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Iheld back a sigh.“Our cousins, visiting from overseas. I have to go.” I pushed past my brother and his new friend as I wracked my brain for the tiny bit of Lupanian I’d learned in school. How did I say I needed to get myself a drink? I drew ablank.

“Come on,”I said, annunciating slowly. “I need to get myself adrink.”

They trailedafter me like two pups following the pack leader as I made my way back into the ballroom. Children raced around, weaving through the legs of the adults as they played, and I spotted little Ian in his wolf form chasing around a robotic rabbit, Father’s present. I stopped at Julius and Desmond Croc, Ian’s grandparents. I turned to my cousins to introduce them to their extendedfamily.

“Um,rrekvhek… no,rrekvhak.”I couldn’t remember any damn Lupanian to save my life. “Nevermind. Julius, Desmond, these are my cousins Lukas and Volk, visiting fromLupania.”

“Pleased to meet you both,”Julius said. “Lupania. It’s a fascinating and beautiful country. Did you know it has some of the best healers in that side of the world? What do you both intend to study when you’reolder?”

My cousins looked at me,puzzled.

“Ah,they don’t speak much English,” I told Julius. “My parents have assigned me as their translator, which was a bit of an oversight seeing as how I’ve only ever taken one class ofLupanian.”

“Oh,”said Julius. “Well, you know who might be able to help you a bit? Mr. Polton Whitefang. He speaks Lupanian quite well. Desmond, have you seenhim?”

“Of course, I have,”his husband replied with his trademark, louder-than-intended voice. “Last I saw him, he was in the smoking room. I wanted to talk to him but it seemed like he’d already had a few too many, uh…” He made a drinking motion with his hand. “I don’t know if he’d be of any help to you,Christophe.”

“IguessI’m willing to take that chance,” I said, glancing over at my cousins, who had deer-in-the-headlights looks on theirfaces.

Iledmy cousins towards the smoking room, stopping to greet a few more guests. I decided against finding that replacement drink. Walking around with a glass constantly in my hand might not make a good impression on youngerminds.

My father usedthe smoking room to meet with clients and important clan members, and tonight it was the place where the adults could go to get away from the children’s festivities. No kids allowed, and that included my two cousins. I felt bad having to leave them in the hallway, especially because I wasn’t sure if I was telling them to “wait here” in Lupanian or to “get wasted”, but any moment out of chaperone duty was a welcomeone.

The large,circular room was lined with Luna family curios, including three huge portraits of three alpha ancestors from five generations past. They stared down with stern judgement, their watchful eyes always assessing the quality of their descendants. As a child, this room intimidated me. It was the place I was seldom allowed to enter, and when I did, their eyes were always on me, questioning my worth as an alphaLuna.

Tonight,the room had an uncommonly jovial atmosphere, and it bustled with the guests wanting an escape from the noise of the youngstersoutside.

“Mr. Whitefang,”I whispered to the attendant at the door. “Is hehere?”

“Yes,sir. Just on the opposite end of the room, by the drinks. Would you like me fetch him foryou?”

“No, that’s alright. Thank you.”

Polton Whitefang stoodout like a black wolf on a snowbank. He was slumped into a leather easy chair, his balding head shimmering with sweat and his eyes listlessly scanning the room as he clutched a glass of something in both hands. He looked up at me when I walked up to him, and I could immediately see that Desmond was right—he wasn’t going to be of any help tome.

“Mr. Whitefang,”I said, taking the seat next to him. “I just wanted to check in with you to give you my reassurances that your belongings are secure. Are you doing alright? Would you like me to get you somewater?”

“Idun giveadamnabout those damn rocksss,” he slurred. He reached out to place his glass down onto an imaginary side table, and I quickly caught it in my hand when he let go. He put his arm around my shoulder and leaned into me. “Buh thanks. I appreciate it, young man. Well, my wife will. Issall she damn cares about, those damn gems. Oh, what’rr y’drinking?”

He pointedat the glass in my hand—his glass—and then took it from me and started to sip fromit.

“Ah,let me get a new one for you, Mr. Whitefang,” I said, taking the glass back from him. I stood and caught the eye of the attendant, who hurried over. “Get him a water and have someone help him to his room,” Isaid.

“Yes, sir.”

“Y’know,”Polton Whitefang said, grabbing my shoulder and pulling me back into the chair. “Issreally all she cares ‘bout. Alpha’s eyes, they’re called. And y’know who they’refor?”

“No,”I said, really not interested in hearing about his wife’sthings.

“Johnathan Burnside.”

The wayhe said that name sounded like he was on the verge of vomiting. “I’m afraid I don’t know who that is,” I toldhim.

“No,”he said. “Course not. Y’wouldn't. You’d only know if you were taking skiing lessons at the damn Diamond Dustresort.”

“Isee,”I said. Dammit, I wasn’t here to listen to his marital problems. I glanced around the room. It was obvious people were avoiding looking over here so that they didn’t get roped into interacting with Polton. Where was thatattendant?

“Right under my nose!”Polton said, slapping my arm. “She doesn’t even give adamn.”