The Alpha’s Unwanted Bride

Early the next morning, I woke up before any of the men.

I got down from the carriage and saw that they were all asleep.

When I walked up ahead towards the green forest we had found our way through, I saw the men who had been making watch by the trees.

It had not been on purpose, but they were asleep.

I couldn't find Xaden in sight.

Maybe he slept elsewhere.

I hurried through the forests and searched for mushrooms and spices.

Once I found them, I put them in the little bag Xaden had given me food in last night.

I was careful not to pick the dangerous mushrooms.

Back home in the pack, because Urma was a healer, she had shown me how to pick mushrooms and spices and differentiate them from the poisonous ones.

Also, I had been in the kitchen cooking, and I knew how to make meals.

I looked for other ingredients, like pepper and onions.

It was a very rich forest; you would think someone farmed it while it was just growing in the wild.

When I returned, I quietly skinned the cousin of the pig and opened up the stomach, cleaning it out and washing it all out.

Then I used the spices and mixed them together to rub inside the meat and all around it.

I set it aside and tried to revive the fire.

When it had come back up, I put a stick through the meat and set it over the fire.

As the meat cooked on a slow heat, I turned to a large can the men had used to boil water last night and used it to make some gravy.

It smelt delicious.

I used some of the cheese I had in with the meat and then added rosemary and herbs over it.

It seemed to be cooking well.

I tasted the gravy that had been cooking on the other fire, and it tasted really nice.

I used a small can to fetch the oil and sauce seeping from the meat to pour into the gravy can.

Then I went back to tasting it.

It was perfect.

If I were back home in the pack, I would have made something better.

As I watched over the almost-done meal, I felt someone grab the back of my dress and pull me up.

I was hurled around and made to face a very angry Xaden.