Mrs. Eriksen had already set everything in the kitchen, the counters filled with prepared ingredients and the air warm with steady, familiar scents. I rarely stepped in here, and when I did, I kept things simple, usually something like mac and cheese. Macy was the same as me in that way, neither of us bothered to explore much beyond the basics.
Grandma used to tell me that a woman didn't need to be bound to the kitchen. She would say we should spend our time reading, thinking, and growing in other ways. Over time, those words shaped my habits, and the kitchen became a space I naturally avoided. Only now did I understand she had said it out of care, not restriction, wanting to keep me from unnecessary burden within the pack's daily routines.
Staying home today, I didn't want to waste time idling. I decided to cook something myself. After preparing the ingredients, I poured oil into the pan and waited, focusing on the steady heat and the quiet rhythm of the task.
