"Alright," says Nora, suddenly clapping her hands together, "I'm going to start making dinner, everyone should be here soon."
"Dinner already?" Kelsi whispers to me with a frown.
"Werewolf stomachs," I chuckle.
I have to admit, I'm hungry myself... again. Damn, do we really burn that many calories? Is it because I used magic to visit the curse earlier? I actually don't know what time it is, I didn't check when I woke up... Moreover, Nora probably has to prepare for a lot of people.
"Ben, Liam, can you get some wood for the firepit? We should have a barbecue," says Nora, happily. "Mara, Kelsi, you two can help me in the kitchen."
"It's not that I don't want to help," says Kelsi, "but I thought I could do more research..."
"You've already spent the whole afternoon reading all that stuff," protests Selena, taking her book out of her hands. "You and Mara need to learn to take a break from all that stuff. We can go visit East Point Ground after dinner to see if we find anything, but for now? You both stop it."
Just like that, Kelsi and I are not given any choice, and pushed into the kitchen to help. Is that really alright? Just like Kelsi, I feel guilty for not looking more into this curse, especially after I already napped this afternoon! Yet, Nora doesn't listen to anything we say, and before we can find something else to protest with, Kelsi and I are suddenly peeling potatoes and helping Nora prepare several dishes.
Meanwhile, Selena and Ayesha are apparently tidying the living room, piling up all the papers and books Kelsi was working on. I can see Liam and Ben outside, more playing than actually getting the wood ready. I suddenly realize, Liam has been putting up with all my crazy for several days too. He probably deserves this break even more than me... even Ben is still healing from that stab wound. I'm glad Nora was able to help him, but still. He got involved because of me. Kelsi too. Now, she's silently trying to figure out how to cut the vegetables without losing a finger, but would she have become so knowledgeable about witchcraft if it wasn't for me?
A strange wave of gratefulness pours into my heart. Damn, I'm really... not alone.
Despite the situation, I feel very calm and happy, all of a sudden. No, not happy, just... content. This is the kind of thing I could see happen over and over again. Having dinner at Nora's house, with the family and friends. Kelsi and I, being ridiculously bad at helping her out but laughing about it. The boys outside, showing off their strength and bickering. Nora's gentle humming.
Suddenly, a huge ruckus comes from the entrance of the house. Nora smiles.
"Here they come..."
"Mama!"
A little boy just ran in to grab the bottom of her skirt.
"Hi, my baby," she smiles.
She takes off her oven mitts and apron to lift her son up and hug him. Damian Black walks in right after, barely glancing at us before going to kiss his wife. Kelsi and I, intimidated by his silver irises, look down automatically and do our best to make those squares very, very even...
With the children back inside the house, it's a lot livelier all of a sudden. I don't think I'm much of a kid person, but Selena's daughter, Estelle, is incredibly polite and easy to be with. She's rather mature for a girl who is... what, about seven or eight years old? I'm not sure, all the werewolf kids look rather big to me. She helps Kelsi and I cook, and James too is happy to sneak around to get whatever he can... Now I know where he gets those plump cheeks from! There's a lot of noise in the living room, probably more people, but Kelsi and I stay in the kitchen to help out, neither of us too confident in mixing with the werewolves. Moreover, from the way Ayesha went outside to take care of the fire pit while everyone came inside, I feel like this is sort of a daily werewolves meeting thing. I hear Damian, Nora, Nathaniel, and Selena talk a lot. They might be updating everyone who missed anything on our current situation...
I let out a long sigh, realizing how my situation has become everyone's...
"What are you sighing for?"
I get a delicious chill from the two arms surrounding me from behind. I smile and turn around, putting a quick peck on his lips.
"Why aren’t you with them?"
"Adult stuff," he pouts. "I got kicked out."
Hm, more like he didn't want to handle it... Still, I'm happy he came to us. Ben comes into the kitchen too and walks up to Kelsi, much to the pleasure of the children, who run to play with the big wolf.
"That guy is going to be even bigger than Boyan if he keeps going like this," frowns Liam.
I smile, but I think he's still not that big, though. I can't forget the sight of the enormous werewolf I saw. That guy definitely has werebear blood, I don't understand how he can be that huge... Then again, I have yet to see him in human form, though I'm definitely curious.
"Damn, I could get used to you cooking," chuckles Liam.
"That's easy to say when everything's already almost done!"
"We are both no good compared to Nora," pouts Kelsi across the kitchen counter. "I really want to steal her recipe book. I barely have enough skills to make us breakfast..."
Liam and I chuckle, but Kelsi's baking skills are plenty enough for us. Liam and I are useless in the kitchen... although I feel I could definitely learn from his sister-in-law.
