The sizzling in the hot pan when I set the steaks down is music to my ears, almost blurring the sound of the hinges squeaking when the door is opened. I try to remain calm as I turn the steaks, a proud smile lifting my lips when I notice the perfect sear on the tops.
I can hear Rissa’s footsteps as she enters the dining room, counting the number of steps she needs to take to get to the stairs. But to my surprise, her footsteps stop, prompting me to turn to find her lingering at the doorway.
“You’re cooking?” she asks with a frown, leading me to suspect that she hasn’t even noticed the meals I’ve been leaving for her every night. Surely, she would have known that the home-cooked meals looked nothing like the meals in the cafeteria.
Was she so determined to remain oblivious to my existence that she’d only grab a strawberry-flavored yogurt every morning out before going about her day?
Was she eating with Luna Aurora and Luna Yvonne before coming home, and wasn’t ever hungry when she got back?
“Y-yes,” I stammer, gathering my thoughts and pointing to the stove nonchalantly. I tell her what’s on tonight’s menu, and as another surprise, Rissa enters the kitchen and peeks over my arm, nodding slowly.
“Looks good,” she praises with a feeble half-smile. She looks like she’s going to say something, but is hesitant as she continues to stare at the pans.
That’s when a rumbling growl rings out, and Rissa instantly blushes.
Hiding my amusement, I turn to the stove and pretend I didn’t hear anything.
“Will you join me for dinner? I’m making way too much for one person to eat.”
Rissa pauses for a moment before nodding slowly. “S-sure. I wouldn’t mind.”
Her curt acceptance swells in my chest, and I continue cooking with a newfound sense of purpose. Rissa quietly takes it to herself to set up the dinner table, and it’s almost like we work in tandem to prepare for dinner.
It’s an awfully domesticated scene, and it’s not something I’m accustomed to, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I could never see myself doing this with anyone else but Rissa, and I’d long dismissed the idea of having a mate when I saw what happened to my mother shortly after my father died. The concept of becoming utterly helpless when one loses their mate didn’t seem ideal for an alpha.
Yet, I can’t seem to imagine life without Rissa in it now that I’ve discovered we’re fated mates.
We take our seats at the table, Rissa sitting far away on the opposite side. I remain silent all the way through dinner, hoping to make a point of my willingness to give her the space she requires.
“How have things been with hunting the demon?” Rissa asks as she reaches for her wine, dabbing the corners of her lips with a napkin.
I’ve been avoiding looking up from my meal, so when I lift my eyes at her question, I find myself entranced by the movement of her delicate fingers. My eyes trace her lips when she removes her hand, and my mind is left to wander to the memory of our brief kiss the night I helped her through her heat.
I snap out of my daze when her glass clinks on the surface of the table, springing out from the sinful thoughts I shouldn’t be having when she’s taken the initiative to break the terse silence between us.
Clearing my throat, I discover how dry my pipes have become, and I take a sip of wine before replying.
“We haven’t found any demons nearby,” I tell her. “It’s a good thing for now, but we’ve formed an alliance with the Blood Moon Pack.”
“The Blood Moon Pack?” Rissa mulls over this information with a frown. “Isn’t that an enemy pack down in Whittier?”
I nod as I set my empty glass on the table. “Uh-huh. Blood Moon were enemies of Snehvolk until this morning. We signed a treaty with the alpha in light of the dangers posed by more demons. “Actually,”—I reach for my napkin and wipe my mouth before continuing—“the Blood Moon Pack is throwing a dinner party for our council and theirs tomorrow night.” I search for Rissa’s green eyes, immersing myself in their warmth. “Would you like to join me?”
“J-join you…?” she hesitates with a frown, and I nod sincerely.
“It will be safe, since we’ve ensured that the path to Whittier is free from demons for now. We’ll also be accompanied by some of our soldiers to keep us safe, since the Elders will be coming with us. We’ll travel during the day, and stay over in Blood Moon territory for the night, so we don’t have to travel during bad hours.”
Rissa pauses with a sip of her wine as if she’s contemplating the offer, then nods. “Okay. I’ll join you,” she relents with a sigh.
Overjoyed that she’s agreed, I stifle the urge to beam from ear to ear in delight, going back to the rest of my meal to keep things casual.
“How is training going? Are you learning how to use your magic?”
Rissa nods as she follows my lead and returns to her meal. “Yeah. Aurora and Yvonne have been showing me the ropes,” she says with a pleasant smile.
As the night drags on, Rissa speaks about her developing skills using her magic, and I tell her about my plans for this year’s summer festival in Girdwood. She intently listens to me harp on about my duties as the head of the pack’s festivities, and I’m just glad that she’s opening up to me.
Slowly but surely, I seem to be making progress, and the night doesn’t end with us at each other’s throats.
