142| THE TIES THAT BIND

“Remind me why I’m doing this again?” Darine whisper-screams at me. I smirk at my friend over my shoulder, though I can feel the heat of embarrassment on my own face as she reminds me that she’s not the only naked one here. Even in the pale light of the full moon shimmering down on us, I can see she’s beet-red, her blue-green eyes wide with terror and anticipation.

“Hey, at least you’re not the only one.” I remind her in a much quieter whisper. My once-completely-human friend scowls at me, but I don’t miss the glimmer of relief in her eyes as her gaze darts around the women encircling us. It would feel a little weird, walking in the middle of a group of naked women, if I didn’t know who and what they are. As it is, I can’t slow my racing heart.

On the outside, I’m utterly calm, but inside…tendrils of apprehension and excitement are twisting my guts up into a frenzy. Not only am I going to get to run with a Pack tonight, but my own Pack will be here. Is here. I can sense my Wolven within the territory, their voices a hum of excitement in the back of my head. They’re just as giddy as I am. And… It also may be the idea of seeing my mate- and him seeing me - without our pesky clothes on. As selfish as it is, that’s also a large part of my excitement.

I force my wayward thoughts away from my mate and take my friend’s hand. I can smell her fear and excitement now, the scent of freshly bloomed orange blossoms perfuming the air. Suddenly, the color Yuri seems to favor on Darine makes a whole lot of sense. I’d never paid much attention to my human friend’s scent beyond the usual ‘human’ markers to it, but I now can recall the barest traces of citrus in it. I smile, knowing the two will be just fine.

“It’s going to be okay, Darine,” I murmur to my friend. Her pupils are dilated in the darkness. The moon seems more like a dim sun to me at the moment, but Darine seems to be adapting a little slower since she’s still got her human sight. I’m kind of relieved that she can’t see the nude Wolven milling around now. We’ve walked through the center of the Azure territory, away from the homes and deep into the bordering forest.

I can hear the humming sounds of voices in the clearing up ahead, the moonlight shinning through the breaks in the trees, casting the world in a gorgeous glow that makes everything feel more like a dream than reality. Only the feel of the earth beneath my feet and cool breeze on my exposed skin grounds me in the moment, telling me just how real this all is. Suddenly, there’s a parting of the ring of Azures around us and two people come bounding towards us-

“Alpha,” The woman is grinning as she comes to me. The mantle of responsibility settles over me like a cloak and I feel my spine straighten under my Beta’s greeting. Before I can reply to Khadija, a smaller form comes bounding around from behind her, startling the other Wolven. I dive forward, a wild grin on my face as I reach out to scoop up the kid running for me.

“Bones,” I comment, squeezing the kid to me, ignoring the fact that we’re both naked and surrounded by Wolven from another Pack. The kid wraps his arms around my neck and squeezes me back - much to my surprise. His still-too-gaunt face nuzzling against mine in that too-Wolven way that lets me know just how much he’s missed me. My heart warms and melts a little for a heavy second, the world spinning around me as Khadija and Lee come into view with respect and happiness in their wise eyes.

“Bones, huh?” Darine’s chuckle breaks the tense moment and brings me out of my thoughts. I put Bones back on the ground and take his hand, turning to face Darine. Her eyes seem to have adjust a little more, and are trained on the kid with a glint of curiosity in her eyes.

“He’s one of the Wolven in my Pack,” I ruffle Bones’ curls affectionately as the boy puffs out his chest and looks up at Darine with the look of bravery on his little face.

“Momma named me that when she found me,” He informs my friend.

“I see,” Darine’s eyebrows furrow as she looks back to me in silent question.

“Where *is* Devina?” I ask Bones in answer, letting my friend know that I didn’t adopt a kid and he’s not talking about me.

“Here, Alpha.” Devina seems to pop out of thin air at my elbow, reaching for her young charge while keeping her head bowed in respect towards me. Bones reluctantly leaves my side and takes his surrogate-mother’s hand.

“Hey, Dev.” I smile warmly at the woman an place a hand on her shoulder in way of affection, my wolf coming to the surface to reach out towards hers. Her aura presses against mine timidly before her muscles relax and she dares to glance up into my eyes.

“It’s good to see you, Alpha.” Dev replies with a tiny smile before she ducks her head once more and walks off with Bones trotting at her side to keep up.

“The ceremony will be starting soon,” Khadija tells me from behind. I turn to face my Beta and nod in acknowledgement. “We just wished to greet you before it began.” She adds with a small smile and bowing of her head. Beside her, Lee echoes the motion of reverence, then the two back away and melt into the crows of Wolven.

Mixed Wolven from the three Packs, Azure, Berner, and Reinier, are intermingled around us, keeping a few feet between them and the ring of Azure Wolven around us. The buzz of auras, both familiar and new, press in around me. Most, if not all, Wolven. I find myself filled with excitement more than fear at their presences. If I were in a crowd like this a year ago, I’d be on the floor right about now, curled in a ball and having horrific flashbacks of the night I first turned. But not anymore.

Now, I feel a surge of strength and comradery from those around me rather than any anger or cruel intent. It’s almost like I’m surrounded by only my closest of friends…and - I realize with startling clarity - I am. All worries and fears fall from my shoulders with my next breath and the mantle of Alpha has my senses extending automatically to my Pack gathered near by.

“Darine,” Blue comes out from the crowd in front of us, with Yuri, Cole and Valeria following close behind. I can easily feel their auras and distinguish them by the strength they shed. Blue’s being the strongest, then Yuri’s. Cole’s aura is back to the usual slightly-too-strong-for-an-Enforcer Wolven, then Valeria’s. “It’s time.” Blue tells my friend, but I feel the heat of his gaze on me.

When I look to him, I notice how he’s very pointedly keeping his eyes on my face and not an inch below. I smirk a him, letting my eyes fall a bit from his teasingly- but force myself to behave. For now.

“I’m ready,” Darine steps up to my mate, her soon-to-be-Alpha, standing tall and expectantly. Pride fills me as I scent the air, noting how Darine’s citrus scent is now stronger, and notably absent of fear.