"This was just..."

Gabriel watched his mother struggle for words as her hands waved over her now empty bowl. He knew exactly how she felt, he had not known how to describe Alex's cooking the first time he tried it either.

"It's just soup, but how can it be so..." his dad joined in, then not managing to find a description, he put the last spoonful into his mouth and closed his eyes in pleasure.

"Perfect?" Gabriel offered with a smile.

Mathew and Francesca Moncrief, two of the most respected werewolves in the world, were completely bewitched by Alex's talent. His chest swelling with pride, Gabriel leaned back and let the aromas of his own dish fill him with warmth.

"Hah!" Angela burst out laughing beside him, drawing confused looks from their parents. "Sorry, sorry," she held up her palms, looking from Mathew to Francesa, "but seriously, have you ever seen him look that proud?"

Gabriel narrowed his eyes at his amused sibling. After their encounter in his office, he had told Angela the truth about what happened to Alex. She was horrified at first, but then understood the need for secrecy. It was uncertain how the council would react to a half-turned human and one way or another, they would force Alex to turn. He didn't want her cornered that way.

Angela didn't seem the least bit worried about Alex's choice and was tickled pink when Gabriel admitted he was having issues controlling his emotions since they met. His sister thought it was high time that an emotional-ice-machine like him, lost control. The traitor.

"He should be proud of bringing such an amazing Chef to Boston!" Mathew squeezed his shoulder in a gesture of approval. "I remember having Chef Bisset's cooking in Paris years ago. It was really good even then, but this is on an entirely different level!"

"That's because this isn't Luca's cooking," Gabriel said. "It was made by a Chef I found in Hong Kong."

"A Chef from Hong Kong?" His mom looked surprised, "But I thought Luca was Head Chef here?"

"That's right, I'm sure I saw Luca's name at the entrance," his dad added, confused.

"He is Head Chef," Gabriel explained, pouring more sparkling water in his mom's empty glass. "I brought Alex in to work with him to create Petrichor's new menu. She wouldn't agree to being Head Chef, so I had to improvise."

"Oh?" His dad looked intrigued, "Well you better find a way to tie her down son, even if not at Petrichor, we should keep her within Moncrief Group."

Angela covered another laugh before sending him a wink, "Yeah Gabriel, tie her down."

His sister was trying to push his buttons, but his mood was far too good for him to get annoyed. After the election tomorrow, he was planning on taking a long vacation. He had to pour all his energy into Alex. She needed to be as addicted to him as he was to her; that way she would agree to stay with him.

His hand dipped into his pocket where the vial Bertie prepared sat, wrapped in protective material. The cylinder had Gabriel's blood inside and would be the tool for Alex to complete her Turn.

"Excuse me for a moment," he stood, unable to resist the urge to see Alex any longer. He really needed to get his bloody wolf to calm the hell down. It was constantly pushing at him to find their mate, anxious in case she should escape.

"Where are you going?" Angela teased, the smile in her eyes telling him that she already knew. Despite her reputation as a cold and relentless business woman, his sister had a ridiculously childish side.

"I'm going to see if I can bring the Chef out to meet you guys."

"Oh, that would be brilliant." His mom wore a delighted smile and her steady blue eyes looked into his. "I can't wait to meet this, Alex."

Francesca Moncrief was one perceptive woman.

Gabriel made his way through the busy tables of Petrichor, nodding and smiling at familiar faces before pushing through the swing door that led to the kitchen. Inside, organised chaos was in full swing. Flames burned hot as chefs shook pans, turned whisks and tossed ingredients with sauces and into bowls.

Beyond the milieu of white uniforms and vibrant smells, the woman he was looking for was bent over a pot with her eyes closed. A smile curling the corner of his mouth, Gabriel watched as the kitchen staff moved here and there, always careful not to brush up against her. Alex had created her space, even here, in the busy kitchen of one of Boston's most popular restaurants.

The pleasure at seeing her in her element quickly dissipated when Luca appeared beside her and said something that made Alex laugh. Gabriel's eyes narrowed on the man when he continued to linger, so close that his chest was almost touching her shoulder. "The damn bastard."

In five steps he reached the couple just as Alex looked up from her pot, her face coming dangerously close to Luca's. His fist itching for a fight, Gabriel took a deep breath and growled, "Move away, Bisset."

Alex turned at his voice, her face lighting with a smile at the sight of him. It might have been enough to mollify him had Luca not moved even closer to Alex. "Moncrief, to what do we owe this pleasure?"

