I shook my head and tried to focus on the task at hand, chopping vegetables while Sarah—Holden’s sister-in-law (it was funny how I always thought of her in relation to Holden, not Noah)—moved gracefully around the kitchen. She was mated to Indigo, Holden’s sister, and for whatever reason, she’d taken a shine to me. Honestly, I had no idea why, but I wasn’t complaining.
Sarah had this easygoing way about her that made working in the kitchen feel less like work and more like... I don’t know, hanging out with a friend who just happened to be an absolute genius when it came to food. She had a knack for breaking things down in a way that made sense, and I was learning more from her in a few days than I’d learned at school.
And really, apart from Tyler, I didn’t have any friends until now.
“How’s that soup coming along?” Sarah asked, glancing over her shoulder with a playful grin. Her dark hair was pulled into a messy bun, a few loose strands falling across her forehead.
I wiped my hands on my apron and took a quick look at the simmering pot. “Pretty sure I nailed it. Might even be better than yours,” I teased.
She snorted, tossing a towel at me. “Oh, please, rookie. You’ve got a long way to go before you even come close.”
I caught the towel with a grin. “Maybe, but I’m getting there.”
“That’s the spirit,” she said, turning back to the stove. “You’re picking this up faster than I expected.”
“Thanks, but honestly, I feel like I’m getting way more out of this than I should.I still feel like I’m earning way more than I deserve.”
Who the fuck keeps bringing that up?But it was the truth. I should earn way less, especially since I didn’t even have to pay for my accommodation.
She waved me off without looking at me, like I’d just said something absurd. “Don’t start with that again. We’ve been over this. You’re doing great work, and that’s what matters. Besides, you’re part of the team now.”
I tried not to let her words hit too hard, but it wasn’t easy.Part of the team.It had been a long time since... I snorted. Maybe never since I’d felt like I was part of anything. And hearing it now... well, it felt good. Too good.
But that didn’t stop the nagging feeling that I didn’t really belong here. That maybe they were being too nice. I couldn’t help it. Every time I tried to bring up the fact that they were paying me more than I was worth, Sarah or Noah—or someone else—would brush it off like it didn’t matter.
“Okay, fine,” I said, holding my hands up in mock surrender. “I won’t bring it up again. Promise.”
“Good,” Sarah said with a wink. “Now, about that sauce?—”
“I think I got it right,” I said, “but I can try again if you think it’s missing something.”
She grinned, wiping her hands on her apron. “You’re doing great, Mylo. Honestly, I’m impressed. Not many people pick up this stuff as quickly as you do.”
I felt my cheeks heat up a bit at the compliment, but before I could respond, Sarah glanced toward the door, and my stomach dropped. I didn’t even have to look to know who had just walked in.
Holden.
My hands instinctively tightened around the cutting board. Of course, he had to show up now.
He stopped short when he saw me. It was written all over his face that he was clearly not expecting me to be there. His sharp brown eyes flickered between me and Sarah, his expression unreadable. For a second, I thought maybe he’d just turn around and leave.
But no such luck. He turned to Sarah, his expression unreadable as usual.
“Didn’t mean to interrupt,” he muttered.
Sarah waved him off, completely unfazed by the tension in the room. “You’re not interrupting anything. We’re just finishing up. What’s up?”
Holden shifted slightly, his eyes flicking to me again before he spoke. “Wanted to talk to you about the inventory, but I can wait.”
Sorry,he muttered under his breath, his voice low.Didn’t realize you’d be here.
“No worries,” Sarah chimed in, seemingly oblivious to the sudden tension that had settled in the room. “We’re just finishing up some prep. What’s up?”
Holden’s eyes flicked toward me again, and I could feel my pulse quicken. God, why did he have to affect me like this? Every time he was around, it was like all the air got sucked out of the room, leaving me standing there, struggling to breathe. And it wasn’t just his size or the way he carried himself—though that definitely didn’t help. It was something else, something...more.
Remember you’re here to cook, and learn, and nothing else. No alphas!
“I just came to talk to you about the inventory stuff you mentioned,” Holden said, his voice clipped. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
