At least I have a knife, and a beautiful rusty fork.
I hate that there’s no order; not only in the tableware, but the people are loud and drunk. Bottles of Scotch get passed around, glasses spilling. The food is steaming in the middle of the table and I can only imagine that when Jay gives the sign, the wolves will attack like maniacs.
Speaking of the devil, Jay appears in the doorway. My prayers are answered because the room goes dead quiet.
Everyone bows their head, hands clasping and eyes down. Is this some kind of ritual?
I’mThe Outsider. Literally. It’s written on the place card in front of me. Which means I’m the only one who doesn’t know the rules.
Tom could’ve warned me about this, but since we arrived, it’s become pretty clear he threw me in blind. And no one else seems particularly eager to explain how things work either. Maybe it’s a surprise to them too—but I doubt that in a place like this.
I steal a subtle glance at Tom. His head’s bowed like the rest, his knee brushing mine. With that, he tells me this isn’t normal. At least, I hope that’s what he means.
Jay takes his seat at the head of the table, Effy on one side, Janice on the other. That’s the signal. Heads rise, one by one, until every gaze is eye-level again. No one speaks.
And that’s when I notice two things.
First, I’ve never seen so many redheads at one table in my life.
Second, Christmas in this house isn’t festive. It’s eerie. Why do all the guys in my life drag me into insane situations?
Oh right. I like situations.
Finn is watching me from across the table. With our heads still bowed, he throws me a kiss.
Tom notices and kicks his nephew under the table. Finn flinches, and Jay catches it, shooting Finn a warning look.
I watch Effy, curious how she’ll react. I need to know. She lifts her head slightly, meeting Finn’s eyes. He fumbles, then turns back to us. I swear, if looks could kill; we’d be ashes.
I let Finn go and turn my focus to Jay, who clears his throat and stands.
“Blessed is the wolf who follows his pack.”
“Blessed is the wolf…”they chorus.
Every muscle in my shoulders tenses, and I do my best not to look as freaked out as they make me feel.
“Blessed is the wolf who watches in the night, who never sleeps, never strays. He who is strong as the storm and protects the pack.”
“Blessed is the wolf…”
“Blessed is the wolf who honors the rules of the pack. Who gives, but never takes. Who bares his teeth to tear apart those who are a threat.”
“Blessed is the wolf…”
Jay pauses. The room is deathly silent. His eyes slowly scan the table, lingering on me a little too long now.
“But damned is the wolf who turns his back on the pack. He who wanders, who betrays his family. He will end up alone while the cold splits his bones and hunger devours his heart.”
Everyone mumbles now, their voices filled with fear.
“Damned is the wolf…”
“Damned is the wolf who chooses himself, who breaks what has been built. For him, there is no warm fire, no home, no name left in the memory of his pack.”
Jay fixes his eyes on Tom now.“He will howl at the moon, but no one will answer.”
The silence that follows suffocates me, my heart pounding in my throat.
