Page 76 of It All Started with a Bite

“Hi,” I said guardedly.

“Sup,” Bo greeted with a hesitant wag of his tail.

The Council welcomed us with a series of curious hellos and a few judgmental nods.

“Why don’t you sit down and have some tea?” Camilla Lynch said timidly once introductions were complete.

“Do you have anything stronger?” I said bluntly.

A few of the elderly werewolves swallowed snorts. Some wrinkled their brows disapprovingly. The color rising in Helen’s cheeks indicated she was about to blow.

Priscilla Holt’s expression remained inscrutable.

“It was a joke,” I muttered.

Victoria shot me a warning look and guided me to a chair. I pulled it back. The top rail shattered in my grip. My stomach dropped.

A hush fell over the room. Victoria paled a little. Pearl sighed.

“That’s one way to make an impression,” Bo said brightly.

“You know, I don’t think that dog’s a familiar,” Martha Claymore, the elder with the fresh undies, hissed to a wrinkly counterpart.

“I think you’re right,” Felicity Newfield grunted.

I realized half the Council was studying me like I was one hot second away from turning rabid on them.

I swallowed. “Is this an antique?”

“Yes,” Helen snapped.

“No,” Victoria groaned at the same time.

I looked at Pearl.

“It costs as much as your clothes did,” the cat said.

My eyes glazed over a little.

Victoria wordlessly indicated the next chair, her movements stiff. I recalled my training with Samuel and handled it gingerly as I sat in it.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Camilla said in a brittle voice.

A waiter walked in with a pot of tea and a cake stand packed with sandwiches, cakes, and cookies.

“So,” Priscilla said politely once we all had fresh cups and had helped ourselves to something to nibble on. “Tell us about yourself.”

I watched her guardedly. According to Victoria, the Council of Elders had no official leader and all decisions were taken by a majority vote. Yet it seemed Priscilla had appointed herself the de facto head of the assembled werewolves. From the uncomfortable glances some of the other Council members were exchanging, not everyone was on board with her behavior.

“Yes,” Camilla added eagerly, trying to break the fraught silence. “We want to know everything.”

“Especially about that first pack run,” Isobel Lynton said coolly. “I heard it was quite spectacular.”

“Isobel,” Victoria warned in a low voice.

“What?” Isobel looked unrepentant. “It’s not every day the Hawthornes get a new luna, Victoria. Even if she is a human who was bitten by your wayward son.”

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