Page 34 of Claimed

“People seem to like what I cook,” I tell him. “I wanted to be a chef when I grew up.”

“But you haven’t had the chance?” he asks.

I shake my head.

His eyes search mine as he replies, “Cook all you want for me, wife.”

“Okay,” I whisper, trying hard to maintain eye contact. He seems to like it, but it’s so odd to stare directly at an alpha’s face like this.

There’s loaded silence for a beat when Greyson turns to his smiling family. “Time to go. As you can see, we still need to get to know one another. Thanks again for the food. See you later.”

“Can’t wait,” Carrie says, beaming. “Tell us when you’re ready for us to do a family dinner. Congratulations, you two.”

“Sounds good, Thanks,” Greyson says and drops a kiss on her cheek.

“It was nice to meet you,” I say with a wave at the departing women.

I grab a big basket of food and follow him inside.

“You wanna go through that while I grab the rest?” he asks. “See if there’s somethin’ already done we can have for breakfast, maybe?”

“Sure,” I say, astounded at not only the amount of food his mom and sister sent for us but also at how much food is already here. His pantry is well-stocked with canned and dry goods as well as spices. His fridge has fruits and a few vegetables as well as convenience foods. His freezer has more convenience foods than proper ingredients, but the food his mother and sister sent must be worth hundreds of dollars. The kitchen was already stocked, and now it’s at a disaster preparedness level. This isn’t something I’m remotely used to.

I look at the already cooked meals. There’s a pasta dish covered in cheese with chunks of chicken and broccoli. A pot roast with a bunch of vegetables in it. There’s a container markedchicken pot piewith baking directions on a Post-It, and there’s a roasted chicken with more dishes of warm vegetables. In addition to that, there are groceries to make more meals. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this much food in one place other than working at the restaurant. And it’s not that late in the day, so this tellsme Greyson’s human stepmom was cooking all morning for us, likely before the sun woke. Wow. Such generosity.

I think about the people back home, how they’d feel about this amount of food. I felt guilty about the meal I got to eat for free each shift while working at the diner, being allowed to pick anything I wanted each day for that meal, but access to this much food is just… foreign.

Greyson comes in with even more food. And bathroom supplies.

“Girl stuff for you,” he says, setting one of the plastic baskets on the island. I look at it and see shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, pink razors, a bath puff, a hairbrush and toothbrush, also a pack of hair ties as well as a big container of pink bubble bath along with a bag from the small department store near the diner.

I peer into the shopping bag. Clothes. Makeup. There’s an expensive-looking makeup palette. I don’t know how to use this.

My sinuses burn and tears threaten.

“Bailey shopped for the food and stuff while Mom cooked. She probably heard you didn’t have much gear with you.”

I pull the things out. There are two sets of yoga clothes, socks, a pack of five pairs of underwear, and a pair of comfortable-looking and cute pajamas.

He asks, “What’s wrong?”

My mouth opens and closes like a fish. In a matter of two seconds, he’s got his arms around me, and his eyes are searching my face questioningly.

“They-they’re both so nice,” I say, dissolving into a puddle of emotion.

“And that got you upset?” he asks.

I pull in oxygen and let it out slowly, nodding. “Because… the things I’ve done…”

“Shh.” He caresses my face. “We’ll talk about all that. Figure it out.”

“Maybe they don’t know yet and when they find out, they’ll stop being nice.”

“They already know. Believe me, my sister is the nosiest thing around. She’ll have gotten the scoop already. But don’t worry about that because though she wants to know it all, she’s not a know-it-all. You know?”

I try to smile.

He keeps talking. “My family knows you’re meant to be part of our family. You’re pack, Stace. And the pack looks after each other. Believe me, you’re not gonna have a problem with my sister or with Mom.”

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