Daniel

It's time to say goodbye to the Blood Moon pack folks, which now included Lauren and Mike. Everyone was at the entrance hall of the pack house, including all of our friends, mates and Mike and Lauren's parents.

"Take care of her Casper, she means a lot to me!" - I said to him with a firm handshake.

"I will, I promise!" - Casper replied confidently, while shaking my hand.

Everyone was feeling the love around the room. Tom and Carl hugged Mike tight. Even Denise hugged Lauren and Mike. She had tears in her eyes, which is not something we see everyday. I approach Caleb.

"Please take good care of my friend, Caleb. And if you ever get sick of Casper, know that you and Mike will always have a place here in our pack!" - I told him with a mischievous grin.

"Stop trying to poach my best warrior! He'll never get sick of me!" - Casper snickered.

"Thanks Alpha, I will take care of him, I promise. He'll be safer over there than the Luna!" - Caleb joked, making Lauren frown.

"I love you and will miss you, brother. In 2 weeks, it's gonna be Felix and Daphne's birthday. It would mean a lot if you and Caleb could come!" - I said to Mike as I hug him tightly.

"Oh, definitely we'll come! I wouldn't miss it for anything!" - Mike replied with a cheerful smile.

We continue the rounds of hugs and goodbyes till I reach Lauren.

"I can't believe it, Lauren! I should have known you were born to be a Luna. And you'll be the most beautiful Luna of the entire State, apart from Felix." - I told her with a tearful smile.

"Just the State?" - She joked. All the people present laughed. - "Thank you, Dan. I know you're going to be a great Alpha. And I would've been proud to stand by your side!" - She looked at me with joy in her eyes.

"I appreciate you saying that! But now I have to bring my 'A' game, cause I'm sure you'll push Casper and his pack to new heights as their Luna!" - I stated as I watch her eyes shimmer.

"Oh, he has no idea the storm that's coming to his pack!" - She agreed with a devious smile.

"Our pack!" - Casper corrected her, holding her close. Their eyes met and locked on each other.

"You two are also invited to Felix and Daphne's birthday party. Everyone here are!" - I spoke looking at the guests.

"Thanks, Dan. I'll definitely come!" - Lauren replied, smiling.

We watched as they embarked in their cars, now all seats are taken since they're returning with more people than they came, which was the point of the visit. The Alpha couple was full of joy for their son and his mate. But I was just happy for my friends who deserved to be complete as Felix makes me feel.

Later that evening, we're eating dinner at the dining hall. Now, just the people that lived in the pack house, plus Felix and Daphne.

"I'm so happy for them. I mean, I'm gonna miss Mike and Lauren, but I'm so glad they found their mates." - I stated. There was a sad smile on my face.

"Me too, brother." - Nate replied. - "Mike really needed this. And so did Lauren."

"I am happy for them too. It's just too bad they had to leave us." - Dad chimed in.

"Tell me about it! I can barely believe I only got Daphne for a few more months til she goes to college!" - Felix said with a gloomy tone.

"It's not the same thing, dork! I'm not leaving forever. I'll come back... eventually." - Daphne said as she poked Felix in the arm.

"You'd better!" - Nate told her with an amusing smile.

"Don't worry about it! I'm not gonna leave my brother to the wolves!" - Daphne snickered.

"Speaking of which, there's something bothering me a little." - She continued with a frown.

"What, Daphne?" - Felix wondered as he ate his dinner.

"I remember when I saw you two saying that acceptance speech," - she pointed at me and Felix - "and now Lauren and Casper did the same. Is that something that only happen with Alphas?" - She asked, intrigued.

Everybody gasped. We ALL looked at Nate. Even he was startled.

"Of course, not! It happens to every mated couple! It signals they've accepted the bond. Did Nate not explain that to you? Have you guys not accepted each other?" - I asked her with a confuse tone.

"Not that I recall..." - She spoke and everybody but Felix gasped again.

"Nathaniel Underwood! Have you lost your manners? Did you forget your education?" - Mom snapped at him. Dad was also shocked.

"I'm sorry, I got carried away in the moment and forgot..." - He tried to explain but mom was not having it.

"You forgot?! Who forgets to get consent from your mate? Did you just take her without saying anything?" - Mom was fuming. - "I thought I raised you better than this!"

"Wait a minute! Of course I asked for her consent. You know me, I could never... It just took so long for her to accept completing the bond that when she said yes my mind..." - Nate explained with a sorrowed look.

"I know what was on your mind, cariño, that's not the point! You always do the name speech BEFORE you complete the bond! I've taught you that a long time ago! Did I not?" - She asked, the angrier I saw her since the council debacle.

"Yes you did, mom. Of course, you're right. I apologize." - He said to her and then looks at Daphne. - " I'm sorry, Daphne. I should've known better. I was raised better than that!" - He shot her an apologetic glance.

"I'm sorry too, Rosa. I didn't know it was this big of a deal, otherwise I'd never say something!" - Daphne tried to deescalate.

