MARKED BY FATE : RETRIBUTION

Chapter 2: Moonspice Tea

Carolyn Pov

The redhead lady walked towards me with an intense gazel like a predator locked on a prey.

I held my breath and straightened up, thinking quickly of who she might be, and why she was here–I had not seen her around, not really.

When she stopped with only inches apart, I realized that I was just a few inches taller. The energy in the kitchen crackled with hostility.

Wary and cautious, I slowly took a step back, trying to gauge her reaction. But just as I did, the tense, unwelcome scowl on her face cracked and she smiled– just barely. Then she broke out into a hearty laugh with her hands on her waist and her head thrown back.

That loosened me up, and I smiled back at her.

"My goddess, did I scare you?" The lady asked, her expression more welcoming than before.

"Uhm... You came out of there barging like we were going to fight. Of course, that was scary." I replied, slowly picking out my words.

Her curious, gray eyes narrowed as she looked me up and I involuntarily mirrored her action. She wore a tight white shirt which was unbuttoned at the top, leaving a  large window for her breast. From where I stood, I looked down at mine, the difference in size was obvious and I feared hers might pop right out in the next second.

She wore tight fitting blue jeans, and in her right hand, she seemed to fiddle with something in it. What that was, I could not tell but what I did understand was that this lady was no longer a threat.

At least, she seemed way too friendly to be one.

"I'm Clara." She slipped her right hand into the back of her jeans and then extended it to me. "Clara Valtor. Peter Stormbringer and I go way back."  

It was a friendly gesture, one that I was obligated to return so I smiled back at her and took her hand.

"I'm Carolyn Skye, I am-"

"Oh, I know who you are." Clara Valtor cut in with a giggle. "Everyone does. You are Carolyn Skye and mate to Peter.."

"Okayyyyy..." I drew out the word as I opened the fridge again, once more to assess the ingredients that I needed to make the moonspice tea.

It was all there, and I took them out:

The moon orchard, the black tea and some sweetener in a blue fancy box.

As I took count of my inventory on the table top, it dawned on me that I was to continue the conversation. So awkwardly, I turned to her and sighed. "I want to make some tea."

"Oh, Good." Clara shrugged.

Then it all fell silent again. It was awkward and I felt as though I was being watched, as if to fault me. I was nervous and I thought of starting a conversation again to ease the awkwardness.

But how?

Get her talking, you dimwit, engage the conversation.

Once I set the black kettle to boil on the glass top gas cooker, I turned around to see her curious eyes taking me in. I drew in a sharp breath just then as I made to speak.

"Sooo, you said you and Peter go way back. How way back? I mean..." I shrugged. "How far back?"

"Oh, Peter and I were lovers."

Wow!

The ex situation. Great job Carolyn, you just had to ask.

For a second or two, I was dumbfounded. I did not know how to proceed. It was one thing to be mated, and it was another thing to have had a relationship in hopes that you ended as mates. The second scenario never panned out well for whomever believed it to the end.

Nervously, I chewed on my lips, eyes narrowed. I wished for something, anything– a distraction to break in and steal her attention from me.

And just then, the moon goddess heard, as the kettle howled out behind me. I raised a finger in the air to signal for her patience as I spun around, heading quickly to the plate rack at the sink shelf. Once I got there, I picked out a tea mug, saucer and a knife.

Then to the table top beside the fridge, where I gathered my ingredients and moved to the sink. I washed the fruit under the running faucet right before I skimmed thin slices of its exterior into the mug. And as I worked, I was grateful she did not continue the topic.

Then suddenly, I felt her behind me.

I yelped and the knife and orchard fell to the ground. Clara laughed when I turned to face her.

"You need to stop being jumpy around me." She shrugged as I bent to pick up the fallen items. "I don't have any ill feeling towards you. I only came closer because I have never seen moonspice tea being made up close."

"You d-don't?" I stammered.

Clara shook her head with a sincerity that touched me. "I don't. The goddess gives. The goddess takes. I was only curious about the..."

Relieved, I washed the fruit and knife under running water. "About the moonspice tea?"

"Yes!"

"It's not complex." I said, slicing the last bulb of the orchard into the mug, it was as small as a pearl and was extremely rare. "You just have to find the right fruit, one that is on the verge of ripening but not so much. Then you make magic with it."

"Wow!" Clara cooed out, as I got the kettle.

By the time I mixed the tea and poured in the hot water, a bittersweet scent filled the kitchen. It was like the inviting aroma of honey with a seemingly aftertaste of something tangy, like a lemon.

"This is the scent of moonspice tea." Clara nodded with a warm smile on her face. "You are really the perfect match for Peter."

Shyly, I nodded at her. "Don't flatter me."  

"No, really." Clara insisted. "You are beautiful, and you do know your way in the kitchen. And I am more than certain that your womb would provide for him the strongest cubs this pack has ever seen."

"Thank you." I replied with an ear to ear smile.  

"I wish you and Peter best of luck on your path together." She said and once I dropped the kettle, it just felt right to hug her.

"Thank you." I whispered into her ear right before we disengaged. "Now, I have to get this to Alpha Alexander."

"Oh sure sure. " Clara beamed. "Goodluck. And I think you would find  him in his study."

I mouthed my thanks to her. I was relieved that things did not spiral down with her. The fact she was cool with all of this had softened me up to her. And as I navigated my way through the corridors of the huge pack house, with the tray in hand, I was at peace with everything.

My life was moving fine. Peter and I had consummated the mate bond. Clara did not seem like she was going to be a trouble. All that remained was for the Alpha's ritual acceptance of me and his blessing.

At the thought of this, I became worried immediately.

What if he doesn't like it or is allergic to...

Oh my goddess!

The frantic thumping of my chest increased until I could barely breathe, with the study in front of me. I took a second to shut my eyes and stabilize my breath, up until I heard his voice from behind the shut door.

"The door is open. Come in, Carolyn."

Oh my goddess. He knows.

How did he know? I did not inform him that I was coming now, he must have sensed me.

If he's this powerful, how can you hope to get his blessing with just tea, Carolyn?

I panicked as I opened the door with shaky hands. Immediately I got in, the smell of musty books and old bookcases hit me. But beyond all that was Alpha Alexander, in a red striped shirt, going through some files.

He had a streak of gray at the edges of his hair and brown eyes that locked on compassionately at me and seemed to calm me down. And as he stood, his presence overshadowed the entire room, a testament to the significance of his person as Alpha.

I walked over and knelt, as I stretched the tray. "Tea, Alpha?"

"Yes, Carolyn." He echoed out. "Not just tea... Moonspice tea. Rare. Endowed with the blessings of the Twin Lunar Goddess."

Is he going to like it? That thought haunted me, until from bowed head and kneeling frame, I heard him slurp.

And when I looked up, his face beamed with radiant satisfaction as I felt the weight of my worry shiver and vanish.

"Excellent." Alpha Alexander beamed.