"I wish you the best of luck on your trip. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"I should be fine. My pack has two Omegas with a really strong calming ability, or I can go for a long run in the forest," the sandy-colored wolf replied.

"Then I wish you safe travels. Make sure you come back and visit at some point!"

He nodded. "Yes, I'll come back at some point. Be good."

"You know there isn't a chance of that happening, right?"

He chuckled and took a deep breath. Moments later, his mindspark dimmed slightly as he dropped out of our pack. With one last look at us and the new packhouse's completed foundation, he turned and began a steady lope towards the forest.

He was going home.

It felt so strange watching him go. I was happy for him, and yet, sad that he was leaving. This was different than when I had seen people leave to live with their mates – almost like I had set something free.

"I'm sure he'll come back to visit," Jenna murmured from a nearby open window.

I jumped in surprise and twisted around to look at her. "Here I thought Vera was stealthy. Whatever you do, don't give her any lessons."

She grinned at me. "She wasn't born an Omega, so she wouldn't be able to learn this trick even if she was designated as an Omega."

"That's a relief."

"He'll be back one day," she repeated.

"You think so?"

"I'm certain he'll return to visit. There is a freedom in this pack – none here care that we were once feral. It's why many have no plans to leave, even if their former pack is still around and they have siblings or parents there."

"There's more to it than that," I quietly replied, "and I'm sure you've sensed it."

Jenna was silent for a long moment before replying across a private mindlink, "I have, and having been feral myself, I feel the changes personally. After having been without a true pack, the desire to remain in one is strong. And having been invited into this one with open arms..." She trailed off, but words weren't necessary.

We had been welcomed here, and many considered this as their chance to rebuild their lives and get back on their feet. They planned to make this their home, and they were willing to work hard to build themselves a future here.

Both of us looked back at the trees the wolf had gone into. He had been the first to leave the pack. Deep down, we both knew he had a bright future ahead of him, and that he would always remember this place.

Jenna murmured, "I wonder how long it will take him to realize that not a single one of his socks match?"

"Not sure," I replied with a grin, "but I'm sure he'll know how it happened."

I ran down the hallway and managed to slow down enough to not slide into the doorframe when I entered the family room. "Here's some more rosemary and lavender."

The pungent herbs were quickly scenting the air and almost making my eyes water from how many I was carrying.

"Thanks. Can you put them in the vases on the floor? I can arrange them later."

"Sure!"

I managed to get them all into the vases without too much trouble and went to get more.

"Can you please grab some mint as well? That will help keep the scents minimalized once the festival starts."

"I'll bring those next!" I called back as I left the room.

The entire place was buzzing with activity. For the first time in over a month, no one was working on building the new packhouse.

I went back to the garden, where other people were also picking flowers and fragrant plants to be placed inside and outside for the Lunar Festival this afternoon and evening. A few people were bringing armfuls of the fragrant herbs from the forest and placing them here for others to take.

"Someone is dressed up nice," I told Anabel, letting Josh listen in.

"Very nice," Josh agreed with a quiet whistle of appreciation.

"Hey, hey! Keep those emotions under control until you two are in your room! Depending how many people from the neighboring packs find their mates when they come for the festival today, there is no need to start the lovebird stuff already. I'll probably need a break by the end of it."

"Have we heard how many people are coming?" Josh asked.

"Last I heard, roughly a hundred, mostly from four packs. A couple of them are coming from other places. I expect at least one or two will meet their mates."

Anabel nodded. "That's another reason I've scattered so much mint around. It overpowers personal scents, but rarely affects the smell if someone is your mate. Makes it easier to track, actually."

I snickered. "Just how do you say that with a straight face considering the way you two found one another?"

She laughed in agreement before replying, "And that is why there is so much music, mingling, and dancing planned. Plenty of chances to bump elbows with someone or shake their hand. I bet you're going to get petted a lot tonight."

