“I wanted to get some extra meat.” I say smiling but stop her once I see the line of wolves already waiting. “How long have they been waiting?” I ask her.
“For a while now. We are short on hands as the others are tending to the old.” She says trying to cook the meat quickly for the hungry wailing pups.
“May I help?” I ask her.
Her eyes widen and she shakes her head, “No, Luna. I don’t think-” I cut her off.
“That a Luna should do this. Well, I was never a proper Luna, to begin with, was I?” I say with a smile grabbing the extra thong from the table. “Will you teach me? I have never done this before.” I ask her softly earning a nod from her.
She teaches me the way to grill the meat to give it a juicy flavor and not burn the flesh. I get the hang of it and I quickly aid her in providing for the wolves. The line never seems to cease as when they leave they return for more.
I did not wear safety gloves since Mia possessed only one pair and I forced her to wear it. I was perfectly fine until I absentmindedly rest my palm over the hot iron. I whelp and quickly bring my palm closer to my face checking the burn.
The wolves gasp and Mia comes to my side analyzing the wound. The loud chatter concludes to a pin drop silence and I could feel the tension rising among the wolves surrounding us as this was the calm before the storm.
“Lumina!” Deimos calls out. The storm has arrived.
He immediately comes to my side pulling my hand from Mia’s grasp checking it, whilst blowing on it softly with gentle but pain-filled eyes. He felt my pain through his mark.
“Who the hell made my female help at a damn barbecue station without fucking gloves? Come before me this instant-” He commands furiously as I place my palm over his mouth stopping him.
“I am fine, it was my mistake. I wasn’t paying attention. Now can we stop this tantrum and help out. The pups need to be fed.” I say looking into his eyes. He stares down at me for a second and gives a quick nod in acceptance.
I remove my palm from his mouth and walk towards the counter to continue but he stops me grabbing a hold of my wrist. I turn around to look at him as he shakes his head. “I will do it.” He says whilst taking my place behind the grill.
Tying on an apron he quickly grabs the thong grilling the meat. The older females smile in awe of my male. The chatter starts up again whilst I sit on a chair watching Deimos. The line grows again but that didn’t seem to phase him. The tension dies as peace replaces it.
A small pup walks up to him. As she reaches him she pulls on the tip of his shirt that she could reach. He flinches with the sudden touch and looks down at her with a raised eyebrow.
She lifts her hands and says, “Up. Up.” My eyes widen, I don’t think that’s a good idea to ask of Deimos. He neither would like nor would want to do that. Deimos stares down at her. I cannot believe she isn’t scared of that look and isn’t running for the hills.
“Alexandra! Come here this instant! I apologize Alpha Deimos she-” Alexandra’s mother comes rushing pushing past the wolves in line to get to her, whilst apologizing with her head bowed but stops mid-sentence as Deimos simply bends and picks up the pup.
He places her on his hip as she giggles and plays with the button on the collar of his shirt. I let out an inaudible gasp when his lips tilt up into a smile whilst watching her with gentle eyes. He steadies her on his hip with his right hand and continues the barbecue with his left.
A smile graces my lips as I take in the sight in front of me. He doesn’t know it yet, but he would be an amazing father to our pups. She talks to him mumbling the only words she knows and he replies calmly whilst rocking her gently side to side.
“Babbit.” She says.
“Rabbit.” He corrects her.
“B-Babbit?” She asks confused her lower lip stretched out in a small pout.
“Try again. It’s r-a-b-b-i-t.” He stresses on each letter patiently for her to grasp it.
And so he teaches her new words. It is funny how they just met each other and she probably asked to be carried as pups that age see all males as their father as they cannot differentiate, but somehow they created a quick bond.
The juvenile females watch him interacting with Alexandra and smile. Sighing I acknowledge it. It is quite a sight to see. I place my elbow upon my knee, chin resting on my palm as I continue gazing upon him. I want to engrave this moment in my mind.
A loud blare of an alarm startles me and everyone present. I quickly get up my mind on alert, heart pounding in my chest. Peace and joy are killed by the fearful screams of females. Sudden darkness looms over us, a bad feeling arises from within me. I feel it in my nerves.
“Lumina! The old, pregnant females and the pups first.” Deimos takes my attention looking into my eyes while giving back a wailing Alexandra to her mother.
I nod quickly and head towards the females I trained. “Gather all the pups, pregnant females, and the old to the shelter. Carry as many as you can. Remember your training! This is what you trained for!” I command them whilst they quickly nod and run towards the group of old males and females shivering in fear.
“What is their position?” Deimos questions Giovanni.
“The first alarm means they are unidentifiable not known to our pack. They have gathered outside the gates. They will begin infiltrating our grounds soon.” Giovanni replies.