"How's the plates looking, Serenity?" I called.

"Clean and shiny, Ailia." She hollered back.

I grinned, carrying the hot pan to a trolley. It was heavy and full of chilli, but I managed it with no one's help. Serenity moved to touch the pan, and I batted her away with my hip.

"It's hot." I glared at her. "You'll burn yourself."

She flushed, nodding quietly. It was nearing one o'clock, which meant serving time. I had spent all morning in the kitchen and barely recognised the time passing until Stephanie told me there was half an hour left. The elder woman had tried to keep me in check, but once she realised I knew recipes and what I was doing, she left me to it. I made my chilli recipe, along with rice and vegetables. There was also lasagne setting on the side from the left-over mince I had.

Everything was in bulk in this place, and I felt in over my head with joy. I don't think I've stopped smiling since I started.

Serenity seemed to be head of the serving party, making sure there were enough clean plates and cutlery to take out. She waited patiently as I placed the many dishes on the trolley. The big chilli pot took up most of the space, but I squeezed in a few lasagne's around it. Once full, Serenity gave me a wide smile before wheeling it out to the bain-marie.

Wiping my hands across my brow, I exhaled loudly. I hoped Serenity could handle it herself and waited patiently for her to come back with the trolley. After a longer pause than I expected, I couldn't wait much longer for her return and made my way into the dining room. My eyes locked on her instantly, placing the lasagne into their designated spots. The chilli remained on the tray and as I approached her, her eyes filled with relief.

"Want help with it?" I cocked my head.

"Please." She breathed, glancing around the room nervously.

Together we lifted the pot, Serenity grabbing a large spatula so she could push it into the right places. We filled six deep trays with the pan's contents, before wheeling it back into the kitchen. Together we carried all the remaining sides and vegetables, filling up the remaining trays as the pack slowly flooded in.

I was carrying a pot of corncobs to the buffet when a low growl reverberated around the room. Most wolves turned their heads toward the sound but going by the raising goosebumps that tickled my skin, I knew it was Asra. I smirked knowingly; he wasn't happy with something and I had the faintest clue of what that could be.

Ignoring his presence, I filled up one tray with the large pot of corn. There were around twenty trays on this buffet, enough to feed the entire pack. I think Stephanie said we fed one hundred and twenty-two people in total, but most didn't attend mid-week lunch time. Some wolves had their own homes or cabins dotted around the land, mainly those older or with children; another thing was there were no children under twelve here.

The humans lived in their own cabins, unwelcome in the pack house, it seemed. I heard servers whisper how there were little wolves today, excited chirps of being able to take any leftovers. It made my heart ache, which only made my confidence at pissing Asra off soar.

"Ailia..."

Speak of the devil.

I lifted my gaze from the corn, seeking him out from the crowd. Asra was walking toward me, his eyes shadowed with anger. His shoulders were bunched, fists clenched at his sides, and I grinned, ready for his attention.

"Yes?" I hummed.

"What are you doing?" He snapped.

"Helping." I snorted, gesturing to the vegetables. "What else?"

"You do not help, you are not the help. Take off the damn apron and come sit down." He ordered.

He had the decency to tell me what to do when he would not even listen to me otherwise? He had to get the council to help him.

"Nah." I shrugged, picking up the empty bowl and walking into the kitchen.

He was hot on my heels, his anger palpable in the way he held himself. If he was a cartoon, he would have steam coming from his ears. I set the empty bowl on the side, my hands moving to my hips as I scoured my cooking area. I think everyone else had everything covered. Time to start the dishes.

"What do you think you are doing?" He huffed, grabbing me by the elbow.

I stumbled backward, his strength surprising me as I crashed into him. "I could ask the same to you."

Humans scurried from the room, those who had food to take, grabbed it in haste, and ran. I eyed them with envy. So far, I had managed to make myself liked in the kitchen, none of the humans here knew I was the luna. None of them thought twice about the bite on my neck being the alpha's.

Hand toying with the apron strings at my back snapped me out of my thoughts. I startled a hey and slapped Asra's hands away from my body. He growled as I spun to face him, glaring into his eyes.

"What is your problem?" I huffed. "Don't you have other things to attend to?"

"Don't test me, Tulip. Get out of that fucking apron."

I tried to repress the thrill that shot through me at the sound of him cursing. Crossing my arms, I chewed my lips to restrain the desire. His eyes followed the movement before darting up to meet mine when I huffed.

"I am not taking it off. I enjoy cooking." I shook my head.

His eyes narrowed. "You are not the help, you are the-

"Don't say it." I glowered. "I am not anything. I am Ailia. People need help cooking and I am helping them. Two chefs for an entire hundred wolves? That's ridiculous."

"I employ over two chefs." He grunted.

"That is not the point!" I exclaimed. "Today there was only one, and if I hadn't stepped in and worked my magic, there would be nothing edible on that buffet."

"You have more status than anyone in this damn pack." He grabbed my arm.

"You do not control me. I am the same as anyone here. We are all the same damn breed. I was bored. I like to cook. That is all there is to this. Now you sit your alpha ass down and eat some damn lunch before it goes cold!" I snatched it away, childishly stepping back. "I highly suggest the chilli and rice."

His head reared at my outburst. "I will not have you cooking for our pack."

"If I cannot cook, then I cannot stay in this pack."

"Our pack." He grunted. "Come and get some dinner."

I glared. "If this is our pack, then take my advice and up the wages and working conditions."

