him to let the wolf out of its cage.
Chapter Five
Perdita
I changed clothes at least four times before finally settling on an outfit for the memorial. Amelia and I had decided not to wear black because Lia had loved colour in life. We agreed to wear a black flower in our hair and leave that as the extent of our mourning fashion. I hoped Byron wouldn’t be offended. We weren’t being disrespectful, just acknowledging Lia in our own way.
When I went downstairs, Dad, Gran, and even Erin were waiting for me. They were all dressed in black.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “What’s this about then?”
Dad glanced at Erin, who rolled her eyes and said, “We thought it would be nice if we all came with you.”
“Um, it’s okay,” I said, panicking. “It won’t be... the kind of thing you’re used to.”
“We know there’ll probably be cultural differences.” Gran sounded pretty excited.
“Uh, you could say that,” I said slowly. I had no idea if there was going to be any kind of odd werewolf ceremony, like after Lia had died, and I didn’t want my family there gawking at the weirdness. On the other hand, the memorial was taking place in the community hall, so it couldn’t be too off the wall.
“ Perdy , we know you were upset when Nathan’s grandmother died. We want to support you,” Dad said.
I melted. I couldn’t make them stay home when they had been worrying about me so much. Gran was even making the effort to be around Erin, all for me. For some reason, I felt a lump in my throat. “Fine. You can come. But act normal, even if things get weird.”
They all exchanged bemused glances, but I couldn’t even try to explain. I had no idea what to expect.
Small groups of people hung around outside the community hall when we arrived. A couple of adults approached us to gossip, basically. None of them knew much about Lia , and they were apparently curious about the whole family.
“What kind of people would want to live on a ghost estate?” an old woman whispered to Gran. “It’s practically abandoned.”
“People who want peace from gossiping ‘ oul wans ,” I muttered under my breath, earning a nudge from Dad.
“She never once came to any of our outings.” The old woman tutted , turning up her nose. “And now they’re using our hall.”
I gazed at Dad pleadingly, and he pushed me ahead with a small smile. We walked into the community hall together, and I couldn’t believe how different the normally bland centre appeared. Vibrant colours flashed in every corner.
I caught sight of Nathan speaking with Amelia at the front of the room. He turned around to look at me as I took a step toward him. We both grinned, and I couldn’t help wondering if he somehow sensed me standing there. He hurried over to us, and it was only then that I noticed he was wearing a suit. And looking extremely hot in it, too.
He touched my hands lightly before turning to my family and thanking them for coming. I could almost hear the brownie points racking up. I made a gagging sound when he called Dad “sir,” but they all ignored me and acted as if it was perfectly normal.
“Do you mind if Perdita sits with me?” he asked Dad, who had no choice but to say it was fine.
“Please, do not embarrass me,” I hissed at my family before I left to join Nathan. “No gossiping either!”
“When have I ever embarrassed you?” Dad looked as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
“Please, Dad. I like him, okay? So be nice.” Ignoring the surprise on my dad’s face, I followed Nathan, leaving my family to their own devices.
He looked back, totally catching me checking him out. “So you like me, eh?”
“What did I tell you about eavesdropping? Keep walking, slick.”
“Not my fault you’re loud,” he teased, taking my hand.
Two sets of rows of chairs ran parallel and were divided by a long royal blue rug, the same chairs and rug used for everything that went on in the community hall.
Chapter Five
Perdita
I changed clothes at least four times before finally settling on an outfit for the memorial. Amelia and I had decided not to wear black because Lia had loved colour in life. We agreed to wear a black flower in our hair and leave that as the extent of our mourning fashion. I hoped Byron wouldn’t be offended. We weren’t being disrespectful, just acknowledging Lia in our own way.
When I went downstairs, Dad, Gran, and even Erin were waiting for me. They were all dressed in black.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “What’s this about then?”
Dad glanced at Erin, who rolled her eyes and said, “We thought it would be nice if we all came with you.”
“Um, it’s okay,” I said, panicking. “It won’t be... the kind of thing you’re used to.”
“We know there’ll probably be cultural differences.” Gran sounded pretty excited.
“Uh, you could say that,” I said slowly. I had no idea if there was going to be any kind of odd werewolf ceremony, like after Lia had died, and I didn’t want my family there gawking at the weirdness. On the other hand, the memorial was taking place in the community hall, so it couldn’t be too off the wall.
“ Perdy , we know you were upset when Nathan’s grandmother died. We want to support you,” Dad said.
I melted. I couldn’t make them stay home when they had been worrying about me so much. Gran was even making the effort to be around Erin, all for me. For some reason, I felt a lump in my throat. “Fine. You can come. But act normal, even if things get weird.”
They all exchanged bemused glances, but I couldn’t even try to explain. I had no idea what to expect.
Small groups of people hung around outside the community hall when we arrived. A couple of adults approached us to gossip, basically. None of them knew much about Lia , and they were apparently curious about the whole family.
“What kind of people would want to live on a ghost estate?” an old woman whispered to Gran. “It’s practically abandoned.”
“People who want peace from gossiping ‘ oul wans ,” I muttered under my breath, earning a nudge from Dad.
“She never once came to any of our outings.” The old woman tutted , turning up her nose. “And now they’re using our hall.”
I gazed at Dad pleadingly, and he pushed me ahead with a small smile. We walked into the community hall together, and I couldn’t believe how different the normally bland centre appeared. Vibrant colours flashed in every corner.
I caught sight of Nathan speaking with Amelia at the front of the room. He turned around to look at me as I took a step toward him. We both grinned, and I couldn’t help wondering if he somehow sensed me standing there. He hurried over to us, and it was only then that I noticed he was wearing a suit. And looking extremely hot in it, too.
He touched my hands lightly before turning to my family and thanking them for coming. I could almost hear the brownie points racking up. I made a gagging sound when he called Dad “sir,” but they all ignored me and acted as if it was perfectly normal.
“Do you mind if Perdita sits with me?” he asked Dad, who had no choice but to say it was fine.
“Please, do not embarrass me,” I hissed at my family before I left to join Nathan. “No gossiping either!”
“When have I ever embarrassed you?” Dad looked as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
“Please, Dad. I like him, okay? So be nice.” Ignoring the surprise on my dad’s face, I followed Nathan, leaving my family to their own devices.
He looked back, totally catching me checking him out. “So you like me, eh?”
“What did I tell you about eavesdropping? Keep walking, slick.”
“Not my fault you’re loud,” he teased, taking my hand.
Two sets of rows of chairs ran parallel and were divided by a long royal blue rug, the same chairs and rug used for everything that went on in the community hall.
Similar Books
