The relationship between the pack and their live-in guests had become incredibly strained in the days after the announcement was made by the alpha. The orders were for everyone to be as wary as possible, no leaving the pack house alone and no submissives to leave without their dominants. This PSA unfortunately brought a lot of suspicion onto the vampires already living under the same roof as the wolves, who now needed to be concerned at the sight or smell of the walking undead.

The vampires’ interest in the events only made things worse, despite assurances that they were looking into the problem with the intentions of helping the pack, there were still those that felt uncomfortable with the idea of having vampires anywhere near them, let alone in their house, walking their halls, seeing every vulnerability the pack had, digging into their weak spots… Possibly tracking them for the same coven that were stalking them. That was the thing with werewolves - they’re the worst gossips.

~

The Scarlett Moon kitchen was quiet except for the clinking of metal cutlery as Sam arranged them into the correct slots in the drawer. He was enjoying the quiet as he had found the vampire news had caused many to panic and feel the need to be constantly moving. The alpha, beta and Markus had all been coming round checking that every member of the pack was accounted for and Sam was tired of them bothering him. They could never just peek their head in and say ‘check’, they had to interrogate him: had he seen anything, had he been outside, had he finished folding the laundry? No, no and yes, repeated over and over.

A different head popped round the doorway as he put the last knife away though, one he was more than happy to answer questions to. Cassie grinned from ear to eat and hopped down the two steps into the room with her hands behind her back.

“What’re you hiding?” Sam asked with a knowing smile, she was always up to something. Why was he friends with such a troublemaker?

Instead of answering, Cassie pulled an envelope out from behind her back and held it out to Sam with both hands. He took it from her slowly. It had his name on the front, in intricate gold script. He turned it over carefully and pulled up the flap, doing his best not rip the paper, before pulling out the A5 card inside. His official invitation to Cassie and Karliah’s bonding ceremony. It was decorated with delicate lace and adorned with more gold letting stating:

‘With the greatest of joy, you are invited to celebrate the bonding ceremony of Karliah Stone and Cassie Linette.’ Followed by the date (a few weeks away), time (basically all day), location of the ceremony and the location of the after party. The ceremony itself would be held in a traditional shrine under the supervision of a priestess with a night of revelry to follow at Karliah’s pack house. A smaller piece of card was tucked behind with menu options printed on for the five course meal to be served the evening of.

“It’s beautiful, Cass!”

“Thanks, Sammy.” She smiled nervously and he wondered if perhaps she was questioning her font choice. “There’s something I need to ask you as well…” She took the invitation, placed it on the table and clasped his hands in her own. Sam fought the urge to chew his lip, this was serious. He knew she wouldn’t be able to stay with him forever, now she was going to try and make him feel better, let him down easily as she explained all the reasons why she had to move in with Karliah permanently and full-time. “Samuel Hall, my dearest friend and closest confidante,” She began. Sam’s brows pulled together, this was not how we was expecting her to lead off. “would you do me the honour of being my witness?” Sam’s mouth popped open and his brain short-circuited. He considered Cassie his most precious friend, but he hadn’t thought for a moment she would ask this of him. He didn’t know of any omega who had ever been asked to be a witness at a bonding ceremony.

If you are of the werewolf species, you can skip the next couple of lines but for those of you reading who are vampire, fae or maybe even human (I know, who believes in humans these days?) to put being a witness into perspective - it’s a the equivalent of being asked to be someone’s best man or woman, their bridesmaid, their usher, their ring-bearer and the guardian who walks them up the aisle all in one. As wolves don’t have what humans call a ‘bridal party’ or ‘groom’s men’ and are not ‘walked’ up the aisle by a parent or guardian (they walk alone, to symbolise their new-found independence), the witnesses are the only people outside of the couple that have any role in the ceremony. So, essentially, both halves of the happy pair have to choose their most trusted and important friend/family member/ice-cream man for this role as they only get one person each. Each person’s witness must also take a vow and is then tied to the couple for the rest of their lives. Now that that’s cleared up for you non-mongrels, on with our heart-warming moment!

“I…” Sam’s eyes began to sting. “I am so honoured.” The tears welled up, blurring his vision.

“Is that a yes?”

“Of course it’s a yes!” He exclaimed, throwing his arms around her and hiding the streaming tears in her shoulder. Cassie rocked them from side to side.

“Thank you! I can’t do it without you!” She squealed. Her own eyes were misty when she pulled back and she sniffed, scrunching up her nose cutely.

“Who is Karliah’s witness?”

“She’s kind of torn at the moment, she feels like she should ask Damien because he’s her beta but she already feels so close to Alexa even though she hasn’t been in her pack that long… If Tank was a few years older she would obviously pick him…” She sighed. “I think she is getting quite frustrated with the planning process if I’m being honest… so many little finnicky details that neither of us are interested in but she finds it so much harder to hide her lack of enthusiasm.”

“I’m sure she is just under a lot of pressure…” Sam suggested. Cassie smiled sadly and reached out for another hug, he squeezed her tight with all his might.

“Thanks, Sammy.”

~

Markus’ father was maybe 65% of the way through one of his signature lectures on the importance of pack bonds and relationships when footsteps thundered up the hallway and a messy scrabble of a knock sounded on the door. His father broke off mid sentence to turn and peer at the door as though he had never noticed it before.

“Come in.” He said. Two border patrol guards (one, Markus realised rather late, was his friend Ash) burst in and began to yell at the same time:

“We got one-”

“In the forest earlier-”

“Only minor injuries-”

“ENOUGH!” Markus’ father stood, slamming his fists on his desk. “One at a time - which of you has been on the patrol guard longer?” The woman raised her hand.

“That would be me, sir.”

“Your name?”

“Jen Dowd, Sir.”

“Go ahead, Jen.”

“One of the patrol leaders spotted a vampire darting around the edge of the forest, taking photos of something.” Markus’ chest suddenly clenched. Sam… Charles had warned him. “So he put out a message to everyone to avoid him until we knew if he was one of the ambassadors, he didn’t look like one but we didn’t want to go jumping the gun…” His heart hammered against his chest as he willed the guard to hurry her story along, he needed to know the rogue vampire hadn’t approached Sam again. “But all the reps were present and accounted for inside the house so we had a team of guards approach from each side, he was still creeping around with his phone out-”

“Where was he pointing it?” Markus blurted.

“Markus, be quiet.” His father scolded, waving him away.

“We need to know what he was taking photos of.” Markus objected.

“Markus, I’m serious, let the woman finish her report.”

“Well, sir, you can see the photos he took for yourself - we took him live!” The guard announced excitedly, bobbing on the spot in an obvious attempt to hold herself back from jumping for joy. Markus’ father’s face broke out into a grin so wide he thought the old man might split his face.

“Where is he now?”

“The bullet-proof glass cell two floors down.”

“Good, but you have guards watching too?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Fantastic.” The older alpha growled. “Let’s go see what this blood sucker has to say.”