The anger and frustration mixed inside me. Claire was our friend because she wanted to, Alpha' sister got everything in her life. Now her new demand was Troy. Why was I getting bothered with her demand? I clenched my hands into fists. I didn't like it. It shouldn't affect me. I should contemplate killing him, instead of his being of mate with our friend. I didn't even wanna call her friend. Friends didn't neglect you or go against you when they got something they wanted. Her demand was wrong, she was wrong. 

       I returned home. My mother's beaming face came into view. I plastered a smile on my face. She was going to smell my anger, anyway. She was plucking the vegetables for dinner. The basket was full of potatoes, tomatoes, peas, beets, cabbage, broccoli, mushroom, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, coriander, kale, collards, turnips, lettuce. I could already see a filled bucket behind her and a second in front of her, ready to be full. 

      "Hello, mamma," I said cheerfully. 

      She darted her gaze up at me from the bean plant with a smile. Her smile faded immediately, "What happened to you?" She scrunched her nose in distaste. 

      I rubbed the side of my jaw, "You don't look affected." My lips flattened, as I glanced at the apple tree. The bunches were heavier with fruits on them. 

      "Why should I? He didn't kill my husband. His father's decision has nothing to do with him." She said, still groping her hands under the thick leaves. 

      "He's the enemy," I told her. He would be big enough to understand everything. I never heard from anyone that he condemned his father's act. Or am I overreacting? He must be ten years old then. 

      My mother's laugh caught me off guard. I glanced at her. It wasn't affecting her, not a bit. 

      "You're still a child, nagging yourself on unwanted things." She shook her head slowly. 

      "I'm not nagging on unwanted things, momma. My father is not with me because of his father's greed." I said sharply and I was regretting it now. I hated the tone I used for her. 

      "Yes, you're right. His father's greed," She looked up at me. Her eyes were a little glassy. 

      "I'm sorry, momma." I felt remorse. 

      She shook her head with a tight smile, "He could have killed his sister if he wanted to. But he came to his enemy's door. He must be a humble kid," She said. 

       I rolled my eyes, "Don't tell me. You already like that kid," I frowned. 

       "Yes, I do." She picked up her basket with a smile. 

        "Martha! I'm hungry." Fabri said, with a puppy face. This man was still a kid. He advanced his feet and grabbed the huge basket from the ground. His muscles budged out. 

       "Of course, child. I've cooked for you." She said gleefully and turned to look at me, "You must be hungry after running, come." She said, walking inside. 

       How does she know? Sometimes, I doubted that she was a mere healer. I felt she could read what was running in my head. My stomach growled. 

       Shaking my head, I sauntered into the house. Fabri has already started eating. His mouth was full with pastry, " Kim, sit. It's delicious." He pulled the chair next to him. His mother, Carina, and my mother were best friends. He was four years older than me. He played the role of the son my mother couldn't have. He's Claudia's elder brother. 

        I plopped on the next chair to him. He curled his arm around my neck and rubbed the back of his hand on my head. I wanted to yell, but my mother's laugh stopped me. I couldn't help the smile that crawled over my face. 

       "Now, don't eat everything. Give me some too." I smiled. 

      "We have enough food for us, Kim." He said. 

       I glanced at the table. It was full of various kinds of fruits and dishes, "Yes, we have. It's a blessing." 

       "Yes, it is." Momma grabbed a basket full of fruits, vegetables, some herbs, and her cooked food in another basket. 

       I gazed at her with confusion, "Where are you going, momma?" Before I could get an answer. Kelvin, Bete of the pack, walked in. 

       "How are you today, Martha?" He kissed my mother's cheek and glanced at me with no expression, but he scowled when he looked at Fabri. 

       "Help yourself, man." Fabri returned the frown, gesturing at the food in front of us. 

       Mother handed him the basket, "Let me know if you need anything," She told him. 

       "This would be enough for our guests," Kelvin said

       My jaw dropped. Everyone knew. Who were the guests? I needed confirmation. I elbowed Fabri, "What's happening, brother?" I stared at them. 

       "Your mother is the best cook in the entire pack. Alpha asked him to prepare dinner for our guests, " He said, shoving a spoonful of mashed potato in his mouth. 

       My scowl deepened. What was wrong with them? "For Troy?" I asked. But something unexpected happened, and my anger vanished. His name seemed so right to roll on my tongue. 

       "Hi, can I join?" Claudia asked, walking toward the table. She pulled the chair next to me. 

       I saw her looking at Kelvin. I knew she liked him. She desperately wanted him to be her mate. Kelvin returned the gaze. But we have time. We recognized our mates between the age of twenty-one to twenty-five mostly, some take ages too. My mother met my father when she was twenty-nine. I was hoping to find my mate on my twenty-fifth birthday, which was after a few days. 

       Fabri scowled as he stopped chewing, "Ain't you getting late, Beta?" He stared at him

       "Yes, you shouldn't make our guests wait," momma said, wiping her hands on the apron. 

      "Yeah," He hurried on his heels to the door. 

       "You shouldn't do this, momma," I told her. The delicious smell of food was torturing me. 

      "Kim! We have talked about it. He's a nice kid." Momma said, turning to the kitchen. 

      "The dangerous Alpha," I muttered in annoyance. 

       "Good to know. His pack members won't face the tragedy that we had faced when some lunatic like his father consider attacking his pack, " A wave of sadness washed over her face. It was the second time I had hurt her. I was feeling embarrassed to apologize. 

       "Stop hurting her," Fabri growled at me. 

       "I didn't mean to momma." I could smell it in the air. She was hurt, "I know it's not his fault but we have looked at him like an enemy and now suddenly our Alpha wanted to look at him as an ally. It's hard for me, momma." I told her. 

       "Hm, you were always slow in processing your feelings." Claudia chuckled and bit on her strawberry pastry, "Wao! You're so amazing, Martha aunty," She licked the cream on her lower lip. 

        Momma chuckled and shoved the plate at my side. Rice, mashed potato, beans, salad. It smelled delicious, "You're right. She's an amazing cook." I couldn't hold my hunger anymore. I dipped my spoon into rice and beans and lifted it to my mouth. 

                The crescent moon was gleaming in the sky. I couldn't sleep. I trod in the backyard of the house, away from the garden. Fabri made an actual scarecrow with hay and dressed him in his old clothes, there was no hat but a bunch of hay over his head.

                     Nice work!