The damned Casanova was forgetting his place. Gabriel put his arm around Alex's waist and pulled her to his side. "You shouldn't flirt with taken women, Bisset. It will land you in trouble."

Luca raised a brow, the lack of surprise on his eyes implying he had guessed Gabriel and Alex were more than just boss and employee. "Until there is a ring on a woman's finger, I recognise no claims."

So he wasn't giving up? Before Gabriel could give him a piece of his mind, Alex pulled at his hand, "Let's go out to talk, I can barely hear anything in this racket."

"One moment, Alex" He was not in the mood to be pacified, but she started pulling at him.

"Please, Gabriel?"

Casting one last be careful look in Luca's direction, Gabriel let himself be guided out of the kitchen.

"I should fire him," he grumbled when they came to stand beside the potted plants shading the kitchen entrance from the restaurant seating.

"Don't be ridiculous," Alex pulled her hand out of his grasp and stepped aside for a waitress to pass. "And what was all that taken women stuff?"

Gabriel looked down into her angry green eyes and all of his thoughts dissipated under the simple desire to kiss her. So he gave into the urge.

"Gabriel!" She pushed at his chest, looking around nervously to make sure no one had seen them. "Seriously, what's gotten into you?"

"You," he said pulling her against him. "You've gotten under my skin, Alex."

Even in the dim lighting of the restaurant floor he could see her cheeks colouring. She was such a strange creature, his Alex. One minute she was wantonly touching herself on his office desk and the next she was blushing at a simple statement of fact.

"Did...did you explain things to your sister after I left?" Alex asked, attempting to change the topic.

"I did," he took a step back from her, needed to bring his desire under control. They were in public and his parents were only a few tables away. "She will not tell anyone about you until a decision has been made."

"A decision?" Alex repeated.

"Yes." Gabriel hadn't been planning to explain right then, but now was as good a time as any. He reached into his pocket and handed her the wrapped vile. "This is for you. If you decide you want to Turn, you just have to start drinking it. A tiny bit every day, until it's done. It causes a little discomfort, but it won't be painful as long as you keep your sips small."

She looked down at the wrapped vile, then back up at him. "This is your blood?"

His lip curled and he cupped her face, "This isn't how it's usually done. To be honest, a royal is never meant to give their blood like this in case it gets stolen or falls into the wrong hands. We are supposed to remain a part of the transition in all its stages, but I wanted you to be completely in control of this. The first half of this Turn was not your choice, but this second half, it's all up to you. If you decide to take this step, you don't need to ask for anything, you don't need anyone's permission, you can just drink."

Alex stared at the vile some more, then she put it in the pocket of her chef's trousers and gave him an unreadable look. "I appreciate the thoughtfulness."

It wasn't exactly an encouraging response, but Gabriel told himself he had time. He had never failed at a negotiation and he was not planning on starting now; this was just step one.

"Alright, so now that that is settled, let's go. There are some people I want to introduce you to." He grabbed her hand, pulling her two steps into the restaurant before his eyes landed on the uninvited guests that had taken seats at his family table. "Shit."

"What is it?" Alex peered around his shoulder, not sure what he was looking at until she spotted his sister. "Oh, isn't that your sister... and the Korovic family? I should go back, I don't want you to fight."

He turned back to her and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "I won't fight." Even as he said the words he wasn't sure they were true. If they tried to hurt Alex in anyway... "But, yes, there's no point in drawing attention to you when the election is only a few hours away."

She gave him a smile that said she understood. "My experiment awaits. You go enjoy your dinner."

"Wait," Gabriel held onto her for a brief moment, remembering how close that idiot Luca had gotten to her earlier. "It would be safer if you go back to your room."

"What?" Alex raised a brow, "You're here with the Korovic guys right? And I'm working on a recipe so there's no way they'll see me, is there?"

"Fine," he wasn't pleased, but he knew she was right. As long as she didn't come out of the kitchen, he'd make sure the Korovic siblings wouldn't go anywhere near her. "Just don't let that idiot Luca flirt with you."

Alex laughed, "You're asking for the impossible. I'm not sure that guy knows how to talk normally."

She was right again and damn it was irritating. "Fine, then don't smile at him. And no laughing. And don't flick your hair when you get irritated, it looks too provocative." Then he leaned down, bringing his gaze level with her surprised eyes. "And when you are deep in thought, absolutely no biting your lower lip."

"I don't -" he kissed her before she could finish her protest, then straightened back up.

"Yes, you do. It's a very...distracting habit. Now go, and be good."

Gabriel watched her storm back into the kitchen indignantly before he turned to find Ivan Korovic watching him silently.