Chapter 20

Alise woke late, much later than she’d expected.  Surprised to find the TV tray set up again right beside the bed with a plate of food and a steaming mug of something beside it, she wondered who’d brought it in and why she hadn’t stirred when they had.  Typically a light sleeper, it was rare that someone was able to sneak up on her. 

Sitting up, she stretched and eyed the plate that sat beneath a bright red kitchen towel.  She could smell the coffee now, and it had her mouth watering.  Still, she wondered if whatever was on the plate was worth her getting out of bed for or if she should just doze a little longer. 

Feeling a little hung-over, she wasn’t sure if the residue of sleep clinging to her was from too much sleep or not enough.  She wasn’t sure, but her growling stomach decided her course.

Shoving the blankets off, she crawled to the side of the bed, pulled the towel from the plate, and frowned at the six steaming biscuits and side-bowl of thick gravy that greeted her.  She’d only ever eaten biscuits with white gravy.  Shrugging, she grabbed a biscuit and dunked it in the brown gravy before taking a bite. 

Holy Hannah!  She’d been expecting some sort of savory sausage gravy, but what she got was chocolate. Creamy, thick, warm chocolate gravy. 

Moaning, Alise readjusted to a better sitting position and dug in.

Alise devoured her breakfast, eating four of the six biscuits and polishing off the entire mug of coffee.  After she’d brushed and gotten cleaned up and dressed for the day, she found herself stalling in the guestroom.  Today was the day she and Chief traded mate marks and went separate ways.  She was surprised at how much the thought of separating from him hurt.  Hell, she’d only met him two days ago!  She shouldn’t feel like this, but no amount of chastisement had the ache dulling.

“You can do this.  You’ve lived through worse.”

But had she?  It sure didn’t feel that way to her heart.

Steeling herself, she paced to the door, jerked it open, and set out to find Chief and that mark she needed in order to be done with him because she needed this over with.  Delaying it only made things worse, only reminded her that once again she wasn’t good enough.  Besides, she’d told Chief that she wasn’t a hummingbird, and she meant it.  She was strong, made of iron, and she wasn’t going to sulk in her room.  No, she was gonna rise to this challenge.  She was gonna face the day and the aftermath like the fucking phoenix she was.

***

After sneaking breakfast into her room, Chief had successfully avoided Alise all day.  It was hard too because last night kept playing through his head, and Beast kept snarling at him to go find her and tell her the truth.  But Chief had a plan, and it was one Chloe was on board to help with.  So, he’d spent the day helping Dell and Briggs with digging the compound out from the storm.  They did other chores and projects around the compound too, but Chief was careful not to get too far that it’d cause Alise any discomfort. 

He was glancing at the house when beside him, Briggs bit out, “Christ, man!  Just go claim her already.  It’s obvious that’s what you want to do.  Do it!”

With a chuckle, Dell cut in, “It ain’t that easy, little brother.  Chief let it ride too long, and now Alise has plans of her own.  Plans that include getting as far from Chief as possible.”

“So she feels the same way about him the rest of us do?”

Chief shot Briggs a dark look as both he and Dell laughed.

“I’ve got a plan,” Chief snarled, eyes still on the house.  “I’m gonna…court her.”

Briggs dropped the two-by-four he’d been holding and took a step toward Chief with excited round eyes.  “Can I watch?  Please?  Please, please, please?”

“Fuck you,” Chief snarled.

Briggs and Dell laughed again before Dell sobered, “Leave him alone, brother, before I tell him how smooth you were courting Kya.” 

That had the smile slipping right off Brigg’s face. 

When the front screen door opened and Chloe waved excitedly, Chief dropped the stack of lumber he’d been helping stack and stalked toward the Phena.  He’d hoped to do this alone, but Dell and Briggs dropped their wood and followed.

Sonofa…

In the house, Chloe pressed a finger to her lips, indicating they should be quiet as she motioned toward the den. 

The guys all went that way as Chloe disappeared toward the other end of the house.

Alone with Briggs and Dell in the den, Chief couldn’t help but put voice to his fears.  “What if this doesn’t work?  What if she still wants to separate?”

“It’ll work,” Dell answered gruffly.  “You have to have faith.”

“Yeah,” Briggs supplied, “and if it doesn’t work, you can just post up here until your heart finishes shattering.  We could use the help.”

Both Chief and Dell shot Briggs dark looks.

“Joking!”  He held up his hands. “I’m only joking, bro.  It’ll work.  I know it will.”

They quieted as footsteps sounded down the hall.

Nervousness exploding inside of him had Chief tensing as he faced the entryway.

When Chloe and Alise entered, Alise saw him and stalled near the doorway.  Her eyes touching on everyone else in the room before she cleared her throat and asked nervously, “So this is it?  We doing this now?  Here?”

Hell no! 

Beast snarled loudly and had everyone’s head whipping in his direction.  Dell and Briggs looked surprised, Chloe looked annoyed, but Alise.  Whooo…his Alise’s lips tweaked up in a quick grin like she’d just shared some secret joke with Beast.  He got it. She felt like she knew the animal now.  Beast felt the same way about her.

“We can’t do it right now.”  Chloe shot a feigned confused look at Chief.  “It’s gotta be done on a full moon,” she lied.  Looking at Alise, her brows furrowed, “You didn’t know that?”

Looking deflated, Alise shook her head.  “N-no.  I didn’t.”

Dell stepped forward, “Next full moon is in three days.  You won’t have to wait long.”   

Chief’s eyes never left Alise.  Not when she glanced at him, not when she dipped her chin, and not when she angled her face away like she didn’t want him staring at her.

“Look,” Chloe cut in, shooting Dell a pointed look.  “It’s probably been super crazy since you two have been stricken.  There probably hasn’t even been one second to even get to know each other, right?”  She looked from Chief to Alise.  Reaching up, she squeezed Dell’s bicep.  “It’s early yet.  Why don’t we go to town, get your minds off things.  Have dinner, or a drink, or shoot a game of pool, how about just being…normal for a minute.  How’s that sound?”

Honestly, it sounded really fucking good, and hope flooded Chief as he stared at Alise. 

Whether she agreed to go just to be done with the conversation or out of genuine interest, Chief wasn’t sure.  Still, he was relieved when she nodded.  “We could do that.”

“Good!”  Chloe’s tone was a little too airy as she slapped Dell on the ass, “Why don’t we get ready and leave in say,” she glanced down at her watch-less wrist.  “About two hours?”

Everyone agreed, and when they disperse, Chief couldn’t help the excitement that tore through him. 

Tonight it began.  Tonight he started work on winning his mate over.