Winter Rose

Chapter 8: An Awkward Dinner

Jessica ran up and hugged Susan and Andy like they were already family. My wolf bristled and I felt a knot in my stomach. Mr. Winter kept his distance from me. Watching me out of the corner of his eye like I might bite as he walked with Jessica into the house. 

“Mother. What is Jessica doing here?” Theo growled under his breath. 

“Oh I invited her.” Susan said with a smile. “Before I knew you had guests of your own. Oh well. Come Alex let’s go introduce you to the rest of the family.” She said extending her arm to me. I took her arm but looked to Theo over my shoulder. Em and Malcolm fell in ranks close behind me, tense with my rival also arriving. 

“Alright everyone.” Susan announced as we walked into the room, “Some of our neighbors from the Rose pack decided to delight us with their presence at dinner. Here is Alexandria Rose. I’m sure you all remember her from the council meeting last week. She is competing against Jessica” she motioned towards the b***h who sat up straighter in her chair, “for our handsome young Theo’s hand in marriage.” She said motioning for me to sit on the other side of Theo so he was effectively sandwiched between the two of us. “This is her cousin, Emily was it?” Susan asked, Em just nodded and took her seat next to me. “Malcolm darling your Alexandria’s brother right?” Malcolm nodded and took the seat she indicated. “Stephanie right?” Steph nodded. “Emily’s younger sister.” Steph took her seat as Susan set her sights on Fae, the youngest of us in attendance, “Mae?” Susan questioned. 

“I’m Fae.” Fae explained turning bright red.

“I’m sorry dear there were just so many new faces at the meeting. You can have a seat here.” Fae just nodded and took her seat. “Don’t feel pressured to remember all our names dear.” Susan said, fixing her gaze back on me. “I’m Susan Winter, you’ve already met my husband Andy and our son Theo. This is Theo’s younger brother Henry.” She explained motioning to a boy about Malcolm’s age sitting next to Adam. He was blond like his brother with his father’s broad features, and his mother’s blue eyes. 

“I’m Theo’s Aunt Mary,” a plump blonde introduced herself. “My husband Clarence is Andy’s brother.  These are our sons Michael and Gabriel.” She introduced the two tall broad shouldered sandy haired males that looked like her husband. They had the Winter green eyes. “Michael’s wife Hannah” Mary continued introducing a short plump brunette who smiled politely, “And Gabriel’s wife Lilly” she said motioning towards a petite dirty blonde with cold features. “These three adorable blondies are my granddaughters Lucy, Evie, and Maggie.” The little girls all waved shyly hiding behind their mother Lilly. 

“I’m Theo’s uncle Larry and this is my wife Ruth.” another tall broad shouldered man with green eyes and light brown hair said motioning towards his wife who was short and curvy with a blonde pixie cut.

“And I’m Theo’s Aunt Jennifer” A petite blonde with brown eyes said, “This is my husband Eric” she motioned to the brown haired man with gray eyes next to her “and our three sons Charlie, Sam, and Adam.” The three boys had dark brown hair and gray eyes like their father but were built more slim like their mother. The oldest looked to be Steph’s age, the middle one Malcolm’s, and the youngest looked about the same age as Mary’s triplet granddaughters who would be in the same group as Fae’s younger sisters.

“It’s nice to meet you all.” I said. Not failing to notice the one set of twins and the other set of triplets. 

“There are quite a few younger wolves in the Rose pack.” Theo explained, “but Fae, Malcolm, Stephanie, Em, and Lexie were hoping to find work this summer. I told them we had some positions open on the farm.” 

“Oh that would be wonderful.” Aunt Mary exclaimed. “It’s always good to get to know the neighbors and other packs better.” 

“How soon would you be able to start?” Andy asked. 

“As soon as possible.” I answered for all of us. “After being here two weeks everyone is going a little stir crazy and could use some hard labor. Do you work on the farm?”  I asked Jessica. 

“No. My family owns a pizzeria in town I work at.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought of working on the farm. “Plus with my heightened senses the farm air is not good for me I’m afraid.” She added and Susan gave her a consoling pat on the hand. 

“It’s not for everyone I said with a shrug.” 

“What would you know about farm labor anyways?” Jessica asked, “Aren’t you from the city?” 

