Page 172 of Crystal Luna
Velora was the one to break the ice. She wouldn’t have anyone acting in such a way in her presence. “Luka, would you please make Isaiah useful and hand him that noodle dish?”
Before he could move, Luka handed the dish to Isaiah. Velora grinned, but didn’t seem to be the only one to notice that Luka had chosen the correct twin.
“Let me take that one,” Asher offered, snatching a cake from the counter. “Before I get told I’m useless as well.”
“Smart one.”
Velora took a basket filled with finger foods and walked out with the twins on her heels. She turned and waited for Luka and Carrie before walking towards Lisabeth’s home. Everyone else had offered to stay behind and clean in order to prevent too many people from crowding Lisabeth and her family.
“Carrie, come here,” Velora called. She’d slowed down and fell behind Velora and the twins. “This was your idea. I’m not going to let it seem as if it was mine.”
“That’s very kind of you, but there is no need.”
“Yes, there is.”
Hesitantly, Carrie caught up to Velora while Asher and Isaiah fell back to walk alongside Luka.
“I guess we’re second class now,” Asher grumbled.
Carrie stiffened, but Velora wasn’t going to have her uncomfortable. “Don’t listen to him.” Then she turned to the man behind her. “If you don’t behave yourself, you’ll wind up in the doghouse.”
‘Yes, ma’am,’ Asher muttered.
‘Good boy.’
Asher grinned at the praise, but it fell as soon as they reached Ely’s childhood home. Velora let Carrie take the lead and explain why they’d come. Lisabeth teared up and quickly made room in the kitchen before hugging each of them individually.
As they walked back, Carrie and Luka separated from them and Asher and Isaiah took to either side of her.
‘You did that on purpose, didn’t you?’ Isaiah asked silently for all who might want to eardrop.
Velora gave him an innocent grin. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Testing Luka—seeing if he could tell us apart.’
‘Well, I think that would be a good quality in a beta, don’t you?’
Isaiah’s curiosity swept into the link, his eyes shimmering in the afternoon sun. ‘What made you add him to your list?’
‘He was there when I met Axel earlier, helping him with defence strategies. Although Carrie was a big part in the decision as well—she’s very well liked and loves organising things for the pack. While we were cooking, I overheard him take care of a few concerns the women had.’
‘I sense a but coming,’ Ash chimed in.
‘But she is fairly new here. I know they spend their summers with her family, and I’m not sure how much of that they’re willing to sacrifice.’
‘You are a very sneaky woman.’
She shrugged and smiled wide. ‘Maybe.’
‘What are your thoughts?’ Isaiah asked Asher, though he kept Velora part of the conversation.
‘Remember when we went after Vel and asked Luka to take on Ely’s return? He was able to tell us apart then too.’
Velora felt the slight pang of heartache at the mention of Isaiah’s best friend. ‘You’re right.’
‘Vel is right to be concerned. There will have to be a lot of discussion—with Carrie as well. But we should consider it.’
Chapter Forty-Three