If she were at home, she’d be hiding in her bedroom, ignoring the world that buzzed just outside.

The music came to an end as the smell of food wafted into the yard, catching everyone’s attention.

“What do you want? I can make your plate for you.” He let her hand go, scooting back his chair as he stood.

“I’m not very picky.” Lilac left her side, following the others, minus Ruby and Lindsey.

Tables had been pushed together as they lined down dish after dish of food. People clambered together, rushing for the fresh plates. It felt like ages before their group returned, balancing the plates that couldn't be fitted onto the trays.

Brad set down four different plates with all kinds of foods and some sodas.

Bug-eyed, Ruby turned to Brad exclaiming, “I can’t eat all of that!”

“Don’t worry. I’m helping you.” He placed two empty plates in front of each other and began to pick a few things from the plates filled with food. He passed it to her before making his own.

“Thank you.” She took the fork from him, eating the food without checking it.

Her plate was colorful… of green and brown hues. Stuffing, noodles, chicken, ham, and cranberries filled her plate.

“What’s this?” Ruby poked at a strange goop on his plate, looking somewhat like stuffing but missing its shape.

“Uh…” A sheepish grin spread across his face as he picked up a bit of the goop on his fork. “Squash casserole with croutons.”

At her face, Luke laughed, “hey! I like this crap too.”

“I’m with you, Ruby. They’re both weird.” Lindsey raised her glass and nodded her head in Ruby’s direction in a kind of toast.

Lilac smiled, sipping her Fanta and watching their play. Ruby returned her smile, finally catching her eye. Her violet eyes were light and her smile had begun to widen, showing some of her teeth.

Even Dr. Smith joined in on their bantering, slapping Luke upside the head and scolding Brad on rude table manners. Some of their own families came, greeting them and chit chatting before venturing on to find other family and friends.

The band began to play after the dessert had been passed around in the form of different cakes and tasty treats. Several people had been tasked as the cleanup crew, taking away the finished dinner plates. When they came to their table, the cleaners had greeted her, asking her how she was and if she enjoyed dinner.

The attention made heat tread over her skin, raising it, but Brad reached over and held her hand, speaking a little for her. Ruby gave him a small smile, thankful for their attention to temporarily be elsewhere.

Their band played well, keeping with the Christmas spirit. As they sang, a dance floor had been cleared and Lindsey grabbed her mate and headed for the floor. Ruby could see them both laughing as they danced along with many others.

“You wanna go dance?” Brad lifted a lock of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

She didn’t respond, batting his hand away in mute embarrassment. He just grinned, tugging on her ear, which earned him a playful slap to the side of his head.

Sobering, he leaned in close to catch her downcast eyes, “you got beautiful eyes you know,” referring to her wolf-ish eyes which glowed under the lights coming off of the stage.

Ruby’s cheeks flared and she looked away from him. Her eyes were unique on their own, being as rare as it is for humans. The eyes were a common, gold hue color in animals, especially wolves hence its nickname. Wolf-eyes. Perhaps that was what originally attracted him.

“I think, I’d rather stay here. You can go without me.” From the corner of her eye, she watched his reaction, seeing what he would do. Surprisingly, Brad leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his punch.

“Nah, I didn’t want you to feel as if you couldn’t join in. Not much of a dancer myself.” Brad looked over at her, a smirk on his lips before he took another sip of his glass.

Ruby only nodded, holding herself close as she watched everyone else. Lilac drew circles on the table with her finger, every once and awhile looking up to watch her father talk with a few pack members.

With one final song, everyone began to disperse, heading home to share gifts with friends and family. Brad led their little group back inside where the Christmas tree had been set up in the living room. Ruby hadn’t been in this room much since she had begun to leave her own a bit more.

“Alright, everyone gather about. I know you need to go visit your family too, so I’ll make this short.” Brad grabbed a few bags and boxes from the tree handing them to Luke and Lindsey who dug into them as quick as they could.

Luke had a few new video games and a brand new, custom made game controller.

Hold it up for all to see, he exclaimed, “oh hell yes! Thank you, Brad!” Bring him in for a bear hug, Luke purposely squeezed him hard, holding down his arms to keep poor Brad from fighting.

“Alright, alright!! Off you weirdo!” Wiggling out of his grasp, Brad shoved him back down where Lindsey sat.

Unlike the childish man beside her, Lindsey calmly held up her cardigan sweater, a light sky blue, and a card with a $100 visa gift card for all to see.

“I heard from a little birdie that you wanted the sweater and the visa so you can get whatever.” He scratched his head sheepishly.

“Thank you, Brad. I’ll make sure to tell my little sister thank you as well.” Giving him a side hug, she looked pointedly at Luke. “Did she help you too?” Luke only grinned at her and shrugged.

“Well, I’ll see you later uncle and you too, Lilac.” Taking Lindsey's hand, Luke carried their gifts, thanking Brad once more.

