Mark, Kelp, and Eric watched as Nathan, Katia, Lorn, and Selene walked into the big common eating and bonfire area. While the two couples were away for a few days getting to know one another, the three men and one vampire had been making sure this area was enlarged enough to fit all members of the three packs. A covered pavilion had been erected over the tables. They now had four of them and all members would fit nicely. Mark thought they were going to have to address moving the outside eating area to a larger section of land. Especially if the Alpha Luna wished to continue eating meals with everyone from all the packs. Mark watched Katia approach and hug Dalia, she looked healthy and more alert to her surroundings than he had ever seen her. Selene had a different look to her also. They did not get away unscathed but something has changed in them for the good as well. He noticed that both of the women's mates hung back a bit, giving their females room. Kelp frowned and spoke softly, "Do you think they have not worked things out yet? Crael said that their mating bond needs to be unbreakable for things to evolve."
Eric answered, "It has only been two days. Give them a little more time. The alphas are going to ensure they do not mess things up. They are giving their mates space to be relaxed and not feel rushed to connect physically until they are ready."
"When did you become an expert on women?" Kelp quipped.
Eric retaliated, "When you watch so many males, gods, and wolves, make mistakes with their mates, you learn a thing or two."
Kelp thought he was being funny when he joked back, "You're going to make a good mate when you find your fated mate."
Swinging his gaze to Gammy, Evelynn, and Roselynn, as they entered the pavilion, his eyes stopped on Rose as he stated, "That is what I am hoping." The alpha and gamma did not realize he had already found his fated one and that she was a human witch. He continued watching Rose with her sister and mother as they wandered around talking to fellow pack members. Yes, although they were not wolves they were still considered pack. Katia would have it no other way. Anyone coming to Moon Touched would become a pack member no matter who or what they were. They would be pack members until they proved otherwise. It was something she insisted on when the new pack was created. It would be a sanctuary pack that would take care of those who had been rejected, abused, or abandoned, and did not want to become rogue. Katia had shared with Eric some other ideas she had for the Moon Touched pack and its special members, but so far, she had not mentioned going forward with those plans. Their Alpha Luna was unique with her ideas and how she saw the Moon Touched pack. Those ideas made him wonder how her mate would react to them. Not that it would matter; Moon touched her pack, and every member would follow her to hell if she asked them to. After a few more moments of watching his mate talk with some of the other girls her age, he moved toward her but was intercepted by Gammy.
"Where to, my young warrior?" She smirked at him.
A surprised Eric stuttered, "I was just going to say hello to Rosey. If that is alright, Ma'am."
Gammy actually cackled at him. She didn't look old enough to cackle like an old hag, but she did: " Of course, it is alright, mate, to my Rose. Go get to know her, let her see her gentle mate, so when she awakens, she will realize there is nothing to fear."
Eric smiled and winked at her and thought Gammy knew a lot more than she let on. He was sure she knew some of what this new prophecy was going to bring without hearing the thing first. He found Rose with her sister and Cronos who was saying something about having a talk with his young son and his protector about arriving on time. His Rose was giggling under her breath as she listened to her brother-in-law fuss about the two absent offenders.
"What has amused you so much, sweet Rose?" he asked her when he came to stand beside her.
His head snapped up, and with a startled look, she responded, "How do you know I am amused? I am just standing here listening to what Cronos is going on about." Her voice was like the song of a bird. It made him feel warm and relaxed. She was gorgeous, with her heart-shaped face and lips that looked like she had been eating raspberries all day. Her dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail, which seemed to be the favored style for the women of these packs. Rose hung down to the middle of her back and he could picture wrapping it around his hand as he was behind her in their bed. "Eric, I repeat, how do you know that I am amused?" he heard his mate ask him again.
Snapping his mind from its wandering state and back to the conversation at hand, he said, "I noticed the sparkle of laughter in your eyes from across the way. Tell me what is so amusing, and why do you keep it to yourself?"
