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“I feel like I’m on display,” Angie said, quietly.
“You are. Did I forget to mention that? Not only are you my bodyguard, but you are also an artifact that I dragged back from the human world.”
“Nice,” Angie said. “Now I’m going to dribble food down the front of my dress and get spinach stuck in my front teeth.”
“We could have bought you a matching bib,” Carolyn joked. “Don’t worry about it. In a few minutes, they’ll remember their manners. Then, instead of openly staring they will cast glances at you out of the corners of their eyes.”
“Should I just stand up and let them poke and prod at me? Maybe pinch me a little bit?” Angie laughed.
“You could, although I draw the line at dissection,” Noah said.
Carolyn laughed. She snorted a little bit and looked mortified, but Angie said, “I’m glad that I’m not the only one who does that.”
Angie admired the decorations. There were torches in holders along the wall that lit up the room. Flowering plants were strategically placed everywhere. Metal stars and a large, full moon hung from the ceiling of the cave. Fairy lights attached to the ceiling made it look as though the night sky was twinkling just above them. A hint of jasmine floated in the air.
She looked at Noah who was leaning over, listening to his mother. Noah had a slight smile on his lips. He was so incredibly handsome and amazing. Angie’s stomach fluttered as her heart skipped a beat when she considered the intensity of her feelings for the man seated to her left.
He seemed to know that she was studying him because he squeezed her hand again.
Carolyn said, “I’ve never sat at the alpha table before.”
“Me either,” Angie said, smiling at her friend.
“You know people are wondering why I’m sitting here and not at my usual table.”
“Let them wonder. Or, if they have the guts, let them ask Noah or me -- especially Noah. I’m pretty sure that he’s the one who changed seating.”
Noah had overheard the conversation. He looked over and winked at them. Angie smiled at him. She stared into his eyes, and for the moment it was just the two of them in the world.
The caterers began to serve the food. She had opted for the fried chicken and mashed potatoes. She waited to see how others ate their fried chicken. Normally, she would pick it up with her fingers, but people at formal events usually used their forks. This was the case here.
“I see you found Kristy’s Boutique,” Anna said, trying to put Angie at ease. “She always has the best dresses for all events.”
“We did. There were a few dresses that we loved, but we finally decided on these,” Angie said. “Carolyn was nice enough to tote me to the shoe store and jewelry store.”
“I had a great time,” Carolyn said, smiling. “Although my favorite was the bookstore.”
“A book nerd, huh?” Gerard, Noah’s father said, looking at Carolyn with a sneer.
Carolyn seemed to shrink back into her chair.
“Me, too,” Angie said. “I’m pretty sure that I cleaned out about half of the bookstore today. Books are amazing. You can learn so much about people and cultures. They are a great way of taking a vacation and having an adventure without leaving the house.”
She stared at Gerard the entire time she spoke. Angie wasn’t about to let the close-minded man intimidate her friend.
“The owner of the bookstore did seem to think you were her next best friend.” Carolyn smiled. “It’s a good thing that you read fast, or it would take you three lifetimes to read everything you bought today.”
“It’ll just take me a month or two,” Angie said.
“So, what do you do when you aren’t reading?” Anna asked.
“I recently started a no-kill sanctuary. It is eighty acres and run by the nicest couple you’d ever want to meet,” Angie said. “I also work closely with a domestic violence shelter and make sure that everyone has the basics of what they need, even if it is a plane ticket out of town for a fresh start. Apollo and I volunteer at one of the food pantries in Angel’s Creek at least once a week.”
“I can tell you are very passionate about your work,” Anna said.
“I love knowing that I can make a difference for others. I might not change the world, but I can help my part of it.”
Anna started to reply, but Gerard said, “You won’t have time for all that nonsense when you are a luna. You are going to be too busy raising your pups and taking care of pack business.”
