Far From Home

Chapter Six - Harvest Moon Pack Proudly Hosts Members Of The Royal Pack

Liz and Stephen’s mating ceremony is this week and Thanksgiving break starts on Thursday. I still haven’t given Ryan an answer about going home with him although he asks every day. Classes are brief as the professors are equally excited to begin break and many of them are wolves from the Harvest Moon Pack ready for the ceremony and to welcome their new Gamma couple. I finish my last class for the week and as I’m leaving I notice my roommate trying to be inconspicuous in the hall outside of my lecture.

“Have a good break Ciera,” I call to her as I head to Liz’s to ride with them to the pack house for the celebration.

I’m anxious to witness firsthand true pack life for the first time, especially in such a grand setting. Liz is a ball of nervous gitters as Stephen and a few men I’ve never met before load our bags into three SUVs. Ryan and his family are also invited as prominent members of an allied pack and he will be meeting us there later. The rest of his family won’t be in attendance as they have their own pack business to attend to this full moon. Stephen holds the door for Liz and I and then climbs into the passsenger seat of the vehicle.

After a few minutes of small talk at the beginning of our journey, he clears his throat as nonchalantly says, “so Lilly, my men have found a lead on your family and I just thought you should know that my Alpha has invited them to tonight’s ceremony. You might finally be able to get some answers if we’re right but I don’t want to further spoil the surprise.”

I’m taken aback but I can tell by how quickly he changes the subject that I’m not going to get anymore out of him at the moment. I pull out my phone and text Ryan who responds with, ‘I guess that means you’re not coming home with me after the ceremony then?’

‘I guess not Ry, maybe next time.’ I respond and I can’t help but wonder if Liz orchestrated this somehow to keep me and Ryan apart. Her constantly growing disapproval of the fact that Ryan and I are still together has not gone unnoticed. I know she means well but it’s easy to talk about waiting when you’re about to be joined to the soul that the goddess literally created for you. The rest of our ride is filled with excited chatter about the details of tonight’s ceremony. At some point I drift off and when I wake up we are parked in front of the most magnificent mansion I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“Welcome to the Harvest Moon pack house Lilly, and welcome home my love,” Stephen says as he helps Liz out of the vehicle. After a quick tour of the main floor, Someone sneaks up behind me and covers my eyes.

“Guess who,” Ryan’s melodic voice says. I squeal with delight and turn around to wrap him in a hug. Liz suggests we go get ready for the ceremony and we are shown to the 3rd floor which is apparently the Gamma floor while Ryan is shown to his guest room on the second floor. Liz tells me that I will stay in this room as it’s the Gamma female’s guest room and she will be joining Stephen in their new room tonight after the ceremony. I start to open my mouth to protest not being placed with Ryan but Liz shoots me a look that I understand all too well and since I’m now a guest in her home, I will respect her wishes. Just then four women come in and introduce themselves as part of the pack house omega staff that will be helping to get Liz ready for the ceremony. She has chosen a beautiful olive shift dress made of the softest silk that she will apparently slip off at midnight when she and Stephen mark each other in front of everyone. She explained to me that it used to be required to also mate in front of everyone in attendance but that as packs have modernized they’ve stopped doing that for the most part. I’m no prude and I’ve definitely come into my own since discovering my wolf but the thought of mating in front of spectators sends shivers down my spine.

I slip into my own deep red fitted gown and admire myself in the mirror, these omegas are talented. If anyone from my hometown saw me tonight, they’d never recognize me. My how much has changed in just a few months. One of the omegas says it’s time and Liz grabs my hands and pulls me into the tightest hug.

“The next time we talk I’ll be the Gamma female and maybe you’ll even find your mate tonight! Thanks so much for being here Lilly!” She says excitedly and I am shown to my seat by one of the woman while the other 3 take Liz to where she needs to be for the start of the ceremony.

Liz and Stephen’s ceremony is beautiful. She looks absolutely radiant and as the Alpha finishes his speech he announces the couple as husband and wife and the official Gamma couple of the Harvest Moon Pack. Apparently some packs have separate weddings like traditional humans do and some don’t have any at all. Again, marriages are another formality with wolves as mates are immediately assumed to be a unit. Rejecting a mate is almost unheard of because it apparently causes pain so great that it sometimes proves to be fatal. Liz beams at Stephen and they join in a passionate kiss, only breaking their kiss to elongate their fangs and officially mark each other, sealing their bond and eliciting howls from much of the crowd. After the commotion calms, Stephen raises his hands and speaks, inviting anyone who would like to join in on a run to join the couple by the lake on the other side of the pack house at midnight. Truth be told, this is what I have been most excited about. Opal and I have bonded well but at school there aren’t many opportunities to let her out to run free. I can’t wait for midnight.

