The Alpha’s Surgeon

27

The moment they stepped into the shack, the smell of food hit them—smoky, buttery, rich with spice—and Momma Anna’s voice cut through the chatter like a well-aimed paddle.

“Alright, that’s enough driftin’ around,” she said, hands on her hips, wooden spoon tucked like a weapon. “Sit. All of you. Before somebody falls over again.”

Del opened her mouth—probably to argue—but one look from Momma Anna had her dropping into the nearest chair without a word.

“Yes, ma’am,” Del muttered.

Remi slid onto the bench beside Will, still smiling from the day, while Rae hesitated—eyes tracking Aspen, who had already planted himself squarely at Momma Anna’s feet, tail thumping like he’d done something heroic.

Momma Anna bent down and tore off a chunk of cornbread, holding it out. “Here you go, cher.”

Aspen accepted it like a king receiving tribute.

Rae gasped. “Absolutely not. Do not reward the traitor.”

Aspen froze mid-chew, then slowly looked up at Rae—cornbread crumbs clinging to his whiskers—tail still wagging.

“He shoved me into Trey. Twice,” Rae said, pointing accusingly. “That dog has an agenda.”

Momma Anna waved her off. “That dog had a long day and burned a lot of energy causin’ chaos. Same as the rest of y’all.”

Del snorted. “She’s not wrong.”

Rae dropped into her chair with a huff. “I raised him better than this.”

“You raised him to choose violence,” Del said sweetly.

Remi laughed softly. “Selective violence.”

Will glanced between them, amused. “Alright, I feel like we missed something important on the river.”

“Oh, you missed plenty,” Del said, grinning as she reached for a glass. “Aspen decided kayaking was a full-contact sport.”

Elijah raised a brow. “I noticed when she landed in my lap.”

Del shot him a look. “You say that like it was planned.”

Trey smirked. “Pretty sure none of you planned on being projectiles.”

Remi nodded. “He barked like he’d won some epic battle, and suddenly—” she gestured vaguely “—I was airborne.”

Will chuckled. “Straight into me.”

Rae groaned. “And I went flying into Trey like a missile. I didn’t even have time to scream.”

Momma Anna paused mid-stir, eyes narrowing at Aspen. “Is that so?”

Aspen wagged harder.

Del leaned back, thoroughly pleased. “First he knocked me into Elijah, then Remi into Will, then Rae into Trey. One bark. Total destruction.”

“It was coordinated,” Rae insisted. “Tell me that wasn’t coordinated.”

Papi Sam laughed from the end of the table. “Sounds like he knows exactly what he’s doin’.”

“I don’t like that sentence,” Rae muttered.

Remi smiled, resting her elbow on the table. “And then, just when we thought we were safe—”

“—he did it again on land,” Del finished. “Shoved me straight into Elijah outside the cabin.”

Elijah shrugged. “I caught her.”

“Barely,” Del said.

Will added, amused, “Remi didn’t even stumble. Just… landed.”

Trey glanced at Rae. “You, on the other hand—”

“Do not,” Rae warned.

“You clutched my shirt like your life depended on it,” Trey said, grinning.

Rae crossed her arms. “Your dog tried to assassinate me.”

Momma Anna finally turned fully toward Aspen, hands on her hips. “You causin’ trouble today?”

Aspen sat up straighter, cornbread forgotten, tongue lolling, innocent as sin.

She sighed fondly. “Lord help us.”

Rae shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re feeding him.”

Momma Anna smiled. “He earned it.”

Del raised her glass. “To Aspen—agent of chaos.”

Remi laughed. “And unintentional matchmaker.”

Will chuckled. “I’m starting to think none of this was accidental.”

Aspen barked once, proud and loud.

Rae groaned, but there was no real heat in it as she leaned back in her chair, watching him with fond exasperation. “One day,” she muttered, “you’re gonna push me into something I can’t climb out of.”

Aspen wagged like that sounded perfectly acceptable.

Dinner settled into warm noise—clinking dishes, overlapping laughter, Momma Anna’s steady presence anchoring it all—while Aspen sprawled beneath the table, fed, victorious, and completely unrepentant.