Chapter 29

After school, the next day, James, Lucas, and I gathered at Lucas's training facility behind his mansion of a house.

At first, I was reluctant for James to join us, but Lucas told me it would be useful to train with another Alpha and understand how differently they can operate.

It amused me to think that I was friends with two Alphas while I remained wolfless. The irony of our unique bond was not lost on me, and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

"What are you laughing at?" James asked while we took a break.

"Oh, nothing," I said innocently.

James pointed at my face. "Lucas, do you see that face?"

"Yeah." Lucas stared at me. "Is there something you want to tell us, Shana? Something funny?"

"I just like your pants is all," I waved dismissively to the tight shorts James was wearing. "Very... form-fitting."

"Are you objectifying me?" James asked, mocking offense by putting a hand to his chest.

"That's so not cool, Shana," Lucas went along with him.

"I'm not objectifying." I shrugged. "I'm just... admiring."

"Okay!" Lucas clapped his hands together while James started to laugh. "That's enough of that."

James sent me a playful wink, his mischievous nature shining through. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his antics, knowing full well his intention was to provoke a reaction. But when I turned my gaze toward Lucas, a flicker of uncertainty crossed my mind.

Was it just my imagination, or did a hint of jealousy pass through his features?

---

As we began our training routine, I felt a sense of accomplishment different to the kind I achieve with Lucas every day.

The three of us pushed each other to excel. And in between sets, we exchanged jokes. It was the most fun I'd ever had in a long time.

Just as we were getting ready to finish training for the day, James's stomach made an unnatural starving sound.

Lucas wiped the sweat off his forehead and grinned at James. "Hey, James, are you sure you're not an Omega? That growl sounds more like a hungry wolf than an Alpha."

James playfully flexed his biceps. "Oh, you know, just the sound effects of a warrior in training. Gotta keep the energy up!"

"I'm starving too," I admitted, resting my hands on my hips.

"Let's go get something to eat," Lucas offered.

"You know what sounds really good right now?" James said, giving us a childish grin. "Grandma Jo's cookies."

"Ooooh," I sounded. "That does sound really good."

Lucas laughed at the both of us, shaking his head. "I'm sure Grandma Jo would love to feed us."

I nodded. "Yeah, and I bet Grandma Jo's cookies can tame the beast in James's stomach."

James's eyes sparkled with playfulness. "Speaking of cookies, I bet she has a secret recipe that gives Alphas super strength. That's why Lucas is so tough."

I started to laugh. "It all makes sense now!"

Lucas rolled his eyes, playfully shoving James. "Oh please, don't give Grandma Jo any more ideas. She'll try feeding me ten times the amount of food she does now if you told her that."

We all made our way to Grandma Jo's house, the anticipation building with each step. As we approached her front door, memories flooded back, evoking a sense of familiarity and warmth.

The door swung open, and Grandma Jo stood there, her smile radiant as ever. "Well, well, if it isn't my three favorite troublemakers—All grown up."

We settled around the kitchen table, the scent of freshly baked cookies enveloping us.

James reached out, snagging his seventh cookie from the plate with a mischievous grin. "So, Grandma Jo, what's the secret ingredient in these magical cookies?"

Grandma Jo chuckled, her eyes twinkling with fondness. "Ah, my dear, it's a blend of love, a dash of mischief, and a sprinkle of laughter. But most importantly, it's the memories we share that make them truly special."

Lucas, his mouth full of a delicious cookie, chimed in. "Grandma, you must have put extra mischief in these ones. They're disappearing from the plate faster than I can blink."

"That's because James is eating them all." I snorted.

James, with a mouthful of cookie crumbs, shrugged in innocence. "Yeah, it's like they have teleportation powers straight into my stomach."

We laughed, exchanging stories and reminiscing about our childhood adventures.

The walls of the kitchen seemed to reverberate with echoes of our laughter, carrying us back to a time when life was simpler, and our hearts were filled with innocent joy.

Grandma Jo watched us with a smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with delight, as she continued to bring in more plates of freshly baked cookies for us to try. The kitchen table was adorned with an array of delectable treats, each one more tempting than the last.

I couldn't help but laugh as I glanced at James, who seemed to have an insatiable appetite for Grandma Jo's cookies.

Despite already devouring an impressive number of them, he showed no signs of slowing down.

It was as if his Alpha metabolism had a special cookie compartment, always ready to accommodate his appetite.

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head in amazement. "James, I swear you have a bottomless pit for a stomach. How are you still going?"

James, his mouth full of another cookie, grinned mischievously. "What can I say? Alphas need their fuel."

Grandma Jo joined in the banter, her laughter filling the room. "Oh, James, you always manage to surprise me with your appetite. You're a true cookie connoisseur."

I playfully nudged James with my elbow. "Too bad I'm wolfess. It looks like being an Alpha means being able to devour cookies like there's no tomorrow."

As we devoured another round of cookies, James playfully challenged Lucas to an eating contest. "Alright, Lucas, let's see who can finish the most cookies in one minute. Prepare to be defeated!"

Lucas froze for a second and turned his gaze to me. It looked as if he was suddenly reminded of the argument he had last time we were here.

I nodded at him in encouragement, as if letting him know that eating more cookies is completely fine.

James realized Lucas’s concern. After all, they’ve been friends for longer than Lucas and I were.

James said. “Well, if—”

"You're on, James,” Lucas smirked. “But be prepared to taste the bitterness of defeat."

As the timer started, the kitchen erupted in cookie-crunching chaos. Crumbs flew in all directions, and we cheered each other on between mouthfuls of cookies.

I managed to sneak in a comment amidst the frenzy. "Hey, guys, remember that time we tried to see who could stack the most cookies without them falling?"

Lucas, his cheeks puffed with cookies, chuckled. "Oh, I remember that disaster. We ended up with a tower of cookies crashing onto the floor. Grandma Jo was not too thrilled."

James, struggling to speak with a mouthful of cookies, added, "And we tried blaming it on the dog, but Grandma Jo knew better."

Grandma Jo joined in our laughter, her eyes sparkling with delight. "You three were always up to some kind of trouble. But those were the moments that made life truly memorable."

As the eating contest came to an end, we realized that the true victory lay not in who consumed the most cookies, but in the happiness, we found in one another's company.

With warm smiles and a tinge of nostalgia, we bid Grandma Jo farewell.

As we strolled away from her house, our bellies content and spirits uplifted, I couldn't help but reflect on the genuine friendship that had blossomed between us.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, James unleashed a thunderous burp.

Lucas and I exchanged amused glances before casting disapproving looks in James's direction. He met our gaze with a sheepish grin, his hand instinctively covering his mouth.

"Sorry," James chuckled, his voice muffled by his hand. "I guess it's all those cookies.