"Welcome to the Twilight Pack." I announce to the group of 247 wolves that were just inducted into our pack. A smile is plastered on my face seeing as our pack is growing immensely, and all these wolves came willingly. We decided since both Thomas' and Kermit's land now belonged to us that they could go back to their previous homes if they so choose. Or they could stay here, it was really whatever they wanted. For the next 3 months Zay and Vanessa are going to Thomas' land and setting things straight there – like marking off our boundaries and implementing our customs and expectations and setting a patrol schedule – while Farkle and Smackle are going to Kermit's land. Josh and I will travel to their sectors once a week to ensure everything is going well.

This will definitely be difficult for our pack seeing as we are gaining so much land and inducting so many wolves. But, once we pull out Zay and Farkle they will be replaced with appointed Delta's so there will still be a head wolf when we aren't there. "I understand that we are welcoming a lot of new wolves to this pack and there are going to be a lot of questions so please do not hesitate to come to me and ask questions. If you are going back to your homes in Crescent Moon's previous land, you will be leaving tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. and be following Gamma Farkle. Thomas' old land you'll be leaving at 11 a.m. and be following Gamma Zay."

Josh grips my hand a little tighter, "The gamma's will be in charge when I am not there and you will respect them." They nod their head in understanding, "I know that our packs have had some controversy, but nothing I say or do can change the past. We can only move forward and make this pack stronger. Also, while we have everyone together I would like to ask Beta Lucas and his mate Riley to the front of the stage please."

Riley's cheeks flush a light pink, she's never liked to be the center of attention. I can see her grip tighten on Lucas' hand. "Yes we have lost some members of our pack. However, in the midst of death there is life. Beta Lucas and Riley are going to be welcoming a pup within the next four months." Everyone breaks out in cheers and applause causing Riley's hair to curtain around her face. Lucas has a tight lipped smile on his face, even though I can tell he just wants to beam with pride. And seconds later, he's fist pumping the air and shouting along with them. I start to laugh when he does so, Josh's arm snakes around my shoulder before I feel his lips press against my temple.

My mate gestures for Lucas to take over, "Evening Twilight Pack." They respond with a 'good evening'. "As Alpha has said we are expecting a pup, a little princess will be in our arms within 4 months. My mate and I have discussed names and decided to name her after the woman who has constantly defended our pack with her life." All eyes shift to me, well this is awkward. I fight the urge to drop my head, I'm still struggling with the scars on my face. It's getting easier but I still slightly grimace when I look in the mirror. "The thought process leading up to this decision was pretty simple. Our princess will be named Maya." A few gasps are heard, some have their brows furrowed and others are smiling widely. "For those who are just now joining the pack, you have no idea how much Luna Maya has sacrificed herself for this pack. Even whenever we were five she had defended me the moment I was being bullied." I giggled lightly and feel Josh's hand tighten on my shoulder. "We hope our princess becomes half the woman that you are Luna Maya."

Stepping out of Josh's embrace, I saunter towards my best friend and envelope her in another hug. I can't wait to hold baby Maya in my arms. That's so weird to call another person Maya, it isn't a super common name. Before I pull away again our pack begins to cheer, obviously they are loving the idea of naming the baby Maya. My heart swells with that notion, that they like me enough to cheer about it.

"Alright pack members, let's celebrate tonight! Let us celebrate the new member of our pack." Josh gestures towards Riley's growing belly. "Let us celebrate the new pack members that were inducted this evening, and celebrate the health of our Luna as well as the end of this war! There's food, music and dancing, enjoy!" I make a move to step off the stage when an arm wrapping around my waist has me colliding into a strong chest, "Where do you think you're going, mate?"

His husky voice sends shivers down my spine. "Nowhere without you, apparently." I quip and spin around into his embrace. Josh brushes his nose against mine before gently kissing it. "Would you care to dance?" He nods vehemently and gestures for the DJ to start the music. Considering we just doubled our pack size, and we just won a war we thought it was cause for celebration.

