Page 43 of Violet Moon
Jo beamed.“Look, we got all this fancy beer.What are we playing board games for?We can do something more fun.”
Sera leveled her stare at Jo.“You know I can’t do anything too interesting.”
“Come on, it’s all in the name of bonding.”Jo had a charming smile that made everyone want to go along with their ideas even if they were terrible.Whatever was causing that gleam in Jo’s eyes had to be dangerous.
Sera gave it a shot.“What do you have in mind?”
“Beer pong and flip cup aren’t classy enough for this beer or for this decidedly classy bunch of folks.What about —” Jo made eye contact with Wilma and smirked.“Never Have I Ever?”
“Absolutely not.I’m out.”Sera stood up from her spot on the rug, brushing the bits of popcorn off her pants.
Diah also stood.“Me, too.Not for me.”
“No!”Jo whined.“We’ll keep it tame.Promise.”
Sera’s opinion remained unchanged, as did Diah’s.
“Please?”Jo wasn’t above begging, those expressive eyebrows turning outwards and making their expression more pitiable.
“Jo does keep promises,” Wilma added, forever the loyal best friend.Becoming Gamma hadn’t changed their budding friendship in the slightest.Wilma had her role to play as the innocent-seeming but equally-guilty partner in crime.
“Fine.”Diah sat back down.“But only until I finish this can.”She waved the artsy can from a local brewery bearing the name “The Cure for What Ales Ya” in front of her face.
Beer might have little to no effect on werewolves, but it didn’t mean the infectious atmosphere wouldn't loosen a few tongues.
Sera figured her life would be the most tame and boring of all.She led a simple life centered around Parisa’s office, the bakery, and the greenhouse.But as it turned out, living for so many decades might have dulled her sense of what was tame and what was interesting.
“Time to spice things up.Never have I ever had a one night stand,” Jo said.
Sera put a finger down.
Wilma made a cooing sound, pinching Jo’s cheek.“Little gooey romantic you are.”
Jo squirmed away.“Stop it.Wait, what?”
All eyes followed Jo’s line of sight to Sera.
“What?”Sera couldn’t fight off the smirk on her face.“You live this long, it’d be impossible not to, well, you know.”
Jo leaned forward, eyes wide.“No I don’t know.Tell me everything.”
“Jo!”Wilma hissed.
Sera took a sip of her beer and shook her head.“I have to keep some air of authority over here.”
“Believe me.The more I learn here tonight, the more I respect you.”
Sera laughed.“I’m not sure how to take that.”
“Take it well,” Harry offered, raising his beer can and tilting it towards her.“Pack bonding, right?”
“Pack bonding!”Olive cheered, holding up her third ‘last beer’ of the night.
“Was it recently?”Jo asked, leaning in.
“Jo!”Wilma hissed, scandalized.
“I don’t know.Just thought I’d ask when I could.When do I get the chance?Wait, can you even date?Is that, like, a thing Betas can do?And what about Alphas?Wilma, can you date now that you’re Gamma?”
