At the beginning of October, as the weather became nippier, Katia convinced Nathan to allow the pack to celebrate Halloween as the humans do. Everyone is excited about planning their costumes, decorating their houses and yards, or choosing the type of candy to give out. It seems the new Luna, not having lived in the earth realm for a long time in each of her lives, has left a lot for her to experience in this life with us.
Nathan sat quietly, allowing Katia to link everyone and explain why she had wanted to celebrate All Hallows' Day in the way of humans. We were all outside, in the cleared field between the two pack lands, around a huge bonfire. For some reason, this field is where we are found most of the time, since the two packs live next to each other and our new Luna loves the outdoors so much. As we sat drinking hot cider and eating roasted marshmallows, Katia explained how, when she was a little girl, her first pack was right next to a human city. They had adopted many of the human traditions to fit in and not cast suspicion upon the species.
Katia had watched as her brothers and the other kids were allowed to pick out costumes and trick or treat. She was never allowed to have a costume or participate in any of the activities that happened throughout the day. She had never bobbed for apples, told scary stories, or went to a haunted house. The Alpha Luna, as we were all coming to understand her to be, said, “I want to bring that kind of fun, joy, and memories to our pack and the children. It will not hurt anything, and I think you will all enjoy it. Even your grumpy Alphas” she said, looking at Nathan and Mark.
Everyone laughed at her last remark, while the two Alphas grimaced, which caused everyone to laugh harder. Alpha Nathan stood and addressed the two packs, “Although we live as two separate packs, we seem to spend all our time together. Whether we are helping each other, celebrating life events, or just hanging out enjoying each other. We have done the latter quite a bit since I found my little mate, and she has shown us the joy of discovering things for the first time. So, I say yes, let’s celebrate All Hallows' Day as humans do. Katia jumped up and down like a kid until Nathan grabbed her around the waist, lifting her eyes to his level. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him while laughing. The entire pack heard her sweet words to him. “Thank you, my love, for indulging your teenaged mate.”
Nathan’s response was to kiss her back and carry her into the packhouse as everyone else whistled and made smoochy noises at them.
About a week later, the two pack lands were unrecognizable. The two packs had gone all out for Halloween. The forest the two packs shared was now a haunted forest with skeletons, ghosts, trolls, witches, vampires, and whatever else you could think of hanging and hiding everywhere. The neighborhoods were now called The Haunted Territory and every single house was decorated with spooky decorations. There were so many different decorations of all kinds everywhere you looked. Even the packhouses were decked out for Halloween. The old abandoned packhouse in the middle of the two properties had been turned into a haunted house that the teenager decorated and worked.
Kane and Kelp, the two gammas, were standing in one of the lookout towers overlooking the pack lands when Kane said, “Who would have thought one scared little goddess would accomplish so much while trying to figure herself and life out?”
Kelp smiled at the scene below, “Mark and I were so scared for her, we couldn’t protect her like we should have, and we knew we were going to lose her. When she came back this time, we swore we would do everything in our power to keep her safe and happy.” Watching the kids play a game of who can scare who the most and realizing Katia was playing too, Kelp continued while laughing, “It is such a joy watching her experience the things she did not get to in her childhood. She reacts to things childlike, and I think that is what draws everyone to her.”
Kane was smiling, watching his cousin, “I was worried in the beginning that the others would think there was something wrong with her and her wolf. But they all just seem to understand what she needs.”
“Although it is hilarious when she throws a tantrum and Nathan has no clue what to do with her,” Kelp says with his eyes twinkling.
“I caught Nathan stomping around his office the other day mumbling something about when his in-laws get here, he is asking if it is allowed to put a goddess over your knee and spank her.” Kane said with a deep belly laugh.
They both agreed that Katia was good for Nathan because, although she gave him a hard time when acting like a child or teenager, she was teaching him to live and enjoy life again. He had not done that since his parents had died, and he became responsible for his sister and the pack.
