SWNOVELS Chapter 55
Chapter 55 Brooklyn
Louisa turns her eyes to me as soon as I am seated, the baby in her lap staring at me curiously. "Hello, Brooklyn," she says, her face cold.
But hey, at least she's talking to me.
"Hello," I say, giving her as much of a smile as I can manage. I can't stand her, and she has been nothing but unkind. But I can't afford to make her even more of an enemy. Not only is she mated to my biological father, she's mated to a powerful Alpha. Which means she holds power.
Logan peeks around her to give me a happy wave, which I return.
My father, on Logan's other side, turns to me as well. "We wanted to apologize, Brooklyn, as a family. For the events at our house yesterday."
"Oh," I say, waving a hand to dismiss it, even though it was a disaster. "I understand that it's...awkward. That I'm a new addition, and that I screwed up some of your plans. I'm...sorry about that, by the way." I look into Louisa's face as I say it.
"Not a new addition, Brooklyn," my father says, looking at me steadily. "A loved one returned to us after a long parting."
"Yes," Louisa says, her voice low and rehearsed. "You are a member of this family."
Her eyes flick to Aden and Hudson then, and I wonder why.
The rest of the dinner proceeds blandly. The food is good, the chitchat a little dull.
I get a lot of family history, then, with Lennox showing me pictures of my grandparents and telling me about their journey to America from Italy. They wanted to find a different pack life for themselves, and wolf shifters in America were more accepted at the time.
I look at the old photos curiously, trying to see pieces of my features in their faces. I've never really considered, before, that I'm actually Italian.
I never thought much about my ethnicity, but with my red hair and pale skin, Italian had never popped into my mind.
I glance quickly at Aden and Hudson-with their dark skin, thick black hair, and Roman noses, they look Italian.
"Thank you so much for showing me these," I say to Lennox, handing the pictures back to him. "I'm learning so much about myself lately."
"And you have so much more to learn," he says, giving me a warm smile, which I return.
The party goes late, with everyone drinking and chatting.
At some point, a DJ comes out. It's not a bad time, overall. Even Hudson is laughing and enjoying himself now.
Only Aden seems to be having a poor time. Or, at least, not a good one. He's very stern, always glancing around the room, looking over everyone who comes to say hello.
I purse my lips, considering him as he looks critically at an old woman who introduced herself as my great-aunt.
Does he ever have a good time? Is it an Alpha thing with him?
Maybe he's always trying to project the image of "alpha" even though he isn't one by title.
Aden must feel me watching him because he turns his attention to me, raising his eyebrow.
My cheeks flush when our eyes connect.
I don't know what comes over me, but I shrug and shimmy my shoulders, encouraging him, without
words, to try to loosen up and have a good time.
He smirks at me and then looks away, continuing his surveillance. My heart flutters.
Get ahold of yourself, Brooklyn.
I stand up to get another drink. Aden stands to go with me, but I put out a hand to stop him.
"Really," I say. "I'm just going to the bar for a glass of wine."
I indicate the alcove in the wall where the bar is stationed, only a few feet away. "I'll be back in a moment."
He hesitates and then settles back in his chair. "I'll be right here," he says.
A younger set of people are standing by the bar chatting. They raise their glasses to me as I sidle up.
"Welcome to the family, cousin," a tall guy with closely cut black hair and broad shoulders says to me. "We have a lot to talk about."