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"I'm so sorry." I squeezed her, shivering as the thick layer of snow that stuck to her coat soaked through my thin sleeves. "Summer and I almost lost our things on the way here as well."
"I guess there's nothing for it." She pulled off her mittens, looking around the lodge. "I came anyway to see if you needed help, but everything looks amazing."
She was right. It really did.
Our pack always went all out, making sure the winter festival was grand. Ivy, holly, and red and gold ribbons covered every surface in the great room. Lush sprigs of mistletoe hung from doorways, arches, and the banister that led upstairs, and in the center of the room, the evergreen stood tall and proud, almost touching the steepled ceiling.
The whole space smelled of pine, spice, and mulled wine. I let out a contented sigh.
I loved this time of year.
Looking over the perfectly placed ornaments, Lily stepped closer to the enormous tree. "The pups did a wonderful job this year," she said, admiring a bright blue paper flower.
The evergreen was covered in dried flowers, lights, bundles of cinnamon, and ribbons tied in beautiful braids and twisted to create shapes; colorful stars, moons, and animals covered the whole tree. Wolves were, of course, the most popular, but I loved the silly ones the most, especially the fish the pups created in the schoolhouse. They were sloppy and misshapen and far too adorable not to be loved.
Summer dusted some snow off Lily's shoulders. "I saw Alpha Rowan outside. Did he escort you here?"
I was thankful she had someone else to tease.
"He and Alpha Ivor were headed this way purely by coincidence," Lily said in an overly casual manner, but I could see the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"You like him," I said, a little shocked. Lily had an awful experience when she was young and was terrified of all alphas. Except for Nix, but he was more like family.
"Rowan is very sweet," she said simply, running her fingers through her long, silky hair. "But my parents don't really know how to handle prospective alphas. It's making the whole process…a bit slow. I don't even know if Rowan has talked to my father about claiming me yet, and I'm just," she sighed hard, flopping her hands at her sides, "I'm just tired. I've been of-age all of ten minutes, and the single alphas in this village have descended on me like, like….wolves!" she laughed. "If Rowan doesn't make a move soon, I'm worried my father will hand me over to someone else."
"Rowan's father is a rather high-ranking official," I said. "Your father is no dummy. He'll pick Rowan. You won't get stuck with someone stuffy."
"Like Ari?" she snorted.
I groaned. "Does everyone know?"
"Yes," Lily and Summer said together.
"It wouldn't be so bad if every memory I had of him wasn't somehow tied to my dad. And…" I hesitated, not wanting to insult the alpha, but no one else was here, "he's just so muted."
"It'll be okay," Lily kissed my cheek.
I tried not to feel jealous of her situation. I had spent the last five years praying someone—anyone—would show some kind of interest in me. I glanced at the door, thinking about Ari. I guess I got my wish.
"We should probably head home before the weather gets too bad," Summer said, adjusting the garland hanging over the door frame. Even on her tiptoes, she didn't quite reach. Her fingers brushed the edge, and the whole thing fell forward, smacking onto the floor. She glared at it. "Yup. Let's go before I burn the whole lodge down."
"Let me get my coat out of the kitchen." I walked across the room to gather my things. I still wanted to fuss with my tapestry, but the view out the massive window at the back of the lodge was a little concerning. The wind was so thick with snow all I could see was a few blurry, dark shapes trudging along, and the cabins in the distance were all but gone. Hidden by the flurry of wind.
Summer's and Lily's voices dropped behind me, and they giggled loudly, gossiping about who knows what. I ignored them and pushed open the kitchen door. It swung wide, pushing the scent of fresh meats, prepared vegetables, and warm cakes into my face.
My coat sat at the end of the long countertop. I stared at it.
It seemed I wouldn't get my chance to talk to Ivor today. Perhaps there was a reason I hadn't given him my gift yet. It seemed the Moon didn't want us together.
I pushed down the twist of sadness in my chest and squeezed the kit in my hand, determined not to cry.
FOUR
OUTSIDE THE LODGE
Ivor
* * *
