WHY DID THE ALPHA CROSS THE ROAD?

25 FEBRUARY, THURSDAY, AFTER DINNER

Life after Ki included dessert after dinner at the family table, and I didn't just mean ice-cream from a tub, or even a juice pop, or cut fruit. I meant real dessert - the kind that is served with a fancy name. Tonight's fancy name was Creme Brulee with a hint of lemon grass, and it taught me that while I liked the scent of the lemon grass, I didn't like its spicy tinge. So I left Mum and Savy to compliment Ki on tonight's new recipe.

"Is it not to your liking, goddess?" Ki asked.

I froze, why would Ki ask that? I even took care to finish everything in my bowl! I looked at Ki and worried. You know how I would never think twice about punching Ben, or Henry for that matter, right? But Ki was kind of different. There was this one time, I did hit him, but then I totally regretted it. I even feel ashamed now thinking about it. Come to think of it, even when I was truly furious at him at the Lorents for meekly letting Alpha James' wolves whip him, I only held my fists clenched by my side. Because... I couldn't quite explain it, but Ki was a former fight dog, and I guess, I wanted him to forget that life.

Perhaps for that same reason, I've never punched Fluffy or EJ either, even though they definitely deserved it. Wow, I'm really such a kind alpha.

BUT, it turned out that it wasn't just about physically hitting out at Ki. For some reason, I couldn't quite tell it to him straight that I didn't like the taste of the food he made - the food he made on his rest day when he was still recuperating, just so that my family could enjoy a fancy dessert after dinner as always. It's like what if Ki became sad?

Wow, I'm weak.

"The lemon grass gives it a nice smell." I managed.

Ki's smile never lost its brilliance, "Ah, understood, goddess."

I decided to just leave it at that.

"Huh." Savy shook her head, "Your tastebud is still immature. Ki's cooking skills are wasted on you."

For some reason, even though Savy was scolding me, I only felt relief.

"Yes, yes!" I felt my wide smile spread across my lips, "That's why I need all of you to eat it with me and educate me on the finer things in life."

Mum shook her head with mirth, "Oh Sam!"

Savy cackled. Sabre immediately joined the laughter even though I was sure she didn't get what's so funny. TBH, I didn't think it was that funny either, but whatever. Everyone was happy, and Ki wasn't devastated that I didn't 100% love his creme brulee. I guess I was just overthinking it.

"I have a riddle!" Sabre loudly declare.

"Oh, do you baby?" Mum asked, "Please tell us."

"Why did the chicken cross the road?" Sabre started.

"Because it wanted to get to the other side!" I answered. Easy peasy!

Sabre nodded, "Then why did the rooster cross the road?"

Ha! Little Sabre, I've eaten more salt in my lifetime than you've eaten rice! Of course I would know the answer to that one.

"To show his girlfriend that he wasn't a chicken!" I pretty much crowed.

"Sam, give Sabre a chance to finish the joke herself." Mum scolded.

"Yeah, don't fight with a preschooler over a punchline." Savy added.

"I can't help knowing the answer!" I argued.

"It's okay." Sabre waved it off, "Try this one. The chicken when to a restaurant, but no matter what it ordered, the waiter only served him pork. Why?"

Eh?

"Why?" I asked.

"Because," Sabre beamed, "Whenever the waiter came to take its order, the chicken only said, "Pork, pork, pork!" Sabre said it in the way a chicken my cluck. She even folded her arms into chicken wings and flapped them.

"Oh!" Mum clapped, "That's very good, baby!"

"Then I have a riddle for you too." I decided, quite on the spot.

"I don't want to play." Savy immediately decided, "Its either something I already know, or something lame you made up."

How insulting!

"Just listen!" I snapped.

"Okay, Sam." Mum nodded amiably. Mum was in a good mood tonight.

"Why did the gamma cross the road?" I asked.

"To get to the other side?" Sabre asked.

"Wrong. Because the beta told him to." I said, "Why did the beta cross the road?"

Sabre thought about this, and because she was a smart girl, she answered, "Because the Alpha told him to?"

