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Darlene’s face is buried in my hip. Her small fingers twist in the fabric of my dress, and I can feel her trembling, not violently, just the fine, constant vibration of a four year old body holding more than it was built to hold.

We reach the altar. The light from the silver bowl washes over us, warm, tingling, the particular charge of pack magic that I’m still learning to name, and Alpha Rylan and Luna Selena are waiting.

“Darian Carter,” Alpha Rylan says, “Arlene Carter. Damian Carter. Darlene Carter.”

Each name lands in the silence like a stone. I feel them through the bond, my name, Darian’s name, my pups’ names, pressed into the vast humming network of Silver Moon hearts like fingerprints into wet clay.

“Blood oath completed,” Alpha Rylan continues. “Pack bond established. Welcome our new pack members. Tonight is not an induction. Tonight is an introduction. The Carter family is Silver Moon. They have been Silver Moon since the blood hit the bowl four days ago. Tonight, you meet them.”

The pack cheered, “Welcome." Even the pups cheered, “Yayyy, we have new friends.”

Some started speaking amongst themselves, “What pack do you think they are from?”

Some said, “I think I saw the adults eight years ago at the joint pack school.”

Some said, “I can’t wait to talk to them.” Luna Selena started talking again with a microphone attached to her collar, “I know you’re all excited to reintroduce yourselves to our Gamma family and new pack members, but remember not to overwhelm them. Let the fun begin.” A little figure went up to Luna Selena tugging at the bottom of her dress, it was little Jocelyn. Luna Selena kneeled down and said, “Does this mean I can stay up pass my bed time?” Luna Selena picks her up and nuzzles her little nose, “Only if your mom and dad agrees.”

“Mommy and daddy, you have to agree. I want to play with my new friends.”

Joshua and Jasmin look embarrassed. Justin just shakes his heads and places his hand to his temple. Jace looks up to Justin and starts to mimic the same.

The laugh that ripples through the crowd is immediate. Warm. Real. I feel it through the bond, not mockery, not performance, just the honest, uncomplicated warmth of Five thousand and forty seven wolves deciding, all at once, that they like us.

Jasmin comes forward and takes Jocelyn from Selena's arms.

Alpha Rylan steps forward. His hand finds Luna Selena's waist, and the gesture is so natural, so completely unthinking, that I feel something behind my sternum loosen.

"Silver Moon," he says. "Let’s eat and celebrate." Everyone starts parting in different directions. Food appears. I lick my lips.

Darian, “Don’t worry baby, I’ll make you a plate, you and the little one go find us a table and I’ll be there soon.”

Bonfires crack to life at the edges of the clearing. Musicians materialize from the crowd, a violin, a fiddle, a guitar, drums, and the first notes spill across the grass like water.

Darlene's hand slips from mine.

I look down. She's already three steps away, her small body angled toward the playground, her eyes fixed on something I can't see.

“Well, I guess playing is more important to someone," I chuckle.

She goes. She runs, actually runs, the way pups run when they've forgotten how to be afraid, and I watch her dark hair bounce against her back and the upside down ponytail swing like a pendulum and something in my chest cracks so wide I can feel the wind through it.

Damian doesn't move. His hand stays in mine. His eyes track Darlene across the grass with the particular vigilance of a six year old who has been responsible for his sister's safety since before he could read.

"She's fine," I tell him. "Look. Warriors everywhere and she’s making new friends. Why don’t you go play with them too?"

His jaw works. His grip loosens by degrees, first the fingers, then the wrist, and then he's moving too, slower than Darlene, more deliberate, his brown eyes still sweeping the perimeter the way his father's do.

“Arlene, come here!” Luna Selena waves me over as Darian returns carrying three plates. I'm assuming they're all for me.

Selena introduces us to Paige and her mate, Michael, along with their children, eight year old Milo and four year old Piper.

“Where's Darlene?” Piper asks immediately.

I point toward the playground. “Over there.”

“I want to play with her!”

She's gone before Paige can answer. “Piper loves making new friends.”