The Characters of Clayton, Rya, Kennedy, Dallas, and the Valentines belong to Rachelle. The character of Cora is expanded on with Permission from Rachelle, and is written for the pleasure of the International Wildflower Pack, the WhiskeyQueenn fandom. #WildflowersUnited #iwp

:: A special thanks to Whiskeyqueenn Rachelle for letting us play in her world of CLAYTON::

Cookies for Horses

After I had lost my permission to stay in Urban pack territory, I had panicked for all of fifteen minutes. I called Chef Gerard as soon as I got back to my apartment, he was teaching at a new culinary school in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. News of the attack on the charity event and my banishment had already reached the remaining unpacked families and they were looking for a way out. Jorge's aunt and brother lived in the same city Gerard was teaching in, so the 7 remaining packless families prepared to leave. I called Luna Loui and begged for her help. Then I had to send a dreaded email to Luna Catherine and basically lying about why I was changing schools, that it was "for the benefit of my training", and I prayed she didn't demand I return to Adams immediately. 

I sent an email to Luna Elizabeth stating that I needed to change schools in order to finishes my training under Chef Gerard and thanked her for her hospitality with a copy to Luna Catherine. In a private email, I gave Luna Elizabeth my word that no Urban pack business would be revealed to any other pack, including my home pack. She responded by tersely thanking me for my discretion, but not for saving the mate of both her sons. Instead she gave me a choice, stay as Jamison's mate, or meet the deadline to get out of 'her city'.

In three days, we were making the day long drive to the Mile High City. The Flatirons pack was very different from Urban or Adams. The Alpha Dave was a rancher and investment banker and the pack owned several huge tracts of land around and in the city and were shareholders in many businesses run by pack members. The Luna was a well known musician and child charities advocate. They lived the public life of the rural rich while running a massive pack with businesses and wolves of every income level. Independence and self-reliance were encouraged, but the pack provided a safety net in hard times. These hardy wolves were a breath of fresh air after almost three years in Urban and growing up in Adams. 

I studied and student-taught under Chef Gerard and tried to settle into life in the thin air of the high altitude. On the up side, I got to live in one of the very luxurious pack houses, my flat was as big at the entire floor of the old building I lived in while at Urban. On the interesting side, as my duty to the pack, I had to cater the bi-weekly brunch for the Alpha's mother and former Luna, and her equivalent of the Noble Pack's Mama's club. They were called the Red Hatters, although Mad Hatters would have worked too. They were a collection of the mature female wolves of the pack, and by mature, I mean in age only. Their minds and mouths would definitely have fit right in with my grandmama's crew, scarlet hats and scandalous.

Sadly, or happily, or disturbingly, I fit right in with these older she-wolves and I don't quite know how I feel about that. Shh, listen... yes that is the sound of my wolf laughing at me, again.

I also continued teaching culinary skills at a local community center, I love teaching young chefs who would otherwise have no chance to learn. I love helping young wolves.

~

Goddess dammit, it is freaking cold. It was cold even for a wolf! I grumbled to myself as a bitter wind sucked my breath away. I don't think I have ever been this cold in my life; the wet, milder winters of my childhood had not prepared me for the frigid dry winters of the high country. The things I do to stay away from my home pack for just a little while longer. The sky was silvery gray and iridescent in the afternoon light and blowing snow.

All the packs along the continental divide were loosely allied, and their yearly winter meet and greet had evolved into a huge entertainment venue called the Western Livestock Show and Rodeo. I had never been around such a spectacle or so many very large, very dangerous animals and honestly they scared me. I was here, representing to Community Center's Culinary Skills program in this year's annual baking competition. The theme was cookies, my worst skill, but we needed to recognition and more over, the funding the recognition would bring. I had decided on old fashioned cookie sandwiches half-dipped in various candy shells. Jorge's brother Javier had loaned us one of his food trucks as a mobile prep kitchen, and Javier Jr had painted it temporarily for the fund raising event. As we sold the larger cookie sandwiches and gave away hundreds of bite sized samples to get votes, I felt like I was in some demented cooking show competition from the Food Network. I knew we probably wouldn't win but if we could get the People's Choice Award and prize money, and a top 3 placement, we could get some much needed equipment for the community center.

"Cora, almost time for the first round," Jorge reminded me, he was such an organized wolf, I would be lost without him. 

I couldn't help the dread I felt as rushed from the food truck area into the pavilion. I presented 6 varieties of cookie sandwiches to the judges. I had tested over two dozen variations on my Red Hatters group. Their choices surprised me, but I figured these grandmother wolves knew what cookies would do well. 

