Isabella

“Isabella, are you going to help me?” Her mother held out an apron in front of her and she knew there wasn't an option. Cookie Baking Duty, it was something that was on her list every year. But usually they were making cookies for half a dozen people or so at her mother's house, not the forty or fifty clan members that were occupying the lodge and its surrounding lands. But this was an opportunity to chat, get the lowdown about what Uncle Josh was talking about at the table. Of course, she would rather be getting to know Lucas better, but he was off doing something, she was sure of it. Maybe this evening, in their little cabin, she would get some time alone with him.

She grabbed the apron from her mother and looked out the window as she was putting it on. Liam and Lucas were both out there cutting firewood. Her mother slid in next to her at the sink and began washing her hands as her eyes resting on the young man in front of her.

“He's handsome.”

“Yeah. He is.” Isabella couldn't deny that, it was pointless to try to lie to her mother about it.

“So is anything going on there?”

She playfully hit her mother with a washcloth. “Mama! I met the guy this morning. In my bed, the only thing that's going on there are super awkward behaviors. Sure, he's good-looking, but I don't know anything about him. Do you really want me out of the house that bad?” She watched her mother’s eyes as she thought about her terrible investigating skills. She noticed the motorcycle out front this morning and was thinking about how it maybe belonged to him. No one else had ridden on a bike yesterday. Was she the type of girl who dated a guy who rode in at two o'clock in the morning from some dingy bar on a bike? As she watched him pick up the hatchet again and swing with his supernatural force into the gigantic logs she realized that she probably was. And that beard? Swoon. Put him in flannel and back her in bed.

“I'm just saying…”

She rolled her eyes at her mother. “Are we making chocolate chip first? I thought you were saying that we needed more of those. Come on, let’s get started.”

Isabella walked around the kitchen and began to collect the different ingredients that they required. Clearly her mother had planned on all of these guests, the fifty-pound bag of flour sat in front of her next to two ten pound bags chocolate chips. “How many dozen cookies are we making?”

Her mother took the bag of chocolate chips from her hand. “At least a ten? Maybe more.”

Isabella sighed deeply as she realized the rest of her day wouldn't be spent getting to know Lucas any better, it would be in the kitchen with her mom.

They worked diligently for hours but Isabella kept stealing glances outside the window as Lucas and Liam finished cutting firewood. The other side of the kitchen had huge windows, floor-to-ceiling. She noticed her Uncle Joshua walking around outside looking agitated. It was almost like he was pacing.

“Mama what's going on with Josh? And don't tell me you don't know anything because I know that you do. The whole thing with him and Liam at the table.” She lowered her voice just above a whisper. “Family drama is one thing, by he was undermining the alpha in front of the clan. That's dangerous.”

Her mother shook her head, dark curls falling into her face. Isabella had her father’s features for sure. She didn’t look like anyone on her mom’s side of the family. “I don't know what he's thinking. I swear ever since he and that Hemlock clan have come to some sort of alliance, he's always looking for trouble with the royals. The Bradwick's have been very good to all of us, they take care of the Eastern clan and they rule with fairness. I don't understand why he makes trouble, but he does. It's just putting everyone in danger. Including his family.” Isabella looked over her shoulder and stopped making balls of cookie dough when she saw her mother's shoulders slump forward. Clearly this was a bigger issue than anyone had been letting on. “Mama, what's going on?”

She rubbed her back gently, accidentally putting some flour on the back of her mother's dark blue shirt.

She shook her head. “Something's coming. I can feel it.”

Isabella didn't even question her mother's confidence in what she was saying. Her mother always had a strange way of knowing when something was going on. It wasn't like she was psychic, she just got a feeling. And you'd be dumb not to listen to her.

“Well maybe you should talk to Uncle Josh, tell him what you're feeling, and that he needs to apologize.”

Her mother set her lips into a thin line for a moment and then swept a piece of hair out of her face. “It's not my place. What Joshua does is his business. It’s the clan's business, not ours. If he gets himself into trouble, we won't back him up.” She swiftly moved away from her and began pouring ingredients for a set of snickerdoodles. Isabella could take a hint; the conversation was over.

* * *

People had been meandering in and out of the kitchen all day, grabbing snacks and drinks from the refrigerator, stopping to talk to her and her mother, but now the back door swung open and Liam and Lucas covered in snow pushed each other inside the door giggling like little boys.

“You two!” Isabella yelled at them as they pinned her against the wall covering her in snow and melted ice. Liam backed off with his hands up in surrender but Lucas stayed just a little longer with his body pressed up against hers.

“I'm sorry. Is it cold?”

She pushed him away playfully. “It's freezing! Go take all your wet clothes and put them in front of the fireplace. You two are ridiculous.” She felt like she was scolding them, but she didn’t want to be soaked.

“So, how’s the baking going?”

Her mother walked past them giving her a knowing look. “It’s going well Lucas, I’m taking these out to the guys playing cards in the living room, but you’re welcome to try one on the tray.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Lucas said, looking slightly embarrassed.

Isabella watched her mother’s back as she left the room.

“These cookies look awfully good.” Lucas said as he reached around her to grab one. But Isabella grabbed his hand, stopping him.

“The frosting is better.” Isabella dipped her finger in the left-over frosting offering a taste to Lucas. What the hell? This flirtatious girl had come out of nowhere. She didn’t even know what she was doing to herself.

He raised his eyebrow at her and then put his rough lips around her finger pulling the frosting off slowly. Damn that was hot.

“Mmmm, you’re a good cook. Something else for my mother to add to her list of reasons I should mate with you.”

“Still following your mother’s orders then?”

He paused for a moment, still standing too close to her. It was hard to breathe. “Actually no. She told me you’re a Bradwick girl, so we shouldn’t mess around.”

Isabella was disappointed. “Oh well then…”

“Well then I guess it’s a good thing I never follow the rules.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She imagined tearing his clothes off and the flour sticking to their bodies as they rolled around on the kitchen island. The hell with the cookies, she wanted something else sweet. Lucas.

The craziest part was, her bear agreed. Usually they were at odds about her taste in guys. But this time she could feel her bear rumbling underneath her skin in agreement. This guy was perfect for her. She could feel it. But she knew hardly anything about him! The whole situation was insane.

Lucas spoke, breaking her out of her trance. “You look like you need to relax.” He said this time lowering his voice so only she could hear.

“Why?”

“All you been doing is working in here all day, and I'm guessing that you could use a break. Something to relieve some of the tension maybe? There's a hot tub out behind our cabin, I think we should test it out. I don't think anyone else has realized it's there yet.”

“Our cabin? So, I guess you’re staying with me again tonight?”

He raised an eyebrow at her devilishly. His green eyes boring into her. “I guess we will have to see how the night goes.” She watched as he walked over to the bar located right next to the back door and grabbed a bottle of bourbon before walking out. “I don’t drink wine,” he added and then walked out the door.

Did she dare follow him? She didn't know anything about this guy except that he was ridiculously hot and she hadn’t packed a swimming suit. So, she was about to go grab some cute underwear to throw on to wear in a hot tub with someone she barely knew. And there was going to be bourbon involved. Yes, this was a bad idea.

“Hey Mama,” she yelled into the living room. “Do you think you have it from here? I would like to go relax for a little bit.”

Her mother waved her off and she left her apron in the kitchen as she grabbed her coat off the hook and followed Lucas's snowy tracks. The trail was leading directly back to their cabin. Oh hell, this was going to be an interesting evening.