They can imitate you but they can't duplicate you.
Cause you got something special, that makes me wanna taste you.
I want it all day long, I'm addicted like it's wrong.
I want it all day long, I'm addicted like it's wrong.

So news, Josh can't dance. Not in the freaking slightest. But it is adorable to see him try. "Quit laughing." He growls, but I can see the smile quirking on his lips. "Show me then, show me how to dance baby girl."

I nod and peck his lips, "I don't care you can't dance."

He shrugs and drops his head, "I just – you know I didn't kiss anyone before you. But, I never even went on a date, so you're the first woman I've danced with."

I'm pretty sure I've fallen even more in love with him. Clutching his face, I crash my lips onto his. "I love you."

"I love you too."

I place his hands on my hips and my arms snake around his neck, as I sway from side to side. Our bodies brush together as I do so. His orbs considerably darken now that his hands are on my bare skin. I'm wearing a long sleeved black crop top and a high waisted black pencil skirt that ends mid-calf. "Like this." I whisper and spin around so my back is against his chest. "Basically I make you look good." He hums in agreement as we continue to dance.

This is really, really nice. I can't even remember the last time I felt so carefree, and now that I think about it I don't think I've ever been this relaxed, like ever. I've always protected others, fended for myself or you know worried about surviving and a war. So being able to just be here and dance with my mate it's truly incredible. When I brush against something slightly hard, I hold back my giggle and flip around to face my mate. Fortunately, the song ends and switches to a slower one. What the heck the other song just started? Shrugging it off I try and show him how to slow dance, of course my feet were stepped on several times but he was already so nervous and embarrassed that I didn't bring it up, I just gave him a reassuring smile.

As we danced – terribly, I might add – I heard some pack members talking. My intention was to ignore it, but when I heard my name I decided to be nosey. "How'd Luna Maya get all those scars?" I'm assuming that's a new pack member, considering all of the original pack knows the story.

A woman I've seen several times, named Leila glances at me than averts her gaze back to the pack member. "Alpha Kermit – her father – captured her when she was defending the pack and tortured her for 46 days."

The woman gasps and cups her mouth, "Her father?" Leila nods in affirmation, if only they knew that piece of shit wasn't my father. Thank Goddess for that. I hated being related to that piece of crap. "So she's really as great as the Beta couple made her out to be?"

I feel a smile creep onto my face while burying it into Josh's neck. I can feel Josh's heart beat race as I move closer. "That and more. She chased down three rogues to save a pup. Took lashes from the Sepiente Wolves for Alpha and my mate told me that during the war to prevent loss of life she challenged Kermit and won. Alpha and Luna are great leaders, they're just really strict right now for understandable reasons –

After that I quit listening in on the conversation. "Told you that they loved you."

I scoff and lean out of his neck, "First how did you know I was eavesdropping? Second, that's what you have to say after someone just complimented on how amazing your mate is? 'I told you so'." I can't help but giggle at his childish nature. A side of him I haven't seen in quite a while.

"You left your wall down and when I felt a sense of love and pride coursing through our bond I wanted to know what the fuss was about. And, yes." Fair enough.

The rest of the evening was fairly simple. I ate as much as my stomach would allow, I'm still regaining my appetite but I'm hoping I'll be able to eat an entire steak soon. Fingers crossed. I had a few glasses of wine, and one for Riley since she was preggers and couldn't have any. Josh didn't drink, he wanted to stay sober so he could take care of me just in case I did get drunk. We introduced ourselves personally to several different groups of new pack members and I feel like that went over well. Some were a little more apprehensive than others but I felt their wolves trusting us and that's a start. "Maya."

Taking a sip of wine, I wink playfully at Vanessa. "Evening Vanessa, are you enjoying yourself?"

"I wish you had something a little stronger tequila, but who am I to complain?" She questions while drinking herself.

I can't help but chuckle, "I do apologize. Next time I'll be sure to add Jack Daniels to the drink list."