"A Comforter during a Lunar Festival? Of course, someone has to be cute and huggable at a party where people are hoping to find their mate. I make a great ice-breaker."

"You just like being petted and putting flowers in their shoes if they take them off while dancing."

"Me? Whyever would you accuse me of such a thing?"

"Because it's true?"

"That's beside the point. The Lunar Festival is strictly for improving relations between the packs while offering people a chance to travel and see if their mate might be here."

"Right... I know you'll find someone to cuddle you."

"Yep. There are always people who are less outgoing and hang out along the fringes. My abilities just happen to be really good at finding them."

"Why am I not surprised?"

I wolf-grinned at her and grabbed a mouthful of mint cuttings before trotting back inside.

I sat underneath a bench while watching people mingle on the grass. It was safer under here with everyone focusing on the people around them.

So many people! Many of whom were surprised at how much their neighboring pack had grown. From the eager mingling and greetings, quite a few visitors were hoping that one of the new faces might be their mate.

A flare struck my senses and made me wince slightly. Someone had found their mate. I decided to shield my senses for a while even though it would leave me blind to the emotions of those around. Considering more people were still arriving, I didn't want a headache if more matebonds flared into life.

Beta Dawson knelt down beside the bench. "Feel like meeting a few people without getting trampled?"

"I'd love that."

He picked me up, and began circulating through the crowd while talking with them. As I expected, we eventually ended up by Alpha Kiel, who was visiting with two other Alphas who had come with their pack members.

"Your pack has grown, and I see you're building a new packhouse."

"Yes, we have more people now than the old packhouse will hold."

"It looks like it's primarily made from stone. That's a lot of work."

"It is, but rock doesn't rot, so it will last for generations."

"That's a wise plan. We had to replace a few walls this year due to ants. The storm also- Conrad? Is that you?"

My head swivelled to see Conrad nearby, staring at the Alpha in shock and regret. "Alpha Gavrel. I wasn't aware you were in this area."

The Alpha went towards him, looking relieved and confused. "I've been taking my son to every Lunar Festival we heard of and just happened to be visiting a pack to the south. I'm so glad to see you alive, but why didn't you return? You were our only Enforcer."

Conrad closed his eyes tightly, and I didn't need my senses to feel his pain. I amplified my abilities to help calm and comfort.

"I went feral," Conrad admitted, "and only came out of that state several months ago. I'm still recovering, and it wouldn't be wise for me to let my abilities come to strength yet."

"I didn't believe Norma when she said you ran past her with red eyes. Most of us thought you had drowned in the river." He paused. "A few months ago? But you've been gone for almost five years."

Conrad paled. "Five years?"

Alpha Gavrel bowed his head in acknowledgement and sympathy. "Yes."

The silence in our group was a stark contrast to the laughter and music from the main areas of the festival.

"Do you plan to return?" Alpha Gavrel quietly asked.

We all waited for Conrad to reply.

"Perhaps to visit and see the graves, but I won't stay. Every hallway and forest path there will remind me of what I lost."

"I can understand that." The Alpha rested his hand on Conrad's shoulder. "Take your time. I'm glad to see you're alive and well."

Conrad finally relaxed and put his hand on the Alpha's shoulder, mirroring his gesture. "Thanks."

They looked at each other in the fashion often seen with the closest of friends, where words weren't needed to express something. At the same time, they both lowered their arms and stepped back.

"Enjoy the Festival," Conrad told his former Alpha.

"I shall. It was good to see you again."

"It was good to see you as well."

The tension was gone, and Conrad continued going wherever he had been going previously.

I privately commented to Beta Dawson, "That went better than I could have hoped."

"I agree."

"Why don't we go find some flowers and put them near the guy's cups? That'll either confuse them or give them a hint or two to invite someone for a dance."

With a grin, he replied, "That sounds like a plan."

He turned and walked towards the garden, leaving the three Alphas alone once more.