Page 19 of Violet Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #1)

thirteen

Sera emerged from the bakery office rubbing her eyes. She would much rather be out on the bakery floor talking to customers than dealing with documents and spreadsheets or catching up on an endless list of phone calls.

The first few days back at the bakery after the full moon were rough.

Werewolves couldn’t experience hangovers, but that was close.

In addition to dealing with her body aches, Sera was taking on Parisa’s tasks because she was out for the day — again.

She could go to Parisa’s meetings and get some gossip to bring back to Hugh, but it was everything else about managing a pack and a bakery that made her remember just how much her Alpha handled.

She continued to lean on Wilma for support.

She saw a familiar face chatting with Lock and Jo at the counter and smiled. “Diah, it’s a little early for you to be back home.”

“Taking a long lunch,” Diah explained with a sigh. “A kid threw up in front of me at the library and I decided I deserved a better lunch and some desserts.”

“That’s so gross.” Lock made a face.

“It’s okay. We’ve already applied a hand pie to the situation.” Jo grinned.

“And half a mango and blackberry tart,” Lock said. “I ate the other half.”

“Make sure there’s something left in the cases after you’re all finished,” Sera teased as she headed into the back to say hello to Emmaline.

She swung the doors open, mouth open and ready to greet her friend, only to be silenced by Emmaline shaking her head, her lips pinched together in a tight line. She tilted her head towards the back and Sera followed her gaze until her eyes found Parisa in the corner, working a ball of dough.

Emmaline wiped her hands on her apron and stood beside Sera so she could whisper, “She came in here about twenty minutes ago and hasn’t said a word. I tried to talk with her, but didn’t get anywhere. Maybe you’ll have different results.”

Sera’s chest tightened. Whatever was pulling Parisa away from the house, it was obviously a heavy weight on her shoulders and she didn’t need to bear it alone. She walked over to her and cleared her throat.

Parisa didn’t look up. She kept kneading the dough so slowly her hands were barely moving. She stared down at it with her hair falling down around her. Sera wanted to reach out and tuck some of the soft, brown strands behind her ear so she could see her face.

“Pari, do you want some help?”

Parisa shook her head.

Sera took a few more steps until they were standing shoulder to shoulder. “If there’s anything I can do —”

Parisa turned and dropped her head against Sera’s arm, forehead pressing into the thin fabric of her button-down shirt. Sera froze as her mind warred between her fluttering heart and her concern for her Alpha. Parisa was never one for physical contact, at least not when she wasn’t her wolf.

She felt Parisa’s fingertips on her back and jumped, startled. Parisa wound her arms around Sera’s waist and stood there in an awkward side hug with her head down. Sera’s heart raced as put an arm around Parisa’s shoulders.

Parisa sighed and leaned in closer. “Thank you,” she mumbled into the fabric of Sera’s shirt.

Sera rubbed her hand in small circles on her back.

“Do you want to make bread with me?”

“If you mean let me watch or fetch things for you, sure. That’s about all I can do.”

Parisa didn’t move.

“But if you want help, I’ll do my best.” She patted Parisa’s shoulder, even though all she wanted to do was hold her close and kiss the spot on her forehead that poked out from between her locks of thick, brown hair. “How about we make some bread? Now’s as good a time as any to learn.”

Parisa looked up, pulling back. Sera already missed the feeling of her pressed against her shirt.

“You mean it? You’ll bake bread with me?”

She looked so hopeful. Sera’s heart burst. She’d do anything for Parisa, now and forever.

“I’ll do my best.”

Parisa sniffled, standing up straight. She wiped her face and pushed her hair out of her face. “That’s all any of us can do, right? Our best.” She set aside her ball of dough and started gathering ingredients for Sera.

It felt good to get her hands dirty. It was like working in the greenhouse, but stickier.

What felt even better was standing beside Parisa as they worked together in comfortable silence, only broken by Parisa giving Sera her next instructions.

Though she followed them the best she could, when it was time to let the dough proof, Parisa’s looked perfect and round and Sera’s was a sticky, wet mess.

“Looks like you’re making focaccia over there.” Parisa snickered.

“Is that a joke I’m supposed to get?”

Parisa shrugged. It was good to see her like this again. “We have some time as the dough proofs. Maybe we could share a pot of tea in the office?” She suggested, motioning to the front of the shop.

Sera smiled, feeling warm and content. Feelings that were best ignored stirred in her heart. Parisa wasn’t sharing anything yet, but as long as she could be there for her, that could be enough for now. She trusted that her Alpha would tell her when the time was right. “I’d love to.”

“We need to ban Monopoly,” Sera groaned, rubbing at her temples.

