Chapter 4 - Nova

I stood back from the crowd that was gathering and tried to blend into the wall. The males were huge, the females lovely, and the pups adorable. Blanche abandoned me and picked up a small pup. The little girl hugged her and called her Aunt Blanche. I had to blink away tears at the sight. 

When a little girl in a wheelchair came in, followed by a handsome, dark-haired male, I was curious. She looked too young to be confined to a wheelchair. The little dark-haired girl smiled at Sonni when the luna leaned down and kissed her cheek. 

Once everyone started mounding their plates, Blanche came over carrying a pup.

“Nova, this is Montana. She is Dallas and Levi’s daughter.” 

I remembered her writing about Dallas and her mates. She also mentioned Dallas’ two pups. She has actually written quite a bit about everyone in this family. I had thought she was just glossing things over. Families like the one she was describing did not exist. Seeing them in person, however, made me wonder if they might be the exception. 

Cassian handed me an empty plate and gently placed his hand on my arm. “Help yourself, Nova. There is plenty for everyone.”

I knew how pack hierarchy worked; he wasn’t going to trick me into taking more than I was allowed. That was something my dad’s warriors did to me three different times after Freyja came and I was demoted to the first floor. I still remember the sting of my dad’s belt for eating more than someone of my station was allotted. 

Standing back, I waited until everyone else had gotten their food. Then I stepped up and took a small serving of tortilla chips and put one small spoonful of seasoned beef on them and a sprinkle of cheese. I double-checked my plate to make sure the food didn’t cover more than a third of it. I wasn’t sure of the rules in this pack, but I hoped I'd just get a warning if I took too much.

Blanche motioned me to the seat next to her, and I froze. She was sitting with the pack luna. I couldn’t sit there. Sonni was watching me closely, but I kept my eyes down to show the proper respect. 

She said something to the big male beside her, and his light blue eyes settled on me before he picked up his plate and sat next to Blanche.

“Nova, I want you to sit next to me.” My stomach twisted, and I almost bolted for the door. 

I carefully slid into the chair beside Sonni and was careful not to touch her. A glass of iced tea was set in front of me. My eyes flew to Cassian as he stepped back, then went to his seat. 

“What’s wrong, sweetie? Do you not like tea?” Sonni was watching me closely.

“Am I allowed to drink it?” 

The entire table went silent when I asked that question.

“Why wouldn’t you be allowed to drink it? Cassian placed it there for you.” The guy who moved seats asked. 

“I thought maybe it was a test or trick.”

“Is that what they used to do to you in your old pack?” Blanche looked worried. 

I nodded and worried my napkin with my fingers. 

“Well, here we actually drink what is put in front of us, and nobody says crap about it.” Sonni patted my arm and lifted her own glass to take a drink. 

Eating slowly, I was amazed at how good the nachos were. I noticed Blanche had a heaping plate with tortilla chips, beef, cheese, jalapeños, salsa, lettuce, and sour cream. Her plate looked delicious, and I was a little envious. Once I finished my portion, I sat quietly as everyone talked around the table. 

“Surely, you are not finished eating, Nova.” Hawk was three seats down from me. 

“It was delicious. Thank you.” I didn’t know what I was supposed to say. I took what I would have been allowed to take in the Silver Moon Pack. 

Sonni leaned closer to me. “Your stomach is still growling. You need to eat more and quiet that beast.”

I blushed. That was just a little embarrassing. 

“No, I’m fine.” Right as I said that, my damn stomach growled so loudly I was certain they heard it at the other end of the table.

“Who limited your food, Nova?” I startled at that question from Hawk.

My mouth opened, but I couldn’t force the words out. Closing my mouth again, I lowered my head and said nothing. That was usually the best way to avoid punishment. 

After an uncomfortable silence, Rosa asked who wanted dessert. I wished I could slip away. I didn’t want to watch everyone else eat a sweet treat. I knew I would not be allowed to have dessert. Those who slept on the first floor didn’t get luxuries such as dessert.

The only time I was given a treat after Freyja came was when Alpha Sebastian of the Blood Warrior Pack visited with his luna. She gave me a cupcake when I helped her unpack for her visit. Both had been so kind to everyone, including me.

A plate was set in front of me, and I wanted to scream. They were testing me, for sure. I was certain of it now. 

The little pup in the wheelchair ate her dessert so fast and asked the male beside her for more. He chuckled and handed her one of his churros. She was adorable with an infectious smile, dancing silvery-gray eyes, and dark hair that was a little curly. Her eyes met mine, and she stared while munching on her treat. 

She finally pushed her wheelchair between Sonni and me and stared at me again. Sonni slipped her arm around the little girl and smiled. “This is  Natalia. She is Edge’s daughter and my niece.”

The handsome, dark-haired male with a permanent scowl must be Edge. He was watching me like he expected me to pick his pup up and hurl her across the room. The little pup smiled at me, then pointed toward the churros in front of me.

“Why aren’t you eating dessert?”

“I thought maybe you would want them.” I smiled at her. 

“Really? I love churros.” Natalia couldn’t be more than four years old; she was dainty and fragile-looking. She also seemed to know exactly what she wanted. 

I pushed the plate closer to her, and she snatched one of the churros. 

“Natalia, what do you say to the nice lady?” Her dad spoke, and when he emphasized the word lady, I knew he sensed I didn’t have a wolf and was reminding me I was inferior.

Somehow I kept from cringing at that reminder. Natalia giggled around a mouthful of churro and said, “Thank you.”

After she polished off the churros, she pulled out a deck of Uno cards from a pocket on her chair. 

“Will you play Uno with me?” 

I looked at Sonni, then Natalia’s dad. Both were frowning. I started to shake my head no, but the male who looked a lot like Edge grinned widely.

“That is a fantastic idea. Nova can keep Natalia entertained while Edge and I meet with Sonni and Smoke.”

“Griffin, I am not leaving my pup with some wolf-less woman we all just met an hour ago,” Edge growled out. 

I felt my cheeks heat. Every single adult had turned their eyes toward me except Blanche. She already knew I didn’t have a wolf. 

“Natalia seems to like her, Edge. That pup doesn’t take to strangers. I need you in this meeting. Nova is here; it’s the perfect solution.” Griffin - as in the pack alpha - wasn’t going to let this go. 

Sonni reached over and gently took my hand. “Why don’t Natalia and you hang out in the main office with Blanche while Edge, Griff, Smoke, and I get some work done? That way Natalia is close enough to Edge in case she needs anything.”

Edge shoved his chair back, and I flinched. He wasn’t happy. Edge was tall; he stood at least eight inches taller than me. He was also very muscled. I didn’t want to get on his bad side. 

“The office door stays open so I can see Natalia.” Edge glared at me as he spoke.

“The door can stay open until we discuss private client information.” Sonni countered. 

Natalia reached over and put her hand on mine. I hadn’t realized my hand was shaking until she touched me. “Do you know how to play Uno?”

“Yeah, I do. My mom taught me.” I almost choked on the word mom. 

“Did your mom leave you, too?” I flinched at that. This damn pup was way too perceptive. 

“She did, a long time ago.”

Natalia nodded and handed me the cards. Blanche gave me a sad smile and told me to follow her to the office.