Chapter 8

Garrick

Noel offered to make dinner after we spent the afternoon sort of lazing around the place. He would put up decorations, sit down, inspect them for a bit, then do a few more adjustments. Meanwhile, I sat down with my pad and paper, trying to list out my thoughts about taking over as Alpha. I didn’t know quite what I was putting down, but mostly anything that came to mind went onto the page—changes I wanted to make, traditions I wanted to uphold. I stopped short of writing out the fears that I had. If I did that then they’d be real and I’d have to face them.

The first thing that would come off the books was this whole idea that an Alpha needed to be mated. Though, if my mate was anything like Noel, then perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” Noel called from the kitchen.

I closed up my notebook and tossed it onto the couch cushion next to me. Judging by the scent, I was in for one hell of a meal. There was also another scent in the air, one that wasn’t food. I couldn’t quite pinpoint it. I got up and walked to the kitchen.

“Oh, wow,” I said, when I took in the sight of the table set with holiday dishes and colorful red napkins, a tall glass of water at each place. In the center of the table was a full chicken, a side of sweet potatoes, an assortment of other vegetables, and a basket of fresh rolls next to it.

“Oh, wow,” I repeated. “This is amazing. It looks like a Christmas dinner.”

Noel grinned. “Thanks. I couldn’t believe I had everything that I needed. The rolls are slightly dense because the yeast was out of date, but they still taste good. I might have sampled them.” His teeth tortured that bottom lip again, and his cheeks turned ruddy.

“They look delicious,” I said. I had the insane urge to lean over and press a kiss to his lips as a thank-you for this meal. Only… that was crazy, right? I was supposed to be keeping him safe and making sure he felt secure, not mauling him.

Only right then, I wanted to devour—and not the meal in front of me.

“I also made a meatloaf and another dish of macaroni and cheese for tomorrow. That way we don’t have to cook. It’s just ready.” He shrugged. “Not that I have anything else to do, except we have enough stuff to make cookies. So I thought that might be fun.”

“That sounds amazing,” I said. I never was much of a cookie person. My mom insisted on doing cookie decorating with the other pack kids and I always helped, but that was because it was part of my responsibility, not because I enjoyed it. With Noel it would be different. I enjoyed anything that involved him.

We both sat down, and I began cutting up the chicken, putting a leg and a breast on his plate and one on mine. “This smells delicious,” I said.

“Thanks. I do love to cook.” Noel wiped his brow with a napkin. “And clearly, I work up quite a sweat doing it. Is it hot in here to you?”

My brow furrowed. “I mean, it’s warm. We’ve got the fire going. I don’t feel too hot, though.” The thermostat had stayed the same temp throughout the day, only fluctuating by a few degrees when the wind really picked up.

“I guess standing around the stove didn’t help.” He picked up his glass of water and took a deep drink. I watched as his throat bobbed. A trickle of water went down his chin and neck. I wanted to lick it. Suddenly I was feeling the heat, only it had nothing to do with the temperature in the room.

“Did you cook for your pack?” I asked.

His mouth twisted as he set the glass back down. “I did, but I didn’t like it as much. Everyone complained about my cooking. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I did get to live there my whole life, but my family doesn’t really like me. It’s… it’s been tense. I’ve long ago given up the idea that they would accept me, but at least I could be of some use cooking, baking, and cleaning.”

“Don’t tell me you like cleaning,” I said, smiling. I wanted to loosen the mood. I yearned to know more about him, but didn’t wish to dampen the mood of the day by talking about how awful his family was. How could anyone complain about this cooking when it smelled this good? Even if it were bland and cold, I’d never complain about food that was prepared for me.

He laughed. “I don’t hate cleaning. It’s a necessary chore, and as long as you keep on top of it it’s not too bad. I do like organizing—taking a mess and bringing order to it. That’s kind of fun. Mopping floors and scrubbing toilets? Necessary, but not fun.”

“I get it. I’ve lived in a small house by myself for a few years, and honestly, I let it get a little too dirty before I finally clean it myself. Mom has offered to do it for me, but it just felt weird. I should take care of myself, you know?”

“There’s nothing wrong with accepting help, Garrick. You have a lot of responsibility, and I am sure there are times when your time would be better spent with your pack than cleaning your home.”

I grinned. My mom had made the same argument.

“When I return home, I’ll be moved into the main pack house—the one I grew up in. Since it is meant to be a central hub where all members of the pack are welcome, it is also maintained by all members of the pack. So I’ll be off the hook for cleaning for a while.”

“That’s a smart idea. Our Alpha’s house is large, like a mini-mansion, but you’re only allowed there by invitation. I’ve never been inside, but I’ve heard its grand.”

I ground my teeth together until my jaw hurt.

Noel tensed and the air in the room filled with the bitter scent of fear. “Is something wrong? I can eat somewhere else if you’d rather be alone. I know I can talk too much sometimes.” He went to stand, taking his plate with him.

My arm flew out, and I put a hand to his forearm. “Stay,” I said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just… When I hear about how awful your pack was to you, I get angry. Not with you, Noel. Never with you. You shouldn’t have been treated that way, ever, and I’m sorry.”

His lips curled into a tentative smile, shy. He blinked at me from behind his thick frames. “Thank you, Garrick. I always thought it wasn’t right the way they were. I wondered sometimes if I deserved it, though. That maybe I had done something. Hearing that there are packs like yours and Alphas like you makes me happy.”

The fear scent that had my wolf on edge disappeared, and in its place was a peppermint and mocha scent I couldn’t quite place. Noel settled back into his chair and lifted his fork. “Did I mention that I made dessert also?”

I shook my head. “You didn’t.”

“There’s a cherry pie cooling in the kitchen.”

I was hungry. But not for pie. Each moment I spent with this omega had me longing for things I never thought I needed. A mate. An omega to call my own. One who would stand by my side and lead with me.

“That sounds amazing.”