“It’s tearing us apart!” Jo yelled, body splayed across the rug with arms and legs going anywhere they wanted.

Sera smiled. She was still learning to be around Jo, but it was getting easier.

The things she remembered were less likely to drag her out of the present.

She was starting to co-exist with these recollections of her brother, even though they still stung.

Having so much of her pack around her helped.

“I can’t help it if I’m just the better realty manager,” Harry said, waving his wad of multicolored cash.

“More like a robber baron,” Olive mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.

“That’s too old-fashioned of a burn to count,” Harry countered.

Wilma narrowed her eyes. “Too old-fashioned?” She attempted to hide the grin forming on her lips. Jo laughed beside her.

“Not you, of course. Or you, Beta. Old things are great,” Harry muttered.

“You’re digging yourself a deeper hole,” Diah added, chucking through a yawn.

“I’m not opposed to flipping the board again like I did last time.” Jo wiggled their fingers along the edge of the game.

“No!” The group shouted in unison.

Jo beamed. “Look, we got all this fancy beer. What are we playing board games for? We can do something more fun.”

Sera leveled her stare at Jo. “You know I can’t do anything too interesting.”

“Come on, it’s all in the name of bonding.” Jo had a charming smile that made everyone want to go along with their ideas even if they were terrible. Whatever was causing that gleam in Jo’s eyes had to be dangerous.

Sera gave it a shot. “What do you have in mind?”

“Beer pong and flip cup aren’t classy enough for this beer or for this decidedly classy bunch of folks. What about —” Jo made eye contact with Wilma and smirked. “Never Have I Ever?”

“Absolutely not. I’m out.” Sera stood up from her spot on the rug, brushing the bits of popcorn off her pants.

Diah also stood. “Me, too. Not for me.”

“No!” Jo whined. “We’ll keep it tame. Promise.”

Sera’s opinion remained unchanged, as did Diah’s.

“Please?” Jo wasn’t above begging, those expressive eyebrows turning outwards and making their expression more pitiable.

“Jo does keep promises,” Wilma added, forever the loyal best friend. Becoming Gamma hadn’t changed their budding friendship in the slightest. Wilma had her role to play as the innocent-seeming but equally-guilty partner in crime.

“Fine.” Diah sat back down. “But only until I finish this can.” She waved the artsy can from a local brewery bearing the name “The Cure for What Ales Ya” in front of her face.

Beer might have little to no effect on werewolves, but it didn’t mean the infectious atmosphere wouldn't loosen a few tongues.

Sera figured her life would be the most tame and boring of all. She led a simple life centered around Parisa’s office, the bakery, and the greenhouse. But as it turned out, living for so many decades might have dulled her sense of what was tame and what was interesting.

“Time to spice things up. Never have I ever had a one night stand,” Jo said.

Sera put a finger down.

Wilma made a cooing sound, pinching Jo’s cheek. “Little gooey romantic you are.”

Jo squirmed away. “Stop it. Wait, what?”

All eyes followed Jo’s line of sight to Sera.

“What?” Sera couldn’t fight off the smirk on her face. “You live this long, it’d be impossible not to, well, you know.”

Jo leaned forward, eyes wide. “No I don’t know. Tell me everything.”

“Jo!” Wilma hissed.

Sera took a sip of her beer and shook her head. “I have to keep some air of authority over here.”

“Believe me. The more I learn here tonight, the more I respect you.”

Sera laughed. “I’m not sure how to take that.”

“Take it well,” Harry offered, raising his beer can and tilting it towards her. “Pack bonding, right?”

“Pack bonding!” Olive cheered, holding up her third ‘last beer’ of the night.

“Was it recently?” Jo asked, leaning in.

“Jo!” Wilma hissed, scandalized.

“I don’t know. Just thought I’d ask when I could. When do I get the chance? Wait, can you even date? Is that, like, a thing Betas can do? And what about Alphas? Wilma, can you date now that you’re Gamma?”

“Yes.” Wilma sighed. “I could date. I don’t want to, though.”

“Same for me,” Sera added.

“Really? Not at all?” Jo was surprised.

“I have my art and all y’all.” Wilma gestured to the group. “And Beta Seraphine has the pack and Alpha Parisa, right?” She smiled at Sera.

“Right,” Sera replied, throat suddenly feeling tight as her heart rate increased at the thought of Parisa. She stuffed her feelings down the best she could so nothing would show on her face. “I have all of you, so why would I bother?”

Jo shrugged. “I don’t know. Just thought it could get lonely, but I guess it’s hard to get lonely in a house filled with twelve other people.”