Chapter 23

• My mouth watered as the smells of tomato sauce and spices filled the air. I had placed the metal object uncomfortably between my fingers, and it felt strange. As the evening wore on and the meals were consumed, the men and women around the table engaged in light conversation. I observed them as they joked around and exchanged tales. I was an outsider in this place because I didn't belong.
• I was unquestionably and excessively out of place. In front of me was a warm platter of lasagna, or at least that's what Luna claimed it to be. I couldn't even recall the last time I had a fork in my hand, much less sat at a table or received food. I've always gone hunting for food and have been on my own for a long time. I saw Luna preparing generous portions of food, which the men and women are now just devouring without a thought or emotion.
• Around the table, just a handful of the faces were familiar. Jackson and his companion were seated across from me and seemed to be joking about. The two seats on my right, next to me, were still vacant. I recognized several of the guys even though I was unable to put names with faces. I had seen them at the practice fields. On the opposite side of the table, Lucy was engaging in animated conversation with a quite attractive man. She would sometimes laugh loudly at something he said or put her head on his arm in a seductive manner. She always looked at me or Alpha, who was seated just to my left, whenever she took such movements. Despite his best efforts to be covert, he would sometimes cast brief looks in my direction, as if he was worried that I might get up and go.