Chapter Fifteen

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The rest of the ride had been done in a cool silence, neither speaking again until they reached the pack house. The clouds obstructed the moon above them, hiding what was likely to be a beautiful wintry sight. As Kirk pulled up to the house, there was a single spot reserved for him, but all other parking was completely consumed with vehicles from packs from around the country. The sounds of laughter and festivities drifted to them as Terri opened her door. Kirk rushed to help her out and Terri sighed. She rarely let him have moments of chivalry, but this was one she gave to him. The stiff silence in the car for the last bit of the drive had worn on her.

"I want to see Kayla," she said, taking his hand and stepping out of the vehicle, "I miss her." Kirk smiled, placing a hand a the small of her back and leading her to the house.

"Of course, I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you," Kirk smiled as Terri's stepped picked up and she moved to the house. Both knew that Kayla was in a mood, having refused to participate with the festivities any further than ensuring the house was available. It was a rush to find a last minute caterer, causing further embarrassment to Darren. Terri thought about the rumors going around about the pack right now, John had been filling Kirk in on the piping hot tea of gossip and Terri would listen in occasionally. Fights amongst pack members were increasing, and the petty pack had been banned from the pack house unless it was an official event or meeting. Kayla had all but stopped talking to her mate, something that was unheard of, especially with an alpha and a Luna. Terri's heart broke for the stress it must be putting Kayla and Colin under.

As she walked into the house, banging the snow off her boots, the cacophony of footsteps on the stairs resulted in a small, black haired boy tumbling towards her.

"Auntie!!!" Colin launched himself at Terri. She braced to catch him, only to find she stumbled from the force of his leap. A moment's panic was laid to rest as she felt the broad and solid chest of Kirk behind her. Look up, she could she the corners of his mouth twitch, a smile suppressed.

"Hello little man," Terri gripped him in a tight hug, breathing in his childish scent and holding him close, "I've missed you soooo much." Placing him down, she started to pull off her coat.

"No, auntie," Colin reached up and stilled her hands, "leave it on. Everyone is outside," Colin was grabbing his own boots and jacket, pulling them on as he moved towards the back door. Apparently he wanted to join the festivities with everyone else too. Terri sighed and looked up at Kirk.

"I'm here," he said softly, "every step of the way, I will be right here with you. John is outside and so are several members of my own pack," the look of fear was clear on Terri's face, followed by a frown trying to cover it up, "they're excited to meet you Terri. They are going to love you." Drawing in a shaky breath, Terri let Colin take her hand and they ventured out into the festivities.

Terri first noticed the music once she got past the sheer number of voices laughing and shouting beneath the massive number of tent space set up in the back. Several smaller tents dotted the landscape, some closed, some clearly open and available. The DJ was bouncing around his elevated stage with enthusiasm.

"Mates are finding each other left and right," Kirk observed, pointing to a pair of wolves frolicking in the snow, making their way to a set of tents. Terri could tell that he was deliberately keeping his tone neutral as he spoke, but his hand strayed to the lower part of her back, giving it the lightest of touches as they moved to a bar height table where John stood with several other wolves.

"Luna!" John called over to her, directing eyes from all corners of the space to look at her and Kirk. Keeping her head high, Terri quirked her lips in a small smile and greeted him.

"I'm not mated to your alpha, John," she quietly admonished as the others standing with him started their own introductions. Terri could feel the overwhelming flood of names and faces start to hit her and her panic starting to rise. There were too many people, even if all the members of Kirk's pack that were there seemed to be genuine and happy to see her, she was more than a little uncomfortable with all the attention.

"Terri!" Kayla came running over to her, having followed Colin's scent from the house, "You came!" Kayla wrapped her arms around her sister in law and promptly burst into tears. Even more eyes turned in their direction and Terri started to squirm. A couple of whispers from Kirk and the members of his pack shifted to enclose Kayla and Terri from the others straining to see the drama.

"Yes," Terri sighed, pulling Kayla in closer, "I came. I'm sorry I had to stay away, this can't have been easy for you." Kayla was sobbing in earnest into Terri's should now, causing Terri to tense up even more than she had previously. Darren would probably arrive soon and the drama was going to get even worse. Kirk's warning growl was a good indication that Terri's brother was on his way over.

"Alpha Waller," Kirk's voice was polite and professional, "My pack and I acknowledge and appreciate your hosting of the solstice festival." The forced formal nature of the words would have been taken as an insult in any other circumstance, but the tension in the hosting pack was palpable and Kirk didn't want a full blown coup to result from the family conflict.

"You are most welcome Alpha Hanson," Darren responded in kind. Terri could hear the pain and exhaustion in his voice. She hadn't spoken to her brother since the last time she had left. Despite the number of times he had called, she had steadfastly ignored him each time, deleting every text and voice mail before reading or listening to them, "Terri, may I have a word with you." 

Everyone could hear the alpha command in his voice, causing Kirk and John to growl in response. Terri hadn't mated Kirk, but using an alpha command on any Luna, let alone the Luna of another pack was the height of disrespect.

"Of course Alpha," Terri replied, though it was out of courtesy and not command. She had felt the power, but did not feel the submission it normally demanded. In her mind and heart, she didn't feel the bond of the pack anymore. She didn't know exactly when the bond broke, but she knew now that she would likely never return to these lands after tonight. Stepping back from Kayla, she say her sister in law glare at her mate. Whatever this conversation was, it wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Colin, why don't you go get some cake?" Darren gave his son a small smile, gesturing to the dessert buffet that had been laid out. Colin gave his aunt another squeeze before racing off for some sweets. Terri reached for Kirk's hand and looked up at her brother, gesturing for him to lead the way. Kirk gave her fingers a returning squeeze and gestured for John to follow them. Kayla trailed after them, greeting people as they moved back into the house and into the meeting room. As the doors closed, Terri steeled herself for the impending explosion.

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