Howler

Chapter XXXVIII

Somehow time began to escape us and it was two days before Christmas. "Finally I can wear my ugly Christmas sweater!" I yelled into the house and you could hear the chorus of laughter. I pulled on my ugly sweater and walked downstairs. Currently the pack was getting ready for our height of our social season (we love to party): the Christmas Ball, we all dress up and we dance and me being a Queen I get to open the ball. I just had to ask my boyfriend to dance with me again.

Hopefully to a better standard than homecoming...

"So honey don't be made..." my mum started "what did you do?" I walked over to our Christmas tree and began to open the decoration boxes. "Well I know you and Harry have been dating for two months and I also happen to know that his parents are working on Christmas and technically since the Ball is on Christmas Eve I thought he would stay with us for Christmas...." I nodded and actually didn't think that was a bad idea.

"Alright" I began to hang up the decorations (this year the colour scheme was blue and white) "mum do you like Harry?" Mum looked at me startled "well yeah of course I do, sweetheart he's a lovely boy and he may have strayed for a bit but he's a lovely boy and I couldn't be happier" I nodded contently, I was happy that she liked him. "Mum I don't want the elders to come..." I stopped hanging decorations and mum stopped to look at me.

"Do you have anything to worry about?" I shook my head "I've marked him but what if they won't be satisfied... what if they give me a deadline to complete the mate bond? Or for me to be coronated , to get married, have children! They are going to dictate my life!" I flipped down on the couch and put my head in my heads.

"A.P , the elders are the way they are and they will probably pressure you and prod you until your own children assent to the throne but you will always be your own person and you can tell them no. Abigail Gilbert you would be a Queen to me whether we were human or not and I would be happy for you no matter what you tell those elders" She wrapped her hands around my shoulder

"here I'll show you something" Mum walked off few a few moments and she she came back with an old photo album, one I had never seen before. "What's this?" Laying the book between us "this is your and my fathers album and I want you to see something" she opened the album up to a picture of a younger mum and dad. They were waltzing and they had huge smiles on their faces. It obviously wasn't their wedding and underneath the photo the words Storm & Mines first Christmas Ball "Dad wrote this?" I laughed and I pointed at his ugly dirt brown suit "who made him wear this?"

Mum laughed "your great grandfather did and that dress" she pointed to the dress she wore "I made it" I gasped at my mothers periwinkle blue gown and was  in awe of the detail and time she must have put into it "why are you showing me this?" Mum closed the album gently "I am showing you this because we had different elders back then before they stepped down and although Faye, Theodore and Ruby have nothing on the ones your dealing with, we all have our faults and those faults are the things the elders pick at. I want you and Harry to be like your father and I in these photos: happy and carefree. Abigail you deserve that and your entitled to it, do you understand?"

I nodded and wrapped her in a hug. "Thanks mum" I mumbled into her shoulder.

"Now have you picked out your dress yet?" I nodded "picked it up from the tailors a week ago and Harry has even sent me pictures of what suit her should wear. He's tossing up between three" my mother rolled her eyes "okay but have you told him the elders are coming?" I sheepishly shook my head.

"He doesn't know yet and I don't there to be pressure because this supposed to be a happy occasion and everyone is supposed to have a good time." I felt nervous at all of this because the elders were scary people and getting I knew I would live long enough to see those three get replaced but still.

"Okay can you go and get your dad and brothers? We are going to eat now" I nodded and went upstairs to get them. Even though I was excited for the ball and was happy to see Harry in my packs world without there being any secrets... well except one.

The wolf.

He hadn't emerged in awhile and that made me more nervous but I certainly didn't wish for his return. I hoped and prayed that he had maybe gone to another pack for awhile. Perhaps even been injured or was too weak to continue his vendetta but I knew that I was being naive. He been said it himself.

He was a hunter and hadn't gotten his prey yet.