Chapter 7
2079 Words
Chapter 7
The next couple of weeks went smoothly for Carter and Sarah. Her pregnancy, now officially six months along, was progressing well. Sarah felt the baby kick every morning, signaling it was time for breakfast. She would immediately roll over, instinctively looking for Carter. Unfortunately, she still had to get used to him being gone at the crack of dawn for morning training.
Carter, being the loving partner and boyfriend he was, always prepared Sarah’s breakfast the night before and left it in the refrigerator. That way, if she woke up before he returned from morning training, she just had to heat it and eat.
While Sarah enjoyed being treated like a princess, she felt inadequate because she lacked real cooking skills. Growing up in a fairly wealthy household, she was used to others cooking for her. Even her mother wasn’t very good at cooking. Although Carter only made simple dishes like pancakes, waffles, and grilled cheese sandwiches, he was still a better cook than she was. All Sarah knew how to cook was instant ramen noodles and following the instructions on a box.
She got up, did her morning routine, got dressed, and went into the kitchen to heat the pre-made breakfast that Carter had made for her the night before. She opened the fridge and saw a premade prosciutto and grilled cheese sandwich, one of his specialties. Although Sarah’s OBGYN stated she really shouldn’t be eating deli meats, Dr. Quinn, the pack’s doctor, said that as long as the meat is fully cooked through, it would be okay in moderation.
Sarah put the sandwich in the air fryer that Carter was so kind as to get from her apartment in the city. Once the police had thoroughly investigated the scene, they returned to her apartment so she could retrieve her belongings.
Unfortunately, Alex and his goons that night of the attack put several holes in the walls of the living room and kitchen. It didn’t help that Alex and Allie had a showdown in the corridor leading to the bedrooms. Because of all the damage, the leasing office wasn’t willing to let her out of her lease without her paying restitution. Since Alexander was officially broke after the divorce, legal fees, and losing his job, she couldn’t pursue him for the money. Nor did she want to involve her ex-in-laws, especially since they weren’t responsible for Alexander’s actions.
Sarah had planned to pay all the fees herself, but Allie offered to cover half since she was involved in the cause related to the damages. When Sarah learned who Allie was, she finally understood how Allie could defeat Alexander, regardless of his size; he was still a man, and men are inherently stronger than women.
Sarah happily accepted Allie’s offer, only because she didn’t have the money to cover all of the costs of the damage and all of the fees that came with breaking her lease early to move in with Carter within the pack territory. Also, she didn’t want to burden Carter with anything more than he was already taking on.
Sarah heard the timer go off for the air fryer, signaling that her sandwich was ready. She pulled out the basket, used a pair of tongs to grab the sandwich, and placed it on a plate. She ate her meal at the dining room table, with a nice cold glass of ice decaf protein coffee that Allie had recommended. It was clear that caffeine addiction ran in their family.
Sarah happily enjoyed her meal. She savored every bite, and she could feel the love that Carter had put into making it for her. She had only eaten half of the sandwich when he front door opened, and in walked Carter, along with Allie.
“Nari-yaaaaa!” Allie called with a sisterly voice.
“Uh? Unnie? Unnie oneul waen-il-iya?” (Oh? Unnie? Unnie, what are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to come check on you and my baby niece or neph…What are you eating?” Allie asked when she saw the sandwich in Sarah’s hands.
“A sandwich?” Sarah replied and raised an eyebrow.
“A sandwich, for breakfast?” Allie quirked her brow as well. “Is that all you have to eat?”
“Carter made it for me,” Sarah stated.
“A single sandwich is going to sustain her, Carter!” Allie exclaimed and spun around to look at him.
“We need to go grocery shopping, Luna,” Carter defended himself. “Besides, that’s what she’s asking for.”
“I don’t care that you made her a sandwich; I care that you only made her one. She’s eating for two, dimwit,” Allie said and went straight into the kitchen.
“Unnie, mwoh hae?” (Unnie, what are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m raiding your fridge to make you something else to eat,” Allie replied as she opened the fridge. But sure enough, just as Carter had said, they didn’t have anything. “What the…”
“Luna, I just said we need to go grocery shopping,” Carter repeated himself. Sarah pursed her lips, trying not to laugh.
Allie slammed the refrigerator door shut with a dramatic flourish. “Okay, this is an intervention. Carter, you’re not feeding my favorite cousin, and my future niece or nephew, on air and sad sandwich scraps.”
“Favorite cousin? Unnie, I’m your only cousin.”
“Whatever.”
Carter sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know, Luna. I was just about to go.”
“Too slow, my friend. Cousin’s Day Out just became a reality,” Allie declared, snatching the keys off the counter. “Sarah, grab your purse. We’re going to the city. Carter, you get to be our very large, very capable shopping cart pusher.”
The nearest decent grocery store was a bustling, brightly lit organic market in the city's downtown core. As soon as they walked in, Allie took charge, linking her arm through Sarah's.
“Alright, pregnant lady, you have carte blanche. You point, I grab. This is a no-shame craving zone,” Allie announced, her eyes already scanning the produce section.
“Since when? You’re always drilling me about eating healthy,” Sarah contradicted Allie.
“I’m trying my best not to do that anymore. If Dr. Quinn said you can have certain foods, then who am I to contradict the good doctor?”
“Luna, that’s … Very mature of you,” Carter said.
