anna

Even before opening the door of my apartment, the delicious aroma coming from inside of my apartment had my mouth watering. Xander was still cooking when I walked in.

"Is that what I think it is?" I stood beside him glancing at the stove.

"You bet," said Xander with a wide smile on his face. "Just wait for a second, love. It's almost ready."

I took in the mouth-watering aroma of my favorite food: fried green plantains, called tostones, and fried beef.

"You remembered." I giggled as I sat down at the dining table.

Xander put a plate in front of me and another one across me for himself.

"Oh, I forgot to bring the drinks. Would you mind getting them from the fridge?" he said smiling.

I stood up and walked to the kitchen. "What is this?" I took out a jar from the refrigerator and sniffed it. "Oh! My Gosh! You made chicheme. What? How?"

"I just went here and there. Nothing is impossible if it's for you."

I poured the drink into two glasses and took them to the table. It was liquid bliss. Chicheme is a sweet-corn drink only made in two or three Latin American countries, not common in here. Since the first time I had tasted it, it has been my all-time favorite drink.

"Thank you. It must not have been easy for you to prepare all of this alone."

"Seeing your beautiful smile makes it worth it."

He was been as annoyingly saccharine as ever. But, I got free food. I was willing to disregard it for now. 

Xander stared at me in amusement as I stuffed my face. I wasn't about to let my food get cold to talk to this guy. Eating and talking were two completely unrelated activities. How people met to waste time talking while they could be enjoying their food was a mystery.

The only times I entertained people with conversation during my meals was on extraordinary occasions and with Caleb. However, with the latter, it was because he seemed to be unable to shut up most of the time he was around me. Soon my plate was empty. Xander hadn't finished even half of his food.

It was time to get this over with. Ugh. Why did it feel like breaking up with someone when we never really dated? How would I even start?

I sipped my drink."How was your day?"

Xander chuckled. "Getting the ingredients and cooking took most of my day, but it's a good day. You're here with me."

He wasn't making it any easier. There was no reason to feel guilty, though. He was a manwhore. I glanced at him. A very attractive manwhore with a precious smile.

I lowered my gaze and took my time drinking the chicheme. "So, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Xander sighed loudly. "The last time you said that, it did not turn out too good for me."

"And whose fault was that?" I rolled my eyes.

"I know. Can we not talk about this now?" Xander smiled. It did not look like a happy smile.

A long awkward silence settled in as we stared at each other. Would it be rude to kick him out? He still had not given me a reason to do so. We were only friends.

I nodded. "Oh, by the way, we are going out with a friend of mine tomorrow."

"Where are we going?"

"I am glad you ask. I have been searching for a place with latino music since I arrived here and I finally found a club who has salsa nights on Saturdays!" I beamed.

"You want us to go out to dance?"

I nodded, still grinning.

"Not happening," said Xander.

This bitch. "Then, it'll be she and I having fun while Mr. Grumpy Wolfie stays here alone or go out on his own." Anna chuckled.

Xander did not look amused. "Really?" he asked frowning.

"You can always stay by the bar area if you do not feel like dancing." I took a big gulp of the drink.

Xander shook his head. "You would be dancing in front of all those people. Let's go to a regular bar. If you want to dance so much, I would love to receive a private dance from you." He winked.

"We could go to the regular bar. But, just so you know, I am going to the club with or without you."

Xander growled softly and glared at me, seemingly annoyed. He finished his meal in silence and walked to me, taking my hand and leading me to the couch. We sat next to each other.

I looked at him expectantly. He must have picked up the mood. Caleb and I could make it work. Xander had to understand that.

"Let's talk about serious stuff tomorrow, please, cutie?" Xander pouted and caressed my cheek. 

Anna sighed heavily and scooted away. "Fine. Tomorrow after we come back from the club."

Xander groaned as a response.

I grinned. "So, tell me about yourself."

Xander tapped his chin and hummed. "Let's see. I am a hopeless romantic, I love long walks on the beach at sunset and talking about feelings and stuff."

I scoffed and glared at him. Why couldn't he be serious for once? He put his hands up and shrugged.

"Just because my lovely Anna asks, I will say something personal," he said. "My birthday is on March 25 but I have never celebrated it so almost no one knows the date." 

"Same. Why don't you celebrate it though?"

Xander sighed. "My family consists of me and my father, and he is not the most festive person you will meet. That's why I want to have a big family, preferably with you. What about you?"

"Not happening." I rolled my eyes and lowered my face. "I don't know the date I was born, just the year. I do celebrate the day I became a part of my pack, though. What happened to your mother?" 

"My mother ran away as soon as she could after I was born. My father did not care. He only wanted an heir."   

The atmosphere turned cold and awkward. That hadn't sounded like the complete truth, but it wasn't my place to ask. I better change the subject.

"What is your favorite movie?"

"A Wolf's Tail," he said smirking.

I tilted my head sideways. "I've never heard of that one."

"Look it up. It is the one from 2001."

I read the description of the movie and immediately smacked Xander's shoulder. This dirty son of a b... We both burst into laughter. 

"I rarely watch movies anymore," Xander said. 

I stared at him as if he had grown a second head. "We are having a movie marathon right now!" 

Before Xander could finish complaining, the movie was already playing. I chose the Insidious Trilogy, partly because even though horror movies were my favorite, I'd never dared to watch them anymore now that I lived alone.

The movie started and both of us were completely engrossed in it. At least that was what I'd thought until halfway the movie, Xander's head landed on my shoulder.  He had fallen asleep and slid down the couch a little. 

Seriously? I shook him lightly to wake him up. Xander growled, pushed me off the couch and laid down. I grunted when my butt landed on the floor, but he just stirred in his sleep.

"You know what? I'm not even going to try to wake you up again. Enjoy your back pain." I went to bed, put my headphones on and listened to the music until I fell asleep. 

***

A loud bang woke me up the next morning. I stood up and peeked into the living room; Xander was laying on the floor. I roared with laughter. Karma was indeed a bitch.

"Serves you right." 

Xander frowned and growled lowly. I growled back louder. He stood up from the floor frowning, his eyes golden. Now, that was rude.

"I dare you to do that again." I put my hands on my hips, puffing my chest in an attempt to look intimidating.

Another even louder growl from Xander echoed through the room. I locked myself in the bathroom with my cell phone and phone charger. It was too early to deal with this crap. I filled the bathtub, stripped down and read online books and comics on my phone.

Xander knocked on the bathroom's door after two hours had passed.

"Honey. Are you okay there?" he asked. 

"Peachy!"

"Please come out?"

I got out of the tub, mainly because I was starving. I put on the same clothes I'd been wearing before and opened the door. I frowned at the man standing in front of me.

He hugged me. "I am sorry, love."

I patted him on his back awkwardly, inwardly cringing. "You seem to be apologizing an awful lot lately." I pulled away and shook my head. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have challenged you. You're an Alpha after all. Get ready. I'm buying you breakfast." 

Curse my brother for teaching me manners.

"I was hoping you would cook for me like a loving wife would do," he said stepping away from the door to give me space.

Oh, this chauvinistic bitch. I laughed and laughed and laughed once more as I walked past him. "I can't cook for my dear life, sorry darling."

A/N: I edited this chapter to POV. Do point out any mistakes :D