Derek’s become accustomed to rising early, even if he looks extra grouchy. But once he’s awake he can’t go back to sleep and he doesn’t try to. Before he would just go on runs and work-out. And he still does that on the weekdays, but on the weekends he likes to go to the local farmer’s market.
He can easily imagine the pack calling him a hipster, but he genuinely likes the freshness of the ingredients and lack of chemicals. As a wolf with heightened sense, they were just better. Less funky.
At first, he didn’t even shop there, he just liked to walk through the stalls and let the scents wake him up with the aromas that were pleasant. But then one day his stomach grumbles and he bought some fruit. The fruit seller was also selling jam made from that fruit and gave Derek a pretty good recipe to try out, and he did, and he loved it. The next weekend he stopped by that stall and then got chatted up by the neighboring one and he went home with an armful. The weekend after he was given an almost empty crate by the fruit lady and eventually he just ended up buying a few tote bags. He was a wolf and was eating healthily again, so that meant a big appetite. Which meant a lot of produce. Especially if he was hosting more pack nights.
Those were mostly held at the McCall or Stilinski house, if not at the Martin Lake house and attended by the younger pack members. Derek would stop by only if there were real emergencies. Once though, he was hosting them at the loft and well, he made something. They all raved to him about what an amazing cook he was, which he huffed and puffed and rolled his eyes at, but secretly...he was pleased. And now he attends more pack meetings and brings something. The feeling of contributing to pack and feeding pack warmed him in a familiar feeling that he didn’t mind feeling again.
“Derek! Hey! Mornin’.” The fruit seller greeted him.
“Morning Gloria. How are you?” Derek said with a smile.
“I’m great. I got a crate of peaches, reserved just for you! Any special plans for them?”
“A cobbler probably. My family’s gathering at my place this week and I think they’ll like it. I found my grandmother’s recipe not too long ago.” Derek replied.
“Well, I’d ask you to save me a slice but the way you talk about some of those family members of yours, I doubt it’ll last the hour,” Gloria says.
Derek chuckled, “I’m just hoping they’ll be willing to wait for it to cool down enough so they won’t burn themselves like last time. Thanks for this. I’ll see you next week.”
