The Alpha Twins and their Runaway Witch

53

Alex woke up in a cold sweat panic, after a restless night of barely sleeping. He needed to plan the perfect meal for his mate tonight. Something she would like. Something that would prove to her that Alex and August only wanted to fill her life with as much joy and happy memories as they possibly could. That they wanted her to be theirs, taken care of, cherished. They wanted to fall in love with her.

Fought over a squirrel

Her words echoed over and over in Alex's mind. She had looked happy for a moment, eating a meal with them. She had relaxed, she had spoken without thinking. Trying to express how easy she would be to feed. Alex had heard those words over and over last night. Imagining what could have led their mate to a time when she had needed to fight to eat a squirrel.

Like a bolt of lightning, Alex was struck by inspiration. Steak au poivre, with duck fat fried potato wedges and a charred endive caesar salad. Simple, familiar comfortable foods, elevated without being obviously bougie. Alex smiled to himself, grabbing his notepad from the bedside table where he always kept it. One notepad per year. Divided in half. One side for ideas, one for meal planning and recipe tasting. Each completed year, filed carefully into his desk. An organised record of his time.

He had watched her eat a burger, and she obviously loved french fries. Alex planned out what he would need from the farmers market. Plotting the stops he would need to make, in order to acquire the best local produce and ingredients. Ferociously searching his options online.

In the basement gym of their rental, from the treadmill, August could feel the moment Alex came up with his dinner plan. August smiled as he finished his run. Alex with a plan, and tasks and goals was Alex at his best. This was good. August felt as Alex ran out the door, likely going out to source the best local ingredients. Growing up surrounded by farmland had given Alex a deep appreciation for where his food came from.

With Alex out of the house, and in a good mood, August began his assessment. His mate had a broken arm, and leg, which left her in need of a wheelchair; that she could not move on her own. August was going to make damn sure that she could exist in this home as comfortably as was possible.

He was going to take care of her before she arrived today. August did not bother to shower yet, turning off the treadmill, racking up the weights he had used before his run. Alex went out to the driveway.

It was paved, new, and deep black in colour. Smooth, leading to a short curving concrete path through the small, new garden that would one day be lush and full in the future. Alex tested the grade on the path that his mate would need to use to reach the front door. Pleased to discover that the path to the front deck was smooth, even and the grade was better than code for accessibility.

However, as he moved he realised that the front door was a full three inches higher than the deck floor. Another, small ramp would be needed, immediately. To ensure that his mate would be able to easily get in the front door. August had promised her he would do everything he could. He kept his promises.

August set to work, taking measurements, doing actual math to calculate the length the ramp would need to be to ensure it was truly accessible and met or was better than code. Heading out to the garage, and the rudimentary wood workshop that was already in place. With a small supply of wood cuts to use.

Alex shopped, and planned, August worked wood and accessible aides as needed until both were satisfied they had done all they could to prepare. Alex arrived home, the smell of sawdust thick near the entrance to the open garage. A brand new tiny ramp greeting Alex as he entered the house. Two batteries for the power drill were charging in the hallway, alerting Alex that while he had been out, his brother had been just as busy.