Chapter 472


    Chapter 472


    Lanie


    Why I’d thought taking a pair of cranky twins shopping for clothes and shoes was going to be a


    good idea the day after an all-night party, I could never know, but I was definitely cursing myself for


    it within the first half an hour. Not only did ina and Isaacin and literally drag their feet as


    we went from shop to shop, we couldn’t make it more than a few feet down the sidewalk without


    being stopped.


    I’d thought people would be curious about and want to meet Ste, of course, but I hadn’t quite


    counted on how many people wanted the chance to get close to their new Luna. Sure, I’d


    technically been the Luna before we left, but it had been for such a short time, and there’d been all


    that mess and confusion with the assigned mating. Gabri had been the Luna for Xander after his


    father gave over the leadership to him, and the pack had been used to her.


    Well, now they had me. I hadn’t realized how exhausting it would be to smile and engage with


    everyone from the people passing on the street to the cashiers and sales staff in the shops, to other


    customers…by the time we got out of the final store and were heading toward the ice cream shop


    where I’d promised my cranky twins we’d get a treat, my face ached from forcing the smiles.


    “Come on, you two. Settle down or else we’re going right back to the house, and it’ll be nothing but


    broli for you both.” I scolded, but there wasn’t much force in my words; I wanted ice cream, too.


    We found a booth toward the back and, fortunately, once we ordered our giant ice cream sundaes


    with all the extra toppings…people left us alone in peace. The twins dug in right away, but Ste


    only nibbled at hers.


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    “You’ve been quiet all day. Was it too much for you, little star?” I kept my voice quiet, but the twins


    were so busy gobbling their sweet treat that they didn’t seem to be paying much attention to us.


    She shook her head and licked the tip of her spoon. She’d chosen, not her usual vani or


    chocte, but the more exotic ck cherry chocte alongside a scoop of butter pecan. Not a


    combination I thought I’d enjoy. I couldn’t tell if she was, either.


    “People have been so nice. It’s just weird to feel them watching me all the time. Even if they’re not


    talking to me,” she said, then shrugged and dug her spoon deep into the ice cream. She took a bite


    and smiled. “Yum!”


    She looked like an adult, but there was still so much childish joy in her that I had to smile back. I


    waved my spoon at her. “You didn’t get the chance to buy many new clothes.”


    The twins had been so irritable that I’d had to keep my focus on them while leaving Ste to


    purchase her own items. Most of our packages had been sent on to the house so we didn’t have to


    carry them, but she had a few bags at her side. I leaned to take a peek into one, but it was so close


    to her that I couldn’t see what was in it.


    “Did you at least pick out some pretty things? Whatever you got, it has to be better than wearing


    your old mother’s stuff.”


    We bothughed, but our chuckles were a little strained. Ste looked the same age as me, if not


    maybe even a couple of years older. We were simr in size, but she was taller. My clothes didn’t fit


    her the same way.


    “I’m still deciding on my style,” she told me. “I guess I’m trying to figure out who I want to be.”


    Something in those words rang a little off to me. I studied her face. “Nobody says that what you


    picked out today has to be it forever, Ste. You’re allowed to discover your own preferences.”


    “It’s just that I grew up so fast,” she said in a low voice, not meeting my eyes. “I didn’t have time to


    learn about how to dress or style my hair or do my makeup or anything like that. Don’t girls usually


    do all that with their friends or sisters?”


    At that, my heart panged. My sister and I were only a year-ish apart in age…and it had been so long


    since we’d been able to hang out and do our hair and nails…I missed her.


    “I’m going to have to invite your Auntie Selena toe over. She was always a lot more into


    fashion and makeup than I was.” My heart panged again.


    Ste smiled. “That sounds like it would be fun.”


    A figure appeared at the side of the table. The young woman could barely string a sentence


    together as she stumbled over her greeting to Ste. She was clearly overwhelmed at meeting a


    Celestial. I was proud of Ste, though. She handled the girl’s obvious star-struckness with poise


    and calm.


    There was something shadowed in her expression, though. A sadness there I hated to see and


    wished I could take away.


    “I’m fine, Mama,” she assured me, even though I hadn’t said a word. “Just learning exactly what it’s


    like when people find out what I am, that’s all.”


    I wanted to believe that’s all it was.