"It's a blessing and a curse that we gather here — like many before us. Thanksgiving, an American holiday we added to the respects to the Moon Goddess," Anthony began, and no one bothered to stop him. Alpha Joey sat yo straight, eyes widening at his mother's birth pack's traditions.

"Denice, this has to be a joke," he whispered, tapping his child's nose. "They aren't sacrificing this young pup."

Denice shrugged her shoulders, noticing Anthony gaze on her. She coughed, mustering up a lie, "I did see that little girl crying and saying goodbye to her parents."

He turned to Layla, who was sitting beside him due to the sitting arrangements. "Can't your mate do something about this?" He asked, and everyone started to notice the worrisome Alpha.

"Is something the matter, Alpha Joey?"

With his uncle asking the question, Anthony took a pause. Alpha Joey narrowed his eyes, nodding his head. "You are not sacrificing this pup for the Moon Goddess, Uncle," he growled.

"Are you stopping our upholding of our traditions," the Luna of the Healing asked, "Joey?" The woman smiled softly, "I understand these come different from your pack, but blood is spilt for the Moon Goddess everyday."

"Not like this," he voiced back.

Marley suddenly walked into the dinning room, her body tired. There was an empty seat next to Layla and the her mother. "I apologize for my lateness; hopefully, I didn't miss anything," she mumbled, walking towards her seat.

The whole room went silence.

Marley sighed, staring at her father, "I can't be Alpha. I'm sorry. I'm not going to be paper work my whole life when there's adventures I can be on."

Her father sighed, "Marley, please reconsider. Maybe we should speak after the feast."

Layla put her hand on Marley's shoulder, "We will. Let's just enjoy the food and the show."

"Layla, you approve of this," Joey growled, not able to believe Layla would be so chill about this tradition.

Marley rolled her eyes, but Anthony continue before she could speak. "Thanksgiving is a time we decided to give thanks to the Goddess, by returning a apiece of herself," he said, parting down his pants as her mother eyes him. "Alpha Joey, will you like to do the honors of pleasing the Moon Goddess?"

Layla leaned over to Marley, "Babe, did someone say something to you?"

"No," Marley sighed, nuzzling her face into Layla's sweet shot. Luna Layla was wearing a sparkling red dress with a slit down the side of her leg. Her hair was curled up, flowing down her shoulders. "You look and smell divine," Marley whispered, hoping she could distract her mate from the conversation.

She pulled away, smiling at the mark on her mate's skin. Where there were two puncture wounds from her fangs, magical black ink appeared. It swirled away, matching what Gabby saw when Marley healed Layla into a shape of a howling wolf with a background of the forest.

Marley blushed when she remembered that night, smiling happily at her mate as they finally had time for themselves.

Layla giggled, clearly understanding the effect she had on her Alpha mate. "That," she kissed her cheek, "didn't answer my question."

"Alpha Joey!" The little girl who was standing next to Anthony yelled, "It's just a joke — this isn't a tradition!"

"I like the way we have been living," Marley started, "and sitting down in a office and constantly doing paper isn't what I want to do. I liked being responsible for myself and a free other — I can't do it for hundreds of people."

Layla only smiled, grabbing her mate's jaw and bringing Marley's face closer. "One, if paperwork is the only thing from stoping you to be an Alpha then I can do it. I do a lot of paper work in my life as a doctor."

Layla kissed her mate's nose, "Two, it's not just you having responsibilities. It's me and all your Heads. We work as a team."

"Layla," Marley whined, "please. Just tell me what you want. From the first day we meet, you have been taking care of me. What kind of life do you want?"

Layla smiled, "I liked my life when I'm with you."

Marley's father stood up, "Now that everyone had settled down,  we can began the feast!"

*•*•*•*•*•*

Annabel chuckled, "Couldn't even last a day, huh?"

Marley glared at her younger sister, shaking her head as she watch Layla mingle with her birth pack.

"Layla would make an amazing Luna, you know," she mentioned, tapping Marley's arm, repeatedly. "I mean, everyone loves her," she added, and Marley couldn't agree more.

"Anna," Marley sighed, "do you think Layla wants to be Luna — because if she does, I will become Alpha?"

"Have you asked the Moon Goddess?"

"Yeah, but even then, I could be hearing her message wrong," Marley answered before she caught eyes with her father. She sighed, "I'll be right back."

Annabel shook her head, "I'll come with you."

"Marley," her mother kissed her cheek. The two years trapped in their own cells, during the rogue takeover, took a large troll of the pack. Anthony's entertainment made them all feel a little bit normal — to be able to play a prank.
Tears were in her mother's eyes, happy that all her children survived.

"Hey, mom," Marley smiled, brushing her cheek to her mother's. She turned to look at her father — who changed opposite from her mother. Instead, he had a colder exterior, focusing on border control more than ever before.