Taming Her Beastly Mate

“What are you doing?” Kurt laughed as he stepped up to the kitchen bar.

Diana looked up at him and gave him a sheepish grin. “Trying to make grilled cheese….” she said as he began to laugh, coming around the counter.

“You know the cooks are here for a reason. You shouldn’t have dismissed them.” Kurt said, as she frowned.

“They are uncomfortable around me. It was better this way.”

Kurt sighed and then bumped his shoulder into her gently. He could see the painful expression that she tried to hide. She pretended to act like things didn’t affect her, but they did. “They just need to get to know you… the real you. You can be a friend and a leader. I know things were done differently when…” He stopped as she looked up at him. “Not that it was wrong, but this way works too. You don’t have to keep your distance. Your whole pack can be your friends.” He then turned and looked at the toaster. There was buttered bread with a slice of cheese on both sides, sitting in each slot. “And as for the grilled cheese sandwich… you can’t put the cheese in the toaster.” He grinned at her as her face turned red.

With an air of confidence, he declared, “Let’s make something together. I’m no master chef, but I know my way around a kitchen. Grilled cheese is one of my specialties.” He glanced up as Lycaon settled onto a nearby stool, captivated by the prospect of his cooking demonstration.

“I’ll be spectating this lesson.” Lycaon said as he leaned his head on his hand.

“Not if you want to eat. You might as well help out.” Kurt slid a tub of butter over towards the deity. “Like so…” He pulled out a slice of bread and smoothed the butter over one side. “Do it just like that and stack them on the plate. He watched as Lycaon arched a brow at him, but then took the knife out of his hand. Kurt grinned and then turned to Diana. “We will be using the griddle to make the grilled cheese. A toaster is fine for toast, but grilled cheese needs to be… grilled.” He winked at her as he pulled the large griddle tray down from the shelf.

Diana watched him thoughtfully as he pointed out how the griddle worked. She had seen others use it and the stove before but didn’t pay enough attention to it. When she was growing up, they had wood-burning stoves to cook. She never paid attention or learned how to cook. Her job was to be a leader. She was taught about the political world and who the strong packs were. She knew what Alpha’s were hot tempered and which were all bark. All of that was useless to her now. None of them existed.

At least battle strategies could still pay off, but things in the Diamond pack were very different. In her kingdom, things went through a level of command. You had your high-class guards and personal guards. You also had personal servants and your family’s servants. These were the only people you talked to and then they delegated your wishes to others. It wasn’t that they felt they were too good to talk to the other members, but it was the order of things. It was how a large pack was able to be run efficiently.

As she watched Kurt expertly flip the grilled cheese sandwiches with a spatula, Diana couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort wash over her. Watching him work, with his easy smile and calming presence, made her feel at ease in a way she hadn’t felt since Aiden left. Something about Kurt just felt comforting and his presence was soothing.

As the sandwiches began to sizzle on the griddle, filling the air with the scent of melted cheese and buttery bread, Diana found herself feeling a sense of happiness she hadn’t felt in a long time. It was like they were just a group of friends hanging out, enjoying each other’s company. No… it felt more like… family. Her chest constricted as she remembered her parents and brother. She missed them so much.

“Alrighty! Step up to the plate, Dee Dee.”

She turned her head, looking at Kurt with wide eyes. She watched as he grinned, holding the spatula out to her. “The best way to learn is to do.” He grabbed her hand, placing the spatula in it. A fleeting but faint spark rippled from their contact. She glanced up at him and noticed a peculiar look on his face. Did he feel it as well?

“Don’t worry, we will make a grilled cheese chef out of you today.” Kurt cleared his throat as he pulled his hand away. What was he feeling and why was it only with her? The strange connection he could feel looked like she felt it too. So, it wasn’t just him… which made him feel a bit anxious. Usually, feeling something like this would mean something he didn’t even want to think about.

Out of the corner of his eye, he stared at her. He felt an inexplicable pull towards her, a magnetism he could not control. From the first day she crossed the pack’s threshold, something inside him stirred; it was as if his body knew he had to protect her. He put himself out there for her in every possible way, desperate to make her feel at home. Though he couldn’t quite put words to it, something that ran deeper than the future Luna bond that connected them.

When Aiden first brought Diana to the Diamond pack, he felt so much pain looking at Diana. He had never seen someone so guarded and closed off before. At first, she would barely look his way. It took him days to get her to smile. As he watched her working alongside him in the kitchen, he smiled. She really has come a long way. She might not know it, but little by little she was coming out of her shell. She might still be in pain, but she is better than she was before. And each day she would continue to get better.

He watched as she concentrated on the sandwich, her eyes locked on the griddle with a fierce determination. She nervously held the spatula and slid it under a sandwich.

“That’s it Dee Dee, you’ve got this,” Kurt said as she bit both of her lips in concentration.

Tentatively, Diana flipped the grilled cheese sandwich, to reveal a golden brown side. She looked up at Kurt and Lycaon full of excitement. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was doing something normal, something mundane. She was cooking!