The two men decided to go join the game of scaring each other silly and headed down to where the rest were.
A few weeks later, it was finally Halloween. All day long, there were bonfires that kept going so as darkness arrived everyone could warm up, and their way was lit with light. The only area with no fires was the haunted forest. It just so happened that the forest was damp, foggy, and had a slight mist making it even spookier. You could hear the natural screams and sounds of the animals, which added to the atmosphere.
Outside the forest, you could see kids, teenagers, and even some adults running from house-to-house trick or treating. The adults who joined in were like their luna. They did not get to experience things like this in their childhood and figured if their luna was doing it, then so could they.
So many different characters wander the little haunted territory, there were marvel characters like Ironman, Captain America, the Star Lord, and then DC characters like Batman. Flash, Superman, cartoon characters like SpongeBob, PAW Patrol, Bugs Bunny, South Park, there were movie characters like the Godfather, Rocky Horror picture show, Grease, Disney characters, the list went on forever of all the different costumes.
Nathan stood in his Iron Man costume feeling ridiculous looking around for his little mate. Seeing the Aqua man, Capt. America, Loki, Thor, and Spider-Man walk toward him. He knew it was the remaining ranking members of the packs and his partners in crime. “Have you seen my mate anywhere?”
They all looked at him confused, with Kane (Loki) asking, “Do you know what her costume is? We could let you know if we have seen her then.”
Nathan chuckled at Kane’s choice of costume for their group, “It figures a god would choose a god to dress up as. But no, she kept telling me her costume was a secret. She wanted to surprise me.”
Mark, Kelp, and Chip all said the same thing, “The only thing she would tell us is that it was someone from her favorite childhood story.”
Thor or Eric spoke up, “When we were at Coral’s little cabin, she had me tell her story of Sleeping Beauty constantly while she was still and remanded to bed.”
“Who from Sleeping Beauty would she want to dress up as?” Nathan asked them.
Suddenly, a loud pop of a firecracker went off and a huge puff of smoke appeared. Once it cleared, there stood a petite Maleficent, from Sleeping Beauty, and Nathan’s sister Dalia dressed as a woodland sprite. Katia stood smiling with the biggest grin Nathan had seen on her face and said, “Shhh, it is alright my beasties. I mean no harm to any of you. Although my love was betrayed, and I acted in anger, the perseverance of true love has shown me the way back too good.”
The woodland sprite took hold of Maleficent’s hand and pulled her forwards, “Sir Ironman, I give you Maleficent. Your true love. She wishes to bestow a gift upon you.”
Dalia stepped back and Katia moved forward gracefully with her bright red lips grinning from ear to ear. Nathan thought she was magnificent in an all black costume with black feathered wings and horns on top of her head. She looked as if she was the real thing. Yes, there are real human-sized fairies with horns on their heads and huge feathered wings. The difference is that the horns and wings can be any color.
Holding out her hand and waiting for Nathan to take it, “Sir Ironman, I have the truest gift of all to give to you. However, I need a boon.”
Taking her hand, Nathan asked, “What would this boon be, Maleficent of the fair folk?”
Smiling at the fact that Nathan was playing along with her, “The boon I ask of you is to lift me, so I may look you in the eye as I give you my gift.”
Nathan lifted her, asking, “What is this gift that is important, my fair one?”
Looking him in the eye, Katia spoke in her whispery voice and through the link for all to hear, “Sir Ironman and my Alpha mate, I give you true love’s kiss.”
She leaned in and kissed him with everything she felt for him. The crowd went crazy cheering for them. The Alpha and his Luna were well-loved by their pack and the neighboring pack.
For the rest of the Halloween night, everyone continues celebrating, dancing, eating, drinking, and scaring one another.
Nathan watches the people in his life that have given him so much and knows he will do anything to protect this.
Let Katia’s grandfather do his worst. Nathan will refuse to let him win and destroy what they are building together.