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“Yep. Use your other hand to hold all those slices together so you can do them all at once when you come back the other way.” She had to wonder what it’d been like to teach him other basic life skills as he’d grown up. Had he insisted on putting his shoes on the wrong feet? Had he thrown a fit when he couldn’t get his coat off but refused help? Had he suddenly taken to cleaning his room and wanting it neat and tidy after years of leaving it messy? They were the tiniest of details, but right now, they felt so important to her.
“Something smells good,” Ava announced as she came into the room, beaming from ear to ear. In fact, she’d been doing just that since she’d returned from her run.
“Only the best for the wolf of the hour!” Brody said with a grin.
Ava shook her head. “You don’t have to make a fuss over me.”
“Of course we do,” Brody insisted. “Besides, I’ve already finely grated all the cheese by hand, so I can’t turn back now. You just wait until you try this chicken Alfredo. It’s like nothing you’ve ever tasted before.”
Sarah’s heart twisted with conflict. She didn’t want Ava to be in any sort of danger, yet she couldn’t help but be happy that her daughter had finally met the wolf that’d been trapped inside her for so long. She reached out to pull Ava into a half hug. “How are you doing today, sweetie?”
Ava gave her mother a confused look. “I’m fine, why?”
“I just worried that finally shifting might’ve worn you out a little,” Sarah replied gently. She studied her daughter closely, but didn’t see any signs of fatigue that she’d expected. Ava was bright and radiant, clearly still thrilled with what she’d been able to accomplish.
“Nope,” her daughter confirmed with a little bounce. “I’m perfectly fine. Actually, I was thinking about asking to go out again sometime soon. I mean, I know I’m not ready to start training with the others yet, but—”
“Sure you are.” Max appeared on the other side of the breakfast bar. He and Rex were both carrying in platters of meat from the smoker, filling the room with the most delectable scent. “You might not be able to keep up, but it’s not like we’d ever leave anyone behind. It’d give you a chance to spend more time in your wolf with the others around, and that’s an experience all in itself.”
“I’m also a thorough believer in the idea that watching other people do something is one big step toward doing it yourself,” Brody added from over by the stove. “Although right now, Max, I’d like to watch you bring me that chicken so I can get it sliced up and put in this dish.”
“Yes, chef.” Max obediently put the tray of chicken down by his brother and turned back to Ava. “I really do think it’d be fine. What do you think, Sarah?”
She was startled for the second time that evening when that question was directed at her. Ava’s shifting success had made Sarah wonder if she’d been wrong. She hadn’t wanted Max to take them out where there might be any chance of danger. It turned out he’d been completely right, though. Ava and Hunter were both fine, and Ava had made a huge breakthrough. What he proposed now would mean Ava would be surrounded by at least a dozen other Glenwoods. She wanted to trust Max, and she wanted to trust that they were safe. “Sure.”
“Holy shit!” Hunter put the knife down and swiped his arm across his eyes. “I’d always heard that onions made people cry, but I thought that was just something they said on TV!”
Sarah laughed and handed him a paper towel. “I guess I should’ve told you to keep your head back so you wouldn’t be right above it. I’ll finish this.”
As she chopped the onion and showed Hunter how to prep a zucchini, Sarah took a moment to notice everything happening around her. Joan and Jimmy were preparing drinks. Brody was doing the majority of the cooking, but everyone was helping, whether that meant handing him ingredients, washing dishes, or stirring the sauce while he did something else. Rex and Max had spent all afternoon smoking the meat. They didn’t just leave one or two people to feed the whole pack, slaving away in the kitchen. It was like a real family. Until then, she didn’t realize how badly she’d wanted one. Yes, she’d always wanted a mate and children, but this was bigger. This was incredible.
Her eyes lifted as Max came in from the garage, where he’d just taken out the trash. His face was soft and relaxed. He looked so different depending on his mood, but right now, he was obviously in a good one. She liked that, and she wanted to see more of it. She’d love to find more of it in herself. She’d have to remember that before she got angry and defensive next time.
The front door slammed. “Mom!”
“Conner!” Lori called back. “You’re just in time. We were about to sit down and celebrate Ava’s first shift. Come on in.”
The big blonde linebacker grinned as he strode into the kitchen, his thick fingers clinging to those of a slim young woman about his age. Sarah remembered McKenzie from ages ago, but she’d just been a little girl back then. Now she stood next to Conner, looking up at him with sweetness in her eyes.
“I heard about that.” Conner wrapped his free arm around Ava’s shoulders. “Congrats! Do you mind if I butt in on your celebration with a bit of an announcement of my own?”
“Of course not.” Ava looked so thrilled to be recognized by Conner. Sarah supposed he was like yet another big brother to her, especially since he and Hunter were so close.
Conner looked down at McKenzie and then lifted his head proudly as the rest of the Glenwoods turned to look at him. “McKenzie has officially accepted me as her mate.”
“How could I refuse?” she giggled as she tipped her head to the side to show off the fresh bite mark in the curve between her shoulder and her neck.
“Conner! McKenzie! That’s the best news I’ve ever heard!” Lori pushed her way toward her son so she could wrap them both in her arms. “I just knew it! I knew the two of you were meant to be. I could see it in your eyes.”
Conner’s face flushed with embarrassment but also pride.
“May Selene smile down on you both.” Though Conner wasn’t Joan’s biological grandson, she still treated him as such. She kissed him and McKenzie on both cheeks.
Sarah watched the surge of awe and excitement over the young couple, gladly stepping aside so others could offer their congratulations. A faint buzzing rang in her ears as she watched Ava, who kept staring at McKenzie’s shoulder.
“Plenty to celebrate, and plenty of food to do it with!” Brody announced as he held a huge bowl high over his head and led the way into the dining room, which could accommodate far more people than the kitchen table.
Everyone else followed, and Sarah soon found herself seated next to Max. Ava and Hunter were directly across from them, and there was constant chatter as everyone loaded their plates. The smoked meat made Sarah’s mouth water. Brody had created a delectable chicken Alfredo, but there was also a huge salad, roasted vegetables, homemade rolls, herbed potato salad, and several other dishes that Sarah couldn’t even fit on her plate.