Holding a finger to her lips for him to be quiet, she grabbed his arm to turn him slightly to the left. Quietly she whispered in his ear, "Do you see the lone tree standing in front of all the other trees? It has a large black mark along the one side and sticks out from the other trees." Eric nodded that yes he did see it. She gave further details about the tree, "It looks like every so often the tree has moved closer to us. Watch it closely and tell me what you see."
Watching the tree intently for a moment or so, Eric saw what looked like two figures flash in the same spot, and then suddenly the tree was there again. He watched for another minute or so and it happened again. He looked down at Rose and sputtered, "I could swear I am seeing two figures appear and disappear every few minutes."
Rose laughed as she informed him he was correct: "You are. It is my nephew and his protector. They are here, but my nephew is trying to hide them so they can practice being spies. However, little Leo is having trouble holding the illusion of the tree because he is not concentrating like he should."
Amazed Eric wanted to know, "Cronos does not sense this?"
Rose shook her head while filling him in on Cronos' one rule for his son, "Cronos would not think to sense for magic where his son is concerned. He has forbidden young Leo to use magic outside of the house for fear of someone witnessing it and figuring out who he is."
"Ah, Leo is not obeying," Eric stated.
"No he is not because he thinks his father is in the other realm still," Rose told him. Looking back at Cronos, she finished, "When Cronos figures out what Leo is doing, goddess help us. He is going to lock the both of them in their room for a week."
Grabbing her hand, Eric pulled her along to the table he sat at for meals and pulled a chair out for her to sit while explaining, "I am allowed a guest at meals, and I wish for you to be my guest at all meals for now on my sweet Roselynn."
Blushing, "Why?" she uttered.
"I would like to get to know you and the meals seem like a good place to do so." he grinned.
As Eric seated himself so did the rest of the table. That was when Rose discovered that she was sitting at the three alpha's table with all the ranking wolves and their mates. The rest of the table was rounded with the gods, Lorn's parents, and a few empty seats. Rose thought she knew who those seats were for but would wait to see if she was right. She heard Cronos off to her right telling Leo that he would speak with him later at home. To sit down with Demon at the table with his friends and eat his dinner. She watched as Leo and Demon sulked over to the table and immediately perked up when the other children started discussing the game of tag they had won against the alphas today.
Nathan bellowed over the children, "That is because you cheated."
One of the older girls asked, "How so alpha?"
Mark replied, "You had help."
Lorn interjected, "Very special and magical help if I recall correctly."
The children laughed as they yelled," Not so. Our alphas are just not as fast as us."
Nathan laughed and challenged, "I call for a rematch tomorrow."
The children were immediately jumping up and down in their seats while yelling, "Rematch, rematch!"
Mark and Lorn nodded, agreeing, "So be it then, until tomorrow. Then we will see who the winner is."
The children quieted down when the food arrived and was placed in front of them. Alpha Nathan promised ice cream for dessert, and they all ate quietly and finished all of their vegetables. When Alpha Lorn made a gagging noise when one of the boys said he did not like kale, Alpha Mark said that he would make sure Alpha Lorn ate all his kale. Alpha Nathan had said he would get no dessert if he did not. As they ate quietly, a few of the boys would sneak looks at Alpha Lorn's plate and report whether he was eating his vegetables. They could hear the alphas and the lunas laughing and arguing about the game of tag. The argument was whether or not the lunas, witches, and white wolves, had helped the children win. The lunas were giggling as they swore they had no idea what the alphas were talking about.
Once most were finishing their plates and bowls of ice cream were arriving, the adults sitting at the alpha table heard a very loud whisper come from the children's table, "He did it. He ate all his begtables, even the kale."
Smiling at one another, Lorn, Nathan, and Mark clinked their bowls and took a bite of ice cream. "Now that we have had some time to relax and recover from Uranus' games of revenge, I think it is time we all discussed how to move forward with the three packs. We want to hear from all who have a suggestion. We are all in this together and will work this out together." Nathan spoke for all three alphas with the announcement.
First we will have a few more join us for this discussion as they are members of our packs also.