Alpha, I was yours before

The Tasting Ceremony

MICAH

“What’s the tasting ceremony?” The words tumbled out of my mouth the moment Nexxie hurtled back into the room.

“Oh, that. It’s like a food contest between the Alpha’s eldest wives.”

“Could I participate in it?”

She was packing up the empty plates and trash on the bedside table. “You would have to take permission from Selene.”

I kicked my legs from under the duvet and swung it over the bed. “Let’s go!”

She laughed. “I don’t think Selene will let you participate.”

“Just get me to her.”

“What is she doing here?” Selene growled as soon as I stepped into the massive kitchen.

The contest was even bigger than I expected. Servants ran from one end of the kitchen to the other. The air swarmed with the thick scent of spices; both ancient and modern. Cauldrons burned red on huge fires, their stews boiling energetically.

“I want to join in. And I’m not asking for permission.” I snapped when she screwed her face. “I’m only informing you and demanding my space.”

Nexxie tugged me frantically by the sleeve, but I swatted her fingers away. She whispered to me, “You should watch the way you speak to Selene. She can go out of her way to make your life here a miserable one.”

Selene whispered to another tall woman, and they nodded together, an evil smile gleaming on their faces.

“Come on in then,” Selene smiled coldly. “Join the fun.”

A large table was placed before me, sage spices spilling across every surface.

Why was I doing this?

For the Alpha to notice you, Crosly teased in my mind.

He only hung out with his first five wives, and I wanted him to hold me too; parade me publicly. I wanted him to see me. Really see me.

CASPIAN

I had them move the kitchen courts outside. I wanted to watch them while they cooked.

I had a city to run, expansion plans to modify, an awakened spirit to appease; yet here I sat, in the midst of a jealous tussle between women I didn’t even love.

Until she walked in.

Short legs. I smiled.

Awkward pace. Her eyes darted to and fro like she was unsure.

Was she cooking?

Okay, this was about to get interesting.

She set up her food stand; tiny and inconspicuous; not holding a candle to the others. She stood apart, an outsider, yet somehow she’d been asked to cook too.

But even better, she had all the ingredients I loved on her table: roasted venison, honey ale, forest berries…

My eyes weren’t even staring directly at her, but inside, I wanted her to win.

I wanted her to be the Luna of the week.

MICAH

“Get out of here, Nexxie,” Selene bared her teeth at her.

“No one is helping you cook,” she said, looking sternly at me. Then she tossed a small bag of dust into my hands. “Cinnamon. The star of your dish. Whatever you cook should revolve around it.”

They started the preliminaries, but my mind ran amok. I didn’t know a single dish I could cook with cinnamon. My family wasn’t rich enough to afford it; cinnamon was like gold dust to most average families.

I placed it flat on the table, sweat breaking out on my forehead.

What was I thinking?

These women had experience.

Me?

Nothing.

“Start!” Selene’s voice floated over the courtyard and slammed into me. My hands worked of their own accord. Flashes of a cookbook turning echoed in my mind. A finger tracing the words. Whispers of recipes in Seraphina's voice. My hands followed the whispers like it was engineered from beyond.

I heated the fire, ground the cinnamon with fresh herbs, stewed the venison, crushed the berries, drizzled the honey ale over the dish, added some flicker of lavender for flavor. It was like my hand muscles had each step memorized when in actual fact I haven't done this before.

My palms sweated in anticipation when Selene announced that it was all over. I watched the Alpha as he tasted their food, the pure joy in his face, as he moved the morsel in his mouth, relishing it. Savouring it. It was now my turn to present my dish to him, to impress him. I carried my tray and walked towards him.

CASPIAN

Cinnamon frittata. That's what she cooked for me. I stared at her, wide-eyed. Only Seraphina could cook this, it was a food she made up for me, one certain time. I pushed it at the back of my mind. It smelled so so good and I wanted to dig in at once. My tongues watered at the thought of putting it in my mouth.

When I took the first bite, I stilled. I chewed slowly, swallowing hard. And for a moment, the world faded away. This wasn't cinnamon. It was silver dust. The wolfsbane of wolves.

My eyes watered, but my wolf was surprisingly strong. From behind Micah, I could see Selene smiling so devilishly. I am guessing she put a sliver of silver dust in my food, to castigate Micah probably.

Nobody would know of the internal discomfort as I gulped down the food down and pretended that it was the best thing I have ever tasted. Selene frowned as I gave Micah the gentlest, sweetest smile.

The rest of the wives burned with fury as I praised her dish.

MICAH

Being Luna of the week meant I had to pack my bags into his room, have his undivided attention for seven days, follow him to council meetings.

Ah. I couldn't be more thrilled.