“Oh! Ruby, I kind of forgot to tell you…” Lindsey elbowed Luke in his stomach and dragged him over to where she sat. “You probably don’t like them, but I went out and bought those clothes for you. As your Christmas present… Thanks for wearing it to the party.” She bent down, hugging the young woman before dragging Luke away.

Ruby furrowed her brows, examining the sweater she wore and picking at the loose material.

“What's wrong?”

Picking at the top, she looked at the rest of them, “it didn’t feel like I had choice…” Smith laughed, reaching over to pat her hand.

“She didn’t want you to reject the gift or feel bad about her buying it for you. She does that a lot, so don’t worry about it.” Ruby nodded to the doctor, dropping the question.

“I wouldn’t have rejected it…” Quietly, Ruby picked at the end of the sleeves, keeping silent as Brad brought out a few more gifts for the doctor and Lilac.

The doctor received a few gift cards to a multitude of stores and a lifetime subscription to a medical magazine he had to quit from because of the costs. Lilac received a visa gift card to spend wherever she liked and a new, golden, butterfly pendant.

Brad also handed over a small circular container, wrapped in sparkling green and reds. A little something for Mrs. Smith, who had been away to visit family out of town for the holiday season.

“Thank you, Brad. I’ll leave you two with this,” Smith handed over a box, addressed to Brad and Ruby in elegant handwriting. Excusing himself, he led Lilac out the door and back to their own family who awaited them.

“Why don’t you open it?” Brad handed over the box as he grabbed another from under the tree. The very last one and the biggest of them all.

Unwrapping it and cutting through the tape, Ruby gently pulled apart the tissue paper to reveal the gift inside. She blinked for a moment, before slowly pulling the gifts out of the box to lay on the couch beside her.

Brad stood in front of her, watching as she pulled each item out. A few video games for him, and a few articles of clothing for her, but the design they had on it made Brad groaning in embarrassment. The clothes were too small for him. They were meant for Ruby.

One had wolves on it, with the words ‘I run with the pack’ on the back. Another said ‘I’m a wolf girl.’ Ruby received five shirts in total with three of them having wolf references. The other two were normal, long-sleeved shirts saying things like ‘I <3 the weekend’.

“I’m sorry…” Brad scratched the back of his head, red filling in his cheeks.

“It's okay… They're kind of cool.” She held up one of them, flattening it down over herself as she inspected it.

Brad didn’t respond but looked over the new games he received before placing them with others in his entertainment center.

“I do have something for you…” He took the clothes, setting them back in the box neatly before setting it aside. He brought forward the Christmas wrapped box.

“I didn’t get anyone anything.”

“Don’t worry about it. We weren’t expecting anything, plus, if you want, we can go shopping for them if you like.” Brad sat on the couch next to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

Hesitant at her guilt, Ruby tore away the paper and opened the box inside. She looked taken back and for Brad, he never could tell if the expression meant a good thing or a bad thing.

She lifted the dress out of the box, feeling the fabric of it. Despite it being the dead of winter, the dress had short sleeves and a summer-y, colorful, yellow and orange pattern.

Resting below it in the box, a more wintery dress with the same kind of pattern but with a deep blue and royal violet. Ruby also brought it out, feeling the soft fabric against her hands.

“I have the receipt, so feel free to say you don’t like them and I can exchange it for something you’d like or-”

“I love it.” At her words, a bright smile lit his face.

“I’m glad. Lindsey said that with the winter one you can wear your black leggings, to keep yourself warm.” Ruby smiled at that, wondering what else Lindsey had told him.

Picking up their items, Brad escorted her back to her room. He had Darz and Meers dismissed for the night and for the next couple of days so they could spend time with their family. They had done a lot and for now, they deserved their break.

“Will you be guarding me tonight?”

“Yep. I’m not about to leave you alone.” He opened her door, leading her in and setting her items down on her dresser. Ruby grabbed her PJs and changed in the bathroom. “I’m going to grab my night clothes, okay? Will you be okay for a few minutes?”

Ruby stuck her head out to nod before returning to brush her teeth.

It didn’t take him long to dress and return in flannel pants and an undershirt. Ruby didn’t question his short sleeve shirt as he came back into the room. She had already put away her clothes, leaving the boxes by the trash can in her bathroom.

“Goodnight, Ruby.” Brad shut off the lights while she climbed into bed and he made himself comfy in her chair.

After a few minutes being basked in both darkness and silence, Ruby scooted herself over, away from Brad. Then, she patted the spot she vacated. Being able to see her, he slowly made his way to the bed, coming to sit on the edge. When she patted the spot again, he took the cue and laid down next to her.

“What's the matter?” Ruby didn’t respond but turned her back to him and snuggled further into the covers. “Ruby?”

At his persistence and confusion, Ruby whispered back, “I’m trusting you.”