Serena turned as well to the voice and a smile spread across her face instantly. It was Jack. She had not been able to talk to him after her speech yesterday. He disappeared out of her line of sight right after, and she was too occupied to go looking for him.
Serena scratched the inside of her wrist and narrowed her eyes slightly. It had been a while, but she was fairly certain Jack didn’t live in Longdale. Her gaze flicked between Anna and Jack, curiosity budding.
"Jack, hello," Serena greeted.
"Oh, here goes the busybody. What sent you all the way to Longdale?" Anna teased, lifting a brow.
Jack scoffed and then laughed, planting his hands on his hips like he was bracing for a challenge. "You can’t be talking, you and that foul mouth."
Anna blinked, then did a dramatic double take, her nose scrunching as if personally offended. "Foul mouth? If it were so foul, then explain how I get invited to everyone’s house."
Jack shrugged and scratched the back of his head, the corner of his mouth quirking. "Pfft, charity perhaps."
Anna jabbed a finger in his direction, muttering something Serena couldn’t quite catch.
"So what are you doing here?" she snapped.
"What are you doing here?" Jack shot back.
"I asked first," Anna said, eyes narrowing.
Jack let his hands fall to his sides and he shrugged. "Hello Serena, I am sorry I forgot to say hello back."
Serena smiled at Jack and then laughed. "That is okay, you two stay here I will be right back." Thɪs chapter is updated by N()velFire.net
Serena slipped away and she could hear the two continue in their argue, the woman chuckled and shook her head. She remembered the little shack they passed that had hordes of roasted beef on a skewer.
The vendor, a young woman with dirt under her nails and soot on her cheeks, barely glanced up at first. Life had worn on her face, but her eyes were alert. Serena bargained quietly and bought six skewers...each one stacked with alternating cuts of browned meat and grilled fruit, charred just slightly on the edges.
When she returned, Anna and Jack were locked in another whispered quarrel, both leaning slightly toward each other like cats mid-standoff. Serena stood for a beat, amused, before calling out.
"I’m back," she announced, lifting the skewers slightly.
"Finally," Anna groaned, throwing her hands up like she’d been saved from battle.
Serena handed two skewers to each of them, then bit into hers as they settled into a slower pace. "So what brings you to Longdale?" she asked between chews.
"Mother sent me on her errand to one of her old friends here, she was much too tired to deliver the package so I did for her," Jack said in between swallows.
Serena nodded as she chewed slowly. Beatrice had not come for her speech, Serena hoped she was okay. The elegant woman did not seem like the type to skip out on something like that, or was she overestimating the allure of an ambassador in the pack? To be fair, Beatrice was the first wolf that had officially met her as an ambassador.
"How is your mother?" Serena asked finally.
"Why can’t you get a healer to do a home visit?" Anna asked, using the edge of a skewer to pick at her teeth, unconcerned.
"I have," Jack said, exhaling sharply through his nose. "She’s better these days, but she still feels bad that she couldn’t come see you, Serena."
"I have," Jack said with a sigh. "She is better these days, she feels so bad that she could not come see you, Serena."
"Ah, send her my warm regards once you go home," Serena said, her tone gentle as she reached out briefly to touch his arm before pulling back.
"So what did Anna drag you all the way to Longdale for?" Jack asked, shooting Anna a knowing look.
Serena made eye contact with Anna, who promptly held up her index finger to her lips with a comical shushing face. Her eyes were wide, almost pleading. Serena blinked slowly, a tiny nod following to show she understood.
"On the contrary, I dragged her here myself. I wanted to see a bit of Ironshade properly, you know?" Serena said.
Jack looked at Anna with a confused expression. "Why would you bring her to Longdale for?"
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"Longdale is a terrible place to start for someone who has never been in Ironshade. I think Embermere would have been so nice, the baths would have relaxed her."
Anna was speechless for a few seconds, Serena could see the gears whirring in her head to come up with a quick explanation. "Well..."
Serena stepped in between them and shook her head. "I insisted we come see here, I have been here before so I thought it would be a good start."
"I see," Jack said. He looked briefly at the floor and back at Anna. "Did you like what I sent?"
Serena stifled a smile and took a step back from both of them, Jack was referring to the necklace that Anna was gushing about earlier in the day.
"I loved it," Anna said quickly, her voice almost too loud.
Jack scratched the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze. "Then I’m glad. I was starting to think it was awful, since I didn’t get a letter back."
Anna shook her head and held up her hands. "Oh no, I heard there was a backlog, that’s why letters were delayed. I am sorry about that but I really do like the necklace."
Serena stood off to the side with her hand over her mouth, it was adorable to see them . Both of their faces were nearly red as tomatoes and Serena nearly burst into laughter from the sight.
An idea popped into her head, she and Anna’s outing would have to be cut short since Jack was here and he might have insisted on keeping them company. And that would defeat the surprise that Annamarie planned.
"Can you both escort me back to the castle?" Serena interrupted.
Anna’s eyes widened and then she glanced at Jack. The younger woman’s shoulders fell and then she nodded. "I have no objections. Jack?"