Kids from One Alpha

Chapter 42: First Date

“Come on in,” Carson greeted when Serena and the kids showed up at his door. “It is good to see you again,” Serena said, smiling. “This is Olivia and Oliver.” She introduced the twins. “Hi,” they said together. Olivia grabbed the back of toys Serena had on her arm and they took off.

“Play quietly,” Serena called “Remember we are inside!” She sighed and gave Carson an apologetic look. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve removed everything breakable from this floor.” He was teasing her, and Serena laughed lightly. At least he was realistic about the twins. “I brought them enough toys and games to keep them busy while I make dinner,” she said. “The kitchen is this way,” Carson said. He put his hand on the small of Serena’s back and started guiding her into the kitchen. She felt her cheeks redden with a blush from the contact “Thanks,” she said. “What are you going to make?” Carson asked. Serena shrugged, going to the refrigerator and cabinets, seeing what Carson had in the house. “I’ll throw something together with whatever you have,” she said. Carson laughed. “Not following a recipe. That is risky, I love it,” he teased her. Serena smiled pulling some things out of the refrigerator and cabinets. “Would you like help?” “Sure, I need a sauté pan and a knife,” she said. “Also, where are your herbs?” Carson got up. He put a pan on the stove, handed Serena the knife she’d requested, and brought a spice rack over from the opposite counter. “Well, you look like you know what you’re doing,” Carson said. “I don’t,” Serena admitted. The twins ran into the kitchen, Oliver carrying a plane and making engine sounds while he chased after Olivia. “Eww, Mommy is cooking?” Olivia asked, forgetting all about her need to escape her brother,

“Can‘t we eat something else?” Oliver asked. Carson raised an eyebrow at Serena. “Go back to the living room, please,” Serena requested. She shook her head. “It will be fine,” she assured. Carson shrugged. “I’m not worried,” he said. While Serena chopped vegetables and heated the pan, Carson asked her about he:62

recent venture into the human world with Logan. She hadn’t realized how close Logan and Carson were before. Being Alpha and Beta meant they worked closely together on pack business. She could tell by how fondly Carson reacted to her story, they were also friends. Part of her felt a tug of guilt in her stomach Logan had already been so nice to her and offered her so much, and she was on a date with his best friend! At the same time, he was still seeing Holly and hadn’t made any romantic advancements towards

her.

from the lab yet. With the prospect of creating potentially romantic relationships with other males, Serena knew

being there for school, nothing really compares to the community and support you get from the pack,” she told him. “I believe that,” Carson said. Serena stirred the veggies in the pan,

renovations,” he noted. Serena nodded, moving

the extensive planning, ordering, and research she’d had to do in order to make the renovations and updates work.

been a project, but the hospital and pack will be

The four of them sat down together, Carson across from Serena and the kids across from each other. It was the perfect dynamic of a family dinner. “You do have a particular fondness for the pack and a directness I like,” Carons told her forthright. Serena smiled. “Thanks,” she said. Olivia and Oliver were the first to bite into their food. “Blech!” Olivia said putting her fork down and guzzling juice. Oliver made a face, and Serena could tell he was trying really hard to swallow. Carson chuckled. “Okay, I’m a horrible cook,” she said. “Oddly, that’s not my concern,” he said, “You’re a natural born leader, and those qualities are hard to come by.” “My mother and father are Luna and Alpha of Starseeker pack,” she reminded him. Carson nodded. “That’s right,” he said. “You come from a long line of leaders. Why’d you leave Starseeker then?” Serena looked at the kids briefly. They weren’t the reason she had left, they were the reason she’d stayed away. “Can I have more juice, mommy?” Olivia asked. Serena got up and refilled her cup. “I have a twin brother,” she explained as she sat back down. “From a young age, Santino began training to take over as Alpha. I wouldn’t say he was the favorite, but he was given a lot of attention and prioritized over me. I wanted to get out, see what I really could do on my own, and have a career my parents would be proud of.” “That’s very impressive;” Carson said with a nod. “In the face of adversity, you chose strength and determination.” ; “You are a good flatterer,” Serena said, smiling across the table. Carson grinned. “I’m also honest,” he said. “This is probably the worst dinner I’ve ever eaten.” Serena grimaced. “I know, I’m sorry,” she said. “Luckily, I have the remedy for that,” Carson informed her. When the plates