Alpha Adiera

Remembrance Day part 2

"Katie?" I approached them cautiously. "You okay sweetie?"

"Katie." A deep rumbly voice repeated her name and she sighed happily.

"I told you!" I couldn't help laughing at her.

"Gamma Damon? Congratulations on finding your mate!" I caught Zane's eye, "I have a head warrior position to fill if you want to switch packs?"

Zane growled loudly at me and I laughed.

I grew up with Damon. He was a good guy. Katie would be well looked after.

"I think I need to find someone else to taste the punch."

"No! I want to taste it!" Katie insisted and asked Damon to put her down. She grabbed his hand and brought him into the kitchen with us.

She grabbed the cup with a small amount in the bottom that I offered her.

"Needs a bit more cordial, and a bit more vodka."

"No more vodka." Damon growled.

"Hush you! It's party day for me and my friends! I'm planning on getting juiced up!" She gave him a sly smile, then whispered theactically, "You might even get lucky!"

Damon frowned for a moment, then grinned back at her.

"You'll have to show me where you room is, so I can carry you back to it later." Damon winked and Katie giggled.

I added some more cordial and vodka and gave the large cooler jug another stir. Katie tasted it again, and gave the improved mix her tick of approval.

"It's probably our turn to get lunch! I'm starving! Remember to add ice first if you're taking a drink with you." I added in by mind link, "You'll need the hydration for later" and winked at her.

We headed into the dining room together it looked like everyone had sorted themselves out for lunch, so the 3 of us went up to help ourselves. When I got back to our table, the only seat available was next to Ramil. He had a scowl on his face as I sat down next to him.

"Are you alright Ramil? Is the food not to your liking?"

"It's not the food."

"Oh?" I had a moment of panic! "Do I smell bad?" I was trying to smell myself discreetly. I was sure I put deodorant on this morning.

"Petrichor."

"I'm sorry?"

"You smell like the earth after rain." He looked at me. Really gazed into my eyes. They were so dark. Yet, they had a hint of blue around the edges. Almost like a midnight sky.

Aspen purred.

"Aspen? What was that?"

"Uh, sorry! Just him saying petrichor. How he rolled his r's slightly. It just did something to me."

"I bet you smell like rainbows and lollipops." I jested trying to be funny.

Ramil looked at me amused.

"Rainbows? What do rainbows smell like?"

"Like candy. Sweet nothings. All the fairy's I have met smell like lollies of some description."

Oh... I think I said the wrong thing. His eyes flashed warningly. If he was a werewolf he would have growled at me.

If he was cranky about smelling like candy, I'd just have to prove it.

"I know it's a weird question, but may I smell you to be sure?"

I know he was sitting right next to me. I should be able to differentiate his smell from everyone else's at the table, but for some reason I couldn't. He just smelled sweet. No particular smell stood out.

His breath hitched slightly.

"Of course."

Oh! Wow! He did smell like candy. Coke bottles and lime. Ohmygosh! Yum!

Aspen pushed forward and licked his jaw.

He lurched back and looked shocked. Or was it repulsed?

"Oh my stars! I'm so sorry!" I felt the hear rush to my cheeks. Fk. How embarrassing.

"Was that your wolf?" He was still frowning as he wiped the wet from my saliva off his face. "Your eyes changed colour to black for a moment."

"Yes. Oh, and you do smell like candy. Coke bottle jubes and lime. I guess she wanted a taste." I laughed awkwardly.

"Werewolves are so weird." He chuckled and resumed eating.

I too concentrated back on my food.

"WTF ASPEN???"

"Pfft. Whatever. Sorry about that. I just wanted to taste him. I've never had a fairy."

"Neither have I" I retorted indignantly!

"Don't stress too much." Ramil spoke under his breath to me trying to keep what he was saying under the radar.

"Tell your wolf that one day we should meet."

Aspen pushed me aside in an instant.

My eyes were mostly black with fine green lines snaking in from around the edges.

"Hello Ramil the fairy. I am Aspen." my voice had purred out.

"Ohmygosh! You flirtatious mutt!" I almost screamed at her while my back was in the corner of my own mind.

"Stow it Bish. It's my show this hot minute."

"Hello Aspen. Very nice to meet you."

We maintained eye contact.

After it seemed like forever, in a moment, he looked away. She tried to hide the smile that was coming out on her face, but couldn't. Aspen liked this game.

While she was almost wagging her tail in happiness.

*snort*

I jumped back into play within my own mind.

I blinked at Ramil then turned to focus on my food again.

Fk.me.dead.

I started eating, paying attention to getting t.f. out of there.

I had stuff to do.

I split as soon as I was done, and put my plate in the kitchen. Most peeps were happily chatting together in smaller groups.

I made my way out to the ceremony area and scanned it. Heaps of room for sitting in the front on our fold out chairs. Lots of room for standing and stools around the edges. Beyond, more people could stand and mingle.

I could feel eyes on my back.

I moved outside fully to take on the beauty of this pack. The pack and the people who had became my family.

I teared up in gratitude.

Stella was almost beside me. I didn't hear her, but I could smell her.

She wrapped me up in a hug from behind me to the side gripping my shoulders.

My sister from another mister. When Stella finds their mate?

They will come here. I cannot be away from my girl.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." She cooed quietly.

"I know that!" I huffed at her. As if.

"Everything looks beautiful." She said.

"Yup. The pack worked really hard in putting this all together."

Stella removed her arms from me and sipped at her drink.

Give it another 10 minutes and it will start getting rowdier.

10 minutes later when the noise level had increased, I linked the everyone. "Please make your way outside. The Ceremony will start in 10 minutes."

