Ivory Snow

She was wrong.

When Ivory woke up, the sun was high in the sky and a large, overprotective male was sitting in a chair the brothers had placed near her bed.

Adam smirked when he saw her eyes on him.

“Don’t say it.” She commanded.

His smirk turned into a full-blown smile. Ivory was of the opinion that he should do that more often. It was short lived though.

Adam was already frowning again. “You overdid it with breakfast.”

“No. I did not. I am not in pain. My body was restoring its energy, that is all. You know I haven’t been sleeping well.” Adam was the one unfortunate enough to have the room closest to hers. No one else heard her crying out at night.

She carefully sat up, paying attention to her body to see if he was right. He may have been, but just a little.

“You’re hurting.” Adam’s voice sounded pained by the concept.

“I’m fine. I’ve been lying still too long. My muscles are just stiff.”

Adam shook his head and stood up. He held a hand down, palm up, offering to help her stand. At least he wasn’t going to lecture her again or go back on his word.

As she placed her hand in his, he changed the subject. “Brian told you I was leaving.”

“Yes. Is it because of me? Am I adding more problems?”

“No. I was already considering taking the Baron’s offer before they found you. We barely make enough to get by as it is. We grow most of what we need, but there are things we still have to buy. Including the feed for the animals. His offer would be enough to give us a little cushion for the weeks I can’t sell as much at the market.”

“How long will you be gone?” They were nearly to the stairs, and he was still holding onto her. She wasn’t that fragile. But if it made him feel better…

“Two weeks, three at the most. My brothers are strong enough to protect you and they can get word to me if anything happens. Please make sure you stay near the house and out of sight.”

Like any one needed to remind her to be careful, she was sure those memories would last a long time.

“We have some flour already made. With the harvest coming in, we can grind more into flour for you. I am headed into the village tomorrow. We have a regular customer who is waiting for a shipment of fish.”

Ivory nodded. Nearly all the males had left early yesterday and did not come back until after midday. She hoped they caught enough fish to make up for what they lost when they found her. Not that any of them would let her feel guilty about it, they certainly didn’t seem to mind so much.

“A pie wouldn’t be ready yet, but I can possibly have some turnovers ready for you to take. Tell him it is a sample, see what he thinks.”

“Are you sure that won’t be too much for you to do today?”

They turned down the hall on the first floor toward the kitchen and washroom.

“I will have Fitz and Gabe help me again. It will keep them out of your fur.” Ivory grinned at him, hoping he would smile even a little at her joke.

Adam barely gave her a smirk, but she considered it a win.

A few minutes after he left her in the washroom, the pups joined her. Adam had sent them. She gave them instructions on how many apples to collect. When they returned, she gave them instructions on what to do next.

Once the washing was done, Dean and Charles showed up to take the linens and hang them outside to dry.

Ivory moved to the kitchen and began preparing the apple mixture and the dough. While they soaked and rose, she started in on dinner.

The males had set aside some of the fish for her before putting the rest in a cooling box, to keep them fresh. She stoked the fire again and then threw the fish on the pan to cook. She roasted potatoes and carrots with it.

While dinner was cooking, she put the turnovers together. Ivory had been happy to discover this morning that the kitchen had a variety of pans, so she didn’t have to worry about letting the pan cool enough to be washed before being used again.

As soon as she removed the dinner from the fire, she placed the new pan over it.

She laughed as the boys were all enjoying the scent of the house when they came back inside. The younger ones half ran to the table.

“Nope!”

They all froze and stared at her with various expressions of incredulity. Except Adam, he had a feeling what she was going to say.

“I have the wash tub filled with clean water. You will not sit down at this table to eat until you are good and clean. Now hurry and go before dinner gets cold.”

Charles laughed and walked quickly toward the washroom. Brian and Dean right behind him, not laughing. The others kept staring at her like she had suddenly sprouted fur all over her body.

“You heard me, move it!” The younger three ducked as she went to push their heads in the direction of the washroom, then took off.

“What about you? Are you going to set a good example for your brothers? Or are you going to just sit there and keep glaring at me like that?”

It had been a long time since someone had the nerve to boss Adam around. He didn’t like it. Not one little bit.

He growled as he turned and followed his brothers. He could hear Ivory giggling to herself as he went, which soothed his wolf. The human not so much.

The older males were already climbing back out of the tub and drying off with the towels Ivory had left in there. Adam gagged at the sight of the dirty water.

He probably should have made them all bathe more often.

He stood there stoically, with his arms folded, as the youngest pups washed as fast as they could. They kept getting distracted by dunking each other.

“What about you, Adam?” Brian said as he sauntered over next to him, rubbing his shaggy brown hair with a towel.

Adam looked at the water again and lifted the corner of his lips.

“You going to disappoint Snow like that?”

Adam turned and gave a look that had the younger male backing off with his hands in front of him. He was trying not to laugh though.

Growling again. Adam shed his clothes and stepped over the rim.

Next time be the first one in the water. Don’t wait so long. This is disgusting. His wolf complained.

Please, you were having fun watching the female boss them all around.

Of course, she is a true Luna. A Queen. Her wolf will be a beauty to behold.

She’s not going to be Queen anymore. At least, I don’t think she will be.

That doesn’t change who she was born to be.

Adam stopped talking to his wolf, he didn’t like thinking about Ivory leaving them one day. He was already used to her being there.

And they were already eating better too. And probably smelling better, now. He had never managed to get his brothers to eat so many vegetables as she had in one meal this morning. Looked like they were all going to be healthier and cleaner.

The food was all set on the table when they sat down. With the first bite, all the males knew the bath was worth it. If she could make fish, which they ate all the time, taste this good, then Adam would have to make sure he found a way to get her more meat.