"It's not your fault, cariño." - She said as she caresses her hand. - "Todo es culpa de este chico antinatural!" - She shot daggers at Nate and left the dinning hall, dad left immediately after her.

"I am so sorry for everything..." - Nate was looking at me but I dismissed it.

"No, Nate, you have nothing to be sorry for. It's just a formality, she acted like you raped your mate!" - I said this and everyone stared at me, shocked.

"I'm sorry that you had to hear all this, Daphne. I really am. And I'm sorry for my mom!" - I told her with an apologetic tone.

"It's okay, if I'd known it was gonna blow up like this I'd never have mentioned it. I was just curious. That's all." - She spoke with a sad tone. At this point, everyone stopped eating.

"No, Daphne. There's nothing you can't say to me. There's nothing you can't ask. I want you to always be comfortable speaking whatever you want to me." - Nate stated, looking deep in her eyes. Then, he got up from his seat and pulled her up.

"I, Nathaniel Underwood, accept you, Daphne Elizabeth Ford, as my mate." - He said looking her lovingly in the eyes.

"I, Daphne Elizabeth Ford, accept you, Nathaniel Underwood, as my mate." - She replied, looking affectionately and a little guilty in his eyes.

They kissed and we all applauded them. Soon after, we left for our rooms.

After the events that happened yesterday, the breakfast today was going to be interesting. I and Felix arrived on time and everyone was at the table except for Nate and Daphne, who arrived shortly after us. We begin to eat.

"I apologize to everyone present last night. My behavior was unbecoming of a gentleman and a werewolf. But the situation has been remedied." - Nate stated, bowing his head.

"I'm glad, cariño, I'm sorry if I overreacted. I just never expected it from you. Maybe Dan, but not you!" - Mom told him in a somber tone.

"Thanks, mom!" - I snickered.

"Thank you mom, I appreciate it!" - Nate said, looking her tenderly in the eyes.

"Did you sleep well, Daph?" - Felix asked her, taking a bite of his bacon.

"I did, but it took a while for me to sleep. I was feeling..." - She replied but got interrupted.

"We know, cariño. But I want to be clear that none of that was your fault." - Mom stated, looking deep in her eyes.

"Yes, I got it. Nate also told me that. Thanks." - She spoke with a soft smile.

"At least it'll make for a good story to tell your children, if you ever have them." - I spoke with a naughty grin.

"Judging by the smell, I'm guessing you guys celebrated big last night." - I continued and everybody looked at me gobsmacked.

"Daniel!" - Nate's eyes widened as he yelled. Felix poked me at the side.

"I told you we had to take a shower before breakfast, Nate!" - Daphne argued, slightly uncomfortable.

"Keep in mind Daphne, always take a shower after. It's good form for any mated wolf or, you know, humans." - I told her with a smug smile.

"Thanks, Daniel. I didn't think anyone would be rude enough to comment on that!" - Nate glared daggers at me.

"Plus, it's easy for you to say, your bedroom is the only one with a shower!" - Daphne snickered.

"Oh, I miss that shower..." - Mom blurted.

"You're lucky I can't smell it like you, otherwise I'd make inappropriate comments too!" - She joked. Sort of.

"When I move back from college we're getting a place of our own!" - Daphne told Nate, his mouth was agape.

"Wait! You're going to leave me here? Can she do that?" - Felix asked me with a pleading look.

"Yes, she and Nate can live anywhere they want inside the compound. But we have to live here, I'm afraid." - I informed him. He was not happy about it.

"You do know that if you get your own place you'd have to cook for yourself. And Nate." - Felix told her with a devious grin.

"Or he can cook for us. It is the 21st century, you know!" - Daphne replied. I tried to hold back a laughter. Nate glared at me.

"Now, what do you have in mind for our birthdays since I heard you inviting Mike and Lauren?" - Felix wondered.

"Well, it's your 18th birthday. It's a big deal. It can't go unnoticed. We'll have a party here at the house." - I replied with a cheerful grin.

"Right and what about my parents? Are they supposed to be here in the mix of all the werewolves?" - Felix asked,  looking worriedly.

"Well, they are your parents. We can NOT invite them. We'll be on our best behavior. We are not animals, after all." - I said it and he giggles.

"OK, if you say so." - Felix agreed with a satisfied smile.

"Mom, can you plan it? I know you love these kinds of events!" - I asked her and she immediately lights up.

"Of course, cariño. If it's all right with the Luna." - Mom said, looking at Felix.

"Esta sí. Te agradezco mucho." - Felix told her looking happy.

[Yes, it. I thank you very much.]

"It's still strange every time I hear he speaking spanish. I feel like it's cultural appropriation!" - Daphne pondered. Felix grimaced.

"Don't worry, it isn't. Cultural appropriation would be if he asked for a quinceañera." - Mom joked. Everybody but Daphne laughed.

"It's a 15th year old birthday party traditional in Mexico." - Felix explained to her.

"I know what it is, dork! Don't need to man-splain it!" - She looked at him angrily. Felix showed her the tongue. Ugh, siblings, am I right?