Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 28 - Learning Experience

"Cause, I wanted you to see what she could do."

Matheus, Madrid, the other five shadows, and I laughed loudly at the flirt, embarrassing him.

I walked over to him and stuck my hand out. “Hi. I’m the idiot girl the monster was looking for. My name is Selina.”

I’m going to go fix the rest of the dinner. You guys might want to get cleaned up, you smell,” I encouraged the men.

I watched as Matheus walked over and opened a footlocker, grabbing clothes for the men. He handed them out along with some towels. The shadows and my clothes would have to be laundered unless they brought more in their packs.

I was peeling potatoes with my blade. The shadows were a little leery as they watched me peel potatoes expertly. I had to show off and throw in a flip of my blade. I knew they wouldn’t mess with me. Madrid and Matheus would neuter them in a second. I finished the potatoes and cut them up in chunks throwing them in the pot. I added a big can of Rotel tomatoes to the mix. I hoped the boys liked a little spicy but I was sure they would be glad for a meal - any meal.

Matheus walked over to me and sniffed the air.“What are you making? It smells great.”

“I’m making a southern stew. I love it and as long as the guys don’t mind a little bit of spice then they should like I,t too.” I looked up at him, deciding to tease him. “I can’t believe you found all six shadows.”

“What? You doubted me?” He asked, putting a hand over his heart in a dramatic gesture.

I laughed at him and pecked him on the cheek. “I knew you would. I had no doubts and neither did the General.”

Matheus winked and walked back over to the General, making sure we didn’t have anyone sniffing outside our bug out cave. “If you want to sit for awhile...I can take over.”

The General nodded and walked over to the table and sat down. He was waiting for each Shadow Cat to get finished with their shower. As each shadow came out he would have each team member brief him.

When each team member was finished with their briefings they came and introduced themselves to me, using their handles.

“So, we have Claw, Digger, Flirt, Dragon, Warrior, Eagle, and Go-go gadget, right?” The men nodded. “And, you are the Shadow Cats. I bet when someone asks why you picked the name you did you tell them it was because shadows are black and cats slink around everywhere then attack when you least expect it, am I right?”

“Damn, Matheus, you may have someone smarter than you. I bet she will know when you do something before you do,” Claw teased Matheus.

“Probably,” he answered.

Madrid spoke up, “She’s the one who told me Matheus had a plan in place before this all happened, and it was before she met him.”

“You are in so much trouble, Matheus. Not only can she kick ass she can reason out problems quickly, too. Yep, you're in trouble,” Flirt teased, smirking at Matheus.

The men sat at the table while I went and got spoons, crackers, and bowls. I set them around the table and walked back over to the stovetop. I found a ladle and stirred the stew, checking to make sure everything was finished cooking. I walked back over to the table, getting Matheus's attention. “Can you carry the pot to the table? I’ll get a towel to sit under it.”

“Okay. Food sounds good right now. Thanks for cooking. You know you don’t have to cook for me or the others-”

Madrid cut him off, “-speak for yourself. She’s an excellent cook and I, for one, plan to enjoy the food. It smells heavenly.”

I almost opened my mouth and called him on the use of heavenly and having the first name of Angel. I opened my mouth and shut it quickly before my thoughts became words. “Thanks, General.”

Matheus grabbed a towel and picked up the pot, hurrying to get it to the table for me. I had made enough for an army but I guess it was what we were. As soon as I got back to the table I tried to serve everyone. Matheus put his hand over mine, shaking his head no.

“We can serve ourselves, Selina, but thank you. Go ahead and get you some. These lug-heads need to learn some manners.”

I shrugged my shoulders and dished up my stew, adding some crackers next to my bowl. I waited until everyone had their food before I ate. It was a trait I still had that I learned from the monster. I learned the hard way, of course. I took a bite and closed my eyes, glad I learned this recipe from my mother’s old recipe box. It made me feel closer to her.

“Oh, wow! Selina can cook. Brother, she’s a triple threat,” Warrior exclaimed while stuffing his mouth.

“Thanks, Warrior, it’s a recipe I found of my mother's the monster tried to hide,” I commented.

Everyone was quiet, eating as if we were in a race. I guessed we really were. We never knew what the monster was going to do next.

I took another bite of the stew when an alarm went off...