Chapter 42 OLD MAN
Edeline
She glanced down at the ground, her face a mix of unease and sadness. “Hey, just wanted to let you know that we’re all gathering for dinner tonight. Tatiana and Percival will be there too.” She met my gaze, her eyes soft but serious. “You and Nixx should sit at a distance from them. Hey, here are Alpha William’s orders. He’s going to bring up a few things over dinner. We got word from Tatiana’s old man, the Alpha up north. Later on, he’s interested in having a get-together with our family. Hey, just wanted to give you a heads-up about something. It might not be the best news, but I thought it would be better to let you know in advance so you can be prepared.”
I could see a hint of sympathy and remorse in her gaze as she spoke. My stomach twisted in knots.
Uh oh, this doesn’t seem good.
I just stood there, staring at her with a blank expression while she offered me a small, apologetic smile before lowering her head and gently closing the door behind her.
What could Alpha William possibly say tonight? What’s his message for the whole gang? For us? For me?
A sudden wave of nausea hit me. I rushed to the bathroom, barely making it in time to throw up the sandwich I had eaten earlier.
What’s going on? What else could possibly make my life any worse?
…
I took a quick peek in the mirror, a move I’d made countless times before. The moonlight streamed through my bedroom window, its soft glow reflecting off the tall mirror. It felt almost like the moon was acknowledging my presence. I could sense its silent observation, almost as if it noticed the discomfort gnawing at me. The stress and chaos my family was enduring seemed to weigh on everything around me.
But the moon, it just watched and let things be.
Luckily, my queasiness had eased up, thanks to one of Mom's little blue pills—the ones the doctor prescribed for her nerves. We’re big fans of herbal remedies, especially as wolves. But sometimes, when things get overwhelming, like with Mom’s anxiety, we turn to human medications. Tonight, I was really grateful for that.
I felt this unexpected wave of relaxation, both mentally and physically. It was like I was floating through the moment. I barely cared about anything except how I looked, which had been stressing me out all afternoon.
I glanced at the red sundress I was wearing with my black Mary Jane flats and thought I looked okay. Our group usually keeps things pretty casual—just the usual for weddings, funerals, or mating ceremonies. I just needed something simple, but I wanted to look nice tonight.
Maybe it was that pill working its magic...
Yeah, I was pretty sure it was the pill.
I casually swept my wavy hair to the side and decided to try something new—a swipe of kohl on my eyelids and a touch of rose stain on my lips.
When I spoke, my voice was slow but felt just right. Everything around me seemed to be moving at a sluggish pace.
Then, a sudden knock on the door jolted me out of my slow-motion daze, instantly pumping me with energy.
“Hey, come on in!” I called out cheerfully.
Nixx popped his head through the door, looking a bit puzzled. Normally, I’d say he seemed slightly lost.
“Hey, Edeline, everything okay? Wow, you’re looking great! It’s just dinner—what’s with the fancy dress?” He eyed me with curiosity.
I strolled over to the door with a big smile, feeling light and carefree. “I’m doing great! Why, what’s wrong with the dress? Is it too much? I just wanted to feel casual and confident tonight,” I said with a smirk.
“Did Mom give you one of her pills?” He asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to ignore the lingering edge of unease. “Oh, absolutely... she did! Haha!” I laughed, enjoying the way his worried eyes scanned my face, as if waiting for me to make a fool of myself—or maybe him.
I knew I was probably freaking him out. Alright, time to dial it back and get serious. Even though everything in my life felt like it was falling apart, I couldn’t just pretend it wasn’t happening. I took Nixx’s hand, gazing into his deep green eyes with my own intense blue ones, searching for a bit of understanding.
“Hey, Nixx. I’ll be okay. Seriously... I needed this,” I said, trying to reassure him. “I’ve been a bundle of nerves about tonight. I just wanted to feel good about myself for a change, instead of looking thin, tired, and sickly. Is that alright? Besides, we’ve been moved to the other side of the table anyway.” I could hear the faint edge in my voice, and I knew he did too.
Nixx nodded, casually pushing the door open. His dark denims and black button-up with rolled-up sleeves looked effortlessly cool. A grin spread across his handsome face.
“That’s great! I wanted to dress nicely too, so I’m relieved I’m not the only one. Laundry day is my excuse,” he chuckled. His laughter was contagious as he pulled me into a warm hug, holding me close.
“Hey, sis, don’t worry. We’ll be fine. I promise,” I said, my eyes drifting back to the moonlight streaming through the window. It felt like the moon was giving me a playful wink. Maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out alright.
Nixx planted a quick kiss on my cheek before grabbing my hand and whisking me out the door and down the stairs.
...
We bumped into Mom and Dad at the cafeteria. Dad was chatting with Alpha William, while Mom was already busy in the kitchen, helping out.
“Wait, do we actually have name card placements?” I whispered to Nixx, horrified. It seemed like they were really sticking to this “separation” thing.
“Looks like everyone does,” he whispered back.
I scanned the spacious room and saw that only the head table had name cards, showing where everyone would be seated. It seemed the whole hierarchy had been shaken up. My family and I were seated at the head table, among the higher status wolves.