Chapter 7 Breakfast Betrayal

Celeste had three rules for surviving her mornings:

1. Coffee first.

2. No speaking until step one is complete.

3. Avoid Hunter Blackwood at all costs.

This morning, she was failing spectacularly at rule number three, because the smug bastard was sitting at her kitchen table. In her packhouse. Drinking coffee, like he lived there.

Celeste froze in the doorway. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Hunter grinned over his mug. "Good morning, sweetheart."

Celeste scowled. "Answer the question before I break that coffee cup over your head."

Hunter's grin widened. "I'm making good on our deal."

Celeste blinked. "What deal?"

Hunter leaned back, all lazy confidence. "You won the bet, that means I owe you a month of breakfasts." He gestured to the table. "I figured I'd start today."

Celeste's eyes narrowed. "You cooked in my kitchen?"

Hunter shrugged. "I had some help."

As if on cue, Gamma Lisa peeked out from the pantry, waving cheerfully.

"Morning, Alpha!" Lisa chirped.

Celeste gaped. "You helped him?"

Lisa nodded, beaming. "Oh, absolutely. He's surprisingly good at making pancakes."

Hunter winked. "I'm a man of many talents."

Celeste groaned. "Luna help me."

Despite everything in her soul screaming at her to leave, Celeste sat down, because free food was free food. She picked up her fork, suspicious. "If this kills me, my Beta is legally obligated to hunt you down."

Hunter chuckled. "Relax, sweetheart. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't waste perfectly good pancakes."

Celeste rolled her eyes but took a bite and immediately hated everything because "Oh my Moon Goddess they were so so good."

Fluffy. Sweet. Perfectly golden brown pancakes.

Celeste scowled. "I hate you."

Hunter smirked. "Because I make excellent pancakes?"

"Yes."

Lisa laughed from the kitchen. "He even made syrup from scratch!"

Celeste turned back to him, horrified. "You made syrup?"

Hunter shrugged. "It's just sugar and patience."

Celeste stabbed her pancake aggressively. "Why are you like this?"

Hunter's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Like what?"

"Annoying. Infuriating. Competent."

Hunter laughed. "You think I'm competent?"

Celeste shoved another bite in her mouth to avoid answering.

Hunter grinned. "I'm taking that as a yes."

Celeste resisted the urge to throw her plate at him.

Just when Celeste thought this breakfast nightmare couldn't get worse, her Beta, Logan, and Gamma Lisa's mate, Mark, stormed into the kitchen.

Logan stopped dead in his tracks. "Why does it smell like... happiness in here?"

Mark, a full-grown warrior, nearly teared up. "Is that... homemade syrup?"

Lisa clapped her hands. "Come on in, boys! Hunter made breakfast!"

Logan's eyes flickered between Hunter and Celeste. Then, his entire face lit up.

"Oh my Moon Goddess," Logan gasped. "You two had a sleepover, didn't you?"

Celeste choked on her coffee.

Hunter didn't even flinch. "Not yet."

Celeste kicked him under the table. Hard.

Hunter grunted. "Worth it."

Mark was still staring at the pancakes in pure awe. "Alpha Blackwook, I take back everything I've ever said about your pack."

Hunter smirked. "I appreciate that."

Mark nodded solemnly. "But if you break our Alpha's heart, I will end you."

Celeste sighed aggressively. "For the last time, he's not my mate!"

Logan and Mark both turned to her slowly.

Then Logan grinned. "Nobody said 'mate.'"

Celeste cursed under her breath and Hunter, the smug bastard, just took another sip of coffee like this was the best morning of his life.

Celeste vowed to make him suffer.

After breakfast, Hunter followed Celeste like a lost puppy, even though she tried to shake him, taking random turns, but he just followed.

Celeste climbed a fence, and he climbed it faster.

She shifted into her wolf to outrun him, and shifted as well.

Luna, her traitorous wolf, practically wagged her tail at the sight of his massive black wolf.

"MATE. LOVE. RUN TOGETHER".

Celeste growled, but Hunter's wolf, just huffed in amusement.

Eventually, Celeste gave up and shifted back, marching toward the lake. "Fine. If you're going to follow me, we might as well walk."

Hunter, now back in human form, grinned. "I knew you'd give in."