“Yes we are, but my Uncle Damien lived out in the country and we would help the local dairy farmers out during our summers.” I answered. 

“Alex is great with calves” Malcolm added, “Well all animals really seem to like her really.” He added with a frown. 

“I’m really good with poultry, and collecting eggs.” Fae pitched in quietly. 

“I’m personally not above mucking a stall or two” Em said with pride, “I was also pretty good with horses.” 

“I’m real good with shearing and working with wool.” Steph provided. 

“And all of us can haul hay and barley with ease.” I added. 

“Sounds great. I’ll expect all of you here at sunrise tomorrow. Although we ain’t got no horses.” Andy said. Jessica pouted at the arrangement, but did not argue. “Now let’s eat.” 

The women got up and fetched the dishes of food serving everyone a helping of neck roast, potatoes, and corn. Once everyone was served Andy led a brief prayer and began eating. Everyone followed suit. I made sure to use my best table manners and cut my food into small pieces taking one bite at a time. Jessica glowered at me over her chicken salad out of the corner of her eye. 

“Are you on a special diet?” I asked her. 

“No, she’s just a picky eater.” Theo said not looking up from his food. 

“Chicken is the only meat that agrees with me.” She said, “And vegetables are good for you.” She added stubbornly. 

“Still won’t catch me eating that rabbit food.” Malcolm said eying her plate, and I held back a laugh. Em slapped him upside the head for me. 

“Don’t be disrespectful.” I said to him regaining my composure. 

“But what kind of wolf only eats chicken?” He asked. 

“One that doesn’t have to explain herself to you.” I answered him, “Now mind your manners before I have to take you outside and beat them back into you.”

The Winter Alphas laughed at that joke and Theo rubbed his head. 

“What’s wrong with your head sweetie?” Susan asked. 

“Oh I just partook in a couple of sparring matches over at the Rose place today.” He said. 

“More like Alex put him in his place today.” Em laughed. 

“Oh my Goddess. My poor baby are you hurt?” Jessica whined turning his face towards her and glaring at me over his shoulder. 

“I’m fine.” He shrugged her off. 

“You two sparred today?” Larry asked.

“Yeah. My pack’s been training me pretty hard these days what with the challenge and all.” 

“And you beat Theo?” Eric asked in surprise. 

I shrugged, “Yeah but not as bad as everyone is making it seem.” 

“Oh you mopped the floor with me. I’m going to be picking pine needles out of my coat for weeks.” He groaned. 

“Well it’s a good thing they match your eyes I guess.” The Winter pack laughed at that. 

“Maybe you’ll have to spar some of us older folks if the pup’s too easy on ya” Larry offered. 

“Maybe after work tomorrow.” I offered. “I’m pretty beat today.” 

After dinner was finished the women collected the plates and took them to the kitchen. I picked up some as well and offered to help while Jessica just sat there whispering to Theo. 

“Oh Alexandria you are a guest you don’t need to help.” Ruth said, trying to take the dishes from me. 

“I don’t mind. And you can call me just Alex. In my house you help make the mess you help clean it as well.” Em and Steph joined while Fae and Malcolm made small talk with the younger Winter pack members. Once the dishes were done the Winter’s saw us out along with Jessica. We went home all eager to start working the next day. And so our summer began to come to an end. 

My schedule started to feel like a rhythm. Wake up at 3a.m, eat breakfast, jog with Theo, take the pups to the farm by sunrise. Work til lunch, go home and train for an hour or two, eat, return to the farm to work til sunset, return home to train again, take my evening jog with Theo, then crash into bed only to wake up and do it all again the next day. Theo and I often completed chores together, as Andy realized we made a good team. Slowly with my good work ethic I began to win him over. I’d have dinner every other night with the Winter pack, and rarely had to encounter Jessica. Eventually Andy gave Theo and I every Saturday night off to go out for a date on the town. Papaw even extended my curfew to eleven. Next thing I knew it was September and our school schedules would be starting. Theo offered to drive Em, Steph, Malcolm, and I to school every day as the middle school was next to the high school. My grandfather agreed as everyone in our pack was growing quite fond of him. Unfortunately, that made them push me harder in my training to ensure I win the challenge.