Vanessa nods in affirmation that she heard me. We sit in silence for a few moments, Josh and the Gamma's are speaking about what is to be expected while they are away and in charge. It's weird not having Alpha Allen and Amy here, now that Josh was in charge and we were back on good terms they went for a much needed vacation. Or so Allen says. "So who would have thought we would have ended up here? A couple of rogues leading a pack." Chuckling at that notion I take another sip. It truly is incredible, neither one of us wanted to be in a pack, I figured I would lead Crescent Moon one day but I never thought I would be mated to an Alpha let alone leading 3 packs combined together.

"Nope. It's unbelievable, especially you. I always knew in the back of my mind I would challenge Kermit but you despised the idea of packs. What made you change your mind?"

Her eyes flash to her mate before glancing down at the grass. She – like me – had taken off her heels to be closer to nature. Or it could just be from the pain of wearing heels, mine was a little bit of both. "Your father destroyed my pack." I don't even bother to correct her, I killed him so that should be sign enough that I couldn't stand him. "Not that my pack was any better. Everyone stabbed others in the back, the Alpha and Luna were nice just not leaders. It was like they never came into their own. So we were easy to take over, everyone ran for the hills." She chuckles humorlessly and takes another sip before continuing, "I didn't want that. I didn't want to have to watch my back when I was running to the pack house for food or going to a friend's house. So when my family split and left me behind, I decided not to get involved in a pack. I'd focus on me, myself and I and get somewhere that way. Then freaking Zay came into my life." Her eyes rolled from utter annoyance, but I can still see the love in her eyes glistening like a lighthouse in the dark. "I was pretty adamant about not becoming involved in the pack, as a Gamma no less." She shook her head and shifted her eyes back to her mate, her hardened gaze flickered into familiarity and adoration. "But whenever my home, AKA cave got overran by rogues and I didn't have anywhere to go, Zay offered me a place to stay. In his room, obviously I forced him to sleep on the floor for a good while. He didn't mind he smiled widely and would peck my forehead goodnight. In the morning I would wake up and we'd be holding hands."

Awe. "Eventually I started seeing how things ran around here. It was what I thought a pack should be like and to see it first hand, in fruition well that hit me pretty hard. I wanted to be a part of this pack, it was a family and I wanted that."

"You wanted Zay." I whisper, she groans and drops her head before lightly nodding in affirmation to what I've said. "Don't be ashamed. Obviously my former self would hate who I have become, but I love this." My orbs shift around to the laughing faces and dancing bodies enjoying themselves. "I love being a part of a pack that loves you as their own the moment you step in. I love this and I love my mate. If I walked into that high school on the first day and knew what was going to happen, I would do it all over again. I would do it all over again to experience this amount of happiness. Wouldn't you?"

I hear her heave a sigh, she lifts her glass and we clink them together. "To happiness."

"To happiness." I repeat and take a sip, "go take your mate away from mine." I all but order, "this is supposed to be a celebration not a meeting." Without hesitation – like most wolves would when approaching their Alpha – she saunters towards the group and quite literally pulls Zay away while laughing.

"Come here to me." Josh growls playfully, his finger beckoning me over as he says that. I do as he asks and wrap myself around him. "I've had enough parties, enough crowds but not enough of you. Can we go?"

I chuckle and peck his lips, "Is Alpha asking permission?"

Seconds later I'm held in Josh's arms and running up the stairs in the pack house towards our room. And that's where we stayed for the rest of the night. The music drowning out my pleasure filled sounds, my nails scratching down his back and our mouths vicariously moving together.

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

6 weeks later.

Things are so calm here, like super calm and I'm not sure what to make of it. Allen and Amy came back last week and informed me that this is how a pack is supposed to run. That things aren't always incredibly hectic so, Amber and I were on edge after week 3 of no drama, we were just waiting for something bad to happen. I mean can you blame me? I was so used to constantly fighting for my life that I was unaware that there was a whole other side to living.

