Once the pack house came into view, August could immediately see the difference from the morning.

A long arched path was constructed that led to the front door and was draped with hanging lanterns and garlands of marigolds. There was a noticeable pulse of excitement as people filed under the archway, some skipping, others clustering together, hanging onto each other's arms and jumping up and down and squealing with excitement behind masks of lace and feathers and sequins.

"Calix does all of this?

" August asked, turning to her companions.

"Oh yes. This is Calix's specialty,

" Greta chuckled.

August met him earlier in the morning after the lighting of the pure fire. He was charming, bowing and kissing the back of August's hand as Graeme introduced them. She was relieved that he didn't stare like many others. It was as if a glowing Luna was something he anticipated, and it put her at ease… a little too at ease actually.

Calix was very smooth, and she could see why he was put in charge of delicate communications between packs. Graeme told her he was often off land handling the exchange of goods or other deals that required finesse. He knew how to deal with expectations and putting others at ease. And apparently he was also very good at maintaining the traditions that involved spectacle.

Their group put on the masks they brought with them, Greta helping make sure August's was in place without messing up her hair and vice versa. Graeme's mask was a glittery black that hid his cheekbones, only exposing the bristly hair of his beard and accentuating his voluptuous lips that were left exposed where everything else was hidden save the tip of his nose. How was it possible that even his nose with its somehow aggressive curve and flare of nostrils was sexy? August wondered this as she turned and searched for his eyes, finding them now guarded as he looked on at the pack house and the exuberance they were about to enter.

"Stay close to me,

" he murmured in her ear, grabbing her hand and surrounding it with the warmth of his.

This action of his brought her whatever confidence had started to ebb when she realized the size of this event all over again. Everyone was in one place. They were meant to expose some difficult truths on this night that might bring to the fore divided loyalties.

What would be the pack's reaction to the betrayal of the elders? Would they believe it? Would some of them defend their actions? Were Andreas and Pearce really going to end up being subjected to the purifying flames of the fire that was ignited this morning by nine of their pups?

Graeme squeezed her hand, dousing the rising nerves once again. Their group started down the incline toward the arched pathway that led the way to the door, but Graeme pulled her to hang back behind everyone.

"August Moon,

" he purred in a low gravel that she felt reverberate in her own chest, because it was synced with his.

"You do not have to worry when you are by my side. I will defend you. I will protect you. Everything that is mine, including my position in this pack, is shared equally with you. If I could relieve the burden you feel by being so beautifully luminous for all of us to see, I would happily wear the moon's light and blessing for you.

" August giggle softly at the thought and looked down at her feet. He knew she was insecure about it. He squeezed her hand again to bring her eyes back to him.

"But know that they stare, my love, because you are the most beautiful symbol of hope that they have seen in many years. You are the moonlight that has been set free to shine on the darkness the elders cloaked us in. It is you who has been freed from the box by the raven,

" his eyes shone as this thought just occurred to him—how perfect the metaphor of his talisman was for the female who was standing by his side. Perhaps he was the raven. He had set his moonlight free to shine on the pack.

"Do you understand the significance of your presence?

" he breathed, bringing her wrist to his lips once again so he could brush against her pulse point where her scent was concentrated. He kissed her there and felt the pulse beneath his lips flutter in response to his touch and affection. If his mate were not covered in a coat, he would see the flush of her skin that reacted to him.

"I understand. Of course I do. It is significant to me as well,

" she whispered.

"Much will happen tonight with the dramatic revelations planned for later, but let's enjoy each other and our pack first. I want to dance with you,

" the depth of his voice and smile that lit under the mask with those beautifully tempting lips made her thankful for her own disguise that shielded with sequence, lace, and feathers the heat rushing to her cheeks.

"Dance?

" she asked innocently. Why had no one prepared her for this either?

"Oh yes, Moon. Dancing is a big part of tonight,

" there was something mischievous about the way he answered as if he had kept this from her on purpose to reveal it at precisely this moment.

"Shall we?

"

She nodded, allowing him to lead her with her hand in his. At least he was not carrying her. She giggled internally at the thought, the joy of being his and being led by him to this wondrous pathway where each pack member was drawn filling her to the brim and threatening to bubble out of her.

It was hard to contain how he made her feel—the connection between them and how intertwined their emotions were was so overpowering, sometimes it felt like the only thing that mattered or would ever matter. Everything else could fall to dust around them, and she might hardly bat an eye if his hand held hers as it did at this moment, guiding her through softly glowing lanterns and marigolds.

Every step she took next to his would be one made with certainty about her place. She was next to him.. As long as they were together, wherever they were headed was somewhere she wanted to be.