Night and Day: The Alpha Nomad

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Day-

I woke to a warm body curled up against me and the sweet scent of honeysuckle and bergamot was potent. I inhaled deeply and cuddled closer to Night. Her radiating heat warmed the bed which made the idea of leaving unappealing. I would have to get up eventually, so might as well make my escape while I can.

I slipped out of the bed discreetly trying to avoid waking the sleeping beauty. She stirred slightly on my departure but was able to leave the room discreetly without anyone waking. Delphie and Fen were still entangled in their bed when the door closed quietly.

Remembering what happened last night was painful and excruciating, but at least Night forgave me before the end of the movie. As for my parents deaths, I would have to push past my emotions and move forward to protect my pack. We would have to hold the Alpha initiation ceremony tonight. I had to come up with a plan to keep us all safe from the other hunters. There was no way we could stay here, and returning to the pack house would be leading everyone to their imminent demise.

As I pondered our situation, I headed to the kitchen hoping to find someone who could help me make a surprise breakfast for Night. I don’t know if I could really make it right with her, but I was willing to try everything to make her happy. Thankfully I found some member milling around the kitchen congregating a pot of coffee.

“I’d hate to ask, but would someone be able to help me cook up some breakfast?” I asked reluctantly.

“Of course, Alpha Damon!” A young female agreed cheerfully. “Say no more and we will serve up whatever you wish.”

I blushed, “I’m not technically your Alpha yet. No need for the formality.”

“You are as good as our Alpha, and I would be happy to do it regardless,” she explained. “My name is Tala, my father and I came from the Neota wilderness area for the feast. Your parents were always so kind to us, so it’s my pleasure to help their son. It’s the least I could do since they saved our home during the fire last year.”

“I remember my father touring around the territory to potential threatened areas. I thought he was crazy to put himself at risk like that, but now I understand his need to protect his pack. Two hundred thousand acres of our territory burst into flames and I thought the pack home was surely going to burn to the ground,” I reminisced. “Probably one of the few times I’ve seen wolves and humans alike work together to defeat a common enemy. They probably weren’t even aware that our kind was working alongside them fighting the fires.”

Tala giggled, “humans aren’t always so toxic. I dare say there may even be a few good ones out there.”

I feigned a shocked look and helped her slice fruit as she worked on building a stack of fluffy flapjacks. Her culinary skills reminded me of my mother’s. Her smile was radiant as well. The sun was peaking through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room and shone into the open kitchen. Her bright red hair sparkled brilliantly as the rays hit her. I couldn’t help but notice she was very beautiful with emerald green eyes.

I felt ashamed for thinking so, but I wondered briefly why Night was my True Mate when this gem was right under my nose. I felt like Tala and I could have made a good mate pair with how easily we worked together.

The Goddess has her reasons, my surly wolf reminded.

Tala flashed a dazzling smile at me when she finished up a third stack of flapjacks, “thank you for helping me slice all those strawberries. You’re pretty handy in the kitchen. I’m sure your mate will be very lucky someday.”

I blushed at Tala’s flirtations, “my mother taught me everything she could.”

“I’m sorry to open that fresh wound,” Tala frowned and looked ashamed of herself.

“No need to be sorry, it is better to talk about and remember those who have passed,” I push back a wave of sadness. “She wouldn’t want to wallow in my sorrow when I could remember her fondly.”

Tala nodded and filled a carafe with fresh orange juice and found a smaller one for syrup. I found a platter and arranged the a couple small stacks of flapjacks on it. Then began to load a wooden tray with all the fixings, plates and a four cups of orange juice. I thanked Tala for her labors and companionship and retreated upstairs before leading her on any further.

Night-

The fragrance of breakfast woke me, and my stomach began to growl audibly. A strong hand stroked my hair as I began to open my eyes. A sleepy smile crawled onto my face when I discovered Damon sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I brought us some breakfast to share in bed, if you would like,” he whispered trying not to wake the sleeping pile in the other bed.

I saw a tray with perfectly cooked pancakes, fluffy and golden brown. There was also a ramekin filled with sliced strawberries dusted with powdered sugar and a glass cruet of maple syrup. My mouth watered for a breakfast I have not had in over ten years. I missed the days of cooking with my mother on weekend mornings.

He handed me a plate with a small stack of pancakes with strawberries and carefully drizzled the viscous syrup all over the top. I watched as it cascaded down the sides like a sugary waterfall down a soft pastry cliffside. I dove into the stack eagerly and realized how ravenous I was.

