💙Alpha’s Surprise (Ch 1)

“Kitchens Are For More Than Cooking”

TESS

“What are we making for the festival?” Aloe asked as she entered Tess’s kitchen.

“I thought pancakes would be easy, and it’s something everyone likes,” Tess replied as she began pulling out bowls, whisks, and measuring cups. “We could do bacon on the side. Coffee. Hot chocolate for the kids.”

“Let’s get started, then. I have three other women coming in a half hour. They’ll set up the food tables outside and we can sit the coffee and hot chocolate in the fire pits to keep them warm. All we have to do is make the pancakes.”

“Easy peasy. The mix is in the cabinets.”

“Which one?”

“Aloe, you are family. Make yourself at home. Open whatever cabinet and drawer you want. No secrets here.”

“Is that your way of saying you don’t like to cook?”

Tess shrugged. “It’s more like I don’t have a lot of experience. Except making pancakes. Damien loves pancakes.”

Aloe opened one of the kitchen cabinets, revealing three shelves of pancake mix and nothing else. “That’s a lot of pancake mix. Three, six…”

“Like I said, Damien loves pancakes. And that’s just one cabinet. Don’t be shocked when you open the other cabinets.”

Aloe accepted Tess’s challenge and opened the other cabinets. “Wait… one box of oatmeal. Good, I was getting worried there that he didn’t have a balanced diet.”

Tess laughed as she heated up two griddles while Aloe set up the bowls, eggs, milk, and mix assembly-line style.

The sizzle of butter in the pan made Tess giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Aloe asked.

“Nothing. Just thinking about Damien. Some of the um… fun… we’ve had in this kitchen.”

Aloe puts up a hand, her platinum blonde hair swaying behind her. “No details. He’s like a brother to me. All I need to know is that you two are happy.”

“Very,” Tess said with what she was sure was a stupid grin on her face.

“Okay, then.” The corners of Aloe’s mouth hitched up. “Maybe some details I can handle. I guess reconnecting with your wolf really helped.”

“Oh, Aloe, it’s such a relief being able to shift again! I missed my wolf so much. It’s like I was never complete without her. And Damien’s more relaxed now too.”

“I think that has more to do with him regaining control of his wolf. He’d love you no matter what, Tess. In fact, he has. I saw it in how he looked at you.”

Tess smiled reached her eyes. “He loved me before he knew I was a shifter… before my wolf returned. Human, shifter… none of that mattered ultimately. That’s the biggest gift, Aloe. Knowing your mate will love you no matter what, that he’ll always be there for you.”

When Aloe didn’t say anything, Tess looked up to see tears in her eyes. How could she say something so callous in front of Aloe? Especially with the anniversary of Zach’s death only weeks away…