“You did it Dee!” Kurt cheered as Lycaon gave her a warm smile.

“Look at you.” Lycaon watched as Diana bounced on her toes in excitement as Kurt praised her. He kept a smile on his face as his thoughts wandered. He had noticed the brief look between Diana and Kurt. Maybe the two of them living together wasn’t such a good idea. At least, right now it wasn’t, but he could hardly say anything. It would look very weird for him to object to the prince’s beta moving in.

His objections would be met with suspicion and anger if he spoke out now. And what concerns could he voice? Should he tell her that with the prince gone she shouldn’t have an unmated male living in the house? Of course, that would make Kurt seem untrustworthy. He knew that Kurt was loyal to a fault.

As they finished making the grilled cheese sandwiches, Kurt handed one to Diana and one to Lycaon.

“These are amazing.” Lycaon said as he took another bite of the sandwich.

“I did it. I cooked!” Diana squealed in a happy tone. “Thank you so much, Kurt.”

Kurt laughed. “I have my talents,” he said with a wink. “Next we will do soup and grilled cheese. But first, young Padawan, master the grilled cheese, you must.”

Diana blinked at him and he stared at her blankly. “You know… Star Wars?” He watched as she slowly shook her head. His jaw dropped as his eyes widened. “What?! Has Aiden taught you nothing?! Star Wars, you know? May the force be with you?! Oh wow… you can’t run a pack like this. No no no…. this won’t do at all. Well… the fastest way will be to watch the movies. Then you can go back and read the books.”

Diana smiled and shook her head. “I would prefer to read them and I’ll watch the movies once Aiden returns. I would prefer to watch television with him around. Sometimes the sounds and scenes…” She stopped, feeling a bit embarrassed. Television was normal for all of them, but she was still adjusting to it. Sometimes it startled her, and she wanted Aiden with her. The way his strong arm would come around her as he held her close…

“I’m a bit tired.” She lied, trying to hide behind a fake smile.

Kurt’s eyes softened as he looked at her. They were having a good time and now she was hurting again. “It’s only afternoon, Dee. How about that walk? You can’t be tired already? We don’t have a lazy Luna, do we?” He gave her a crooked grin as he stared into her gray eyes.

Diana’s silver eyes stared at Kurt’s brown orbs. If she went back to the room she was going to end up snuggling with her patch of fur that Aiden left her. What was she doing? She needed to go out and get to know the pack. She would be a better leader this way.

She could feel Lycaon’s gaze on her, analyzing her every move. It’s not like he would leave her alone anyway and she needed to clear her head and shake off this sadness. At times, it seemed to cling to her like a second skin.

“Okay,” she said with a small smile, “I think a walk sounds good.”

Kurt and Diana strode through the pack, Kurt’s finger jabbing through the air to gesture at each area they passed. Diana listened intently as he went over the patrol and their shifts. Every inch of the pack seemed meticulously planned, but with a fervor that spoke of deadly precision and iron-willed discipline. She had to admit, the Diamond pack was impressive.

The searing heat of the sun beat down upon them, and Diana felt every leaf-filtered ray sear through her skin. She felt invigorated, as if she was full of life. Kurt’s jokes were amusing, and she found herself giggling at his funny puns. With him, she felt so comfortable and at ease.

She could tell he was trying to make her feel better, and she appreciated it. Lycaon had been quietly following behind her. She glanced at him a couple of times but he held an unreadable expression on his face.

As they walked, Diana noticed that when Kurt’s arm grazed hers, she felt a warm tingle. She tried to ignore it, but her body couldn’t help but react to the touch. It was like a current running through her veins, something familiar. Out of the corner of her eye, she could tell his face looked perplexed as well. It was something they were both feeling, and it seemed to be happening more. Would it only get stronger the more they were around each other?

She inhaled the fresh air slowly as she watched the trees dance in the wind. No matter what it was… she was Aiden’s. She would never betray him… not like Shaun had betrayed her. She couldn’t… she wouldn’t. She just hoped things didn’t get complicated.

Suddenly, Kurt stopped, and Lycaon’s protective hand reached out, pulling Diana into his chest. She felt his warm hand grip her protectively as she stared out into the woods. She could hear the loud thudding of his heart and feel his strong chest rise with each breath. His arm pulled her to his side, and she looked up at his furrowed brows and tense lips. His eyes were scanning the woods, looking for an unknown danger. They were at the edge of the pack borders, but they hadn’t had any issues that she knew of.

She felt his body relax as soft thudding sounds made their way towards them. A large gray wolf charged into view, stopping in front of them. Its chest heaved as its eyes moved over us.

“What happened? Where is Gia?” Kurt said as the gray wolf shifted in a tall, muscular man with brown eyes and sandy-colored hair. It was Jamie, Aiden’s gamma, the one who left to watch the Sulfur pack. He had returned, but Gia was nowhere to be seen. She should have been with him.

“Gia has been hurt.”