Red

Thirteen.

When I woke up in the morning the bed was still empty.  I wasn't sure if I was relieved or disappointed that Court wasn't back. Was I starting to seek his company? I shook my head as I got out of bed and went to the wardrobe.

I took out a grey dress that was longer than the rest and put it on before using the bathroom then walking out of Court's room.

I went into the kitchen where Xerxes stood in front of the stove cooking. He paused and turned around when he heard me coming out. Xerxes turned back to the stove as I sat down at the table quietly.

"I have breakfast cooking. Some bacon and eggs." Xerxes said as he continued to cook, and I nodded.

Soon he had the food done and scraped it onto a plate for us to eat. Xerxes brought the plate over and set it in front of me. "Thank you." I murmured glancing up at Xerxes who nodded before going to get himself a plate.

I picked up the fork and began eating the scrambled eggs after crumbling the bacon into it.  The food here is always nice, much nicer than back home in the village. I mixed the bacon in with the scrambled eggs and began eating it.

Xerxes came over and sat down next to me with his plate of food. He had more eggs and bacon than I did. I focused back in on my plate of food and finished the scrambled eggs with bacon. I stood up and set the plate in the sink and looked out the window.

A small smile crossed my face when I saw Court trotting up on Celeste. His saddlebags were much fuller than they typically were.

I backed away from the window as he put Celeste away. A few moments later the door opened, and Court walked in.

He was carrying food when he came in. Court looked up at me as he shut the door and came over to me. "Here are all the ingredients you asked for." Court said as he handed me over the ingredients. I took them and set them down.

I took out the ginger and then the raw honey he got me. "Thank you, Court." I said as Xerxes walked back to his room as Court came over.

"My pleasure." Court murmured as he grabbed a plate and filled it full of scrambled eggs and sat down. I turned back and took out some of the dried elderberries Court had done for me.

I took a pan, filled it with water, and put in the dried elderberries with ginger and some cinnamon Court had picked up.

"What are you making?" Court asked looking over at me.

"Elderberry syrup. My mom used to make syrup with berries she found." I told him as I covered the pot before coming over and sitting down at the table.

"Elderberries have a lot of valuable properties as well. It can be used as medicine for colds." Court informed me and I nodded. "My mom makes it. I bring back elderberries every now and then to the village and she makes some elderberry syrup as well. I assumed you were making some, so I brought cinnamon as well for it." Court smiled at me.

"Thank you, Court." I told him and he nodded as he ate his scrambled eggs.

"No problem." Court said giving me a smile and I nodded. 

He finished his eggs up before putting the plate in the sink and coming back over to me. Court stopped behind me as he picked up a lock of my hair. 

"Who is Thorin?" I asked and Court let go of my hair.

"He's another alpha. He runs the other pack." Court answered watching me closely as he stood beside me towering over me. Court took a step back as he watched me. "You don't have to worry about him. He rarely visits." Court spoke and I nodded.