Celeste ignored him, prefering to walk in silence for a while, just listening to the forest.

And then, because the universe loved making her life miserable, Celeste tripped on a rock and went flying straight into the lake.

The cold water hit like a slap, Celeste resurfaced, sputtering, and, of course, Hunter was laughing his ass off.

Celeste scowled. "Help me up!"

Hunter wiped tears from his eyes. "Oh, no. This is way too good."

Celeste growled. "If you don't help me, I will drag you in here with me."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Bold of you to assume I'd mind."

Before she could respond, Hunter kicked off his shoes and dove into the water.

Celeste stared in shock. "Did you...? Did you just willingly jump in?"

Hunter surfaced, shaking water from his hair. His very wet, very unfairly attractive hair. "What? You looked lonely."

Celeste's brain short-circuited.

Hunter grinned at her reaction. "Speechless?"

Celeste recovered quickly. "No. I'm just planning your murder."

Hunter chuckled. "That's the spirit." Hunter reached forward and splashed her right in the face.

Celeste gasped. "You. Did. Not."

Hunter grinned like a madman. "What are you gonna do about it, sweetheart?"

Celeste lunged at Hunter with all the grace of a rabid raccoon, but Hunter sidestepped easily, laughing.

"Too slow, Alpha," he taunted.

Celeste growled. "You're dead."

Hunter smirked. "Oh no, I'm so scared."

Celeste kicked up a huge wave of water, drenching him.

Hunter blinked. "Oh, that's how you want to play it?"

Celeste grinned evilly. "That's exactly how I want to play it."

And with that, a full-on water war broke out.

Hunter used his height and reach to absolutely drown Celeste with splash attacks.

Celeste, outmatched in size but fueled by sheer rage, tried every dirty trick she could think of. From kicking up mud, ducking under the water to ambushing him from below, and at one point, even attempting to use a floating log as a shield.

But Hunter was relentless and

Celeste was gasping for air, soaked, and furious.

"You fight so dirty!" she accused, wiping water from her face.

Hunter laughed. "Says the she-wolf who just threw a fish at me."

Celeste snorted. "That was not a fish."

Hunter pointed to the very real fish now swimming away. "Explain that."

Celeste refused to dignify that with a response.

Instead, she narrowed her eyes and formulated a new plan.

"Truce," she said, offering her hand.

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Truce?"

Celeste nodded innocently.

Hunter smirked. "You must think I'm an idiot."

Celeste blinked innocently. "I'd never say it to your face."

Hunter snorted. "You expect me to just take your hand and not assume you're going to dunk me?"

Celeste smiled sweetly. "Would I do that?"

Hunter stared, then, to Celeste's absolute shock, he took her hand.

Celeste, already preparing to yank him underwater, suddenly lost her balance, because Hunter yanked first.

With zero warning, she went flying through the air and crashed right into his chest and for a moment, they were tangled together, breathless, soaked, and way too close..

Hunter's grip tightened slightly, like he wasn't ready to let go just yet. Their faces, just mere inches apart.

Celeste could see the drops of water clinging to his lashes, and she could feel the heat radiating from his skin despite the cold water.

Her wolf, Luna, was losing her mind. "MATE. KISS. NOW."

Celeste did the only logical thing, she shoved him away and pretended she wasn't flustered.

Hunter laughed. "Admit it. You liked that."

Celeste scowled. "The only thing I like is imagining your funeral."

Hunter smirked. "You're so cute when you're mad."

Celeste let out a dramatic groan. "I swear, I am two seconds away from shifting and biting your smug face."

Hunter grinned. "Kinky."

Celeste screamed in frustration and Hunter laughed again, completely unfazed.

"Alright, sweetheart," he said, running a hand through his wet hair. "As fun as this is, I think we should head back before your pack starts planning our wedding."

Celeste gagged. "I'd rather be eaten by a bear."

Hunter smirked. "Would you, though?"

Celeste narrowed her eyes. "Test me."

Hunter chuckled, then waded toward the shore. "Come on, sweetheart. I'll even let you pretend this never happened."

Celeste huffed. "Oh, trust me, I will be repressing this entire experience."

Hunter shot her a wink. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Celeste stomped after him, her wolf, on the other hand, was still howling in victory.