Kitchen Trial

Matilda drifted into sleep, but it felt fleeting. At dawn, she was awake long before Sylvia stirred.

The room was quiet, save for the occasional murmurs of sleeping figures. She turned on her side, eyes falling on the dimly lit window.

The night had barely faded into dawn, but her body refused to return to sleep.

A glance at the wall clock told her it was just past four in the morning.

Outside, the quarters were already bustling. Girls moved about in silent efficiency, each heading off to their assigned tasks for the day.

Discipline breathed in every part of this pack.

And, honestly? She liked that.

If not for the harsh treatment meted out to those of lower ranks, she might have even considered this place a safe haven.

But she was still new—barely a month in this pack. Maybe she hadn't fully grasped the weight of Madam Tera's words from last night.

Her assigned duty for the day? Cooking.

Matilda made her way to the kitchen, and the moment she stepped inside, she was greeted by a scene of organized chaos.

Girls were busy slicing, chopping, stirring, and moving about with hurried precision. At the center of it all stood Madam Tera.

Like the eye of a storm, she remained composed, her sharp eyes sweeping over the room as she directed the girls with quiet authority.

Matilda found herself pausing, simply watching.

A small, unbidden smile crept onto her face.

There was something oddly calming about being in Madam Tera's presence. A certain steadiness that made her feel… safe.

She didn't realize just how much she had come to admire the older woman.

And really, who wouldn't?

From what she had overheard in hushed conversations, the previous head of the Omegas, Madam Catherine, was a nightmare.

Ruthless, inhumane, and utterly indifferent to suffering. She barely lifted a finger yet demanded perfection from everyone else.

Unlike Madam Tera, who took responsibility when things went wrong.

Even when the hurricane...Alpha's sister, Amelia, came knocking, Madam Tera would stand firm, taking the blame upon herself.

Selfless.

Strict, but fair.

No wonder this place wasn't in shambles.

Matilda shook herself from her thoughts and approached Madam Tera.

"Good morning, Madam Tera," she greeted with a respectful bow of her head.

Madam Tera turned to her, eyes assessing, then nodded. "Morning, child. Are you ready?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Madam Tera gave a thoughtful hum. "I see in your file that you mentioned knowing how to cook."

Matilda gave a small nod. "Yes, ma'am."

The kitchen head studied her for a moment before gesturing toward a counter. "Show me."

Matilda moved swiftly, her hands finding their rhythm almost instinctively.

Cooking was one of the few rare skills her Uncle Jasper had taught her.

He always said it was something he learned from his older sister... her mother.

"This way, you'll always have a part of her with you."

Those words clung to her heart, tightening her chest with a dull ache.

She swallowed hard.

Tears threatened to well up, but she bit them back.

She couldn't afford to lose herself in grief...not now.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself.

She had no intention of drawing any more trouble.

Not when she already had enough haters from the snitching incident.

So, she focused on what she did best.

And, if there was one thing Matilda knew... she was a damn good cook.

She had magic hands when it came to food.

She wasn't afraid to experiment, to push boundaries, to question the 'do's and don'ts' of the craft.

Because only then could she truly understand her art.

And, as she stood before the stove, hands moving with practiced ease, she felt something she hadn't in a long time... purpose.

For the trial, Matilda chose to prepare a dessert, Apple Pie.

She moved with confidence, gathering the ingredients she needed for her apple pie... with her own unique recipe.

She first prepared the dough; She combined flour, cold butter, salt, and a bit of sugar, mixing until it formed a crumbly texture before adding cold water to bring it together. After kneading lightly, she wrapped it in a cloth and set it aside to chill.

For her next step, she made the filling by peeling and slicing fresh apples, tossing them in a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and a splash of lemon juice for balance. She let them sit so the flavors could blend.

With that, she rolled out the dough, lining a pie dish with one half while the apple mixture was spread evenly inside. She cut the remaining dough into thin strips, weaving them into a classic lattice pattern over the filling.

Lastly, Matilda brushed the top with a light egg wash, sprinkled a little sugar for a crisp finish, and placed it in the preheated oven. The scent of cinnamon and baked apples soon filled the massive kitchen.

Matilda worked swiftly, her hands moving with practiced ease. It didn't take long before she carefully plated a warm slice, setting it down before Madam Tera for assessment.

The kitchen was enormous, twice the size of the entire Omega's quarters.

At the huge counter, Madam Tera sat down, her expression unreadable.

Matilda stood before her, hands clasped together.

She was confident in her skills, her Uncle Jasper always praised her cooking... but now, under Madam Tera's gaze, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

Silence.

Madam Tera took a bite.

Matilda swallowed hard.

She watched as the older woman scooped a second bite.

Then, a slow smile spread across her face.

Madam Tera looked up at her with a knowing expression.

"What? Won't you allow me to savor it?" she teased.

Matilda exhaled, relief washing over her.

Though Madam Tera wasn't one to be overly expressive, the smile on her face said it all.

She set her fork down and gave a small nod. "You certainly know your way around the kitchen."

The girls watching from a distance let out quiet exhales of relief...or disappointment.

Some had secretly hoped she'd fail and get punished.

But Matilda didn't fail. She had just proven herself.