Sean watched his dad storm off toward the stairs. He stripped off his dirty shirt and tossed it aside without a care. Which was so unlike his dad, but he was happy to at least see him moving around. After his dad stomped up the steps, Sean asked Mark and Nathan in a worried voice. "Is it wise to go looking for him? I want to save my mom... but we could barely escape him when it was the three of us. And you two are in no condition to be..." Sean couldn't bring himself to finish. His emotions were creeping back up and constricting his throat. Mark moved away from setting up the table, telling Nathan nicely. "Check the soup for me?" Nathan nodded, slipping into the kitchen without protest. Mark sat down beside Sean, beckoning him into his arms. Snuggling up against him, Sean sniffled and tried to absorb his warmth. Kissing his temple, Mark whispered to him lovingly. "We're just going to help the Pack look around. If we find anything. I'll call others in." Sean twisted his hand up in Mark's shirt, mumbling out. "But he's looking for us..." Mark's hand rubbed his back, soothingly telling him. "I know. Which means we might recognize clues he left for us to find. I'm not happy about it... but this is something I have to do. I'm... I'm the Alpha. It's my job to keep everyone safe."

Sean shook his head, but he knew it was true. Mark pressed his warm cheek to Sean's, causing Sean to calm down a little. Holding him as close as possible, Mark whispered to him in a deep soothing voice. "Besides. I think staying here with nothing to do but worry would only make things worse for you and your dad. Your dad wants to hunt. So, it's better that he hunts with us and not on his own." Sean reluctantly nodded. He couldn't help wondering if Nathan had said what he did, just to ignite his dad with that little burst of hope. If he hadn't done that, he didn't know if his dad would have snapped out of the shadows that he'd been sinking into. Nathan brought a pot over to the table then, telling them casually. "Come and eat. You'll need your strength. We'll be walking a lot when the rain lets up." Mark helped Sean up, keeping him close as he guided him to a seat. Even as Sean sat down, Mark stayed standing behind him. His hand draped down over Sean's shoulder to stroke his chest. It was such a little thing, but it really helped him feel safe and calm. Nathan poured him a bowl of soup, sliding it over to him for him to enjoy. He then poured another and handed it off to Sean's dad as he entered the kitchen in fresh clothes.

His dad looked like he was going to decline the food, but Nathan managed to look at him with enough persistence that he took it. Going to the back door, his dad leaned on it to watch the rain pour as he ate. Nathan gave Sean a small smile, then filled bowls for Mark and himself. They ate in silence, listening only to the pattering of rain outside. Sean hated the silence, but there was nothing he could do to fix it. A soft ding came from everyone's phones, prompting them to look. The first message was the alert for the Pack to be on the lookout for Zedekiah. Followed by a picture of Isabelle and his mom. Sean glanced at his dad who lingered on the message, before reluctantly looking back out the door. The next message that came through was just for Mark and Sean. Nathan perked up with interest, prompting Mark to tell them all softly. "It's from the Elders... They want to know if we should bump up the celebration or hold off." Nathan huffed a darkly in response. "Ya... cause the mood has been set perfectly. What the fuck are they thinking?" Sean was speechless. Numb to the news of it. From the back door, his dad grimly told them without looking at them. "There is logic behind it. Mark isn't officially the lead Alpha. And right now... They Pack needs to know who they should be listening too. The Elders are trying to avoid a panic."

Nathan shrugged, retorting a little icily. "It's better that way. Then Zedekiah can't focus on who is running the Pack. He'll be forced to choose between Mark, or his dad and Mark's dad has kicked his ass before." The second he said it, Nathan winced and grumbled out after. "He'll target Mark anyway... Shit." Sean reached up to grab Mark's wrist tightly. Mark stayed calm though, rubbing Sean's chest as he told them. "It comes down to the Pack. What would be better for them?" Nathan didn't answer, but Sean's dad piped up as he finally locked eyes with Mark. "The Pack needs an Alpha and Luna that they can rally behind. By now, everyone knows that the Pack's strongest Beta is missing... That Sean's Mother is missing. They'll start thinking that they lost the Luna they were so excited for..." Nathan nodded solemnly, before slipping in confidently. "You could do it as an act of defiance. Zedekiah thinks he's crippled you. Has left this Pack with just an old wolf that he thinks he can handle... after killing you. He's already down his Beta... but maybe you can spit in his one good eye." Sean narrowed his eyes on Nathan, not understanding in his rattled state of mind.

