Page 52 of The Wolf's Appetite
I rounded the corner. I’d been in contact with my family. My mother and Da were too stubborn to leave their home even though they knew about everything that had happened. So I focused on the things Icouldcontrol.
The corridors smelled faintly of fresh bread from the kitchen, but it didn’t soothe me the way it used to. Instead, it reminded me of how desperately everyone was trying to keep the routine going. As if hot meals and neatly folded laundry could keep the evil from crashing in.
The sound of children laughing and conversation had me heading toward the back of the manor. I passed the library as I kept following the noise until I got to the solarium. A part of the room had been converted, so it was covered in shadows, allowing the children andfemales who were sensitive to the light to enjoy it, as well.
I stood there for a moment and just watched the children play. Toys and games, books and snacks had been brought in for them. I was glad this stress hadn’t touched them, that they could enjoy these moments without worry or fear.
But the females in conversation… that sound was forced—too loud in some moments, too quickly stifled in others.
Inside, Kayla was seated on the floor, her long hair tied back, her fingers deftly braiding one of the children’s hair, who had taken shelter in the shadows as she was too sensitive to the light. The little girl giggled at something Kayla whispered, but I could tell in Kayla’s mannerisms that she was trying too hard to make things seem normal.
Evelyn sat in the cushioned window seat, rocking a sleeping baby. She hummed under her breath, a soothing rhythm, but her gaze was fixed on the gardens beyond the glass. Every so often, she paused mid-song, her lips pressing together before she forced the tune again.
All the females were busy entertaining the children, and I took those precious seconds just to close my eyes and enjoy the peace, even if it was a faux feelingof happiness.
When I opened my eyes, it was to see several of the women looking at me. “Morning,” I greeted softly, stepping inside.
Ainslee looked up from where she was crouched next to her children, one child pushing toy trucks up and down the floor. “Ye’re late for the fun,” she teased, but the tightness in her voice was clear.
I smiled faintly and joined her on the rug, watching her son grab more trucks as he made a little parking lot with them.
“He’s got quite the setup there,” I said and smiled at the little boy, who looked up at me curiously. I’d known Ainslee for as long as I could remember, but once she mated with Luca and moved to Romania, I rarely saw her. The royal family had been like my second family, and being close to so many faces I recognized put me at ease.
“He’s in his monster truck phase,” Ainslee replied with a smile on her face, glancing toward the far corner where Mikalina and Luna sat with a cluster of little girls.
The children were transfixed by the books spread out in front of them, and I loved seeing the wonder on their little faces as they stared at the pictures as the females explained them.
Darragh was sprawled on the floor, letting two toddlers climb over her like she was a jungle gym. Shelaughed when one of them tried to grab her braid, but there was a faint tremor in the sound, like she’d been forcing laughs all morning.
Larkin and Ada were by a few colorful plastic bins, sifting through them as a couple children sat nearby. They pulled out puzzles and building blocks, laying them on the floor for the children.
We were all acting.
Kayla tied off the braid she’d been working on and kissed the little girl’s head. “There we go, princess. I did a better job than Daddy, didn’t I?”
“I’m telling Daddy you said that, then we’re all having a braid-off.” The little girl laughed as she ran to go over to where everyone was reading books.
“Little shit,” Kayla murmured, but she had so much love in her eyes and the biggest smile as she watched her child. “She is a replica of her father.”
“Everyone seems to be in a good mood,” I said.
“Children adapt. It’s easy for the darkness to touch them, but they are stronger than we give them credit for. And resilient,” Larkin murmured from across the room. She kept her head down, pretending to arrange a bin of wooden animals next to a beautifully crafted wooden barn.
I tried to keep my tone light. “I’m glad they can laugh and smile.”
Evelyn broke in with a too bright voice. “Has anyonetried these yogurt drops for babies and toddlers? I got them for the baby, but I’ll be honest, I eat an entire bag before I realize I’ve done it.” Everyone was silent as they stared at her, and then a sound of laughter broke out.
“Guilty,” one female said.
“Yeah, I have. I’ve eaten a whole damn bag before,” another said.
More laughter erupted.
The conversation shifted, albeit awkwardly, to whose child was being the pickiest eater lately, who actually cooked homemade meals for their mates, and how many girls’ trips they should start planning after things settled down.
But after the latter was spoken, the silence was heavy again. We all knew we had no clue when any of this would die down.
Mikalina offered a tip about helping fevers by using a vinegar and water compress. Darragh joked about bribing her children with a handful of chips if they ate their broccoli. Everyone laughed, and the kids were oblivious as they kept playing.
