By the time I reached the clearing, everyone was laughing and having a good time. A few people bowed their heads to me as I walked past, I smiled politely at them in return. This better not be how it is all the time...

Spotting my mother talking with some of her friends near the stage, that was in the clearing for ceremonies, I made my way over to her and sat down in one of the chairs that had been set up. Almost as soon as I did, everyone's attention turned to the three wolves that walked up the steps and to center stage.

Alpha Clark had walked on stage with his mate, Luna Layla, and my father, Beta James. I smiled happily at my father as he turned to face the crowd, his stunning green eyes looked over the gathered pack before coming to rest on his mate and myself.

Alpha Clark, a tall and broad-shouldered man with a salt-and-pepper crew cut and light brown eyes, cleared his throat and asks everyone to be seated if they hadn't already. "Good morning, my fellow wolves. As you all know I have decided to retire as Alpha. Beta James will take over my place in the pack. I am proud to have lead you and proud to call you family."

Claps arose from the gathered wolves as he spoke, but they slowly stopped as the retiring Alpha held up a hand for silence. "My mate, Luna Shayla, will also be retiring soon. But we have agreed that she should stay Luna a little while longer and let James settle in as Alpha before the position of Luna is transferred. So without further ado, Beta James." Alpha Clark took a step back beside his mate, a shorter woman with bright blue eyes and blonde hair, to allow my father stand in front of the microphone.

"Thank you Alpha Clark," His familiar, rough yet gentle voice boomed through the speakers. "I am honored to become the next Alpha. I shall do whatever it takes to protect those within the pack. To my very last breath."

My mother to my right dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief, I took her hand in my own and squeezed it gently. She glanced at me, smiling and squeezing my hand in return before looking back up adoringly to her mate.

Alpha Clark stepped forth to speak once more to the crowd as Alpha. "I, Alpha Clark of the Moonpack, offer my position in the pack to my Beta, Beta James. Do you accept my offering?"

As hard as he tried, my father's lips curled into smile, "I accept your offering Alpha."

Alpha Clark's hand extended for my father to shake, which he takes hold of. "Then from this day forward I shall no longer be Alpha Clark, Alpha of the Moonpack. I shall be Clark Johnson, retired Alpha. And you shall no longer be called Beta James, but instead Alpha James of the Moonpack."

The two men raised their hands up for everyone to see as Clark passed his Alpha's bracelet from his wrist to James's wrist. Once they released each other's hands, everyone cheered for the new Alpha and the retired. With an almost boyish grin on his face, the new Alpha spoke into the microphone, "What are you all still around for? It's time to celebrate! The new Beta shall be announced at the end of the night."

And with that everyone either started moving chairs, dancing, or chatting once the music blasted through the speakers that had been set up on the stage.

I stood, along with my mother, and began pushing through the throng of celebrating pack members, I made my way to my father and gave him a hug which was quickly returned by him. "Hey princess, what did you think about that?" He smiled as he held me at arm's length to look down at me.

"It was amazing! You were amazing! Do you have any idea who will become Beta?" I smiled back up at him, curious as the rest to know who would become second in command.

A soft chuckle sounded behind me, causing my father to smile even more while I turned to face my mother. "He can't choose yet darling. He has to find the right wolf for the job, he'll know them when he sees them."

Turning back to my father, I see him smiling lovingly at his mate while nodding in agreement, "Yes, that pretty much sums it up. Now if you would excuse us Rose, we are going to walk around."

I nod in understanding and watched them walk away before letting out a soft sigh. Looking around at the pack, I easily spotted the familiar figure of Tony standing next to his mate Sam. His back was towards me, I couldn't not take the opportunity.

Walking silently up behind him, I put a finger to my lips as one of his friend's attention went to me. He only smiled as his gaze returned back to my brother, laughing at whatever Tony had just said and that is when I leapt onto my older brother's back.

I had wanted to surprise him, but he grabbed onto my legs and spun around in circles like we did when we were younger, making me dizzy. I started laughing, holding onto him with my face burried into his back to hopefully lessen how dizzy I would become. When he finally set me down I couldn't stand up, instead I let myself fall to the ground while getting the bout of laughter under control.

Sam had slapped Tony playfully in the arm, "Now look what you did. She won't be able to stand longer than two minutes." She then broke out in a fit of laughter, his expression must have been good.

Arms went under my own as someone helped me up from behind, I almost fell over again as the arms left me. Thank the Moon that whoever helped me up had stayed where they were, otherwise I would have fallen right back down without the hands that quickly went to my waist to steady me.

I could feel my cheeks heating up as I turned around slowly to say thank, but seeing who it was only caused my cheeks to warm up more.

Ray had helped me up, his eyes sparkling with laughter while a dusting of pink graced his cheeks, "Told you I'd see you soon."

I smiled up at him, "Thanks for catching me." At that point I think he remembered where we were and realized that he was still holding onto my waist, for his blush deepened which made me smile more at how cute it was to see the bashful man redden.

His hands dropped back to his sides and I took a step back. Tony laughed at us but stopped abruptly when his gaze lowered to the ground and he saw my shoes. "Where are the ones I got you? You are suppose to wear those with that dress not those."

Out of habit, I stuck my tongue out at him before running like the devil himself was after me, which in my case it sure seemed like it. Tony started chasing after me and eventually caught me in a tight grip before swinging me over his shoulder and marched off towards the stage.

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The old chapters, three and four, are bit longer together but not very. Be ready for the next edit!
Happy Reading!
~Melonie