All the names and masked faces of those wishing to greet their Alpha and Luna were dizzying, but August tucked each one of them into her heart, determined to remember them all—if not by name, then by feeling. By the signature energy that they brought that she recognized.

Many of them August had seen before out in the market. Some she even knew already, like Ana who made a pumpkin gelato especially for Samhain and brought August a small cup of it to try. August lifted the spoon to Graeme's lips, allowing him the first bite, hoping that would please the young female because honestly August's stomach was not up for trying anything new, especially anything pumpkin flavored, at the moment.

Ana grinned at the reaction Graeme gave.

"It is very good,

" he told her.

Woody and Clara brought their grandchildren to introduce to August and Graeme as well, and August beamed seeing the family together. The pups were respectful despite their obvious desire to be running around elsewhere, but one little girl tugged on August's dress, looking up at her with starry eyes. August bent down to show she had her full attention.

"What's your name?

" August asked the pup who appeared to be around three or four years old.

"Clara,

" she answered.

"You are named after your grandmother?

" August asked, smiling at the elder Clara who stood above them. The little girl nodded her head slowly.

"Are you an angel?

" the little Clara asked.

"No, I'm not an angel. But maybe you are,

" August winked at her.

"But you are glowing like an angel,

" the sweet voice answered.

"That is because she carries a very important baby in her belly,

" the elder Clara told her.

"Wow!

" the pup exclaimed, shifting her eyes to August's midsection as if she would be able to see evidence of it there.

"Is your baby an angel?

"

"Come Clara, let's go see what games they have outside,

" her grandmother told her, tugging gently on her hand.

August giggled and pushed off of her legs to stand back up next to her mate.

"I'll see you later!

" she called after the pup who was being pulled away but couldn't manage to take her eyes off of the glowing Luna.

"Where are Andreas and Pearce?

" a harsh voice drew August's attention back to her mate. The male who it belonged to didn't bother wearing a mask. His face was lined in fury, dark eyes flashing a threat that held no care for the title of those before him.

"Damon,

" Graeme acknowledged the male by name.

August could feel the restraint that climbed her mate's body, which was reacting to the threat it sensed from the male before them. But the only evidence of this was the way his hand held hers just a little tighter. Graeme was the picture of control like any good Alpha should be, confident of himself and his leadership. There would always be much that threatened to try his patience.

"Tell me. They have been missing all day,

" Damon spoke low, attempting to keep his own emotions controlled but he was clearly having a much more difficult time with it.

"Why is it you were seeking them?

" Graeme asked, head tilting to the side with the question. Unspoken but implied was the second question of whether Damon was ignoring the change of power that had occurred, as Andreas and Pearce were Graeme's elders—reporting to him just as Damon should be. Should the elders still be communicating with Damon about jobs they had for him, they would be considered clandestine and a potential betrayal of authority.

Damon did not respond to it, but his eyes became steely as he attempted to pierce through Graeme's calm.

"Damon, we have not met,

" August spoke now, drawing the male's attention away from her mate.

His eyes flickered to her and she saw a small waiver in his exterior, a desire she brought to him to accept the hope that was painted on her skin. She offered him a genuine smile. This was a member of their pack, just as every other individual in here. And with that, the small fault line that had begun in him with her voice and her appearance gave way, splintering across his fury and breaking it open to reveal the warm loyalty to his pack underneath.

"We have not,

" his voice turned gentle much to her surprise, but she allowed herself to appear as if it was expected. She was his Luna. It was what she brought out in him. He bowed his head slightly, eyes touching the floor before returning them to her, and she saw the glow of her promise reflected there.

"It is a pleasure, Luna.

"

While she did not fully understand why, she lifted her hand for him to take gently and kiss before allowing it to fall back by her side. It was if this was a practice she had done many times with all members of the pack, but truly this was the first. And the acknowledgment it brought from him—that she was his Luna, that she was the Moon Goddess' blessed choice for this pack—dissolved the rest of the anger he had brought with him to her mate.

She felt something from Damon connect with her at that moment just as she had felt with others in the pack before. It was like an invisible bond that vibrated in acknowledgment both ways, and if it were visible, she felt it would lead straight from her heart into his. He seemed to feel it too, as his eyes broadened slightly and watered before fluttering away from her and to Graeme, whom he now also looked upon differently. With nothing more than a slight bow to Graeme as well, they watched as Damon turned and walked away from them, the demand for an answer to his question abandoned.

Graeme let out a soft exhale and, with no one demanding his attention at the moment, turned to his remarkable mate by his side. Did she realize what she had just accomplished in that short but significant exchange? No one could have guided her on how to handle that better than how she had. He would have actually preferred to keep hostility like Damon's far from her in order to protect her from whatever fallout may occur, but instead, she had somehow touched that male deeply.

"I think little Clara was right.. You are an Angel,

" a grin pulled at his lips as he raised her hand to brush against them.