Her mouth suddenly formed an ‘o’ of shock as she spotted me standing at the long wooden counter. From the way she elbowed her friend, it was obvious they had been talking about Gideon and me.
“Girls!” the cook scolded sharply. “Only cubs yap their mouths without thinking. Apologize at once.”
“Apologies, Lady Avery.” They both stammered, faces flushed. Then one blurted out, “Alpha Gideon has just been super busy! I’m sure he didn’t mean to ignore you.”
“Enough!” Cook smacked her wooden spoon on the counter, and the girls curtsied and darted out of the kitchen. She turned to me with a rueful expression, “Ignore them. They are barely older than whelps and haven’t a spare brain cell between them.”
Too bad they were right. I winced as I pounded my fists into the dough and folded it. Gideon really does dislike me. I don’t think this wedding will ever happen.
The cook watched me beat up the dough for a few more moments before gently taking it away from me.
“Do you ever bake desserts?” she asked kindly. “Gideon is particularly fond of cake. Perhaps you could bake him one as a special treat. I know my mate always loves when I bake for him, and it’s gotten us through more than one rough patch.”
I bit my lip, thinking. “When I was little, my mom taught me to bake Black Forest chocolate cake. It’s not particularly sweet, but when you use really nice chocolate it’s wonderful.”
The corners of the cook’s eyes wrinkled as she exclaimed, “Gideon doesn’t like sweets, but he’s obsessed with that cake. It’s the only thing he’s ever wanted. Since the recipe was lost for years, he hasn’t had it.” She patted me on the shoulder with one floured hand.
I wondered if the person who had made it was Gideon’s missing mate.
“If you make it and give it to him, he’ll definitely warm up to you.”
Gideon’s POV
It had rained during the night, and the slow sound of dripping water permeated the forest.
Blood dripped slowly down the leaves of the thicket and pooled in the long grass. The ground of the clearing was scattered with boulders, logs, and the bodies of the fallen.
The fighting had been intense. My warriors and I were covered in blood and minor wounds. Now our panting rang loud in the stillness as the last of the rogues breathed their last.
I gave the gesture to Tegan to round up the civilians. Now that the rogue attacks at the border had intensified, they could no longer maintain their homesteads here.
They would join Nightwolf for their protection. In time, they would build new lives here.
Before that could happen we needed to hold a Pack Acceptance Ceremony.
I could see the resignation on their faces as they gathered up their treasured belongings, buried their dead, and prepared to return to Nightwolf with my warriors.
Never had I seen attacks so vicious as this.
Why would they be targeted for attack? I rubbed at my temples and turned the variables over.
For most of my life, rogue wolf attacks had been acts of desperation.
Without the protection and resource-sharing of a pack, most wolves had trouble surviving on their own. They might raid a vulnerable farmstead, but most of the time, they would just slaughter a few sheep or steal eggs from a chicken coop.
This felt very different.
These rogues had fought in an organized fashion. They had known we would come, and they had been waiting for us.
Wolves did not pick fights with Nightwolf if they wanted to live.
I guess these ones hadn’t.
Someone must be controlling them.
That was a troubling thought that sat with me back to Nightwolf Village.
“My son.” My parents were waiting in the central courtyard when I arrived, “Preparations for the Pack Acceptance Ceremony have begun,” my father confirmed.
I nodded gratefully. The sooner these people could begin to rebuild, the easier their transition would be.
My mother and father exchanged a meaningful look. Having seen that glance many times in my life, I sighed.
“What is it?”
“Your father and I both agree that you and Avery should attend the ceremony together. A show of unity is especially important right now, and the pack needs to see tangible signs of hope for the future.” my mother said firmly.
I knew that tone, and it usually meant that it wasn’t worth the fight it would take to do things my own way.
I may be the Alpha, but every son disregards his mother’s advice at his own peril.
“Very well.” I reluctantly agreed, “Send Camila to bring Avery to the hall.”
“Alpha,” Tegan dropped back from where he’d been debriefing the scout who had covered our retreat, “may I recommend that you take some time to bathe and prepare?” He gestured at my uniform, which was splattered with blood and gore.
Frowning, I reached up to my face and felt the streaks of blood there where I had wiped away sweat after the battle.
I suppose I am a bit of a mess. But…
“There will be time for cleaning up later,” I said, “getting these civilians settled first is more important.”
Tegan coughed politely, the way my Beta always did when he disagreed with me. “Your fianc?e may find it a bit disconcerting to see you in this state.” He meant I looked a hot mess.
“If she is going to be my Luna, she will have to get used to it, sooner or later.” I frowned, “Don’t you have a search you should be continuing?” I fixed him with a meaningful stare. There had still been no sign of my fate mate.
“Yes, Alpha.” Tegan bowed and hurried away.
I headed for the ceremony hall.
Pack members were crowding through the doors and finding places to stand around the presentation stage. Afterward there would be a welcome feast.
When Avery entered the hall I was surprised at how comfortable she appeared chatting with Camila.
She had gained color in her cheeks, and the gaunt weariness that had struck me when we’d met at Silvermoon had disappeared. She was dressed in a long soft dress that flowed around her hips and legs gracefully as she strode in.
She froze when she saw me, though. Watching that haunted wariness creep back into her expression irritated me.
Both of them paused their small talk as I approached. Avery seemed to have a plate with a baked good of some sort in her arms, complete with a pair of forks.
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