#Chapter 54: Dinning with Wolves 2


    Alex grabs my other hand and squeezes it gently to get my attention. "You okay?"


    I nod, maybe a little too emphatically.


    I look around at everyone. They''re holding conversations just like normal people.


    If I didn''t know better, I would think they were. In fact, nothing up to this point has seemed out of ce. Well, other than Alex''s parents, who speak formally and sound like they''re already centuries old.


    I look at Alex. He fits in here. That makes my heart hurt because...well...I don''t.


    "Do you. Alwaysss. Eat together?"


    Alex shrugs. "No-only on special asions."


    "We''re eating together to discuss pack business," Mr. Helwett says, interrupting.


    Great! Now his attention is on me, and I''m pretty sure he doesn''t like me.


    For some reason, Alex''s father has been giving me the stink eye since I got here. It makes me nervous. I want to ask more questions, only I don''t want to draw his attention and make him think I''m stupid.


    So I maintain silence and try not to look at him.


    A group of women walk in carryingrge bowls filled with food. Each end of the table, and the center, gets its own -share of roasted vegetables, breads, and-not to my surprise-a variety of meats.


    I didn''t realize I was so hungry until I smelled the sweet aroma of barbeque and my stomach started growling. I guess I haven''t eaten in hours. Not that I''ve had much of an appetitetely.


    I wanted to dig into the vegetables and pulled pork, but no one else has made a move for it. I looked at Alex, who typically eats like a horse, but he doesn''t start serving himself either.


    Only once the women finish bringing out the food and finally take their seats, the reason soon bes obvious. Mr. Hewlett stands and begins speaking.


    "Family, friends, fellow pack members...wee."


    Everyone cheers in reply.


    When they''re finished, he continues. "I know this meal was unexpected, so I thank you all foring...and I thank our friends who pulled together to prepare the food on such short notice."


    Everyone ps, heads turning from one server to another in acknowledgment. I join in.


    "We''ve gathered for a two-fold purpose," Mr. Hewett exins. “For one, Michael..." he pauses, and I swear I can see a glistening eye, "has still not recovered from his injuries."


    A voice from the other end of the table speaks up. "Do you know who did it?"


    "We do not."


    Murmurs echo around the room. That''s when I realize everyone here must be on edge. They see the rogue wolves


    as threats because of what happened to Michael and the other werewolves with him.


    So why didn''t they attack Alex and Rita? That doesn''t make sense to me.


    "We are making inquiries, and we will find them."


    #Chapter 54 Dinning with Wolves2


    More uneasy murmurs fill the room.


    Mr. Hewlett put his hands up to quiet the crowd. "We also have extra protection posted around our borders. There is no need to worry."


    The room gets quiet again.


    "However, we have another order of business. I must introduce you to our guest. Most of you have heard–if not seen for yourself-that there is now a human among us."


    Oh my gosh! I want to disappear! I ce my hands over my face to hide, but Alex gently pulls one away.


    "It''s okay," he whispers. "I''m here."


    I take a deep breath and look up at his father, whose open hand is palm up and pointing right at me! I hear some pping, some murmurs. No one seems sure what to make of me yet.


    But they all know who I am and they''re all looking right at me. My heart starts beating a hundred miles an hour.


    Oh no... They''re werewolves, I think to myself-I bet they can hear it!


    Suddenly, Alex''s hand is on my knee, and he starts inhaling and exhaling slowly, his chest visibly rising and falling, so I''ll keep sync with him.


    It helps. I didn''t even realize I''d stopped breathing.


    Mr. Hewlett continues, unaffected by my obvious difort. "This is Cynthia Boston. She has be friends with our son, Alex. She has returned with him to visit Michael and make more long-term preparations, but they will not be here long."


    Alex''s eyes scrunch and he looks displeased. This must be what they were talking about in their meeting. I know he doesn''t want to leave his brother, and I totally understand why. Which is why I feel a pang of guilt at my own relief at the thought of leaving.


    "Until then, she is our guest, and she will be treated with respect. Like one of our own. I am sure many of you have questions for her, but please refrain from overwhelming her."


    The murmurs continue and Mrs. Hewlett-T-smiles sweetly at me.


    Then Mr. Hewlett lifts his ss. They all raise theirs in the air, take a drink and begin reaching for the food before them.


    I still feel like there are eyes on me, though most people have moved on to the meal.


    Only my appetite seems to have shriveled up with whatever false sense of security I had.


    I nce at Alex, afraid to look anywhere else. He is looking at the table, and I can


    tell his mind is miles away. I wish I knew what he''s thinking. Are we really leaving? Surely, it''s not that simple.


    He finally looks over at me, then past me to his parents. C


    He catches his father''s eye, but Mr. Hewlett remains stone-faced.


    6


    T notices our empty tes. "You should eat. Both of you?""


    I catch myself biting my lip. Mr. Hewlett catches me, too.


    "Don''t look so timid. It''s not like we''re going to eat you."


    My head snaps up and Alex leans against me, closer to his parents. "Father-how inappropriate!" he growls.


    #Chapter 54: Dinning with Wolves 2


    His father smiles for the first time. "I was merely making a jest. I''m sure Cynthia


    knows by now that we don''t eat people."


    His unsettling grin is fixed on me. "You do know that, don''t you?"


    I open my mouth but know that whatever words I try to form will onlye out jumbled. I choose to close it tight and nod.


    "As my wife said," he continues, scooping food onto his te, "many of our pack members have questions about what is going on in human society...but I''m also sure you also have questions for us."


    "Alex hasss pretty much...got them. Thank you.''


    "Did he tell you his birthday is only a few days away?" his mother chimes in. The


    lift of her brow lets me know she suspects he didn''t.


    And she''s right.