Keena parked, then came around to open Brice’s door.
“Such a gentle wolf,” Brice teased.
“Don’t start.” Keena rolled her eyes. She held out her hand for Brice to take then helped her down from the large SUV. They walked into the festival together and people began to notice immediately.
Brice felt the curious and surprised looks. A few pack members smiled openly and waved. One older woman touched her husband’s arm and whispered something that made him grin.
A little boy ran toward Keena.
“Keena! Keena!” he shouted. Keena crouched just in time for him to throw his arms around her neck. She hugged him back before whispering something in his ear that made him giggle before he ran off.
“What did you say to him?” Brice asked. Keena came back and took her by the hand again. Keena’s eyes tracked him before he disappeared into the crowd.
“Hurry up and grow so I can retire,” Keena chuckled. “He wants to be an enforcer.”
Brice practically melted. She moved closer to Keena where their arms brushed each other. Beforeshe could say anything else, Rue approached them with a slow smile spreading across her face.
“Well, this is a sight I’ve been waiting to see,” Rue said.
“Alpha,” Keena sighed.
“What? I didn’t say anything.” Rue’s eyebrows shot up high on her forehead. She barked a hefty laugh at the way Keena looked at her.
“You just said plenty,” Keena muttered.
Rue opened her arms to Brice. “Welcome, Brice.”
Brice stepped into her hug and was surprised at how natural it felt. When Rue pulled back, she embraced Keena too. For a moment, the alpha hugged her tightly.
“I’ve missed this smile,” Rue said.
Keena’s eyes glistened. Brice looked away to give them a moment. Hell, she had to get herself together too before she started crying.
Rue stepped back and blinked. She coughed and cleared her throat. “It looks like the ancestors knew what they were talking about.”
“Huh?” Keena frowned slightly.
“The pines remain strong…” Rue’s gaze drifted toward the surrounding trees.
“Even through the harshest winters.” Keena’s voice was quiet whenshe finished.
“So do wolves who survive heartbreak,” Rue said.
Keena’s hand tightened around hers.
“Go enjoy the festival, you two,” Rue said with a smile.
For the next little while, Brice let herself sink into the magic of the night. Keena introduced her to pack members and each introduction came easier than the last.
“This is Brice,” Keena said again and again. Each time with a smile, and Brice felt herself falling harder and harder for her every time she saw it.
Eventually the music stopped, conversations quieted, and everyone began glancing up at the sky. Brice looked up, curious to what they were looking at. As she stared up in confusion, the clouds drifted slowly apart to reveal the moon.
It was full and luminous. It was larger than Brice had ever seen. It glowed silver-white high above the trees. Moonlight spilled across the clearing, turning the snow to diamonds. It looked like a true winter wonderland.
Three elders stepped forward.
Brice recognized two of them from the bookstore, but tonight they seemed different. Theyappeared older somehow. Wiser. Brice could feel that they were important to the pack.