Nathan got to his feet, excitedly telling Mark. "If Zedekiah isn't here alone... Maybe we can scare him off for a bit by scaring the City Wolves that he brought with him. He'll probably tell them the Pack is weak. Leaderless because of his fight with you! But if they see YOU still standing and unifying the Pack to hunt them down. The City Wolves will back down out of fear of being caught and suffering your wraith and that of..." Nathan gestured to Sean but said nothing more. Sean's dad shifted uncomfortably, saying uneasily. "But if you scare them off and they have Lauren..." Nathan turned to tell him gently. "That's just it. The City Wolves are not united. If they learn that Lauren could bring the wraith of the Luna and the Alpha... They'll be terrified to touch her. They'll be eager to point fingers to keep themselves from being blamed." Sean shrugged, mumbling out. "But you said they've practiced this kind of thing. What would stop them from killing her to... to hurt me?" Nathan kneeled, saying comfortingly. "Sean. They crippled Packs by attacking the Luna's kid first. To shut the Luna down emotionally and rattle the Alpha. Lauren is not your Puppy. She is your mother. You would mourn her... but if they did kill her... What would you do to the Wolves responsible for it?"

Sean felt his fear and pain twist into anger at just the thought of it before it faded. He didn't have enough of that fire to keep it burning, but it was there. It was a rainstorm waiting to build into a hurricane. Nathan saw it in his eyes, telling him in a firm tone. "Exactly. It would give Zedekiah some push back by the City Wolves." Sean lifted his gaze to look at his dad. His dad showed no emotion, but he seemed to be considering the implications of it. Mark squeezed Sean's shoulder and Sean thought about Isabelle and her parents. How powerless they must feel right now. Left to wait and worry. Unlike himself. He had this chance to do something that could help to keep others from feeling what he was feeling. Squeezing Mark's wrist, he got to his feet and told Mark over his shoulder. "Mark...? What do you think?" Mark shrugged innocently, telling him docilly. "It's a risk. I'm not going to force you to do anything. It's never gotten me anywhere before." Sean smirked just a little, then turned to face him before asking as openly as he could. "Mark... Tell me what you think. Please." Mark inhaled deeply, shuffling his feet a bit before replying without looking at him. "I think that it might be worth the risk. If it's just Zedekiah on his own... I think we as a Pack could take him. And if it doesn't work... Then at least we go to war as a united front."

Sean nodded to himself, then told the others. "Then let's do it." Sean started to walk around Mark, but Mark gently got ahold of his arm, looking at him now with concerned eyes when he asked him. "Sean... Are you up to it? We don't have to do it." Sean took a shaky breath but placed a hand on Mark's shoulder to tell him confidently. "I won't be at my best mentally... but I'm doing this for the Pack. Nathan's right. I can't shut down. The Pack needs us. Isabelle and my mom need us. We look out for our own. Let's make it official and end this." Mark put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in response. Sean's dad moved past them, telling them gruffly. "I'll drive. Mark. A word?" Mark stroked Sean's arm, then headed out after his father. Sean started to tail them, but Nathan stopped him, pulling him close. Nathan waited until the front door closed, before whispering to him cautiously. "Sean, you need to tell him that you're pregnant." Sean shook his head, answering seriously. "Not right now." Nathan growled a little, before retorting just as seriously. "Yes, now. Sean, this stress isn't good for you or your puppy." Sean blinked, leaning closer to Nathan's face to tell him only a little playfully. "Then stop stressing me out."

Nathan narrowed his eyes on him without a trace of humor. Which prompted Sean to tell him in a cool tone. "Nathan. I'm ok. I can't worry about myself when Tia is at home... brokenhearted over losing her puppy. She'll never have another... if I lose mine... I'm young. I can try again. I'm the Luna... It's my job to do all that I can. No matter what it costs me." Nathan shook his head, telling him firmly. "I won't let it come to that. And Mark would feel the same. So, take care of yourself. Speaking on behalf of the fathers... You shouldn't count us out. You may carry it... but it's part of US too. We may not carry it physically but speaking from experience... we do mentally. It will hurt me just as badly to lose them." Sean hadn't thought about that but told Nathan warmly. "I'll be careful." Nathan leaned in to kiss his cheek briefly, before encouraging him out the door. Sean walked through the pouring rain to the car, slipping inside to hear Mark talking with the Elders on his phone about the ceremony. The second they were in; his dad pulled out of the driveway and drove off. Sean didn't know where he was going and only had a vague idea on who would be there.

He expected to be taken to a church or to a city hall. Instead, his dad pulled up to a gorgeous building that looked like a huge barn, but the large doors were being pushed open on either end to reveal a clean open area with bright decorated tables. It was rustic and beautiful. His dad pointed to Mark and Nathan, yelling out over the rain. "Go help them set up and Mark get changed!" Sean noticed all the patrolmen stationed around and on their guard to everything around the area. Sean started to go after Mark, until his dad grabbed his arms, chuckling out softly. "Not you, honey. Come with me." Sean gestured toward the Elders in the barn, but his dad told him casually as he dragged him away. "Not yet. You have to change." Pulling him into a little shed set up by the wood line, a few patrolmen moved closer to keep an lookout. Sean spit rainwater from his mouth, turning to face his dad. His dad gestured to the outfit and told him coolly. "I would have preferred to see your union with Mark be... under different circumstances." Sean hugged his dad and his dad hugged him back before telling him as he cleared his throat. "Hurry. Let's do this before Zedekiah tries to crash it."

