Chapitre 36: Peaceful Evening

A fragrant aroma came from the kitchen of the cottage, and even the senior trainers couldn't help but wonder what was cooking in the place. After all, they had been eating reheated frozen rations for two days now. They didn't have any Omega servants with them that could cook food, so smelling good food was quite a treat already.

When one came across the people crowding around the kitchen, he went to ask. "Hey, why are you guys out here? Aren't you supposed to be handling the food for tonight? Master is here, so don't slack off."

"…Second Master kicked us out because we're salivating too much…" One scratched his head. "We haven't eaten anything good despite all the hard work. Smelling the cooking meat was too much…"

"Second Master?" The senior trainer then saw the same ashamed looks on their faces. It's just that he pointed in the direction of the supplies room. "Then, set up the bowls and the bottles. If you're not cooking, at least made sure that the Master will eat warm food. Don't cause a delay."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

The senior trainer only looked at the kitchen door. Even if he wanted to take a look, he didn't want the aroma to waft too much in the cottage. That would make the wolves so hungry to move around. Then, he spotted another trainer walking by. "Hey, Frey. They are talking about a Second Master. Do you know anything about it?"

Frey, the trainer that greeted Nicholai and Darius earlier, only cast a curious gaze at the senior trainer. He then had a spur of idea. "Not sure, but it must be Darius. He arrived earlier with Master. Heh, why? Where is he right now?"

At the sound of that name, the senior trainer frowned. Then, he jerked a thumb at the kitchen door. "He must be inside… cooking."

Only a knowing yet ridiculing smile was Frey's answer.

…

Darius was furious inside. He was not an Omega to be cooking for these soldiers, but there was no one who could have done so. Even if his only experience in cooking was for the three pups, it was better than seeing the fuss Nicholai would kick up for eating a reheated frozen ration. He could only channel his rage at chopping and flipping the fried rice.

The meats were cooking on a simple grill that was designed for a campfire. He would cook outside, but he didn't want to be watched by so many. Moreover, it was hard to keep on swatting paws from snatching the savory meat on a spit.

Not all trainers were kicked out of the kitchen. He still needed at least two to stir the soup and wash the used tools for him. As for cooking for a whole load of people, this was the first. Still, he managed while keeping an image in his head. He just really wanted to keep the delusional man satisfied. That way, Nicholai wouldn't pull off strange stunts with a lot of other wolves watching.

With a sigh, Darius placed the lid on one of the pots. "Can you ask the others to set up the tables? Wait, how are you guys eating? By the campfire?"

"We have bowls for the food and bottled water, Second Master." The one washing the dishes chuckled. "It's strange for an Alpha like you to know how to cook, but we're happy to have you over… even just for one dinner. A forest gremlin has been spotted by the river last night. The trainees are hunting it later, so it's good that they would have the energy for their exam."

"A forest gremlin?" Darius was let to have his hand washed for a moment before the dishwasher continued working on the used pots. "You're hunting it?"

"Yeah, the forest imps complained when the humans were making a fuss at night. Some of them kept on missing, and the imps caught something colossal kidnapping the humans." The dishwasher shrugged his shoulder. "Since we're already here for the exams, the imps thought that they could ask First Master to deal with it. They did say that the forest gremlin has a hoard of gold somewhere."

Darius's frowns furrowed. "If that thing is causing the people to investigate, then it's best for it to be dealt with before it brings exposure to more of us. No wonder Nicholai went here just as the reports came in. Is that the new graduation exam?"

The dishwasher nodded, and Darius only hummed. When he smelled the perfect scent of the soup and the cooking meat, it was time to serve dinner.

…

The cottage was not designed to have tables for the masses, so the Chief and the senior trainers were the only ones eating in its dining room. In fact, they asked Nicholai to eat with them, but he chose to eat where Darius wanted.

In the end, the Alphas were sitting on the wide steps before the porch of the cottage. They could also see the campfire and the trainees having fun from there.

Darius was slowly eating the tender meat while looking at the sight past the campfire. The dark sky was currently home to dots of light, the stars not twinkling too much. There were also darkening clouds in the distance. At one point, Darius murmured, "Won't it be raining during the banquet?"

"Worry not, we can delay it for one night if the full moon gets clouded." Nicholai was enjoying the soup served to them. He was even frequenting the soup pot. "I figured you also heard about the graduation exam for the trainees tonight. What are your thoughts on it?"

"We should make sure it won't escape." At the question, Darius remembered to finish his food. "If it kidnaps someone again, the humans will start looking wider. The imps might start attacking them. It would be more of a headache. Wait… why are the imps going to you, anyway? This isn't part of Canini Shore anymore. This is outside your territory."

A small smile curled Nicholai's lips. He then finished his soup before giving the remaining half of his grilled meat to Darius. "Darling, why do you think we can freely establish a camp here? This mountain was where my friends and I stayed before moving to Canini Shore. This is also part of my territory. Does that make you happy?"

"S-Should it?" Darius wanted to lift a brow in suspicion, but he was given half of the grilled meat. He wouldn't say no to meat, even if it came from Nicholai.

Nicholai only chuckled as he left his seat. He came to the soup pot by the fire again and checked for another serving. However, the soup pot could only produce a few spoonfuls. It was too tasty not to be devoured by the trainees as well.

When he got back to his seat, Darius gave him a curious gaze since he was not holding his bowl up. The mate then asked, "No more soup?"

"It was understandable. Though, it's not that bad. I have drunk more than enough—"

"Eh, is it really that good?" Darius still had his soup next to him. He only sipped on it a bit to taste it. It was a normal soup that he made for the kids. It was that nice to everyone else? "Just have mine. I barely touched it. I can just make some if I want to, anyway."

Nicholai received the bowl, but he seemed to have frozen a little. It wasn't as warm as the one from the pot next to the fire, but his insides felt a lot warmer when he started drinking it. He even moved his head away as if trying to hide from Darius. However, the mate was only looking at the distant dark sky, munching on half the grilled meat he received.

All in all, it was a peaceful evening. Hopefully, it would stay that way.

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