Chapter 31

"Does that metal box always growl?" Isabella asked, her spines still bristling from the trip in the elevator.

"Some days more than others," Miguel said with a chuckle. It certainly beat taking the stairs, at least until he got his stitches taken out. Dr. Wilkins would never let him hear the end of it if he hurt himself on his first day out of the hospital, although he wouldn't mind having an excuse to keep his arm wrapped around Alejandro for a little longer.

The moment the three of them entered Alejandro's apartment, a warm hug filled with the scent of chili peppers welcomed Miguel home. "So happy to see you're feeling better!" Mrs. Morales said. "Alejandro and I will have dinner ready for you in a bit."

"You really don't have to go to so much trouble over me," Miguel said.

"Nonsense! It's the least we can do for you, pobrecito." Mrs. Morales ushered Miguel to the couch and draped her mother's quilt over his shoulders. "Take it easy and let us take care of you, okay?"

"Okay." Miguel leaned back with a sigh, grateful for the excuse to stay off his feet. As much as he wanted to help out in the kitchen, his leg still ached if he stood in place for too long.

"I'll be right back." Alejandro gave Miguel's hand a quick squeeze before retreating to his bedroom.

"I'm glad I'm leaving you in such capable hands, hermanito," Isabella said. She hugged her arms close to her chest as she stayed close to the door.

"Leaving?" Miguel asked. "But you just got here."

"You don't need me here," she said, her spines sagging. There was no firmness left in her voice, only a quiet tiredness.

"Well, I want you here." Miguel looked up at her from inside his blanket nest, patting the spot beside him. "Please."

Isabella curled and uncurled her claws. "I need to get back to the pack before nightfall, but I can stay for dinner. Is there anything I can do to help?" She squinted at the oven as if she was sizing up potential prey. "I am sure that cannot be too difficult to use."

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind—"

"Absolutely not!" Mrs. Morales took hold of Isabella's hand and dragged her toward the couch. "Sit. You're a guest, and you're not lifting a single finger under my watch. I'm sure these two would be glad to give you cooking lessons some other day."

"But—"

"Yes, your butt on that couch." Mrs. Morales crossed her arms. "Now."

Isabella narrowed her eyes, drawing herself up to her full height. Mrs. Morales didn't flinch.

"Fine." Isabella eased herself onto the couch with a groan.

Miguel stifled a laugh. She had finally met her match.

He made room for her under the quilt. "Watch your spines," he said. "They'll get caught if you aren't careful."

Alejandro brought them an armful of blankets. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me," he said, pressing his lips against Miguel's forehead.

The kiss brought a deep thrum out of Miguel. "And I'll be right here."

Yet, Alejandro lingered. "Are you sure you don't need anything? Ice pack? Pain meds?"

Stars, he was still so worried!

And it was all Miguel's fault.

He forced himself to smile. "Don't worry about me, Moonbeam. I'm fine."

A blush darkened Alejandro's cheeks, but that didn't stop him from fussing. "Actually fine or pretending you're not in horrible pain fine."

"I'll make sure he's alright." Isabella nodded toward the kitchen. "Go ahead."

At last, Alejandro joined his mother, but not without glancing over his shoulder at Miguel.

Isabella shook her head as Mrs. Morales immediately began barking orders at Alejandro, sending the kitchen into a flurry of activity. "You'd make for quite a pack." She leaned back into her blanket cocoon with a wince and fidgeted with the fabric.

She couldn't cover the cut on her arm quickly enough to escape Miguel's notice.

"You're hurt," he said quietly. "Let me see that."

"That's not necessary."

"Trust me, hiding it won't do you any good." He tapped his upper jaw where his venom glands hid.

Blankets rustled as Isabella exposed the wound in her arm. A crust of dried blood covered the long, thin cut, and the scales around it had turned a sickly gray. "It's just a scratch from a challenger. Nothing to get stiff-spined about."

A heaviness settled in Miguel's gut. If that was what she was willing to show him, she must have more injuries. "It's because of me crossing the border, isn't it?"

She shrugged but didn't deny it. "Sometimes I wonder if leading the pack is worth the trouble it causes," she said. "The only thing keeping me from showing my throat and letting someone else take over is that they might do even worse than I have."

Miguel nuzzled her chin. "You've done your best."

"My best is not good enough anymore." She sighed. "You would make a much better pack leader than me."

Miguel laughed until he realized she was serious. "You're an amazing leader, and I'm just a packless chef."

"You don't have to be. You and your partner make each other happy, don't you?"

"He certainly makes me happy, at any rate." Miguel wasn't sure if Alejandro could say the same about him. Even as he helped his mother make dinner, he couldn't stop glancing over his shoulder to make sure Miguel was okay, earning himself a swat with a wooden spoon when a pot nearly boiled over.

"If you ever decide to start a pack together, I'll gladly acknowledge it."

