The heavy timbered door of the master suite stayed locked to the rest of the world for the next three days… and the honeymoon bubble didn’t just stay intact, it wrapped around us like a thick, warm blanket. In the quiet dark of Stormy’s forest-green sanctuary, the chaos of the Great Hall and the frantic whispering of the elders simply evaporated into the pine-scented air.
There was no rush, no pack business, and absolutely no room for the outside world. Stormy was incredibly tender, treating me like a treasure he’d spent a lifetime searching for… but the playfulness of the mate bond was right beneath the surface. We spent hours just teasing and pleasing each other, our laughter muffled against the heavy pillows as his massive, calloused hands worshiped every soft inch of my body, completely erasing the thirty years of hesitation I’d carried with me from Wellsville.
But as much as the Alpha wanted to keep his Moon Shadow hidden away in his bed forever, the crisp Minnesota sunshine and the restless energy of our new little family eventually pulled us out of our cocoon.
The afternoon sun was sparkling off the pine needles as we walked the inner perimeter of the packlands. It was a sight that made my heart do a strange, emotional flutter. Stormy walked beside me, his massive frame radiating a deep, possessive contentment, while little Amara and Kyle giggled and dashed ahead, their boots crunching loudly in the dirt. Emmy and the rest of the fur babies padded along behind us like a tiny, furry royal guard, completely unbothered by the giant wolfies patrolling the distant tree line.
But the real magic happened when we finally made our way back inside… because it was time to introduce the Kinkaid household to some real-deal comfort food.
“Alright, nobody panics, but we are officially taking over,” I announced, tying a crisp apron around my waist as I surveyed the massive, industrial-sized pack house kitchen.
“I don’t think anyone is going to argue with you, Roni,” GG laughed, already rolling up the sleeves of her light pink silk blouse. She had stepped right into the role of my kitchen general, ready to handle whatever red tape or heavy lifting I threw her way.
To make it a true family affair, we pulled two heavy wooden chairs up to the long marble island, letting the Littlesclimb up so they were right at counter height. Amara and Kyle’s faces were masks of absolute concentration as I handed them the bowls of washed lettuce.
“Alright, you two,” I smiled, my over the moon grin out in full force. “Your job is crucial. You have to rip the lettuce into perfect, bite-sized pieces for the salad. Think you can handle that?”
“Yes, Luna V!” Kyle nodded solemnly, taking a leaf of romaine as if it were a top-secret pack document.
Next to him, Amara was practically vibrating with excitement. I handed her a pastry brush and a small bowl of melted, fragrant garlic butter that smelled so good it was already turning the air thick and savory. “And Amara, you get to paint the homemade bread. Just like a masterpiece.”
She giggled, instantly dipping the brush and meticulously painting every single corner of the thick, crusty slices.
While the kids worked on the sides, GG and I got to work on the main event: a massive, multi-layered Italian feast centered around three giant, heavy steel pans of meaty lasagna. The rich scent of slow-simmered marinara, savory garlic, browned sausage, and bubbling ricotta began to billow out of the ovens, transforming the cold, sterile pack kitchen into something that smelled exactly like a home should.
The aroma was apparently so powerful it carried all the way down the central corridor to the leadership offices… because it didn’t take long for the door to creak open.
Stormy’s towering silhouette filled the doorway, his ice-blue eyes instantly locking onto me with a hungry, playful intensity that had absolutely nothing to do with pasta. Right behind him was Knight, his usual stern Beta expression completely melting as he sniffed the air, his eyes tracking the steam rising from the counter.
“What is that smell?” Knight murmured, taking a slow step forward like a man under a spell. “Alpha, I think your mate is trying to assassinate us with garlic.”
Stormy let out a low, rumbling chuckle, his eyes dropping to the massive, golden-brown pans of lasagna resting on the stovetop. “I told you she was a miracle, Knight. Let’s get a closer look at those pans…”
“Oh, no you don’t!” I barked, grabbing a thick wooden spoon from the counter and pointing it directly at the two massive wolfies. My tone was front and center, as my brow arched slowly and I didn’t care if they were the highest-ranking power houses in the territory—this was my kitchen now. “Out! Both of you! Back across the border!”
Stormy froze, his brow arching in surprise, a massive grin breaking across his handsome face. “Veronica, my Moon Shadow… I am the Alpha of this pack.”
“And I am the boss of this sauce,” I countered without missing a beat, stepping between him and the stove, wielding the wooden spoon like a weapon. “You two are not picking at the edges before the cheese is set. Knight, take your boss and march your boots right back out into the hallway until I say it’s time to eat.”
GG burst out laughing behind me, holding a bowl of fresh parmesan, while Amara and Kyle cheered from their chairs, clapping their sticky, garlic-butter-covered hands.
Knight looked at Stormy, his eyes wide with amusement. “Alpha… I think the Luna just pulled rank on us.”
“She definitely did,” Stormy growled playfully, his ice-blue eyes flashing with absolute devotion as he took a reluctant step backward into the corridor. He looked at me, his deep voice dropping into that chest-rattling register that always made my toes curl. “You’re a cruel woman, Veronica Lane. But I’ll wait.”
With one last teasing growl, he let Knight slide the heavy kitchen door shut, leaving us to finish our masterpiece in peace… the laughter of the kids and the rich, savory heat of the feast sealing us into a family that felt more permanent with every single second.