Chapter 3

SCARLETT :

The next day, I registered an application as the kitchen's main chef and chief server for the Alpha's kitchen. It was a whole competition. I had expected it. Anyone would want to work close to him. Pleasing Alpha Jax could lead to earning a small favor from him or so I heard.

Three days later, I was given a letter to participate. The best chef would win the spot.

"Are you sure you don't want to get a job elsewhere? As much as the Alpha gives favors when he's pleased which is rare, he gets upset when his steak isn't properly made. The last chef and his assistant quit three days after the appointment." My mother's eyes creased with worry. Sophie and I got blonde hair from our mother, while our amber-green eyes from our dad who had brown hair.

"Your mom's right, Hun." My dad said out of concern. "We all know you're a softie. You might not be able to handle his criticisms. One of the cleaners at the pack house ran back home in tears and begged her parents to let her quit after the Alpha looked at her with disdain."

"I'll survive," I beamed. "I know I will. So what if he rejects people? You all know I'm stubborn, I won't give up no matter what! I'm not a quitter!" I screamed, shocking myself with my sudden brazenness.

"Yeah!" Sophie cheered me on. 

Our father chuckled. "That's my girl! Go show them what you've got. Let them know we might not be the strongest in the pack, but we set our minds to things and make sure we accomplish them."

Like my plan to make Alpha Jax pay. I'll never give up on that unless I've lost every way possible.

I had spent the last three days watching cooking videos and practicing how to make the foods he preferred eating. The Alpha didn't have a sweet tooth so I didn't have to worry about pastries.

The pack house took almost a hundred acres. The Moonstone pack was one of the largest packs to ever exist for hundreds of years.

Several buildings were situated around the large compound. One was for the clinic or healing room, the training room, the Main kitchen and pantry, one was for the library and main study room, storage room, and the central dining hall was linked to the rooms for guests. At the far back of the pack house there were about five acres of free land just for combat and training, but today that was where twenty-five werewolves were going to compete for the position of the Alpha's chef.

We were made to start by dishing out appetizers and then regular breakfast meals like pancakes, toast, bacon and brewed pure black coffee. We were also made to whip up meals like pasta, casserole and rice with chicken curry.

More and more people kept getting cut off as each stage grew tougher until there were five left.

The last step was grilling meat which was necessary for a wolf's diet.

Grilling meat was something I used to do with my father when we had mini-family hangouts. We made our food so I thought it would be easy. Not until the Alpha's best friend and beta, Beta Zharn Meyers came forth and made an announcement. I lowered my head so he wouldn't recognize me just in case Alpha Jax told him about what happened. While my upper body seemed to hold composure, my legs were about to give up from fear.

"Each of you will be given a specific recipe for the Alpha's steak. It is the precise way he wants it. This recipe was made by one of the Old Lunas of the pack and I mean the Alpha's grandmother. Anyone who follows the recipe accurately will win. The Alpha is away on business so I'll be the one judging the food, and we'll get back to you after I've made my decision."

Immediately he was done with the announcement. Sheets of paper landed in front of us with a detailed recipe. I never knew there was a special recipe for steak. The measurements, the slicing, everything was written with precision that I had to carefully follow. I could not get carried away by any means necessary.

We were given thirty minutes to make a Filet mignon, a medium rare steak. There was no time to be sloppy.

Thirty minutes of panic, thirty minutes of seasoning, thirty minutes of precision and thirty minutes of a sweaty forehead. I might've also stained my chef outfit with seasoning. So much for not being sloppy.

I added the herbs and lemon juice just like it was written in the recipe after I brought the steak out of the oven. I was about to check for any imperfections—

"Time's up," The host said. "Submit your steaks for tasting."

I struggled to give my steak to the staff in front of me who kept dragging the plate lightly with me. My teeth dug into my lower lip so hard as I let it go.

"Thank you all for coming today!" The host appreciated us after our steaks were out of sight. "The result will be out in three days."

I changed back to my jeans and pink shirt before going home. I prayed earnestly that my steak tasted better than the others till I got home.

"So how was it?" My mother asked as they all searched my eyes.

"Horrifying," I confessed. "The Alpha has a steak recipe that had to be followed." I groaned. "It was so detailed yet I felt like if I missed a step I could lose."

"Are you kidding?" My father scoffed. "You're the best cook in the family. I'll admit that you are better than me." He faced my mother. "Isn't that right, my love?"

"Your father's right hunny. You'll do just great." My mother softly encouraged me.

"Yeah. If you don't get it no one else should." My sister agreed.

I sighed. "You guys give me so much credit."

"It's because we know you. I've never seen you this determined to do anything." My mother smiled.

If only she knew the actual reasons behind my efforts.

Sophie went for her interview the next day, and it was weird that it would take three days to pick a new chef, but two days to pick a personal assistant. All they had to judge was food.

Second day.

Third day, my sister and I kept pacing around the front porch waiting for the mail delivery man.

"You two should come inside." Our father urged us.

"We'll come in once the mails are here," Sophie replied.

I groaned. "He's fifteen minutes late today. Of all the days to be late."

Frustration enveloped me.

"Calm down." Sophie rolled her eyes. "We're both waiting for mail."

"You don't understand-"

"Mail for the De Lucas." The delivery man's voice made us spin around faster than an electric fan.

"Yes!" I raised my hand and hurriedly put it down when I realized.

Our mailbox got destroyed so he did a good service of knocking on our front door or calling our names.

He handed us five envelopes. Two with the pack house stamp.

"Thank you, Jad!" We chorused before we sprang inside.

"It's here!" We summoned our parents with those two words.

We opened the first letter. Sophie and I read the letter in mumbles, our eyes widening with each word. 

"I got the job." Sophie squealed in excitement jumping up with the letter in her hands. "I have a job!"

"Congratulations, Soph." I grinned widely.

My parents congratulated her.

Then it was my turn.

We read through the letter muttering each word. My heart hammered against my chest and my mouth hung agape while Sophie did the talking.

"Guess who cooks for the Alpha now!" She squealed. "Miss Scarlett De Luca! Assistant Chef!"

My parents screamed. 

"I applied for the main chef's position," I told them and their smiles faded at the remembrance. "But who cares! I work in the Alpha's kitchen." I jumped in the air like Sophie did and my family smiled again.

"For two amazing daughters. We deserve a more elaborate lunch!" Dad declared.

"Yeah!" My mother, sister and I cheered simultaneously.

My first step was done and now my plan could be fully set into motion. The Alpha doesn't know what he has coming. I beamed within.