The first is a double chocolate cookie with a hazelnut ganache and a milk chocolate shell. The second is a classic white chocolate chip cookie with macadamia butter, in a white chocolate shell. The third is Pecan Sandies, filled with a salted caramel praline with no shell. Fourth is a traditional oatmeal cookie with a maple and peanut butter crème filling, dipped in a maple confectioners glaze. My fifth cookie is the one I am happiest with; traditional Red Velvet with a sweetened crème cannoli filling and dipped in a dark chocolate shell. And lastly, my Red Hatters' favorite - Tart Lime sugar cookies filled with margarita crème, in a sweet and sour lime flavored glaze and edged in course salt. Honestly, I think they picked it solely for the tequila factor, but they seemed to be very popular even if the ones I was serving here were alcohol free.

I stood with dozens of other contestants, only 10 would make it to the next round. I almost fainted with relief when they called our name. On my way back to the food truck with the good news, I had the oddest encounter of my life. I was held up by a giant golden beast for cookies...

~

As I took a shortcut back from the pavilion to the food truck row, trying to stay inside as long as possible. I glanced up at the displays, listed were all kinds of events I didn't understand, I shrugged, I was a chef. My wolf yipped and I stopped suddenly. Standing in the middle of my path was a large golden horse, he lazily looked my way before inhaling deeply and starting toward me. I was terrified. This thing could kill me with a single stomp and surrounded by humans, I could not shift and run away. I had never actually met a horse alone, just Jeffery's polo pony which ignored me, but that didn't make this one any less scary. My whole life I had heard stories about how dangerous horses were to wolves. Horses were monsters. I needed to get around him but every time I stepped left or right, he turned to cut me off. The crowd just flowed around us like seeing a terrified woman being stalked by a giant yellow horse was no big deal. I backed carefully away with my hands out in front of me until I backed into a row of fencing. 

Its giant golden head rubbed up and down on me as I squeaked, "Please don't hurt me." His great brown eyes contemplated eating me, I know that is what he was thinking because he licked his lips.

An amused chuckle came from behind the horse, "He'll probably leave you alone if you give him a cookie." Wolves in public don't normally talk to each other, but I guess this event was the exception.

"Cookie?" I asked, leaning further into the fence as the horse sniffed me again. I was surprised at how good the horse smelled in spite of my fear. It was really quite pleasant and I would have enjoyed it if the thing wasn't threatening me.

"Well ,unless you stole that sweatshirt, cookie lady. You must be one of the bakers in this year's contest," the wolf grinned, he was strawberry blond and freckled, with dimples and eyes like polished golden oak. "Names Miles, and this here bandit is Shotgun Sam." He's an Alpha or Beta, and definitely has the ego of one, Goddess help me.

"Well, Miles, how about I give you a few cookies and you feed him?" I cautiously slipped off my pack and pulled a handful of sample bags out, proffering them around the animal's enormous head.

"Wow, these are some fancy cookies," He commented. I watched as he looked at the labels then opened an oatmeal one for Shotgun. His horse ate it slowly then turned its head back toward me, wanting another, I immediately back up against the fences again. At that moment, I believed I was never going to escape that monster or his beastly wolf!

He laughed again, "You sure are a skittish little thing."

"Only around things that can kill me in a single stomp." My wolf and I did not like the implication that we were timid and we do not like that we are cornered.

"That's just an old wolves tale."

I breathed a sigh of relief until he added, "It usually takes at least two or three."

I was NOT amused. I leveled him with a sour look, putting my fist on my hips, as I bared my teeth. "YOU, Mr Miles are not as funny as you think you are. First your sweet smelling beast holds me hostage for cookies, then you threaten to let him kill me?"

He grins and tips his hat, as he grasped of Shotgun's lead, "No offense meant, ma'am." I started to hurry away when he called after me, "Hey, what's your name Cookie Lady?"

"Late... my name is late." I was late and the last thing I need is some cowboy wolf with a demented cookie addicted horse in my world. So I ran, yes, ran away from the monstrous horse and his wolf.

~

It was warmer today, well not much warmer but the wind wasn't blowing and the sky had cleared. I am standing outside the food truck, hawking samples and vote cards with Girlie. We are number three in the People's Choice Award, not good enough yet. We need second place at least. I do not feel very confident, The Muffin Man truck and the CupCakery are both ahead of us and both had amazing samples, more like mini-cakes in consistency and flavor. I have begun to regret my choice of going with a more traditional cookie in a sandwich style. I hate second guessing myself. I was expecting Alpha Dave and Luna Loui at anytime with a few of the visiting alphas to talk about my community program. I hear a call and turned to wave. Shocked I plastered my best fake smile on. Walking toward me with the Flatiron's Alpha and Luna, are Miles and an older Alpha I don't doubt is his father, and the future leaders of Urban, Alpha Jeffery, Luna Susanne, and Jamison. Just.. kill... me... now...

I smile pleasantly as introductions are made and tell them how I am using the community center in one of the poorer wolf neighborhoods to teach culinary skills classes. Wolves helping wolves better themselves. Miles notices that Jamison stares at me the whole time and I don't look back. Miles catches my eye and raises an eyebrow which I pointedly ignore.