Miguel's heart skipped a beat. Him, a pack leader? The idea had never crossed his mind. "Do you mean that? I mean, he's a human, and we don't have anyone else who would join us." Allowing a human into a preexisting pack would have been a radical idea. Forming a new one with a human alone...

It went against every tradition he could think of.

"I have never seen a human in any pack," Isabella said quietly, "but I've never seen one attack a territory guard for his partner's sake either. I cannot promise you he will agree to form a pack with you, but I do think it's worth considering." She growled softly. "Until it is safe for you to come home, that is the best I can offer you, hermanito."

All they'd need to form a pack would be a pack name and a leader's acknowledgment of their worthiness. The idea sent Miguel's heart hammering. Could it really be that simple for him to no longer be packless, or would Alejandro not want to create a pack with him now that he'd caused him so much heartache?

And if they did create one, could he ever return to Saguaro Pack?

Mrs. Morales clapped her hands, jolting him from that line of thought. "Dinner's ready!"

Isabella and Alejandro both sprang to Miguel's side, ready to help him to his feet. After some awkward maneuvering that nearly ended in Mrs. Morales trying to carry him to his seat herself, they finally managed to walk him to his chair.

A massive pot of soup filled with red broth, shredded chicken, and fried tortilla pieces sat in the middle of the table. Mrs. Morales ladled a heaping helping into everyone's bowls. "I made more than enough for you to have plenty of leftovers, so don't be shy. Especially you, flaquito," she said, prodding Miguel in the chest. "We need to put some meat on those bones!"

Miguel chuckled good-naturedly before taking out his medication. The white pills were tiny, yet they alone could possibly return his venom production to normal. Two pills with every meal, every day.

Maybe forever.

He swallowed the pills with a swig of water, wincing as one of them nearly got caught in his throat. Out of sheer force of habit, he turned his head toward Alejandro and leaned forward.

"Can't do that anymore, remember?" Alejandro said as he scooted his chair away.

Miguel's hand flew over his mouth. "Shit, sorry!"

"Language!" Mrs. Morales said with a disapproving look.

Miguel muttered another apology and scooped a spoonful of soup into his mouth. Hearty and hot, the tender chicken fell apart in his mouth amidst a current of mildly spicy broth. It was delicious, but no matter how much it pleased his stomach, it couldn't soothe his aching heart.

Alejandro's hand found his under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. That one little gesture was enough to coax a soft thrum out of Miguel as he carefully intertwined his fingers with Alejandro's.

But as much as he longed to lose himself in that tender touch, his focus quickly shifted to Isabella.

She sniffed her soup as if it was carrion. Miguel held his breath as she took her first spoonful, praying to the stars that she wouldn't react as badly as the last time she'd tried human food.

"Miguel," she said, her pupils as round as the full moon, "why didn't you tell me human food can taste this good? And how is it burning like venom?"

"I tried to," he said, laughing as she lifted her bowl to her lips and poured its contents into her mouth. "Making delicious food runs in their family."

"The secret's the Chile de árbol," Mrs. Morales said with a knowing smirk. "Considering how much Miguel likes his spice, I figured you might, too."

"You should have seen him at Zest Fest," Alejandro said. "He won the wing eating contest."

"Almost killed my taste buds doing it," Miguel said. Just thinking about that dangerously delicious Carolina Reaper sauce made his eyes water.

"That's where you got that salsa from, right?" Isabella licked her lips and ladled herself another bowl of soup.

"That and the absolute cutest stuffed bear! Best gift I've ever gotten," Alejandro said.

"It is pretty cute, isn't it?" Miguel cast an affectionate glance toward the bear resting on the couch. Its rainbow fur had been noticeably flattened by many nights of cuddling, but even though Miguel had been sleeping with it for weeks, it still carried Alejandro's scent.

"Could I come with you next time, or is Zest Fest something humans only go to with their partners?" Isabella rubbed the back of her neck. "I've never been to something like that, but it sounds nice."

"All the chefs go together every year. We'd be happy to have you join us!" Alejandro ran a hand over his stubble in thought. "Not sure if they'll let chupacabras enter the contest again next year, though. After how quickly Miguel inhaled those wings, I don't think anyone will want to go against him anytime soon!"

"They could always do a second one for us," Miguel said. There might not be many participants, but that just meant there'd be more wings for him. Maybe his venom glands would even be back to normal by then.

"Either way, you'd better not get too comfortable with your title, hermanito." Isabella puffed out her chest, the corners of her lips twitching into a smile. "Don't think I will go easy on you."

"You've barely tasted spice," Miguel said. "Try Carolina Reaper hot sauce, then we'll see if you can challenge me."

As they planned their trip to next year's Zest Fest together, Miguel barely recognized his sister. Stress no longer stiffened her spines, and she spoke to Alejandro and his mother as comfortably as if they were some of her most trusted packmates.

If she could change her mind about humans, perhaps the rest of Saguaro Pack would follow suit.