"Yes. Good." I nodded. It seemed Sabre had already understood the basic hierarchy order to survive in a wolf pack.

"Now, why did the alpha cross the road?" I asked.

Sabre frowned. It was pretty cute. I could totally see her little brain trying to remember what rank might possibly be above the alpha.

"Why?" Savy asked.

"I thought you weren't playing?" I shot back.

"I'm sure its probably something dumb." Savy shrugged.

"Is it a trick question?" Sabre asked.

"Sabre, its a riddle. All riddles are trick questions." I told her benevolently, because I was a wise a good elder sister like that.

"Hmmm..." Sabre thought.

"Is there a clue?" Mum asked, so I realized that Mum was playing too.

I nodded happily - the more the merrier, "I'll give you two clues - a moon and a rose."

"Ah!" Mum's eyes immediately brightened.

In contrast Savy narrowed her eyes, "I don't think Sabre would know something like that."

"Give up?" I asked the little human.

"No... I'm still thinking!" Sabre could be stubborn like that.

"Just give up." I huffed, "A little brat like you would never know."

"You really like to bully little kids, don't you." Savy said.

Hahahaha.

"I'm not bullying her, I'm just playing with her a little." But the moment these words left my mouth, I couldn't help but feel it sounded exactly like the kind of words a bully would say.

"Okay. Who?" Sabre gave up, "Who told the alpha to cross the road?"

Savy leaned over and whispered to her, "The Luna."

Sabre raised her hand, "The luna! The luna told him to!"

"Wrong." I folded my arms and leaned back in my chair smugly.

"What?" More than one person said.

"Who else could be the moon and the rose?" Mum asked.

"I'd like to hear how you explain yourself out of this one." Savy grinned, "I bet you're just making it up as you go."

If Savy bet real money, she would have made a profit.

But I was the alpha. And I was good at winging it. I grinned, "No one told him to. He's the alpha. As if anyone could order him around."

"Then the luna?" Savy asked.

"Then why did the alpha cross the road, Sam?" Sabre asked.

"To get to his luna's side." I grinned. To Sabre, who would one day be a luna herself (that is, if she didn't run off with one of her boyfriends first), I added, "Remember this well, Sabre: No one can tell the alpha what to do, but for the sake of the luna, even the alpha would cross the whole world, never mind a stupid road."

And after dropping this nugget of truth, I made my escape a la my dead Dad, "Which reminds me, I probably should get to my luna's side now! See you later."

Yeah. Say something zen and then leave someone else to explain it!

"You better make it quick!" Savy called out after me, "We have Thursday Night Training in a bit. I'm not going if you're not!"

"I won't be more than a few minutes." I called back.

Thursday Night Training Session - it felt like ages since the last one! And tonight, I was going to introduce River to his worst nightmare - I mean, his new personal trainer, Flynn. Heh, heh, heh. I wasn't going to miss it for the world.

I got to the pool room and mounted the stairs two by two. On the way up, I passed the second floor kitchenette and paused at the sight of the counter. Hm... why did I suddenly feel like I forgot something? But this kitchenette - I've never used it before. I think the guys use this as a shared pantry. Oh well, if it's important, I'm sure it would come back to me. For now, I'm going to see you know who.

{Mate! ~ ❤️}

Yes, Boo. For all my wolf's intelligence, Boo always regressed at the thought of Mate, but I've somehow gotten used to my wolf's uncanny evolution and regression by now. The trick, like with my hair, and all my other wolf powers was to just not question it. Yes, that was the totality of my genius plan on how to control my wolf - to not think too much and let it work by instinct.

Whether Boo appeared in her puppy form, or evil form. Whether I sported a head of hair or blades. Whether I was knowing something or just imagining it. Whatever it was, there was no point thinking too hard about it the whys or hows, or whats and whens... these just complicate everything.

I didn't bother to knock, which was a bad idea. But how was I supposed to know the state of undress of the person behind the door? Or that someone else was with him - actually, I should've known the second part. I mean, if I hadn't been so excited, I would have sensed or even heard them talking.

But Boo was way too excited to I barged straight in, "Bell! I..."

I supposed you'd want to know what happened after.