But my panic vanishes as I sit up, ready to hug her, but she steps back. “You slept in your clothes from yesterday… no hugs.” She wrinkles her nose, and I laugh.
“Ok, I’ll hold off until I’ve showered.”
Allie, short for Alessandra, is the daughter of my great uncle Alejandro and technically my dad’s cousin, but she’s younger than me. The three of us, including Heaven, are best friends.
“Good,” she says before she looks around my room.
“I won’t be long, I promise!” I tell her. “Feel free to wait or go to Heaven’s room.”
Aunty Ri and her kids, Heaven and Tatum, moved in here shortly after Dad- Jaddati wanted it, and I think it was better for us all. We needed one another. The packs share borders anyway, so it wasn’t an issue to run both from here for now. Besides, Ahren can get around easily enough.
I’d better hurry. Today is going to be a long day.
Behind the Christmas Tree
Sienna
Houseful is an understatement. The entire place is buzzing with people. I’m dressed in an off-shoulder knit dress, with over-the-knee stockings and heels. My curly, auburn hair is pinned back and adorned with a white bow. I’m wearing gold moon earrings and the charm bracelet Dad got me for my sixteenth birthday. I always wear it. My makeup is light, with a touch of sparkle on my eyes, mascara, eyeliner and gloss.
Allie is in a pair of shimmering black pants, a black turtleneck, and black boots. Her straight black hair is open, and her eyeliner is dark as usual.
Heaven is wearing a shimmering red dress that is cinched at the waist and has a few tulle layers in the skirt with butterfly sleeves. Her curls are pulled into a gorgeous bun, and her gold jewellery glitters under the lights that decorate the halls.
“So many guests…” I murmur, and Allie crinkles her nose.
“Yeah, let’s eat and then get out of there. I just saw-”
“Hello ladies, my, my, my, aren’t you all looking gorgeous? Aside from you, Allie, I didn’t know this was Christmas at the Addams House,” Theo Westwood drawls.
Ah, the devil himself. Theo Westwood is the second-born of the Westwood Quints and, by the gods, is he annoying. Not that I’ll say that out loud, ever.
His hair is dyed blue, long on top and short on the back and sides, the blue only bringing out the mesmerising colour of his eyes. He’s smirking, something that seems to be permanently plastered on his face.
“Go die,” Allie says, clearly bored. Theo’s dad is Uncle Liam, and he is Allie’s mom’s twin brother.
“One day, one day. Speaking of, you will love my new tat.”
“We’re not interested,” Heaven declares haughtily, and Theo shields his eyes.
“Scratch that, you and Zombilesandra both look crazy. What’s with all the red? Are you playing Santa tonight?”
“Theo, piss off,” Allie snarls, shoving past him. I arch my brow at him, but don’t say anything. The Westwoods aren’t someone I want to mess with, and if he’s here, his terrifying brother, who hates me, is going to be nearby, too.
My heart races as we make our way to the grand hall where the main party is set up. There’s an area with games for the kids, and snack, dessert and drink tables with a second Christmas tree that is larger than the one in the lounge.
“Hello there, girls,” Grandad Elijah says as he smiles at us. Technically, he isn’t my grandad, he’s Allie’s grandad, but he’s practically family, and the grandfather of the Westwood Quints. Another thing Jayce Westwood hates about me. I remember many years ago, he came over to me and saidhe’s mygrandfather, not yours.And the last time I called him that in his presence, he gave me a contemptuous glare and scoffed.
“Hello,” I reply politely. My gaze flickers to Enrique, and I hate it, but my heart squeezes painfully.
I won’t ever say it out loud, but whenever I see him, I just remember that Dad had gone to his island…
Allie stops in her tracks, and I glance at her, wondering what she’s staring at with narrowed eyes that are fixed on the dessert table where Azura, Kataleya and Skyla are laughing as they eat sweet goodies. Azura’s carrying Kai, who is huffing in annoyance, and Allie shivers.
“Guys! Why are you talking near the dessert table? Your spit’s going to fly everywhere!” she snarls, sounding feral, making Sky and Azura scoff as Kataleya instantly stops talking.
“Alessandra, don’t worry. I made sure to have a portion of all the desserts put into a container for you. They’re covered and in the kitchen,” Mama says quickly.
“Girls,” Corrado adds, rolling his eyes. Allie throws him a death glare before looking at Mama and gives her what is a good attempt at a smile.
