Love Me Back, Alpha

Chapter 6

“Well… this is it!” I muttered to myself, double-checking every ingredient beside the stove. Everything was in its place. The seasonings were within easy reach, and the huge hot pot of salted water was already beginning to boil. I dropped the chunks of lamb meat and sliced potatoes into the pot. The sound made my heart race a little faster.

"I hope this will turn out great," I whispered to myself as the meal slowly took shape.

I began seasoning the lamb chops with salt and black pepper, making sure every piece was coated just right. In the extra-large skillet, I cooked the lamb for 15 minutes with butter, aiming for that perfect medium-rare texture. The smell of the dish quickly filled the kitchen. I couldn’t resist, so I took a small piece of the lamb and tasted it.

“PERFECT!” I said, smiling to myself.

I was pleased with the outcome. Lucky for me, I had overheard Frank talking on the phone once, mentioning how much he loved lamb. He often ate it at a regular restaurant he and his friends visited. While they hadn’t talked much about it, I had carefully watched Frank's behavior. I’d even made personal notes about his likes and dislikes over time. My long-time affection for him kept me diligent and eager to learn more about him.

“A way to a man’s heart is always food,” I muttered under my breath.

With renewed confidence, I pulled out some pearl-white fancy plates and carefully plated the lamb chops with potatoes and brown butter. Just as I was finishing up, I heard the door click open from the living room. I quickly removed my apron and greeted Frank as he entered.

“Hi, Frank!” I said, trying to sound upbeat. But to my disappointment, he didn’t even glance my way. I cleared my throat, then, more confidently, added, “I’ve made a special dinner for us. I just got done, so why don’t we share the fancy meal together? I’m sure you’re not gonna say no to lamb chops.”

I chuckled nervously, but still, Frank didn’t react. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“I already had dinner outside.”

Without another word, he turned and went straight to his room.

My heart sank at his words.I stood there, frozen for a moment. Then, I walked back to the kitchen, feeling defeated. I let out a heavy sigh as I stared at the fancy dish I had prepared with so much care and love. I had hoped the kitchen would be a space where we could bond, but Frank rarely came in to join me.

"It’ll be bad if I let this amazing food get cold," I whispered to myself.

It had been three months since I moved in with Frank, and until now, he was still treating me as cold as ice. I spent my whole day trying to do things for him, but they always ended up being ignored. Frank never even gave me a glance. His smile was like a treasure that was hard to find. Days were fleeting by, but nothing had really changed between us.

Frank was still treating me as if I was nothing.

It wasn’t the first time I’d invited Frank to cook or share a meal with me. I thought of every activity that might bring us together. But he always declined, often burying himself in paperwork or spending time with his friends when he had some free time.

Sometimes, I really wished that Frank would be angry with me. At least, through his anger, I would feel his presence. Not this way. He was treating me like I was invisible. Not a day had passed that didn’t make me feel like I didn’t matter to him.

I tossed the knife and fork down onto the table, rubbing my face in frustration. Am I fighting a battle that I will never win?

“No, Katie, you’ve come this far,” I muttered to myself. “There’s no point in giving up. You can do this!”

Frustrated, yet unwilling to give up, I pulled out my calendar and stared at the mark on the final day of our deal.

"I still have a lot of time. I will work hard to win Frank’s heart," I vowed in my head.

The next day, I didn’t waste any time. I got straight to work, cooking another meal for Frank, hopeful that he would taste it. This time, it was Creamy Beef Mushroom Soup for dinner.

While stirring the pot, my phone suddenly rang.

"Hey, Katie!"

"Hey, Dad! How are you?" I couldn’t help but smile hearing his familiar voice.

"I’m doing great! How’s everything going?"

"Everything’s okay, Dad," I said, my voice a little strained.

“Did Frank already accept you as his mate?” he asked excitedly.

My heart sank at the thought, but I stayed optimistic. "Not yet. Frank just needs some time, and I am willing to wait." I spoke with hope, but I knew the small lie was tucked in between my words.

"Katie," my dad’s voice softened with concern. "I know you want this to work, but trying to win someone’s heart in a year is a big task. Are you sure you can pull this off?"

I could feel the sting of his words, but I tried not to let it show. I knew my efforts weren’t yielding much with Frank’s indifferent treatment, but I didn’t want to let my dad worry.

"Of course, Dad. Just trust me on this. No one can resist my charm." I tried to add some humor to my words. My dad sighed softly on the other end of the phone.

"Just remember, I don’t want to see you cry. If you feel like things won’t improve, you’re always welcome to come home anytime."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and said goodbye to him. Suddenly, I felt some tears drip into my eyes, but quickly, I wiped them off. This was no time to show weakness. I just needed to continue showing Frank that I was deserving of his love, that the moon goddess didn’t mistake our bond, and that we were meant to be together.

As long as there was still time, I wouldn’t give up!