Byron gestured for me to pull up a nail from a floorboard before he could lay a mat down. “We’re a community,” he said. “So are they. We could be one together someday. But if we don’t even try to help, it will look strange and self-serving. It’s not for long, and we’re not the only ones trying to help. We’ll do what we can.”
“The kids have no control,” the older man continued. “We’ll be found out in half a day.”
“We go to school without anyone noticing,” I said, loud enough to earn myself a side-eyed glance from Byron. “We’ll do fine with the townies around.”
The old man snorted with amusement. “I seem to remember a certain Halloween party not going so well.”
“That was different, and you know it,” I protested.
Byron clapped me on the back, warningly hard, and smiled. “I have every confidence in our younger members. After all, they understand the consequences if they mess up.”
I shivered and moved away from him, happy to work harder and shut up.
“They need some leadership, those kids,” the old man continued, watching the alpha work.
Byron gazed at him, raising an eyebrow. I looked away with another shiver.
“Oh, I don’t mean you,” the old man continued, as though no danger existed in the world. “I mean amongst themselves. One that tells the others when to shut up. This one might have worked if he wasn’t so… you know.”
This time, I openly glared at the old man.
Byron patted my shoulder, more gently this time. “They’re all responsible for each other, and this one has more influence than you realise.”
I smiled to myself, getting back to work. The old man just liked the sound of his own voice, but it was nice of Byron to make it seem as though I wasn’t completely useless.
As I worked, I watched the pack. Most of the teens stuck together on the outskirts of the group. Some of the original families worked together, looking happier than the rest. A couple of loner wolves skulked in the background but still contributed. There were so many different kinds of people in the pack that it was no wonder there was sometimes conflict. Still, it said something that we could all work together in the same space without falling apart. Maybe Nathan was right about co-existing within mini-packs.
Evening came too soon, but we continued to work until Perdita and Amelia arrived with enough pizza to feed a significant army.
We took the food outside, despite the dark evening. We lit a few candles here and there then ate together in a huge group, everybody satisfied and relaxed for a change. Some days, the atmosphere was so comfortable that it was easy to forget how dangerous life could become. Working together, relaxing together. Nights like that were special.
Perdita sat next to Byron and whispered to him. He nodded then stood to address the crowd. Ryan paused in the middle of handing me a slice of pizza to listen. The entire pack quietened, and Byron smiled. It made me feel good, knowing the alpha was pleased.
“I appreciate all you’ve done today,” Byron said. “And I know that the coming months will be challenging, but if we work together, we’ll get through it with ease. With that being said, I have some news I’d like to share on behalf of my family.” He looked around, a huge smile lighting his face. “We’re going to have a new addition to the pack next summer. Nathan and Perdita are having a baby, so I hope you all look forward to the new arrival with half as much excitement as myself.”
Ryan dropped the pizza on the grass, sadly, and was the first to clap and shout out his congratulations. His mood spread like fallen dominoes, happiness transferring from one person to another. Here was the first normality in too long, the first new generation of werewolves since Byron took over, the first child from the Evans family in over two decades, and the first of theirs born since the curse on their family was broken. If everything went well with Perdita’s pregnancy, the pack would see that as a good sign. Nobody knew what would happen, how it would change the pack, but I already felt sorry for the unborn baby.
All expectations would be on that child’s shoulders, if it was a dominant boy, in particular. Most of the pack were as curious as I was to see if the child turned out to be a wolf at all, or special, like Amelia.
The only people who didn’t seem thrilled were the other teens. I supposed I understood why.
One by one, each pack member went to Perdita to kneel at her feet as though she were royalty. She had basically sacrificed herself so the pack would associate the good news with helping the town. She grew more and more embarrassed until Nathan finally nudged Byron who put her out of her misery and declared she needed to rest.
That set the older women of the pack off. “Of course,” one said. “We’ll make sure she has everything she needs. This is good karma. We must be doing something right.”
Perdita looked panicked. “I don’t think—”
Whatever she was going to say was lost as the women gathered around her like baby birds, chirping constantly for attention. They somehow managed to manoeuvre her back inside. I noticed the flash of irritation in her eyes as they led her away, and I knew it was only a matter of time before she exploded.
In the meantime, the rest of the pack congratulated Nathan in a completely different way to Perdita. Even though Perdita was human, they had all acted as though they were submitting to her—or the baby. With Nathan, it was all back-slapping, teasing, and advice.
I let them at it, gorging myself on the pizza that had been forgotten. The rest of the teens joined me, ready to take advantage, too.
Victor chewed noisily, gaping at me with every annoying loud bite.
“What?” I snapped, reaching for another slice.
“I feel sorry for you is all,” he said. “We all do.”