“Slow down, little Nightingale, there are probably more flapjacks downstairs,” Damon chuckled.

“Flapjacks?!” Delphie yawned with excitement. “You brought us breakfast? How sweet of you, Alpha.”

Damon rolled his eyes then gave her a a stern look, “I am not your Alpha yet.”

“You will be soon, so get used to it, Day,” Fen reminded then jumped out bed to stretch dramatically. “I’ll get us some coffee, my dear. Would you like any Miss Night?”

Enjoying my indulgence of the pancake breakfast memories I shook my head childishly with my mouth filled. He smiled trying to contain his laughter then left the bedroom to retrieve the coffee. Damon’s eyes sparkled at me as I continued my destruction of the pancake tower.

“I used to cook pancakes with my mother on weekends,” I explained. “It’s been near ten years since I’ve had a stack this fluffy.”

“Did you cook with her often?” Damon asked inquisitively, he seemed genuinely interested.

“She showed me how to bake mostly, but anytime she had an opportunity to teach me something in the kitchen she would. I was only eight when I lost her, so most of my knowledge I picked up cooking for my uncle,” I sighed. “He have the discerning taste as my parents so most of our meals were basic, and he complained about them as often as he could. Too much salt, too much spice, why did it take so long?”

I frowned and turned my head away in deep thought. Damon moved closer to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I rested my head on his shoulder and appreciated his comfort.

“I’m sure your meals were delicious,” he reassured. “Would you feel comfortable cooking for us?”

I blushed heavily at the request, “I suppose I could, but as you would expect I am quite out of practice. Give me a campfire and some game meat and I could probably manage.” I laughed lightly.

Damon joined with a chuckle. Fen rapped on the door, then Delphie jumped up excitedly to let him in. She relieved one of his hands of the coffee cup he carried. She slurped the steaming hot fluid gratefully and sighed with a satisfied look worn on his face.

“Mmm caffeine,” she hummed. “What would I do without caffeine?”

…………………………

Later in the day, Damon went with Fen to seek out his father’s Beta. They would request to fulfill the initiation ceremony that was interrupted last night. Damon would be officially named Alpha tonight, and Fen would also become the new Beta.

Delphie showed me the kitchen and we perused the pantry and refrigerator. Considering the pack’s stay was unplanned, the food stores were lean. We found some dry goods like flour, canned vegetables and baking ingredients, but there was no protein and few fresh vegetables available.

“We’ll have to try to go hunting if it won’t jeopardize our safety,” Delphie speculated. “Maybe I can request that the Patrol Unit bring something back from their rounds. We can scavenge the woods close by for any fresh mushrooms.”

“I wouldn’t mind looking for some,” I suggested. “If you need to go on Patrol, I wouldn’t mind keeping myself busy with gathering some wild mushrooms.”

“Try not to get yourself lost out there,” she grinned. “If you get turned around just…oh wait you can’t link with us…” she cut herself and furrowed her brow in deep thought.

“I can with Day,” I informed her. “He can rescue me if I can’t find my way back.”

Delphie’s eyes widened at this information, “Wait, have you two-“

“Oh no! We haven’t done that…yet,” I laughed. “The doctor, uhm what was his name, Galen, he said our link would be different since Day saved me. He donated his blood to me when he pulled me out of the woods last week. I guess the mixing of our blood made the link stronger.”

“Right,” Delphie nodded. “Well I should meet up with the Patrol and we’ll bring you a fine piece of meat.”

Delphie transformed into a medium-sized grey wolf and sprinted through the heavy thicket quickly disappearing. I wandered around and inspected the vegetating surrounding the safe house. I found some wild plums and small apples to forage. In the thicket I also collected juniper berries, which make a great addition to venison. The woods were chilled even with the afternoon sun shining. I added ash berries and rose hips to my bounty thinking they would add an interesting note in a sauce or vinaigrette. I came upon a small creek and noticed some greenery. I recognized it as watercress and carefully cut a few bundles. Although it was small, it would add a nice bite to a salad mix. Not far from the watercress was some broadleaf plantain that would bulk up the salad.

My foraging basket was filling quickly as I continued to find wild treats around the safe house. Thankfully I found some wild mushrooms on my way back, and even more surprising I discovered several raspberries and huckleberries that the local bear population missed while prepping for their ever approaching hibernation. I was thoroughly satisfied with the bounty I carried. I would do my best to present a feast worthy of an Alpha tonight.