Octavius and I sat and tried to find a compromise for the overpopulation of the pack. After two hours of back and forth, back and forth, I decided I needed a break. Or rather, my stomach did.

At the rumbling of my belly, Octavius looked up from the filing cabinet he had been sifting through.

"Hungry?" He asked.

"Maybe a little." I was starving.

"I can have Phoebe get us something." He started to walk towards a phone at the wall.

"No, no, I can make something." I protested, and I mentally smiled, cooking always relaxed me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, just show me where the nearest kitchen is." I got up from my chair, and winced a little. Both my feet had managed to fall asleep, I had been sitting for so long. In a flash, Octavius is at my side, his eyes full of concern. He looks so cute.

"I'm fine, my feet are just asleep." I give him a reassuring smile but he still looks concerned.

"Let me help you." He wraps an arm around my waist and picks me up, bridal style. Tingles shoot through wherever his skin contacts mine and I automatically snuggle into him, his scent surrounding me.

He carries me out of the door and down a flight of spiral stairs, to a large open floor. I see a kitchen off to the side, and he carries me there, setting me down next to a marble island table.

"I could have walked by myself, ya know."

He smirks down at me, the slightest curve of his full lips.

"I know." then he winks at me. Octavius winks at me.

"What do you want to eat?" I ask, pulling a white apron off the wall and tying it around me.

He stares at me for a while, his eyes turning dark. I give him a questioning look.

He says nothing but his eyes say You. I gulp and turn.

"I'll make a salad." I turn back to him and he is looking at me, a reserved expression on his face.

"...And a steak?" I ask, and he grins. God he is such a child.

I begin to grill the steak over the oven with a technique my mother showed me, using seasoning and a very very high stove.

I fall into the old routine, expertly turning the steak and whisking the ingredients for a salad dressing. I begin to hum a song my mother used to sing to me when she cooked, something about a wolf and a hunter.

The moon called down to me

a lonely rogue alone

For the hunter came to see,

To fight for tooth and bone.

But I was much much wiser

Oh you see this is right

For the hunter hit a geyser

And I ran out of sight.

But even this old gunner

With his weapon shining red

Knew he was no runner

So he chose to hide instead

He waited til the nightfall

When all the pups go play

He never raised a warning call

That red stained winter day

When I was younger I loved the song, I would prance around the kitchen singing it as my mother stirred a soup or baked a cake, and my father would pick me up and swing me around as they all laughed. I never thought about the meaning of the song, everything was just...happy and perfect.

For a moment, I'm back as that child, smiling at both of my perfect parents, alive and well.

I freeze with the spatula still in my hand. Sometimes I miss them so much I feel like if I try hard enough, they'll just waltz in the door, smiling and telling me everything is alright, that everything is going to be alright.

And then the timer dings to indicate that the steak is done, and I'm back in the dark kitchen of the Blood Moon pack mansion. And my parents are dead, buried under a mountain.

"Alessandra." His voice shakes me from my mourning. I blink quickly, and realize that the steak is smoking, and I quickly throw it onto a plate, the sad piece of meat now burnt to a crisp.

"Crap." I stare down at the sorry excuse for a meal, and slump my shoulders. I can't even cook my mother's recipes correct. I wring my hands, anxiety running through me.

"Sweetie, always focus on your cooking, because a serious cook makes serious food." My mother's voice echoes in my mind.

"I'm sorry, mama." I whisper to myself. I grab the steak and chuck it into the trash, and I throw the plate into the sink. What can't I destroy? What else can I screw up?

"Alessandra." I jump at his voice this time, and I see Octavius has stood up, one hand still on the marble counter staring at me in concern.

"I'm fine." I snap, hastily untying the apron and hanging it up with shaking fingers. I turn towards him again, leaning against the cool counter next to the sink. His eyes don't waver from their concerned expression.

"I'm fine!" But my voice cracks, and I shove my head into my hands, shaking my head softly. I hear the shuffling of feet, and his is in front of me, caging me between his arms as his hands rest on either side of my waist on the counter.

He is so close, and his smell surrounds me like a cloud of smoke, inviting and so so addictive.

"Alessandra." His voice is quiet but husky, but I just focus my eyes at his chest, not brave enough to meet his beautiful eyes.

"Why do you always say my name like that?" I whisper, tracing my fingers on the visible contours of his chest, straining against his soft shirt.

"Like what?" His voice is a whisper, and he softly grazes my cheek with his calloused fingers.

"Every time you say my name, it's like you're holding each letter in your hand, like you don't want me to fall away." My voice is a murmur, praying that he doesn't hear me, but knowing he does.

His fingers appear under my chin and he lifts it, and our eyes meet.

"I say it because you are a wish I never knew I could have, something I thought I had lost a long time ago."

"Why?"

He chuckles humorlessly. "Because monsters don't deserve mates, that's what my father taught me."

"What?" I am shocked, moving subconsciously closer to him.

"I-I" He stutters, lost. "That is for a later time."

I have two options, push him to explain, or enjoy the closeness of his lips to mine. I chose the latter.

I reach up and stroke his sharp features, the arch of his cheekbone, the cut of his jaw, and I lightly touch the corner of his beautiful lips.

"Octavius." I whisper.

"God," He growls, and he is closer, his chest touching mine. "I'll never get tired of hearing you say that."

I smile softly, and his gaze shifts to my lips, and I can't breath. But I decide that oxygen is overrated anyway.

He grips my chin, pulling me up, up, up.

"Hey, Octav- Oh jesus." Octavius is off me in a flash, growling at the new found interruption. I look over at the intruder, a boy, around the same age as me I would think, with messy blonde hair and bright bright green eyes.

"Klaude." Octavius huffs.

"Wow, such a nice way to greet your cousin, Tavi."

"How many times-"

"Oh Tavi, don't get your panties in a knot, and hello," He says, moving to look at me, "Who is this beauty?" He smiles, and winks at me.

"Back off, Klaude." Octavius growls, shifting to cover me from his view.

"Don't worry, cuz!" Klaude jokes, holding his hands up, "Just wanted to see the future Luna." He moves over to shake my hand, and I take his shaking softly.

"In case you haven't heard, I'm Klaude, this asshole's cousin." He motions over at Octavius with a grin, and I giggle.

"Alessandra." I say, smiling.

"Well, now that I got what I came for, I'll just be going now." He back away, bowing as he leaves. "Feel free to resume!" He shouts as he closes the door.

Octavius groans and rests his head against the cabinet.

"He's funny." I giggle, moving back to my cooking, attempting to pop the heat filled bubble between us.

"He's a moron." Octavius mutters, and rubs his hand across his face.

"Wow, Octavius making a joke?" I giggle and smirk up at him, "Must be an apocalypse."

"Oh really?" He teases, and pokes me in my side. "Must be."

"Do that again and I swear you'll regret it." I warn, waving the whisk at him.

"Mhm, sure babe." I freeze, and look back at him, as he sits back down at the island.

"You still hungry?" I blush, turning back to my cooking.

"Very." He growls, and I chuckle, and serve him his food, finally.