Finn stayed behind after lunch and helped us with the rest of the incoming transfers, a few more mates were found, proving that the Moon Goddess really was in control, normally we would have had nothing to do with Dick’s pack before the events that led them here. I smiled, the hope and joy in the pack bond was electric and contagious. The whole pack felt a little stronger, and the official census crept even closer to the 1,000 member mark. Greg and Jess were with some of the new members in a large conference room, many of them had a construction background meaning that they would help us build and expand that much faster. Word had gotten out that Samantha was anxious and guilty that some of the families would be forced to stay off the pack grounds and many of the members stepped up and volunteered to house the new members in their spare bedrooms until the houses were finished. Samantha sighed and leaned back in her chair and stretched as the last transfer was completed. “Alright, everyone is present and accounted for.” She smiled. “Finn, I read in some of your old pack’s files that whenever a wolf found their true mate there would be a celebration?” Finn smiled. “Yes, the titled members would go to the couple and invite them on a run. Everyone in the pack was invited but usually unless it was an important pack member only their friends and family would join them.” I smiled, that sounded fun. “Why don’t we adopt that too, Love? We usually only do pack runs at ceremonies.” Samantha grinned wide. “Yes! Hey, call your folks, see if they want to meet up and make it a big event? If so many of the new members found their mates here, then maybe there will be some luck at your dad’s pack?” Violet was smiling now at her phone. “Oh, it’ll be perfect weather for a run tonight!” Smiling I called my dad, this would be fun. “Hey Dad! We just finished all the transfers, and it seems some of them found their true mates here!” “That’s great son!” He answered. “Well, it turns out that in their old pack whenever a true mate bond is formed there is a pack run. So, we are planning to head out tonight. Samantha thought maybe you and your pack would want to join us? Maybe some of the new members will end up mated to some in your pack?” Nick was jumping up and down now and smiling. “Hey Grampa!” He yelled at the phone and my dad laughed. “That sounds fun. As soon as you get the details ironed out let me know, we can meet you halfway between our territories to make it easier on all of us.” I grinned and flashed a thumbs-up sign. “Awesome dad! We’ll see you tonight!” Violet was now on her phone again, looking at the map. “We can meet about here, there’s a clearing almost directly midway between our territories. It gets dark early, so what time would be best?” “If we leave here at 8 then we should get the group there about 9?” Jake said as he looked at the location. Samantha smiled and nodded before closing her eyes and opening up the entire pack link. I grabbed her hand; she has never had to announce anything to this many before and I opened up our mate bond in case she needed to borrow some of my strength. I hugged her close. The entire pack seemed to go quiet, and I felt more minds focused on us, it was almost daunting. She paused as many started to cheer both in our minds and out loud. She paused again as more started to cheer, and once they quieted down, she continued. A chorus of ‘yes Alpha’s’ and ‘thank you Alpha’s’ flooded the main pack link before I felt Samantha close it down and rub her head. “Damn, that was intense.” “Of course, Alpha.” Violet smirked. “Morale is at a major high right now. That kind of energy is overwhelming.” We both looked up as Daren and Lily came running in, grinning. “Dad is coming?” Lily exclaimed as she clapped. “Perfect timing you two.” Samantha started. “I have a job for you, the members who need to shift in the packhouse for privacy will need a place to do it in, and somewhere to leave their stuff until we get back.” “Leave it to us!” Lily said as we all left her office. I felt a pull on my shirt sleeve, and I noticed Nick looking up at me. “What about me?” I almost slapped my forehead, he couldn’t hear anything in the pack link. “Don’t worry Buddy, you’re coming too.” I smiled. “You really think we’re going to leave you behind?” He smiled wide, a sight I’m glad to see again. Hopefully he will be smiling a lot more from now on.... ~~~~~ At 7:15 Samantha stood on the front porch, the newly inducted wolves were taking turns going into the packhouse to shift before coming out to the yard. The ones with a pup were approached by some of our other members, who volunteered to help with them on the run. The teamwork and comradery were overwhelming. Nick stood on the porch with us, looking around nervously. Penny ran up to us and Nick relaxed slightly. “Hey Buddy, you’re with me tonight. Okay?” He looked up at me curiously but nodded. Jess walked back up to the porch at 7:45, her and Violet got an accurate count of the members coming