It was almost dinnertime, and Hilda had told Juliette that everyone was expected in the Dining Hall. There were going to be announcements about the Yule Traditional Celebrations and how they would be managed this year. Because of the war and the extra people arriving to celebrate. The traditional preparations would have to be altered, as there just wasn’t time to get it all done.
Juliette had been quickly corrected about using the term Christmas, as that wasn’t what the pack celebrated.
Everyone had gathered within the Dining Room. It was full, warm and loud with a cheerful buzz of friends and family. Jeff and Jules now sat to the left of Gregory and Aricka. Gregory’s parents were on Aricka’s right. The pups were circling their own table, with Evan playing host and imitating Gregory’s actions. Music played for a bit before people settled down enough for the festivities would start. Jules didn’t know what those were in precise detail. So she watched those around her for some hint or detail to help her understand what was coming.&
Evan was now settled in his bed for the night, and it was way past his regular bedtime. They were celebrating their victories, prosperity and charity. Mates were the highest sign of prosperity and hope. A light into the future of the pack’s fortunes looking bright. A sister pack was a sign of the present fortunes and future ones. The pack recognized the efforts of their leadership and their own work as a group and family. They had mourned and overcome the loss incurred by the war. Others had stepped forwards to take the place of those lost, but hone
Evan Wolversen ran through the Packhouse of the Black River Pack. Life was settling down after all the fighting and, of course, his birthday. Now there was a lot of excitement buzzing about as everyone started getting ready for Yule’s first day. He’d been learning all about Yuletide; it’s crazy long celebrations. Who would have thought of Christmas celebrated from December twenty-first to the New Year? It was one party that lasted the whole time. His pup grouping was getting together to finish making yule presents for everyone. It seemed to like a lot of work. But everyone got a present every day of Yule. Little things like cards, ornaments, food, and toys.He would see his great grandparents soon when they came to feast with them—an actual feast. The kitchens already smelt of roast turkey and pork. Sweet smells of fruits and nuts. Hilda had been baking for weeks for the whole of
The buzz of excitement was a physical thing that anyone could taste when they entered the Black River Packhouse. People twenty-first, the first day of Yule. People were arriving any minute, and decorating had started. Finishing touches were being put on last-minute foods for the feast. Others were hauling in decorations from deliveries or from the land itself. A tree sat in the Ballroom with boxes of decorations from years past nearby. A table sat beside it with new ornaments the pups of the pack had made earlier in the month. Once the tree’s decorated, beneath the tree would go the Yule presents for tonight. There was a contingent of Druids coming tonight, and they were the holy people of the Supernatural world. Druids worked with the magic found within the natural world. These people were Aricka’s family, most of which
Everyone seemed to have fun as people flitted in and out of the Ballroom, hanging ornaments on the tree, listening to seasonal music, and enjoying a cup of something warm. The wall of windowed doors displayed a surprise snowfall, to everyone’s delight. Though Frederick wasn’t sure why, but Gregory kept looking outside or at his cellphone with a concerned look on his face. Gregory kept his focus and really took on entertaining the pups and other young around the tree. Aricka was never far away, but Frederick noticed Aricka avoided the mulled cider. Gregory would not allow her to pick up a pup to help them get an ornament on the tree up high. It led Frederick to speculate why would the Alpha of the Black River Pack so overly protective of his mate. Who came that was late?&n
Richard had settled into a seat with his left leg outstretched painfully before him. It was getting better, but by the end of the day, it still ached. He’d kept his head down after his apology, hoping and wanting people to forget his embarrassing apology. Next, he knew a hand was lifting his leg, and a small footstool slid under it. He looked up and realized his mother had done this. So he gave her an appreciative smile. “Thanks, Mom.” Aricka’s relatives were pretending not to watch what was happening, but they were failing miserably. “Well, I guess this is the last night we’ll be calling you Richard. In the morning, it’s going to be Maximillion Wolversen.” Gregory was joking when he informed everyone in the room. 
Aricka was one of the first people up in the morning. When she got down to the kitchens, Hilda was already up with her staff and puttering around, getting food prepared for breakfast. After greeting them and a quick chat about how things were going for them, Aricka made tea for herself and headed to a window to see for herself about their comments about the deep snow. The back sitting room was a private space mostly used by the family and pack members, watching the pup packs playing in the back. Its window reached from the floor-to-ceiling, and it gave a breathtaking view of the land and wooded area behind the Packhouse. Whoever had put the wraparound porch onto the house in the back had made sure that nothing interrupted the view. To Aricka, this was the best place at this time of day. However, she was now concerned. The road had t
After two great days of snow and fun, Evan jumped from his bed to be greeted by more snow coming down. There was so much he couldn’t see the trees that were not so far from his window. With a sigh, he figured everyone stuck inside would soon enough to turn on each other.Video games, music, and lots of food. What more could anyone ask for? There’d be presents again too. Everyone got one present every day for a whole twelve days. It was so much fun to see everyone’s faces when they opened their gifts. No one knew who had actually bought any of the gifts. Some adults even played a guessing game about who bought various gifts. It was kind of funny to watch.Running down the stairs, he realized some of the other kids were up, and they all gathered in the Entertainment Room. It had quickly become their unofficial hang out. The adults figured they were safe there, and Aria had been cool about what games they could play too. Some snacks were still out, and E