"Cora, you spent some time living in the Urban pack territory, do you know Alpha Jeffery and Luna Susanne?" Luna Loui asks pleasantly, she has no idea what I know about these wolves and their twisted ways.

"I met Alpha Jeffery and Luna Susanne at a charity event, Alpha Jeffery plays polo," I answered honestly, the less details the better. Miles snorted and his father nudged him.

"Well, you will get a chance to get reacquainted at tonight's reception, continue the good work," Alpha Dave said pleasantly before they leave. Internally I groaned, I had forgotten about the reception for the visiting Alphas, Lunas and Betas. I bow as they leave, well all but Miles.

"SOOoooo Cora, you and Jamison..." He waggled his eyebrows at me. Vulgar wolf!

"Are long over and none of your concern, Beta Miles," my tone was harsh.

He held up his hands in mock surrender, "Okay... okay, darlin', no need to bite." He pulls out his wallet, "Just wanted to buy some more cookies for Shotgun."

I huffed and handed him a bag with a half-a-dozen oatmeal ones, "On the house, but only for your horse, not you." He winked and walked away whistling, beyond him, Jamison glared at me.

~

I had managed to avoid both both Miles and Jamison all evening, then Jamison had dragged me out onto a balcony. The air was so still and cold, it hurt to breath it.

"Why haven't you called me back?" Jamison demanded.

"Because I didn't want to, and you calling me curse words on my voice mail, and having a MATE that you are sleeping with, who is also your brother's choice mate, means we have nothing to discuss," I snapped. "Now let go of my arm, Beta Jamison."

He snarls at his title, he hates that he is now his brother's beta. I bare my teeth back. He raged in my face,"If you would have stayed, I could have been Alpha and you would have been my Luna. We would be much better leaders than my brother and that slut." He was so close to shifting, he buried his face in my neck, inhaling to calm his wolf.

I didn't flinch, just leaned away, I would not show this wolf any fear. "That slut is your true mate. You sold off your chance to be alpha when you gave her to him. So don't blame anyone but yourself if you miscalculated. Now let me go," I shoved him away, his claws leaving bloody gashes in my arm. My breath hissed out at the pain.

Jamison looked horrified at what he had done. "Cora, I didn't... I mean... I'm sorry. Look, I don't love her, I don't want her, she's weak, foolish, pathetic. I want you, you're everything I ever wanted. Mother told me to make things right with you, bring you back, but I can't... I just..." He stammered, conflicted.

"Can't what Jamison, just resist the mate bond. Can't not want the person the Moon made just for you. Get. Her. Back, Jamison. Or you'll never be happy. Give your brother back his choice mate money. I am not meant for you, I never was. Susanne was and is meant for you alone, and she is in danger. Real danger. I didn't get to talk to you after the rogue attack, but the one with the prison tattoos that dragged her away. He said she was worth a bounty dead or alive. That I should let him kill her so I could be Luna because that was what SHE wanted. You say you don't love her, but I think you do and I know she loves you. She loves you enough to stay with your brother because that's what you want. You need to figure out who would want her dead and another in her place." I don't say 'me in her place' because I figured out months ago who wanted Susanne removed from the picture and a more powerful she-wolf as Luna. Someone who would do anything to strengthen her pack in her city. The look on Jamison's face was inscrutable as he turned away. His breath coming in ragged gasps, crystallizing in the bitterly cold air. He walked back inside without a word.

Miles startled me, "Daaannnnnggg, I knew them city wolves had some weird ways, but damn! Selling your mate to your brother, that's colder than January."

"Still better than the pack I grew up in," I mumbled.

"Seriously, cookie lady?" Miles looked shocked when I nodded, then he noticed my arm, "Dang you're bleeding, come on." 

Inside, he wrapped my arm in a hand towel, I couldn't help leaning in to sniff him, he looked at me odd. I shrugged, "You smell like Shotgun. He smells good, better than you." I winked at him. The scent made me feel flushed, warm, safe. Something sweet and savory with mixed spices, perfectly mixed. I liked it.

Miles started laughing, and shook his head, his light brown eyes dancing, "Well, I had hope for a moment. But it looks like it ain't my lucky day." 

I just stared at him, no idea what he was talking about, this was one weird wolf.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9.2018 - CLAYTON is published!!!

Clayton (The Wildflower Series) by Rachelle Mills https://www.amazon.com/dp/164034487X/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_S8sbDbB084P46 via @amazon

2.2019- DALLAS is published!!!

Dallas (The Wildflower Series Book 2) by Rachelle Mills https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXRVB7M/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_o9sbDbPFY61NH via @amazon
Find them on Amazon

::Thank you to Rachelle for allowing this CLAYTON Fanfiction to be published.:: 

If you are reading this on a site that is not Wattpad, it has been taken

and published without my permission.