out, including pups. I felt a little sorry for her, she wasn’t able to shift but she was still going with Greg on his back. It wasn’t the same, but it was still a way for her to be a part of the festivities. Samantha smiled as she started to speak. “Everyone! Keep an eye out for each other! Protect the pups if needed, but we should be fine. If you start to become separated let someone know! Gamma Greg and Delta Daren will bring up the rear! Elites and titled members in attendance! Snap in and let’s roll out!” Some of the new members looked around curiously and the shock on their faces when the others started to shift was never going to get old. We watched as Greg shifted and laid down as Jess climbed on his back carefully, Penny shifted beside them and started to bound around happily. I heard Greg snort at her and she started to calm down. Slowly I started to shift next, I could feel eyes of most of the pack on me and many of them gasped at my size. Even the older members seemed surprised, as I was even bigger than the last time they saw me. I stood even with Violet’s wolf now, one more push and my power would be greater than hers. I shook my fur out and laid down motioning for Nick to get on my back. He struggled for a minute before my mate lifted him up and strapped him in with a harness. “Is it too tight?” I shook my head no and she pulled on it slightly to make sure Nick wouldn’t slip off. “Okay Nick, hold on tight, okay? Let us know if you need a break, okay?” “Yes ma’am!” I could hear the happiness in his voice, and I yipped at him as I stood, getting used to his weight on my back. I followed my mate down the stairs. More of the waiting wolves were yipping now, it wasn’t every day that they got to see their alpha shift. She started to trot now, and in one fluid motion she shifted and started to led us to the main gate. I matched her pace, not overtaking her as that would earn me a nip. Mate or not, she was leading the pack tonight. In the pack link I could hear the new members chattering about her size and power, she was letting most of it out as a beacon and a warning. Everyone was excited though, even the pups who couldn’t hear us in the link were laughing and clapping. I could hear Violet and Jake behind us sending signaling barks, keeping the group together. As we approached the main gate the overflow wall started to lower to prevent a bottleneck effect and Samantha barked louder as we crossed. As we started to head east, I glanced down and noticed a little gray wolf weaving around us at the front. I snorted. I could hear her pout in my mind, and I sighed. I heard him smirk in my mind. I snorted before I looked down at Penny who was now bounding around me. I messaged as sternly as I could. Her ears drooped and she started to make her way back to where her parents were. Sighing I looked to my mate again, she started to bark again, signaling us to turn slightly. She started to yip now, a signal to my dad’s pack. An answering bark came from the distance that I recognized. It was my dad and brother. Chris must be helping to lead tonight. Samantha started to slow down, and I growled and snapped as some of the younger wolves weren’t paying attention and tried to pass me. I couldn’t help but smile, I used to do the same thing before I learned better. Soon the pack behind us started to yip, as we saw my parents sitting, waiting for us. Dad looked shocked at mine and Samantha’s sizes but bowed respectfully and barked in welcome. “Grampa! Gramma!” Nick called from my back and my parents came up to me as I laid down. They nuzzled me in welcome before nuzzling and licking Nick who laughed. I opened up our family link. Jake and Lily came over now too, getting their own nuzzles and licks. The two packs started to mingle now, Tim went over to Liza. It was almost comical to see them, she was slighter larger than him and he seems a little intimidated. A couple of happy barks sounded and a smaller female from my dad’s pack came barreling over and tackled herself into one of our new male members. A success! I nuzzled my mate now and growled playfully when she started to purr. She linked me. I yipped and started to bark now, signaling for everyone to get back in formation. My mom and Laura started to do the same to their pack, one of the jobs of Luna is to ensure the pack isn’t caught off guard when we start to move. Samantha stretched and waited for my dad and brother to nod at her before she barked again, and we were off. Now my dad and brother were also in front of me slightly while my mom and Laura ran beside me. Every once in a while, Laura would jump up slightly, making Nick laugh. The signaling barks from my dad’s beta and Ron were chorusing with Violet and Jake’s and we ran together for hours, enjoying nature and acquainting ourselves with each other. By the time we got back to the clearing we were all slightly tired but more relaxed, my parents barked a farewell as we broke off and returned home, both exhausted and excited for the future.

Chapter 100