Chapter 10 10

_Leah's POV_

Later that afternoon, while Tariq was outside tending to chores around the house, I found myself in the kitchen with Susan. I offered to help her prepare dinner, not wanting to sit around doing nothing when they had already done so much for me.

"I can chop the vegetables," I said and grabbed a knife from the counter.

Susan smiled warmly at me. "Are you sure? You should be resting, Leah."

"I am sure," I insisted. "I need something to keep my hands busy."

She didn't argue with me after that, and soon enough, we were working side by side, preparing the meal. It felt... nice. There was a certain ease to being in Susan's presence. No judgment, no pressure. Just warmth. I hadn't realized how much I had missed this simple, domestic normalcy. It felt like... family.

I was slicing carrots when Susan suddenly spoke up. "You're a good girl, Leah. Your mother would be proud of you."

Her words took me by surprise. I hadn't thought about my mother in such a long time, not like this, anyway. The memories of her were too painful. But hearing Susan talk about her now, it made something inside me stir.

"I hope so," I whispered. "I never knew she was... who she was."

"She loved you more than anything," Susan said softly. "She gave up everything to protect you."

A lump formed in my throat, and I nodded. "Thank you for telling me that."

We worked in silence for a while after that, but it was a comfortable silence. I found myself smiling a little as I chopped the vegetables and watched Susan knead the dough for bread. There was something soothing about it all, something that made me feel like I belonged here, even if just for a little while.

As the sun began to set, Tariq came back inside, his face flushed from the cool air outside. He glanced over at me, his gaze lingering just a little too long, and I felt a small flutter in my stomach. Was he looking at me that way on purpose? Or was I imagining things?

We sat down to dinner together, the three of us at the small wooden table. The meal was simple but delicious-roast chicken, vegetables, and freshly baked bread. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I started eating, and for a while, the conversation was light, mostly between Susan and Tariq as they talked about the chores around the house and what needed to be done tomorrow.

But as we ate, I noticed something strange. Every now and then, Tariq would catch my eye, a small smile playing on his lips. Once, when I reached for the bread, his hand brushed mine, lingering just a second too long. My heart raced, and I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing.

Was he... flirting with me?

I wasn't sure. He hadn't said anything outright, but there was something in the way he looked at me, the way he smiled at me. It was subtle, but it was there. Or maybe I was imagining it. I had been through so much in the past few days-maybe my mind was just playing tricks on me.

"Tariq, don't tease her," Susan said suddenly, her voice full of affection but with a hint of reprimand. "Leah has been through enough."

I blinked and looked up in surprise. Had he been teasing me? I hadn't even noticed.

Tariq just chuckled and gave his mother an innocent look. "I am not teasing her, Ma. I am just being friendly."

"Hmm," Susan hummed. She was clearly unconvinced. She looked at me, her eyes softening. "Don't mind him, dear. He has always been a bit of a flirt."

My heart skipped a beat at that, and I quickly looked down at my plate, trying to hide the blush creeping up my neck. Was that what this was? Flirting? Did Tariq... like me?

But before I could dwell on it for too long, Susan's voice broke through my thoughts.

"You know," she said, glancing at Tariq with a playful smile, "I keep telling my son that he needs to find his mate. He is getting older, and I am not getting any younger. I want to see some grandchildren before I am too old to enjoy them."

I froze, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. Mate. Of course. Tariq hadn't met his mate yet. That's why he was single. That's why he was still living here with his mother.

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the strange wave of disappointment that rose up inside me. Of course, Tariq would find his mate someday. And when he did, he wouldn't need me anymore. I was just... passing through.

Tariq sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I know, Ma. Believe me, I know. But I am already twenty-nine, and I haven't met her yet. Maybe the Moon Goddess hasn't blessed me with a mate. Or maybe... I'll have to take a chosen mate instead."

He said the words casually, but as he spoke, his eyes flickered to me, locking onto mine for just a moment too long. My heart stuttered in my chest.

What was he trying to say? Was he implying something? Or was I just reading into it too much?

I quickly looked away and focused on my plate. My mind was racing. Did Tariq... want me to be his chosen mate? No, that couldn't be right. I was just an omega, a broken girl with no real future. He deserved better than that. Better than me.

But still... the way he had looked at me. The way he had smiled at me. It made me wonder.

"Don't worry, Tariq," Susan said with a soft laugh. "The Moon Goddess has a plan for everyone. I am sure that you will meet your mate when the time is right."

"I hope so," Tariq said, his voice low. "But sometimes... I wonder."

There was a strange tension in the air after that, and I couldn't help but feel like Tariq's words were meant for me. But I couldn't let myself believe it. He was just being kind, and I was just... confused. That was all.

After dinner, I helped Susan clear the table, my thoughts still spinning. Tariq had been nothing but kind to me since I arrived, but now I wasn't sure what to think. Was he just being nice, or was there something more?

I found myself glancing at him as we worked, wondering what he was thinking. But every time our eyes met, my heart would race, and I would quickly look away.

By the time we finished, I was more confused than ever.