“Took you long enough,” Titus said.
All three looked at Titus.
Titus looked at them all as they waited for him to explain. “This is why I didn’t bring you a plate, too. I’m interested in Hail, but that doesn’t mean I’d let you starve. He was making your plate, so I didn’t,” Titus said to Alison.
“Oh, I didn’t even think about it. Thank you for thinking of me,” Alison said.
“You’re welcome,” Titus said. “But he’s the one feeding you.”
“And thank you, too,” Alison said, smiling shyly at Feral.
“You’re welcome. Would you come sit with me while we have dinner?” Feral asked, indicating the plates of food sitting on the table a few feet from them.
Alison looked over at the table, then up at Feral. “Are you sure?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you sure you want to eat with me?” she clarified.
“I made a plate particularly for you. I’m pretty sure I planned to share a meal with you.”
“Okay, then I, uh, yeah, I’d like that,” Alison said, swinging her legs over the edge of the low sitting lounge chair in preparation of standing up.
Feral extended his hand, and she looked up at him as he smiled down at her.
Alison hesitantly put her hand in his and held it as he steadied her while she stood. She looked back at her lounge chair to reach for her towel, but found him already picking it up for her.
Feral smiled as he held it out to her.
Alison took the towel from him and wrapped it around her waist, tucking it in at her hip to hold it in place. When she was done she looked at him, waiting for his cue to approach the table.
Feral gestured for her to walk ahead of him, and when she did, he placed one hand at the small of her back to guide her toward the table. He quickly moved in front of her to pull her chair out for her, then nudged it back in after she sat.
“Thank you, Feral,” she said, taking one of the paper towels and laying it on her lap.
He took his seat and smiled at her again. “Thank you for joining me.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, as she pushed the dirty rice around her plate a bit.
He took a big bite, then nodded and took two more. “I don’t know who made this, but it’s the best rice I’ve ever had.”
She smiled at him, blushing a bit. “I did.”
He looked up at her. “You did?”
“Mmhmm. I brought it over earlier because I knew they were going to make chicken this evening. There’s not much I’m good at, but I can cook. So, I decided to help by bringing over a side dish.”
“This is really good, Alison.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you usually bring food over to the Alpha’s house?”
“Not usually, unless it’s an occasion where the whole Pride gets together. Then we all contribute. But Jessica came to get a few of us this morning when the ladies from the Gamieyon Pride showed up in need, so I emptied my fridge and brought it all over along with some blankets and clothes and all. And I knew they’d be feeding a lot of people later, too. So, I went home and made this to bring over. I was just going to go home again, but then you guys showed up and their Reigna got sick, so, I’m still here,” she said, her voice rising playfully at the end of her sentence, before taking a bite of rice.
“I’m glad you’re still here.”
She looked up at Feral. “You are?”
