A Hearty Lunch

A smile appeared on her lips as she finished the final stroke on the colorful canvas that had been plain white only a few hours before. She got out of the chair she'd been sitting in for a few hours and stretched her limbs.

"Seraphina?" She turned around as someone knocked on the door and called her name. She yanked open the door to find Hilda standing there, smiling.

"Hilda! How are you doing?" Hilda engulfed her in a hug as she asked merrily.

"I'm all right!" She responded by pulling back.

"What brings you here?" She questioned letting her inside the studio.

"Nick is busy, it's so boring here, and I don't even see you!"

"Tėtis is keeping me so preoccupied with training that I hardly have time for myself. Come sit!" Seraphina motioned her to take a seat on the small couch in the studio's corner.

Seraphina found herself alone in the castle after Hilda had left. She tried working on a new painting and reading a new book, but the day dragged on and she became bored. Aiden was always preoccupied with work; after merging a werewolf pack with the Royal Pack, he had a lot of work to do, or so she thought. She hardly saw him during the day, and when he returned at night, he was fatigued. Even so, there was a lingering glee as she anticipated seeing him every evening. As he tried to spend time with her; they would have dinner together, then go to bed and cuddle until they fell asleep. On other nights, he would insist on them stargazing and they would fall asleep under the light of the moon, soaking in each other's warmth. His little touches, simple gestures like serving her food, pulling her a chair, simply listening to her blabbering for hours about a book she read, the sneaky kisses, teasing touches, everything left an indelible mark on her soul. The soft smile he always gave her made her unknowingly smile.

Content! For the first time in years, she felt at ease. All she wanted right now was another day like this with him. Maybe they'll be able to be at peace once they've apprehended Malcolm. However, her heart was troubled by the prospect of an uncertain future. She shook her head, she mustn't be thinking these things. Every time she dreams of a future filled with happiness, the clouds of unpleasant thoughts occupies her mind. She needed a distraction to keep her mind from returning to the darkness. Perhaps she could make him lunch! He must be working nonstop in his office; a nice lunch might be a good idea. He could take a breather for a few moments, and she could seek his warmth! With that thought in mind, she walked out of their bedroom and into their castle's kitchen.

When she walked into the kitchen, the maids were flabbergasted. She was startled when they bowed their heads.

"Please don't mind me. Return to what you were doing!" She said sweetly with a smile, and they returned to their work reluctantly. She walked closer to the kitchen counter and turned around when someone called out in a surprised voice,

"My Lady!"

"Megan!" She smiled as a bewildered Megan stood in front of her.

"Did you require anything? You could have just asked me!" Megan bowed her head.

"I just wished to prepare lunch for us." She said and Megan's eyes widened.

"But the staff is preparing for your meal, My Lady!" She said and Seraphina smiled in awkwardness.

"Yes, but I wished to prepare something for him." A slight crimson hue coated her cheeks as she voiced her thoughts. Megan's eyes widened and she hurriedly said,

"Of course! Allow me to assist you!" Megan gestured for the maids to leave, and they did so after a brief bow.

"It's all right, just show me where the ingredients are and I shall be fine!" Megan followed Seraphina as she folded her shirt sleeves and walked towards the kitchen counter. She assisted Seraphina in gathering all of the ingredients and then stood by the counter.

"You may leave now Megan. If I need anything, I'll call you!" She said beginning to chop up the vegetables and Megan hesitantly1 left the kitchen after a brief bow.

Only one dish she had ever learned to cook in her existence. She remembers her father making this for her mother when she would fall ill. And her father taught her how to make it as well when she was a pup. After a few hours, she opened the pan's lid, and the familiar aroma of a hearty beef stew filled her nostrils, hauling her back to her childhood days. She smiled as she poured the stew in a large bowl and with sides of bread and other utensils; she walked out of the castle toward the packhouse.

She stepped into the packhouse as beasts greeted and curtsied her. With a warm smile, she nodded and acknowledged them as she made her way to the Alpha's office on the third floor. She lifted her hand to knock on the wooden double doors with a bright smile when an enraged voice came through the closed doors and she came to a halt.

"How long have you been keeping her hidden? Aiden, how could you do this to her?" A very outraged Nicholas shouted. She frowned as she never saw him yell at the Alpha.

"Check your tone, Beta!" Aiden growled as she heard the scraping sound of the heavy chair being pushed back.

"I never expected you to be as obnoxious as this! You spent those hours with that female while claiming to be busy! How could you! How could you when Seraphina endured so much and still let you in? For the sake of the Goddess, she is your mate! How could you possibly return to another female when your mate is in your castle counting the hours for you? You were even foolish enough to keep her in the pack infirmary! Were you vile enough to fuck her in that cabin as well?" Nicholas growled and Aiden thrashed him against the wall.

"That's my mate you are talking about, Nicholas! Be mindful of your words before I rip your throat out!" Aiden growled as he let go of Nicholas' collars.

"You might be delusional enough to deem her to be your mate. But I'll never accept it! Even if she is, I will never accept her as my Luna, I will abide Lady Seraphina till my last breath! She is my Luna and always will be! And if you don't tell her about all this, then I will! Because everything that you are doing is wrong!" Nicholas snarled at him and walked to the door, yanking it open. His face became pale as a stupefied Seraphina stood in front of him. Her hands trembled as she barely grasped the tray, her eyes widened in shock, and her mouth opened.

"L-luna!"