Sean nodded, stepping back to quickly undress. Just as he got his shirt off, his dad gasped softly. Sean paused, uttering out in shock. "What?" His dad reached out to touch his stomach, causing Sean to inhale nervously. Glancing down, he noticed it too. His lean stomach was a bit more bloated out now. It was subtle enough that Mark might think he'd gained a pound or two... but it was there. His dad locked eyes with him, whispering out. "You're starting to fill out." Sean touched his stomach with him, mumbling out nervously. "Let's just hope that Mark doesn't notice." His dad chuckled lightly, helping him undress a bit faster as he said bluntly. "Just keep his eyes above your waist." Sean blushed a light shade of pink, asking a little playfully. "And if he touches me there?" His dad thought about it, then told him with a smirk. "Tell him it's his food. But say it in a cute way... Don't let him think you hate him for it. I made that mistake with your mother... she didn't cook for me again for months." Sean chuckled, then pulled on the silvery satin robe. The robe was light weight with sheer lacy white bell sleeves and a lacy white train.

The lacey train started just above his knees and stretched down to the floor, showing off just how long and slender his legs were. His dad tied the baby blue satin robe tie into a fancy bow at his lower back, then adjust it to sit on him well enough that he didn't flash anyone early. His dad then attached a set of silver bells around his ankles and finally removed a crown of white, pink, and blue roses to set on his wet hair. Giving him a little smile, his dad told him warmly. "You look beautiful." Sean hugged his dad again, letting his dad whisper to him as he rubbed his back. "I know it will be hard... but try to enjoy yourself. No matter what happens. You and Mark are the future of this Pack. She's proud of you and she'd want you to hit Zedekiah anywhere that it hurts." Sean nodded, then pulled away from him. Straightening himself up, he told his dad with growing confidence. "I'm ready." His dad smiled, bowing his head to him as he said softly. "I know you are, my Luna. I'm right behind you." His dad gave his hands a gentle squeeze, before releasing him to open the door. Stepping out into the air, Sean inhaled as his bare feet sank into the cold wet grass.

Behind him, his dad informed him softly. "Head to the lodge. You'll know what to do when you get there." Sean nodded, straightening himself up to his full height as he walked slowly through the rain toward the lodge. As cold as the rain was and how it soaked him in such a short time, he embraced it. The rain felt pure and cleansed him. He felt ready to step into his role as Luna. Like the spring flowers, he would grow stronger from this. The bells on his ankles chimed so softly as he walked, drawing everyone's attention as he reached the lodge doors. Sean stood tall, trying not to think of how he'd get through mating in front of the Elders. However, when he saw Mark. All the tension left his body and the only thing he wanted to do was run to him. Mark was wearing a soft sleek brown fur robe with a necklace that had a variety of bone beads in the shapes of claws and teeth. Mark reached his hand out for him with the most heartwarming smile that brought tears to Sean's eyes. He'd told himself to be strong, but with just one look... Mark made him feel like it was ok not to be. Walking toward him, Sean slid his fingers over Mark's. The moment Mark could take his hand, he pulled him up against himself. Feeling Mark's warmth made him realize how cold and wet he was, causing him to shiver in his arms.

Burying his face in the warmth of Mark's bare chest, he heard one of the Elders ask Mark in a clear voice. "Mark Fischbach, is it your desire to be mated body and soul to Sean McLoughlin?" Mark's arms rubbed Sean's back, when he answered in a proud voice. "It is." Sean felt so overwhelmed to hear those words that he kissed Mark's chest briefly, before the Elder asked him. "Sean McLoughlin, is it your desire to be mated body and soul to Mark Fischbach?" Leaning back a bit to look up into Mark's eyes, he answered wholeheartedly. "It is." The Elders all rose from their seats that were positioned in a crescent circle around them, raising their red wineglasses as the oldest of the Elders said aloud. "Then we ask that Noctiluna and Endymion bless your union and guide us into the new generation." The Elders all cheered to their health softly, then took a drink. While Mark cupped Sean's face lovingly in his hand before bringing his lips to his in a slow passionate kiss. Sean felt a little sad when Mark pulled from the kiss, but it was replaced by sudden fear as the Elders pushed a small bed toward them. Nathan and Sean's dad moved to the doors to close them, stepping out into the rain with the rest of the patrolmen. A few Elders flicked on some star string lights that were wrapped around the pillars to keep them from being in complete darkness... but it just made Sean more anxious to be doing this. To Be Continued...