The Mechanic's Mate by Mikea Howard Read Free Book Online

a mechanic. I helped my dad run his shop. We do repairs and custom work.” Sadie sighed. “Nothing useful here. Goddess, the noise! I had no idea.” She joined Kara in the kitchen. “Maybe I should get on this baking skill.”
    Kara laughed. “Learning from me won’t benefit you much. I just bake for fun, I’m not good. Don’t tell Marek I said that, I take pleasure in acting oblivious to my lack of skills. He’s so cute when he tries to save my feelings.”
    “Marek? He’s your mate . . . the patchouli scent?”
    “Yes. He’s Domek’s beta,” Kara said handing Sadie the recipe and dry ingredients. She continued to speak while creaming the sugar and butter together. “I believe in baptism by fire, so I’m not giving direct instructions. Diving in without a second look is kind of a pack thing. I think we learn better that way.” At the panic Sadie’s face must have reflected she added, “And it’s just cookies, right?”
    “Okay, just cookies,” Sadie said, breathing deep.
    “So, whenever you’re ready, I want to show you our enclave this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Remember, baptism by fire.” She smirked. “No seriously, I want you oriented to your pack before your first shift. Unfortunately, that won’t give us much time.” Kara added the dry ingredients Sadie had measured into the wet ones blending them with her hands. “I’d like to see what jobs fit so we can start you in rotations. Everyone does this until we find our niche.”
    Sadie glanced up from the recipe she analyzed, assuring she did everything correct. “And for those who don’t find their niche?”
    “Trust me. We have a place for you here, Sadie.”
    “Thank you, Kara. I needed to hear that,” she said, filled with relief.
    “Okay, this dough isn’t going to spoon itself onto those sheets,” Kara said to lighten the mood, giving Sadie a spoon.
    They went on dropping big globs onto the pans, then putting the cooking sheets in the oven. Sadie opened and closed the oven door, amazed how quiet it ran without the generator’s combustion engine. Made of stone and metal, Kara just built a fire in a bottom drawer of the oven. Clan wide parties boasted extravagant meals cooked over open fire in the enclave ‘town center’. Kara insisted everything tasted better over an open flame, and she would find out soon enough.
    As the cookies baked they discussed jobs within the pack and Kara gave a brief overview of wereanimal politics and the alpha’s responsibilities. Kara poured two glasses of wine Marek had gotten from the Coyote Ambassador from Napa Valley. Sadie wasn’t much of a drinker, but loved the dry oaky flavor of the valley red. With the second glass Kara poured them, her head became fuzzier and tongue freer. The drink may have allowed her to slip something out about how goofy she was for Domek, but Kara smirked, diverting their conversation to something much less embarrassing. Or not.
    “Now that you’re anesthetized, can we tackle your hair? Sorry, Sadie, this is gonna hurt.” She cringed.
    “Is it that bad?” Reaching up, she once again found herself stuck. “Well that’s just ducky!” Laughing hysterically, she struggled to extricate her fingers.
    Kara sat down next to her grabbing small bits of hair, pulling the strands away, helping free Sadie’s hand, while making it clear she had to make an effort to hold back her own laughter.
    A little more serious, Sadie said, “Do I look like a brush ape? Do we have to cut my hair off? Please say we don’t have to cut it. Dillinger! I’m half cut.” She glanced up at Kara and cracked a smile then both women started laughing again.
    “I think we can save it,” Kara said once she could stop laughing. Working sweet smelling cream in, she separated out pieces then combed them through with a careful stroke, stopping for another drink with every section. As the two of them chatted, Sadie continued following her intoxicated tangent of thoughts, hoping Kara followed