Farkle and Zay have had a surprisingly easy transition. In fact, they've already appointed and are training the Delta's that will be in charge once they leave. It's pretty impressive that everyone is on the same page. As far as we know, the new members are loving our leadership and we've been able to lighten up on our strong demeanor on our last visit which seemed to put everyone at ease. Josh is briefly considering bringing them home once they feel like their Delta's can handle the shift in leadership. Our pack is just too large now to have only Josh in charge. There's too much territory and too many places for him to be all at once. Of course the first thing that they are adding to the other pack houses is a safe room, based solely on the one we have downstairs.

Kris' mate shifted, I learned her name was Kiara. I was lucky to have been there for it, when she laid eyes on Kris, I swear my heart swelled. She shifted and leaped into his arms while crying. It was beautiful, she said over and over again that she prayed to the Moon Goddess it would be him, that Kris would be her mate. Kiara crying plus her words were enough to make Kris cry. I would be overjoyed if someone prayed to have me as their mate. She's 15 and he's 19 so there's a huge age gap, but her parents approve so he is going to court her and not complete the mating process until she's of age… that is one strong wolf. He's already resisted the mating bond for years, and now can't complete the mating process for another 3. Like damn, that's commitment.

Speaking of parents, Naomi has requested a pack transfer. I instantly accepted it and she arrived the day after Kris and Kiara became official mates. Kiara was already marked when she arrived, so at least half of the mating process is done. Naomi loved her the minute she saw her and pretty sure they're already talking about pups. I'm like 'girl you're 15. I know you're happy but chill', okay I didn't actually say that but I'm thinking it. I have to say that their mate meeting was cuter than Riley and Lucas'. Don't tell her I said that because she's extremely moody.

Also don't tell her I said that. She was pretty furious at the fact that she couldn't paint Maya's room. So she enlisted me to take charge and boss Lucas around as we did so. The entire room is a light pink and one wall has dark pink horizontal stripes running through it. It is super adorable, and because Riley is a proactive person she already has everything necessary for a baby. I was told to do a diaper shower instead of a baby shower. She's been very bossy, Amber doesn't like it that much but I keep my mouth closed because it's just the hormones and I'll have a baby to hold in roughly 2 months. I just have to keep the goal in mind. But, because Riley has been so cranky and bossy I've kept Josh as far away from her as possible.

He wouldn't hurt her, obviously not but I don't want him even slightly raising his voice to her which he unknowingly does.

What about me? Well, I'm currently sauntering into Dr. Packwood's office. Why? Because whenever I pulled out pickles and Oreo's, ate them and threw up the following morning I knew something was off. I think you can catch my drift. So as I was lying on the bathroom floor, I got to thinking. I haven't taken my pills since days before Alpha William's funeral. "Morning Luna."

"Good Morning, Dr. Packwood. How are you?"

"Lovely. Hopefully, we'll be welcoming our next Alpha if your thoughts are true." Oh they are, I don't say that out loud. Call it mother's intuition, but I know I am. But before I tell Josh and he has a heart attack from excitement. I need proof. "Go ahead and lie down. I'll make this quick so you can get back to Alpha Josh. Him not knowing where you're at, is probably causing some controversy." Yes, Josh is still being incredibly over protective. Not only does he not know where I am right now, but I've also closed off my link so he'll be pretty upset. I may have told him I was going to get us food, I think when I come back 30 minutes later without food, he'll know I'm lying.

The cold goo placed on my belly pulls me out of my thoughts and has me slightly shivering. "Sorry Luna, just relax." When I watch the screen, I catch a wide grin spread across his lips. I think my assumption was correct, "It is still a little early to tell the sex of the baby Luna. But you are having a pup." A few buttons later and the heartbeat is echoing throughout the room. My eyes instantly pool with tears, my orbs fall on the little black and white peanut and I can't help but giggle. "Congratulations, Luna Maya. You are pregnant."

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

Let me know what you think lovelies.

MAYA'S PREGNANT!

WOOHOO!
A fluffy and lighthearted chapter is definitely needed after the drama filled chapters.