Young mothers and juniors sat in the seats towards the front. Older members too. Warriors of both packs came together around the stools at the edges. Girls more often than not sat on the stools. Their mates either stood behind them, or between their legs.

Kayla was in the front row. I love that girl. Zane was beside her, then Mum and Dad. Ben and MeiLee. Mike and Verona. I noticed the fairys were milling together at the back corner around a sitting Elyssa.

I stiffened.

Marissa was talking to Ramil. She was so close to him. I saw her arm brush his. He didn't push her away.

Ew. If that's his type, good luck to him.

Game face on.

"Thank you everyone for coming to our Remberance Ceremony.

Thank you Marco for providing the closure to our fallen comrades. By fire, our wolves are set free and welcomed back to the Goddess. I pray she saw their life and sacrifice for our pack, and deems them worthy of honour and pride.

Today we remember our family members. Our friends. Our hero's. Our defenders."

I grabbed a jar.

"To the person responsible for Gamma Hayden's ashes."

Mike got up from his seat.

I gave him the droopy sided pink jar.

He had a smile on his face yet his eyes were wet.

"Hayden was an amazing Gamma. Fun. Good natured. A prankster. Loyal friend.

Proficient fighter. Hayden and his wolf Hercules was responsible for keeping so many of us safe. He helped save our pack. We will forever be grateful."

I gave Mike a quick hug.

"Hayden was my best friend. Just as much as Ben and Gus. Where one of us were, the other 3 were not far off."

He went into a funny story about the 4 of them ending up in mischief. I knew the story. I smiled at the appropriate time, yet felt a bit numb in my brain.

I came back to the present.

Mike had finished. He nodded and sat down.

I grabbed the next jar, the next lot of ashes.

I said something about each member to the person accepting their ashes.

I knew these people. I was grateful for their sacrifice to their pack. I felt such a sadness for each name I read out. I don't think there was a dry eye from any werewolf present.

After I'd handed out the final jar, I said a prayer thanking the Goddess for blessing us with their presence, their love and loyalty.

It was now time for Gus.

"Last but certainly not least I want to thank the Goddess for our Alpha Augustas. I was truly blessed with him as a mate. They were the best 2 years of my life, and I know it was for him too."

There was a low snort from Marissa's direction but I ignored it.

"Would anyone like to share anything about Alpha Gus?"

Member after member came up to share their stories of Gus and how he influenced and interacted with those around him.

I loved hearing stories about him, ranging from his childhood up to adulthood. Just knowing he'd affected the lives of so many people, made me love him even more.

"Now the ceremony is over, let us celebrate! We're still here! Our pack is protected! Thank you for being on this journey with me."

I mind linked Davey our music DJ to start with some kid friendly tunes.

"Thank you to our little ones for being so good during our ceremony. Let's start our festivities off with playing musical statues!"

We made our way out to the yard set up with speakers and we all started dancing along to the music until it stopped.

I kept dancing and shaking my booty, until the kids laughed at me and told me I was out. I pouted then took on the job to say who was 'out'. Of course I started with all the adults first. Most of them weren't even playing but whatever, as long as it made the kids happy.

We ended up with a winner who got to pick their favourite song to dance to next.

Something to do with an infant shark? The kids seemed to enjoy it.

We did other kids dances and the junior warriors even joined in. DJ Davey put on Nutbush city limits and the nearly the whole pack got up to dance!

My feet were killing me and the kids were starting to get tuckered out, so the parents started gathering up their things to take their kids home for dinner and bed.

I got a lot of "Thank you" mind links from the departing families.

The music got changed to boppy teen stuff. The juniors seemed to like it.

The change of security shift happened and the fresh warriors came in with kegs and bottles of were strength spirits to really amp things up.

I caught some of the juniors sneaking drinks, and I told them 'just one' sternly via mind link. If they had 2 they would be the human equivalent of drunk. At least they were in the safety of the pack I suppose.

I sipped at my non alcoholic punch. Yes it was leftover from the kids cooler. Zero shame. I didn't care, in my insulated tumbler I could pretend it was a special drink.

I was happy sitting off to the side and people watching. Gus would have been in the middle of it all, laughing, drinking and talking a mile a minute to anyone and everyone. He'd look in my direction every once in a while, and give me heated stares. Gosh I miss that hunk of a man.

My belly gave an annoyed grumble. I know there were some snack platters pre-made in the fridge. I made my way through to grab one to bring back outside.

In the kitchen there was a mini party going on! The Omegas were drinking punch, and dancing to their own music.

"Alpha! Good timing! We need more punch!" Jenny giggled.

"Hang on a tick. I'm just going to grab something to eat."

I took out one of the cheese and dip platters from the fridge and grabbed some crackers from the cupboard. Everyone circled around the kitchen bench gravitating towards the snacks. I grabbed some crackers, then made my way back over to the cooler hug to refill it.

"Anyone want to taste test?"

"I'll do it Alpha!" Katie came over with Damon in tow.

"I have been distracted and not had enough to drink yet." She said to me, then playfully glared at Damon who air cheered her with his drink.

I poured her a small sample.

"Mmmm that's good! Drinks are up bichez!" Katie called over her shoulder to the rest of ladies in the kitchen.

"Oh! I love this song!"

"Turn it up!"

"Dance with us Alpha!"

How could I refuse?

Next thing I knew I was twerking along with the rest of the ladies to Megan Stallions 'Body'.

Damon had a wide grin on his face while Katie danced sticking her butt out towards him, moving in time with the beat.

"Well! I wasn't expecting that!"

Ramil was standing in the doorway frowning at me.