Chapter 70
Over the last week, deliveries have been made several times a day. I gathered several of the teens and young adults to help wrap gifts. Tomorrow we are having a big get-together with all the kids. I have been having wood brought in for the fireplace in the throne room. A huge tree that we will be decorating tonight is sitting to the side of the room. In the back of the room, there will be hot cocoa and cookies for the kids.
Along one wall we will have several tables stocked with pillows throw blankets and mats for the kids to grab. Once everyone is settled we will first read the night before Christmas followed by Christmas movies. But tonight all the tables are set up with craft paper popcorn crayons and anything else one might need to make decorations. Fern has been in a good mood the last day or so which makes things easier for everyone. Michaela and Sally disappeared earlier today and I still can’t find them. Not that I’m looking hard.
When the clock hit twelve I met everyone at the doors to the throne room. “hey guys. So I was walking in there today and do you know what I saw?” I ask the pups. One little boy raised his hand pointing at him “what alpha?” he asks bright eyes “a bare Christmas tree. I can’t seem to find the decorations anywhere. So I was wondering if you could help me make some and hang them from the tree?” squeals and yells of joy I think I made out at least one yes. Opening the door they all rushed in looking around. “this is pretty cool ya know?” Sally’s sweet voice comes from behind me. “you know I always loved this time of year always wanted one like this ya know?” “I know. We had a different childhood than these guys will. They won’t have to rebuild as we did. I don’t know how the Christmas season was before the attack but I can see the future and it’s looking bright.” Sally locks arms with me smiling. “besides now that the old men got their heads out their butts and are letting she-wolves enter the tournament of titles we will have a great holiday season.” Nodding. Thank goddess too this running things alone is stressful. Once the judge's panel accepted the names on the list it was so close to this that I pushed it back to after the holiday. Who wants to spend the holiday recovering from a fight?
The room is full of children’s laughter and screams of joy. The sound could warm the coldest of hearts. “hey Athena tomorrow night during the story can I do something? I promise it will be fun.” Looking at Michaela then Sally who is grinning brightly nodding her head and rolling my eyes “sure as long as it’s safe.” “trust me it will be loved.” She squeals. She's no longer a broody-sulking goth girl but a smiling happy goth girl.
The throne room looks like it was in the middle of the cutest hostile takeover war zone. Paper bits glitter popcorn ribbons are all over the place tables bleeding paint as it runs down legs. It’s gonna take hours to clean this up maybe years with the amount of glitter on the floor but I wouldn’t change a thing.
By the end of the day, the tree was a brightly colored mess of perfectness. All the kids gathered in front and I snapped several pictures. Deciding then and there each year a new photo album will be made. I’ll order an album to house the photos later.
This has been the best week of my life. Sally and I watched Christmas movies all our lives wishing every year for this type of Christmas. I am just grateful I could do this for the young ones here. Heading to bed knowing I want to be up early to help make dinner. Several of the men and women of both the pack and coven went turkey hunting and brought back a few. Between the lambs, hams, and turkey that we plan to cook we might have leftovers for a week. Or not I mean we are wolves after all.
Feeling grateful this dream shit has stayed away during this season. Maybe they love Christmas as much as I do. I sent all the packs Christmas cards and we’ll wishes. We received a few in return. Along with several emails asking to meet and discuss traitors to the fang. Or so they said crown but I don’t wear a crown I have fangs so it’s more fitting. I set up a meeting of alphas for after the holidays. I decided to find a place in neutral land making it safe for everyone and less noticeable.
The next day was a flurry of cooking and cleaning. Unpacking boxes of books. I ordered enough the night before Christmas. So every kid gets one and can follow along at the end of the night when we read it. The dining hall is covered in white and silver shining and twinkling. The tables are set with clear crystal bone white Chinese and polished silver. Silver snowflakes dance along the hems of the white table clothes. A winter wonderland.
Dinner went off without incident. The whole castle groaned with “I ate too much” coming from everywhere. The kids all ran home to get ready for bed. At eleven o’clock we entered the throne room. Each kid got a book a pillow blanket and a pad to lie on. They found a spot and made their beds. Once the last kid is settled we hand out spill-proof hot cocoa mugs and cookies.
Calling the room to order I open the book to start. When I opened it snow started falling from the sky. Not cold or wet just the feel of snowflakes dancing on your skin as it falls from the sky. The kids all squeal in delight.
“Okay kids as long as alpha Athena is reading the story the snow will fall. So let’s let the alpha read the story.” Michaela smiles brightly. Nodding I know this was her surprise. Smiling I started reading
“Twas the night……….
