Fighting Fate 🏗[Under Construction]🏗

Chapter 22: Ryker Dare

"Is this your way of telling me to become more domesticated," - Kei Valancia

~~~~~~~~~

I made a mistake. A horrible, severe miscalculation on my part.

"You can't cook." It was a raw statement as I stood in the kitchen doorway, a dead expression morphing my face into a slack mask.

Kasey and Jeremy both shot their heads up to look at me, then shared a guilty look between themselves. "Oops?"

Oops indeed. Because as I stared deadpanned at the black crusty lump stuck on the bottom of what used to be a polished frying pan that was now marred with burn scars, I knew that it was my mistake to let them in the kitchen with a thought related to cooking.

"No, it's my fault. I've forgotten that you two can't cook worth squat." I exhaled loudly and stepped into the kitchen, the smoke clogging my lungs. I looked at the fire alarm wearily, taking note that it wasn't making a single beep. "Reminder: get new batteries," I mumbled under my breath before taking the pan off the stove and moving it into the sink.

"Alpha, it was all his fault." Kasey pointed the blame towards the other man, his eyes widening.

"Mine?" he sputtered. "Everyone knows you could burn a piece of toast by just staring at it. In the package."

"Yeah? Well, at least I can burn something. Unlike you who stares at a spatula for fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to use it." At this time, the bickering doubled and I felt a muscle in my jaw twitch.

These two were very loyal and very capable in combat. I trust them both with my life, but at times like these, I wondered if it was all worth it in the end. Sadly, yes it was.

"Oh goddess, who did you burn?" Kei appeared in the doorway, her nose wrinkled at the smoke.

I shook my head and tilted my chin to the other two's direction. "Never be in the same room that includes a stove and those two. You'd have a better chance of survival with a hundred rogues." Kei's face morphed into a smile, her eyes glittering with mirth.

"Sounds like my kind of people. Regrettably, I can't cook to save my life either. " She strode in and took a seat at the bar. "So that leaves you on kitchen duty, King. Tell me, what's for dinner?" Her smile turned impish and I shook my head.

"I guess it can't be helped. I'll just make lasagna tonight. But you two," I turned my eyes to the pair, "will help me in making the side dishes." They both straightened and saluted me.

"Yesssir." In the corner of my eye, I noticed Kei getting settled in her seat.

"Don't think you won't be doing nothing either, Kei." I crossed my arms and stared at her with raised brows. "I need you to start learning how to function on your own, and I think cooking will be a great start."

She sat still in the seat for a beat, her eyes wide. "Is this your way of telling me to become more domesticated?" I chuckled and walked to the bar, reaching for her arm.

"I'll let you decide." I grinned and pulled her gently off the seat, guiding her back to the counters. "Now come. Let the lessons begin."

~~~~~

"Never again." Kei groaned, her head thumping on the counter. "I shouldn't be allowed to step foot in a kitchen ever again."

"Luna, it's not all bad..." Kasey trailed off, her eyes raking over the mess.

"No, it's worse than bad." Jeremy piped up from where he was scrubbing on the floor, the exploded red sauce reluctant to come off. "I think this isn't even classified as food anymore. No offense Alpha, but you need to make sure Luna never gets even twenty feet of a kitchen."