Chapter 21
LYLE
I have a mate, my fated mate! And we’ve sealed the bond and are both marked. Hunter and Astra had a long run in the woods before Fenya and I could retire to our Alpha Suite and relax with each other as humans. We relaxed twice more before we fell asleep.
Preparing to go for breakfast, I watch Fenya like a hawk. I just can’t take my eyes off her, and she knows it. It has been quite a transformation from defensive caterpillar to all-out, look-at-me butterfly.
“You do realize that I like you looking at me, don’t you? This could lead us having to skip breakfast if you can’t stop it.” Standing before me, half-dressed, hands-on hips, she tips one hip to the side and her head the other way.
“If you don’t hurry up and finish getting dressed, you will be my breakfast, maybe lunch and possibly evening meal.” I grin lasciviously at her.
“Promises, promises. I’ll test you on that one day.” Slipping into her sweater, she stands there looking at me. “Well, are we eating or getting undressed again?”
“Let’s eat first and see what the rest of the day brings. I have no issue coming back here several times if there’s nothing else that needs my attention.”
“Nothing else? You’re relegating me to second place already? Your nuptials are in danger of becoming a thing of the past mighty quickly if that happens, my fated mate.” I’m happy to see her smiling as she says this because the look she is giving me does not match her tone of voice. Her voice is decidedly frosty.
As we enter the dining hall everyone goes silent for a few seconds, and then a burst of applause resounds throughout the room. I take a bow, Fenya gives a curtsy, and the room erupts with laughter.
Taking a plate, we load it with our choice of breakfast and find a table. The hall is packed, so we don’t have the pleasure of a quiet corner somewhere. No one is shy about staring either. Obviously they are excited that their Alpha has found his mate.
“Congratulations Luna Fenya, on choosing your mate.” I spin around to see who has made such a rude comment and have to grin when I see Flick, eyebrows raised and a smile on her lips. “Oh, and to you too, Alpha Lyle. A wise and noble choice, I have to say.”
“Don’t think I don’t know that you had a hand in this, Flick. Abusing the position of friendship to sway a young woman's mind. You should be ashamed of yourself, and I will be eternallygrateful.” Standing, I give Flick a hug, and the look I get from Fenya does not go unnoticed, either.
“Swaying my decision, Chef Flick, does not give you the right to take liberties with my mate.” Fenya stands and stares hard at Flick.
Releasing Flick, I wait for someone to make the next move.
“I am not a chef, Luna Fenya.”
“You should not contradict your Luna, even if it is her first day of official duties. Your promotion was my first official act of office. You are indeed the pack's chef as well as my friend.” Fenya takes Flick and gives her a hug. The kitchen staff have been watching Flick’s game with me, and they cheer and clap when they hear of her promotion.
Taking Flick from Fenya, I also give her a hug. “Well deserved too, Chef Flick.”
“Ha! Took a female to make you see my worth, Alpha Lyle.” Grinning, she wipes a tear from her eye.
“I just didn’t think I would be able to handle you all on my own when you got that big hat on your big head, that’s all.” Laughing, I give her another hug and then sit back down to resume my breakfast.
Chef Flick gives a curtsy to the clapping room and gives Fenya a quick wink before disappearing back into the kitchen amid more cheers, and even a few backslaps.
Breakfast finished, we head off to the Alpha’s office to see if there is anything needing my attention. Having an empty desk and no messages via the guard at the door, we head for the Luna’s office. Seeing Sloane at the door, I have to grin as I remember her explaining the pack mind link to Fenya yesterday.
“You can wipe that grin off your face right now. I know what you’re thinking about. It was highly embarrassing, and I want to put it behind me.”
“That’s what you said in the office yesterday,” I whisper. Fenya glows bright red and rushes into the office.
Once in the office, Fenya takes her place at the desk and looks like she belongs there. “That does suit you, you know?”
“It’s going to take some getting used to, I know that. I have nothing to do at the moment, so just sitting here is easy.” Fenya leans back in her seat and looks around the room. “I need some pictures on the walls for starters. They look cold and bland. I want a plaque for my desk to match the one on the door.” She looks thoughtfully at the walls and the desk.
Receiving a mind link from Earl, he lets me know that they’ll be back from their recon into no-man’s-land in a couple of hours.
“We have a couple of hours to fill before Beta Earl and his team are back. I’ll let them get fed and watered before we hear what they found. What do you suggest we do until then?”
Fenya leans forward and looks at me through squinty eyes. “Where have they been?”
“Into no-man’s-land. It looks like they haven’t had any trouble. There is no preliminary report of injuries or a skirmish. That’s always a plus.”
