>>Seraphina

I roamed around the pack house nervously. Ever since I was told Azef likes sweet stuff, I've been wanting to make him something but I'm too nervous to enter the kitchen. All I've done since morning is cross the kitchen while peeking inside. But there is always someone in there working and I haven't built up the courage to go in and ask anyone to let me bake.

Wouldn't it be too obvious if I did it now? I just learned about it yesterday! I briskly walked around, nervously.

"Miss Sera?" A voice called out to me, startling me

!!!

"Yes?!" I turned around to see Runy standing there with her arms folded, "Runy?" She had an annoyed expression on her face, "What is it?"

"You've been roaming around the kitchen peeking inside for hours now,"

!!!

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I've been caught!! OH SHIT! She noticed me?!? Oh Lord! I hope no one else saw me acting like a clown!!

"I-I," I was thinking of an excuse when she spoke again.

"Go in," She said, "Everyone has already noticed."

!!!

"Yes?!?" My eyes went wide, "Everyone has noticed?!" My heart fell and an anxiety attack came over.

"Yea," She gestured to me with her face, "Lila already prepared things for you too."

"What?" I blinked at Runy in confusion, "What things?"

She scoffed at me, then smirked, "You'll find out when you go in the kitchen," She turned around and began to walk again, "And if you want to hide what you're thinking, you have to try better."

!!!

***

My cheeks flushed red as I stood at the counter

Everyone else had left, leaving me there alone. I'm sure all of them noticed how I wasn't entering because I was embarrassed!!

I stared at the cupcake ingredients there on the counter along with the recipe card. Looks like they also knew what I wanted to do. At this rate, wouldn't they also know that I like Azef?

My face turned a darker shade of red and the shyness made the heat sizzle out of my ears.

My God, these people are so sharp! Or am I just too obvious?!? I let out a sigh and glanced out the window.

In the kitchen, the late afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the countertops. I stood there, nervously tapping my fingers against the recipe card for chocolate cupcakes. Baking wasn't something I did, but I really wanted to make these for Azef

I touched my cheeks with both my hands. Everyone already seems to know, so backing away would be even more stupid. Might as well get on with it.

I glanced at the oven, they all even turned that on for me.

I pursed my lips as my shyness refused to die.

It's odd, they've caught on but they're still trying to help me.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered the ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, and butter and started working. My heart pounded in my chest as I measured each one carefully, my mind racing with thoughts of whether Azef would like the cupcakes. I wanted everything to be perfect, a small gesture to show him how much I appreciated him and to hopefully get closer to him.

As I mixed the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ones in another, I couldn't help but worry. What if the cupcakes don't turn out well? What if Azef didn't like chocolate as much as I'd been told? What if he thought this whole idea was silly? Doubts swirled in my mind, making my hands tremble slightly as I combined the mixtures.

I bit my lower lip in nervousness. I've been nervous many times in life but never like this. I keep feeling like my heart would explode! I keep feeling like I'm doing something silly.

I poured the batter into the cupcake tin, trying to steady my nerves. "It's just cupcakes," I whispered to myself, attempting to find some calm. But it wasn't just about the cupcakes. It was about showing Azef that I cared, that I paid attention to his likes and interests. It was about making him smile.

Would he understand? And if he does, then what? What am I even doing?! I'm so confused with the whole thing! I want him to understand so I get his attention! But will it go the way I want it to go!??

As the cupcakes baked in the oven, I busied myself with making the chocolate frosting. I melted the chocolate, mixed in the cream and butter, and beat it until it was smooth and glossy. The rich, sweet smell filled the kitchen, and I found a small smile tugging at my lips. At least it smelled good.

Oh please

My heart jittered

I hope this all turns out well!

The timer dinged, and I carefully pulled the cupcakes out of the oven, setting them on the counter to cool, after which I put the frosting on.

***

Carrying the plate of cupcakes, I made my way to the office which Azef uses along with the Alpha for official works related to the pack. As I approached, I could feel my heart racing again. I paused for a moment outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady myself.

"Here goes nothing," I whispered, then knocked on the door.

"Come in," The answer came immediately. Pushing the door open and I stepped inside. Azef looked up from the book he was reading, his eyes widening slightly in surprise as he saw me.

"Hey," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hi," Azef set his book aside,

"I made some cupcakes," I saw his ears twitch.

Normally it would be weird but knowing that he's a wolf and seeing his ears twitch made me smile uncontrollably. It's like how you catch the attention of little kids with a word or thing they like

He turned his head to look at me and stood up, "Cupcakes?" He walked over to look at the plate in my hands.

I pursed my lips, trying to hide my smile, "Yes," He stepped towards me, his eyes going towards the plate I was holding.

"Would you like one?" I asked,

"One?" His ears drooped, "I can only have one?" The expressions he made at that moment were a direct hit to my heart

MY GOD!!!!!!! So cute!!!!

They were right. He really does like sweet things.

"You can have the whole plate." I said and his eyes lit up.

He smiled, "Oh! Nice," He immediately took one from the plate. I watched nervously as he took a cupcake and bit into it. His eyes closed for a moment, savoring the taste, and when he opened them again, they were filled with delight.

"These are incredible," He said, his smile broadening.

I chuckled, "I'm glad," I said softly, "I made these for you,"

God, he's so cute. I never thought a man could be this cute!!!!

>>Azef

There was a knock on the door again, "Come in," I answered and Lila poked her head in.

"Beta," She smiled, "Can I borrow Miss Sera?"

"Sure," I had no idea why she was asking me that, "Go ahead," I took the plate from Seraphina and she chuckled.

"See you later?" She said and I nodded. Then they both walked out of the room and closed the door behind them.

I enjoyed the cupcake as I walked back towards my desk, relishing it since it had been sometime since someone baked something sweet. It was then something crossed my mind.

Wait, why did Seraphina make these?

For me?

Solely for me? No, wait, she didn't say these were only for me. She only said she made them for me.

...

Isn't that the same thing though?

I picked another cupcake from the plate as I placed the plate on the desk.

And she offered me the whole plate.

I stared at the sweet thing in my hand, then smirked.

Has she started to like me?

Really?

I twirled the cupcake around in my hand.

Have my efforts started to pay off?

***

>>Ariel

"Why are you being like this!" I kneeled down on the ground, "You should have eaten when I was telling you to!"

My daughter, Eris, ended up having a bad fever after not eating for days. She was throwing tantrums everyday, saying she wanted to go back to Sera

"Sera..." She let out a meek voice as she lay on the ground weakly, "I want Sera," Tears dripped down her face,

It was annoying me so I didn't force her to eat and now she was on the verge of passing out.

"No," I told her, "I told you, you'll be staying with me."

She glared at me, "I don't want to stay with you," She whispered

"I'm your mother,"

"No," Her vision started getting blurry, "Sera is my mother! She raised me," I was flabbergasted at her remark.

"I was the one who gave birth to you." I said, "And I will raise you too! I'll give you all the nice things in the world! I'll give you so many things that you'll forget Sera,"

"..." She glared at me, then the next moment, she passed out.

Oh no!

I placed my hand on her forehead. She was burning.

GOD!

I picked her up in my arms and ran out towards my car to take her to the hospital