How could a pampered Princess cook this good?

As an added surprise, Ivory had prepared extra apple turnovers for them. They were large and fluffy.

“I will be more than happy to take all the credit for these!” Dean laughed.

“These are awesome, Snow!” Eric hollered. The others threw in their own compliments as well.

All except Adam. He waited until the kitchen was deserted of all but the two of them.

“You were awfully quiet at dinner. Do you think your friend will like them enough to start buying them?”

Adam scoffed. “I think I am going to have a tough time getting him to believe that Dean made them. I will have to tell him about all the food poisoning we suffered in his attempts. That aside, yes. The Innkeeper will like them. As will all the others in town. Thank you.”

Ivory sighed with relief and leaned against the counter. “Good. I’m glad I can help. You are doing so much for me by letting me stay with you.”

Adam shifted his feet uncomfortably. “Think nothing of it.” He took a step towards the sink. “I will be leaving early in the morning, have them packed up and ready to go. I’ll do the dishes tonight. You’ve done enough.”

Hearing the dismissal, Ivory went to bed feeling the good kind of tired. The kind she had been missing while lying in bed all day.

The next morning, Ivory had half a dozen turnovers wrapped up in one of the large bowls with a towel tied around it. She even had egg sandwiches made up for all her new brothers.

Charles and Adam took theirs to go and ate on the way.

The Innkeeper greeted them happily when they walked into his Saloon.

“Adam, Charles! How nice to see you so soon! I take it, you have some fish for me?”

They both nodded.

He rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Wonderful, I was just running low. Did you have a chance to eat before you left? I can have my cook fix something up.”

“No, thank you. Dean recently found one of our grandmother’s old recipe books. You know how he is when he gets his hands on new books.” Adam began laying the foundation of their story.

The Innkeeper laughed and nodded. “Yes, your mother was always the same. Always with her nose in a book.”

“Yes, well, mother was a born chef. Dean was not. We have lived, luckily, through a few dangerous meals.”

Charles added a mock shiver to Adam’s complaint, making those around them laugh. Adam wasn’t surprised that the few villagers eating an early lunch, or a late breakfast, were eavesdropping. That’s what happened in small villages like theirs.

“Thankfully, practice makes perfect. In fact, we brought something for you to try. If you don’t mind.”

Adam held his hands up toward Charles, who grabbed the bowl from the sack and handed it to him. Adam untied the cloth and opened the bowl. The room suddenly filled with a wonderful aroma, hinting at the goodness inside.

The wolves sitting at the tables stood up and made their way over, sniffing as they walked.

“What is that wonderful smell?”

“Dean made that did you say?”

“Can we try a bite?”

The Innkeeper waved them off and lifted one out of the bowl. He paused midway to his mouth, a light smile poking through. “You don’t have a grudge against me that I’m unaware of, do you?”

The room filled with various chuckles of amusement. Adam laughed along with them, trying to hide his anxiety. The Innkeeper was well travelled and had been to many places. Adam’s biggest fear was that he would remember tasting something like this before.

The Innkeeper lifted the pastry back up and took the first bite. He moaned dramatically and took another before finishing the first. Adam held the bowl out toward the others, who were begging to try one. Thankfully, there was just enough that they could each have one.

“Dean is a miracle worker!”

“Holy crow!”

“Please tell me y’all are going to start selling these at the market?”

“That is the plan, yes. We wanted to make sure that others would like them as well. Part of me worried that Dean had poisoned us so many times that even the bad tasted good.” Adam grinned, not bothering to hide his relief that so many of them liked the delectables.

The Innkeeper still hadn’t made any comments, his expression was enough. Ivory’s creations were going to help them make what they needed to get by easier. Adam grew anxious again as the Innkeeper finished but remained silent.

“Tell you what, if you can make more pastries like that, you can count on me to buy at least two dozen every week. We will start with that. How is Dean at making pies?”

Charles blew out the air he had been holding. Adam had never seen him so nervous. It was a good thing no one else had been paying attention to him. He always came to town with them, and he was well known for his jovial demeanor.

“Excellent. These were just easier for sampling.”

“Wonderful!”

“Brian will be with Charles at the market on Sunday, but they will have your order ready for you, and more.” Adam told him.

More than one male looked at him oddly. It was not normal for Adam to miss the Weekend market.

“The Baron has requested help with his harvest this year. My brothers are old enough now, they can handle ours without me. The extra money will also be helpful during the winter.”

The Innkeeper slapped his shoulder and squeezed it in a way that reminded Adam of his father.

“That is very smart of you. I’m glad to hear that you are thinking with your brain and not letting your pride get in the way. The Baron has had bad luck with help this year. I’m sure he will be grateful you are coming. And having extra money you can count on is always a good thing. You never know what life will throw at you. As you all well know.”

Adam felt a little uncomfortable, but appreciated the support, nonetheless. By the time they left, the brothers had quite a few orders and requests for Ivory to fill.

When they got home, it was to a houseful of nervous pups. They all celebrated the good news. That wasn’t all they were celebrating either. Dean had taken out Ivory’s stitches while they were gone. Her gash was healing nicely on its own now.

Adam tried not to begrudge his brother for doing it while he was gone. He wished he had been there just the same though.

Two days later, everyone stood to wish him farewell as he left to go help the baron. He walked this time, leaving the animals and wagons for his brothers to use. Adam couldn’t help but worry about what would happen in his absence.

Would Ivory be safe? Would her aunt find her while he was gone?

Before leaving he reminded them all to keep her hidden and to only call her Snow.

That last part wasn’t hard. They hadn’t used her real name since the day they found out who she was.