Chapter 2 The Nordic Viking God

Luna Eve was detail-oriented and every bit of a control freak. It was the pack's monthly get-together, the day of the full Moon, and she was rushing around, ranting and raving about this, that, and the other. My mom, a wonder woman of calm, was finishing the dishes for dinner when Luna stormed her way through the kitchen.

"Marie, how is the food preparation going?"

"Hi Luna, we are nearly finished here. Just putting the decorations on the desserts, and then we will lay the dishes out once the pack starts arriving."

Luna Eve grabbed my mom's head and forcefully kissed her forehead.

"You, Marie, are the only one I can rely on around here, I swear!" Luna stated. She may be an overbearing mom and neurotic at times, but Luna Eve has always been fair, consistent, and thankful to people who do a good job. And she loved my mom.

"I take offense to that, my love," the Alpha chuckled as he entered the kitchen through the back door, picking his wife up and nuzzling her neck.

"Put me down, you big oaf," she giggled, swatting at his arms. "Where have you been? The pack will start arriving soon, and you're not even ready."

"Beta and I took your son to the river for training. Don't stress, my love, we'll be ready in no time," he replied, giving her another tight hug and walking towards the stairs.

It was always like this in the lead-up to a full moon-chaotic and buzzing, everyone pretending not to be stressed while absolutely radiating stress. The scent of spiced meats, baked fruit pies, and fresh herbs was already filling the house. My stomach rumbled, but I stayed out of the way, mostly. Mom and I had a rhythm, and I knew when to pipe down and just keep icing.

It was like a dance we'd done a hundred times-me lining up the cupcakes while she moved behind me like a kitchen ninja, reaching over to grab a whisk or towel without saying a word. We just knew.

Suddenly, I heard a soft voice behind me.

"Hey, Lily."

Canne had walked up behind me and spoke so softly that I got a fright. The cupcake I had been icing leaped high in the air and hurtled back down to earth. Before I could register what happened, Canne placed one hand on my back and, with the other, reached over me and grabbed it. His lips were so close to my ear that I could feel his breath.

"Thanks!" he whispered.

My hand stayed suspended mid-air. I had no idea what had just happened, only that Canne had caught the cupcake, touched my back, and whispered like I wasn't about to melt into the floor.

I think my soul left my body and floated up to the ceiling for a minute. I didn't even remember dropping the cupcake-just the weight of his hand and the warmth of his voice.

"Hey, mom. Hey, Miss Marie," he said, backing away from me and walking over to kiss his mom on her cheek, a quick wave to my mom.

"Hi Canne, I hope you had a good training with Alpha because I prepared all your favorites for dinner."

Canne was standing there in shorts and a towel over his shoulder. His six-foot-two frame, all bronzed and glorious, with his mega-octuple-abs glistening from water or sweat. My brain couldn't register, just the fact that moisture had settled on his skin and looked like it had no intention of leaving. Could. Not. Blame. It! His shoulder-length locks were pulled back in a ponytail, highlighting his chiseled jaw and perfect face - those soul-devouring eyes, all greeny-blue and majestic. The vibe was very much that of a Nordic Viking God.

It was like someone had plucked him out of a fantasy novel and dropped him into my actual kitchen. Meanwhile, I was covered in frosting and having a minor internal meltdown.

I mean, was it even fair? Some of us were out here clinging to the last crumbs of self-control, and then he had to come in looking like a whole fragrance commercial crossed with an action movie hero.

"Everything you and Lily make, Miss Marie, are my favorites," he said, staring intently at me and taking a bite of the cupcake. Winking, he turned and followed his dad upstairs.

"CANNE! You're dripping water through the house. Arrgh, those boys will be the death of me." Luna Eve muttered as she threw her hands in the air and left the kitchen to inspect other get-together details.

"You alright, love?" my mom questioned. "You're drooling a bit, right there on the side of your mouth." She pointed at the corner of her mouth and laughed as she turned back to get something out of the fridge.

"What? Shut up, Mom!" I muttered. Internally, though, I was not alright. Not even a bit.

There was no universe in which I could just brush that off. Cupcake rescue, whisper proximity, intense eye contact-it was too much for one kitchen moment. I turned back to the cupcakes, but all I saw was frosting and failure.