Ryan finds me as the guests begin to mingle and the omegas begin turning the seating area into tables for dinner and a dance area for the celebration. We sit down to eat and enjoy the most delicious 5 course meal I’ve ever witnessed. I feel like I’m in a supernatural lifetime movie and I’m so happy for Liz. As we finish dinner the omegas quickly clear the tables and everyone begins mingling again and dancing. Ryan leads me to the dance floor and twirls me around.

“You are stunning in my pack color tonight,” he growls at me with desire in his voice, “if we were home, I would have skipped that meal and had you for dinner instead.” I can feel myself blushing and I pull Ryan into a passionate kiss. After a few dances I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see Stephen behind me.

“I’m sorry To interrupt but there’s someone I’d like you to meet,” he says. The time has come to finally meet my family. Opal is doing literal flips in my mind as I follow Stephen into the pack house.

He leads me to a conference room and Opal informs me that she smells someone we are definitely related to inside. I gulp and step inside with Ryan’s hand on the small of my back for support. Inside a man and a woman who I’m assuming is his mate wait also with Stephen’s Alpha, Chris. The couple look practically royal in a tux and elegant deep purple gown that seems to be enchanted and mimic a galaxy of millions of stars. Alpha Chris formally introduces himself to me and says that he’s heard a lot about me from Stephen. He offers me a place in his pack which makes my heart happy but I think I hear a low growl from Ryan.

Alpha Chris smirks and continues, “of course, I’m guessing you’ll have a much more attractive offer from these wonderful people. Lilly, allow me to introduce your cousin, Prince Frederick and his mate, Olivia, from the Crystal Moon Pack.”

Did he just say the Crystal Moon Pack, that’s the Royal pack! And did he say cousin - am I related to the royals? Someone pinch me because this is definitely not real life! Prince Frederick smiles at me and takes my hand. Opal confirms that this man is most definitely my family as he pulls me into a huge hug.

“Hello dear cousin, it is so nice to finally meet you! I’ve heard whispers of your existence but was so happy when Alpha Chris contacted me to invite me to tonight’s ceremony and informed me of this pleasant surprise. I’m sure you have many questions and Olivia and I would be happy to answer them all tomorrow. Hopefully you’ll join us and return home to our pack lands for the holiday,” he says posing a question and I catch Ryan’s shoulders fall as I glance back at him.

“I’d love to. I am so glad to be able to begin and put some puzzle pieces together. May I introduce you to Ryan Young cousin,” as I gesture to Ryan.

“Young? Of the Red Moon Pack?” Prince Fredrick asks as he shakes Ryan’s hand.

“The very same,” responds Ryan.

“Pleasure to meet you. Are you my little cousin’s mate?” The prince asks and once again I see Ryan’s shoulders fall.

“Unfortunately not, the goddess did not bless me with Lilly as a mate but I am most definitely blessed to be in her life and thankful to the goddess for the chance to help her find out her identity,” Ryan explains.

The prince nods and say, “That’s a shame, I know your family and their reputation is one of honor, we would have been glad to have you join the family. We are ultimately glad to have you as allies and close friends regardless.” And at that Ryan relaxes and smiles.

“I hate to interrupt,” begins Alpha Chris, “but it is time to honor our gamma couple with the traditional midnight run and I hope you’ll all join us.”

“Of course,” Olivia responds as she smiles at me. “I can’t wait to see your wolf, Lilly!”

“Well lets not keep the couple of honor waiting,” responds Prince Frederick and we all head towards the lake on the west side of the pack house. I learned after my first shift that any clothes you are wearing when you shift are literally shredded and that explained why I woke up wearing Ryan’s shirt the next morning. Ryan was quick to buy me a leg pouch that can be worn to carry an extra set of clothes so that I can retain some modesty if I ever have to shift quickly for any reason. Tonight however we will all be returning to the same place and the staff has set out chairs for everyone to drape their evening wear over. Hundreds of wolves are gathered, some already in their wolf forms and others in various states of undress.

I’m suddenly feeling self conscious and Ryan picks up on it quickly and jokes, “Can’t wait for get you naked Lilly Pad - let’s race,” instantly putting me at ease. We undress and shift and I hear a few gasps as I let Opal take control.