"It is up to the council-

"I don't care about your shitty council." I sneered up at him. "If you cannot handle basic human rights, then you have no right to handle what I do with my spare time. I am going to work with them and I am going to work on their conditions. If it means I do not get to eat, then that's what it means."

He flinched, and I watched as his face slowly softened from its hardened glare. He sighed, running a hand down his face in frustration.

"Fine. Whatever. I'm not arguing anymore." Asra huffed before turning and leaving the room.

I grinned triumphantly, patting myself on the back for winning that battle. Wiping my sweaty palms on my apron, I turned around and got to work on the dishes. I hand washed all the big pans before drying and putting them away, making sure my sides were clean and tidy before calling it done for now.

People had slowly started to stream back in, slowly bringing used cutlery and plates to the various dishwasher machines. I knew most would be finished with dinner and Stephanie would prepare the desserts. This pack definitely needed more chefs. Stephanie did the vegetables and sides and was now doing desserts. It was easy for one person, but the main meals would be a task for someone who wasn't up for it.

When more used crockery made its way into the kitchen, I set down my cleaning cloth and headed out to the buffet to see what was empty. Surprisingly, the dining room was still a third full, and half of the buffet was empty. I was pleased to see most of my chilli was gone, some wolves even coming back with dirty plates for more.

Eve was the first to openly speak to me; her surprised expression had me grinning. "Ailia, why are you wearing an apron?"

"I helped cook today." I shrugged, grinning lazily.

Her expression changed to one I couldn't decipher. First, she was confused and shocked at my appearance, and now she seemed regretful? Remorseful? No, no, there was nothing to be sorry for... I think maybe just upset.

"You... cooked?"

"Yes."

"Who cooked?" Mya chirped, coming to stand beside her sister.

Her eyes found mine, running down the length of my body with a wide grin. "Oh, you cooked... Why?"

"Exactly what I was thinking." Eve muttered.

"I wanted to help. I was bored."

"So sweating, stressing and getting dirty is... fun?" Eve frowned.

"Sounds great to me." Mya laughed, scooping some more chilli onto her plate at her sexual innuendo. "Tastes great, Luna."

I thanked her softly, giving Eve a concerned look before taking two empty trays from the bain-marie. They were still warm, but I could handle it if I used my apron as protection. I mindlessly carried them into the kitchen and began to wash the grime away, humming a simple tune.

By the time the lunch time shift finished, my stomach was grumbling about food. I washed my hands and made my way to the buffet, eager to see what was left. Much to my surprise, there were plenty for the ten or so humans helping in the kitchen today.

With a plan in mind, I made my way into the kitchen and asked for them all to join me by the buffet. There were only a dozen wolves left by now, and most were finished and just talking.

"There's plenty left. Make yourself some food." I gestured.

Their eyes widened, muttering nervously between each other. Some even shook their heads violently, taking a step back. I placed my hands on my hips, tutting at them.

"You made this happen, so take your reward. I will take all the burdens, just bloody eat."

Some didn't have to be told again, grabbing plates and spooning generous portions with greedy eyes. The few that remained watched with barely contained jealousy. Serenity was the first to corner me, wrapping her palm around my forearm.

I glanced down at her, smiling softly. "You eating?"

"We are not allowed." She shook her head.

"You are as much of this pack as I am, Serenity." I shook my head. "If you don't eat, I won't eat."

Her eyes dropped to the mark on my neck, her nostrils flaring slightly as she inhaled. With a wry expression, she let go of my forearm and nodded. I watched as she grabbed a plate before handing me one, and I took it with a wide smile. Spooning just enough rice and chill for myself, I was grabbing a corn cob when someone interrupted my train of thought.

"What do you think you are doing?"

My head snapped up towards the male wolf in question. He had cornered a small human girl who was just scooping a slice of lasagne onto her plate. Her lower lip wobbled, unable to meet the gaze of the male wolf. My blood boiled, eyes narrowing into slits as I glared at him. I handed my plate to Serenity before marching my way over and sliding myself between the two.

He was around six feet tall, so stood at only a head higher than me, which gave me a decent confidence boost. His eyes flashed to me with annoyance, his chest heaving with breath.

"What's the problem here?" I crossed my arms.

"Food is for the pack, not the help." He snapped, his breath hinted with my chilli.

I smirked slyly. "You should be grateful you have meals prepared and cooked for you on demand, without payment. Meanwhile, these humans are stuck in that kitchen all day with nothing to show for it, not even a hot meal."

He growled, stepping close so his breath fanned my face. "That is the hierarchy."

"Oh, you want to talk hierarchy?" I glowered. "Sit your ass down and mind your own fucking business."

I heard a sharp intake of breath from the girls behind me, clearly afraid that I was about to be embarrassed or shouted at. The male's eyebrows rose with surprise, clearly unsuspecting of my retort. I cocked my head, flashing my neck to him, and successfully his eyes snapped to the silver-white scar below my ear. His jaw tensed, nostrils flaring much like Serenity's did.

"You are not the full luna yet, human. You don't get to tell me what to do." He sneered.

Mutters filled the room.

"You are not a full man yet, wolf. Wait until your balls drop before you talk about respect and who's in charge." I retorted.

There were gasps as the room fell quiet. Clearly upset I hurt his barely there masculinity, the status-beating asshole growled and grabbed my throat. I couldn't help but flinch as they jostled me, but levelled my gaze with him. His mouth opened, about to speak when, low and behold, my rescuer came to save me.