New Alpha – New Rules(48)

“Good morning.” She nibbled her lip then went back to the toast. Harper pulled the slices out quickly and put them on a plate. Ryder picked up the butter knife and started to smear them. She smiled. “Thank you.” She tended to her frittata then pulled the bacon off the pan and put it on a platter. He gave it a look but kept buttering the toast, slowly. Harper got a knife from the drawer and helped. She pulled her egg concoction from the stove and slid it from the pan onto a platter. Ryder checked it out.

“What is that?” He asked looking anxious.

“It’s eggs, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and ham, it’s called a frittata.” She sliced it and when she looked up, the pack was waiting. Harper got forks, knives and plates to set out then loaded a plate for Ryder and one for herself. Cindy was there then and filled a plate for her and Lucy. Harper grabbed a pitcher of orange juice from the fridge on her way to the table. “Dig in boys.” She said as she passed them.

She sat beside Ryder and filled his glass with juice then her own. “I was upset when I found you gone this morning.” He said quietly and she tensed. “But this more than makes up for that.” He shoved egg into his mouth. “You are an excellent cook Mrs. Dawson.” She grinned.

“I did this for a living at one point but I’m sure my old boss would thank you, he taught me everything I know.” She nibbled a piece of bacon.

“I’ll have to thank him.” The wolves around her were quiet and she looked up to see why. Usually breakfast was a boisterous time of day for them, it was all of that energy from sleep. Alan was the only one that wouldn’t speak until he’d finished a cup of coffee. They were so busy eating this morning that there was no conversation. Cindy giggled.

“You’re definitely hired. Quiet is a nice change.” She looked down at Lucy who wasn’t just pushing food around as she usually did. She was eating too. Harper smiled.

“I’m glad you all like it.” Harper said and sipped her coffee. “And I’m glad I could give you a break for once Cindy.”

“I told you I would put you to work.” Cindy grinned.

The pack started the process of clearing their plates a few minutes later. Ryder followed them into the living room. Some headed to the attic and some to the barn. Ryder cleared his plate then kissed her chastely. “I’ll be in the barn.” She nodded.

“What do they have left to do upstairs?”

“Um, the room needs paint, the tub and stuff has to go in and I think that’s it. They will cover the bed so they don’t drip paint on it. Don’t worry.” She nodded. “I should have a delivery today, can you two manage to move the laundry out of the way. Jack and Curtis are going to disconnect and move the machines to the basement. When the freezer arrives they will be back to install it, if they get in your way just run them off.” He winked. No way was she running them off, she wanted that freezer installed too. This pack liked to hunt and not having a walk-in was hindering them. She also wanted a place to put more turkey if the opportunity presented itself to get one.

“Hey.” Cindy snapped her fingers in Harper’s face. “Quit looking at his backside and grab a pile.” Harper smirked. She was watching him stalk across the yard. He was so graceful when he moved. She bent and scooped up as much of the pile as she could.

“When are the washer and dryer coming?”

“I think they’re done with the electrical so…soon? Ryder ordered them yesterday, I think. We should probably ask him but we can start tackling this as soon as they get the machines hooked up.” Harper followed Cindy to the basement and helped sort the clothes. Harper helped her make two more trips.

Jack and Curtis moved the machines with little effort and hooked them up quickly. “There’s a truck coming.” Jack said and headed up the stairs. Cindy looked at Harper and shrugged. Curtis followed him.

“Thank goodness.” Cindy muttered. “I don’t know if I hope for the freezer or the commercial washer more. Come on. We’ll come back to this.”

The truck was backing up to the porch when Harper got there. Ryder, Alan, Jack, and Curtis were waiting for it. She watched as they unloaded the parts to install the freezer first then two huge washers and two huge dryers. Cindy bounced in place, “Laundry just got faster.” She whispered and Harper realized that they hadn’t been here that long but she must do laundry from sun up to sun down with the one little machine. There were many people living here. If they only used one set of clothes a day that was a big pile every day. When she lived with Bronson, she could do all of their laundry from a week in one afternoon.