“Shut up. I’m trying.” Sarah laughed, feeling a lightness she hadn't realized she missed.
“Okay, Unnie. We need fruit. Tons of it. I’m craving those tiny, super-sweet Champagne mangoes.”
“Champagne mangoes, coming right up!” Allie paused and looked back at Carter, who was trailing them with a huge, empty cart. “Carter, you’re on perimeter security. Don’t let anyone breathe on my cousin. Also, get the cart to the exotic produce before I have to yell at you in Korean.”
Carter chuckled, a genuinely pleased sound. He didn’t mind being relegated to the role of glorified bodyguard and luggage handler. He simply loved watching Sarah. She looked vibrant, relaxed, and utterly absorbed in the simple joy of browsing with her cousin. She wasn't an architect, a fiancée, or a woman dealing with morning sickness—she was just Sarah, giggling over fruit and enjoying being a woman without a care in the world.
As Allie debated the merits of organic kale versus 'normal' kale, Sarah pointed to a shelf. “Oh, look! The kimchi they make here is supposed to be really good. Grab a jar.”
Allie dramatically put her hand to her chest. “My cousin is finally embracing her roots! I’m so proud! Wait, Carter, didn’t you say last week that their kimchi was ‘too fermented’?”
Carter stiffened slightly. “I said it was pungent. But if Sarah wants it, we buy the pungent kimchi.” He gave Sarah a sweet, goofy grin. “I’m on the pungent kimchi budget now.”
Sarah smacked his arm lightly. “Be nice. And can we also get those giant bags of salt-and-vinegar chips?”
Allie threw her head back and laughed. “See, Carter? That’s the real mother-to-be speaking! No fancy Champagne mangoes, just pure, glorious junk food!” She gave Sarah a conspiratorial wink. “You know, I once ate an entire family-size bag of those chips while binge-watching a K-drama. My breath was deadly for three days. It was bad for humans, now imagine how bad it is for us werewolves,” Allie whispered to Sarah, which made her burst into laughter.
“Well, I’m planning on using it as a weapon against Carter,” Sarah teased, leaning back on the cart. Carter leaned down, kissing the top of her head.
“As long as you’re happy, honey, I’ll take a direct hit.” The noise of the market faded as he looked into her eyes, a silent message of undiluted adoration passing between them.
Allie, oblivious, was already stacking the cart high with yogurt and odd cereals. “Come on, lovebirds! Let’s get you stocked up! We’ve got a nursery to plan and a fridge to overfill shamefully!”
They rounded the corner into the meat and poultry section, where Allie’s pragmatic, protective side fully kicked in. The earlier junk food spree was clearly a momentary lapse, but now she was all business.
“Okay, fun is over. Now we feed the baby,” Allie announced, grabbing a cart from a nearby attendant. “Carter, you’re still pushing, but Sarah, I need you to confirm protein levels.”
She started filling the cart with surprising speed and efficiency. “We need red meat—iron levels are crucial. Look at this nice lean cut; perfect for quick stir-fry. And since you two are clearly incapable of basic food prep, we’re doing ready-to-bake everything.”
She tossed in several packages of pre-seasoned chicken breasts, vacuum-sealed salmon portions, and a large tub of fat-free strawberry Greek yogurt. “You just heat this, Carter. No excuses for sad sandwiches. And Nari, you have no excuses that you can’t cook worth a damn.”
Carter watched, both impressed and slightly chastened. “Duly noted, Luna. I’ll study the nutritional labels this time.”
“Gee, thanks for calling me out, Unnie,” Sarah grumbled.
“Hey, I offered to teach you how to cook,” Allie rebutted.
“And I said I would think about it,” Sarah replied.
“It’s been weeks since I asked you.”
“And I’m still thinking.”
“Neo god iss-eumyeon aeleul chulsan haltende. Yoli hal jul moleumyeon eotteohge halgeoya?” (You're going to have a baby soon. What are you going to do if you don't know how to cook?)
“Naega al-aseo halge. Unnie geogjeonghal pil-yoeobs-eo.” (I’ll figure it out. You don’t have to worry, Unnie.”
“Mmhmm…”
As they moved toward the beverage aisle, Sarah grimaced, rubbing her chest. “Ugh. The heartburn is starting to get really bad lately.”
Allie instantly zeroed in on the sodas. “Say no more, my friend. Pregnancy is a magical journey of glowing skin and stomach acid revolt.” She bypassed the sugary ginger ales and grabbed a six-pack of a premium, zero-sugar ginger ale.
“This,” Allie proclaimed, holding up the can like a talisman, “is your new best friend. It’s got real ginger for the nausea, but none of the acid-inducing sugar. Hydration and heartburn defense, all in one can.”
Sarah felt a rush of genuine relief and affection. “Unnie, you’re a lifesaver. I didn't even know they made a sugar-free one.”
“I did my research on sugar-free sodas when I was pregnant with Katrina. Heartburn with her suckkkkeddddd!” Allie drew out.
Carter, who had been quietly loading the heavy protein packages into the basket, simply nodded at Allie with genuine appreciation. He understood that junk food was fun, but the careful attention to Sarah’s real, immediate needs—the iron, the protein, and the simple comfort of the right ginger ale—was the most valuable thing she had bought all day. He pushed the overflowing cart, happy to be their silent, steady support as the two women bantered through the final aisles.
- Writer
