The Summer Moon
Chapter 49 -

Tyrese

My wolf was absolutely purring as I walked in the front doors of the Dark Moon pack house. Having Malia on my arm made all the nerves I had been feeling about the full moon completely disappear. Especially after what happened in the backseat of my car, I wasn't nervous about tonight at all. With her by my side nothing else seemed to matter, and I couldn't wait to show her off to the Dark moon pack.

I could tell she still was nervous though. As I led her into the crowd of people I felt her tense at my side, her grip on my arm tightening. I pulled my arm from her grasp and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her into my side. Her body instantly relaxed and I could feel her emotions calm as we continued walking forwards.

We weaved our way through the crowds and I nodded and smiled to all the people I recognized from the last time I was here. Finally I saw Alpha Winston, his luna, and their daughter Chloe standing at the front of the room. The three of them looked stiff as boards standing in front of their pack and it made me cringe a little. Everything that happened in this pack was always so serious, people rarely looked comfortable here.

"Alpha Winston," I shook his hand firmly as we stopped in front of them. I nodded towards Chloe next, and felt Malia tense at my side, which only made me want to laugh. She was totally getting jealous, the mate bond must be getting stronger for her. "I would like to officially introduce my beautiful mate Malia," I squeezed Malia's side once more as I felt her nerves increase.

"It's so nice to meet you both," she said, reaching her hand out to meet Winston's then Chloe's.

"Malia, we've heard so little about you," Alpha Winston's voice was harsh and I grimaced. This wasn't going to be good, not even 5 minutes into the event and I already wanted to rip his head off. He should be showing Malia the respect she deserves. To my surprise I felt Malia's mood change to one I'd come to know fairly well over the past week.

"Well that's why we're here isn't it?" Malia replied annoyed and my whole body tensed up. Her voice was strong, confident, she didn't waver at all. "Of course besides the alliance between our packs, which I truly don't understand why this is requiring so much negotiation. An alliance is in the best interest of everyone."

Our pack. My wolf was going wild with every word Malia said, the way she was handling herself, the way she was negotiating for the pack. Our pack. All I could feel was love for her, I don't know what had suddenly come over her tonight but this new confidence and fire she was showing only made me want her more.

The look on Alpha Winston's face made me smirk, as he stood there in shock, unsure of how to respond. Then his face turned to a smile and he actually let out a small laugh and I had to control myself from looking shocked myself. I don't think I'd ever seen him smile before, except maybe over a glass of scotch with my father.

"My dear you are not at all what I was expecting," he chuckled looking her and Malia's eyes flashed up to mine, worried. I squeezed her waist once more and smiled down at her to reassure her. Then Winston turned to me, "Tyrese, you have a strong luna here. Advocating for the pack above all else is an admirable quality, and she is right. I would be happy to enter an alliance with your pack. I will have my lawyer draw some papers up, I look forwards to working with the two of you." I felt a weight lift off my chest, just like that Winston had agreed to an alliance and all my problems for the evening had been solved. My pack border would have more security, Malia would be safe, and most importantly I could feel the excitement radiating off of my mate. We made an excellent team.

"Thank you," I nodded my head to him.

"Now please, come join us for dinner," Winston and his daughter turned and led us towards the dining tables but I paused for a moment and turned to Malia.

"Thank you," I mouthed to her and she flashed me the brightest smile, reaching out to squeeze my hand.

"So, Malia, what pack are you from?" Winston asked as we took our seats. Malia sat in the chair next to me, folding a napkin over her lap.

"She's from my pack actually," I said and Winston looked at us surprised.

"John Taylor is my father," Malia joined in.

"John? He's an excellent tracker, I wonder if you've inherited any of his skills," Winston commented and Malia blushed a little. I smiled, I wondered if she'd inherited much more than just his skills.

Throughout our meal everyone was mostly quiet which I was grateful for. And Malia seemed to be becoming more and more comfortable. As dinner finished Winston left with his luna to attend to conversations with other pack members, and only Malia and I were left at our table. Music played throughout the room and the lights had dimmed, opening up a dance floor that few people occupied.

"Dance with me?" I leaned into Malia, whispering in her ear. She jumped up and took my hand in hers, then eagerly pulled me to the dance floor. I held one of her hands in mine, resting my other on her back and we swayed to the music together. Her head came to rest against my chest and I could feel her heart beating in time with mine.

"You're so amazing baby" I whispered in to her hair, her scent was driving me crazy. "Thank you for coming tonight, you're a natural at this. They loved you." And I love you.

"You think so?" She pulled back at me, staring me down with those gorgeous green eyes.

"I don't think I've ever heard Winston give anyone a compliment before, and he complimented you within minutes of meeting. Plus, you got this alliance for our pack, I can never thank you enough," I spun her around and pulled her into my chest tighter than before.

"You don't have to thank me," she giggled into me. But she was wrong, I had so much to thank her for - for coming tonight, for the alliance, for being so patient with me, for giving me a chance even when things got so fucked up between us. "Do you think they have nice bathrooms here?" Malia suddenly whispered in my ear and I felt my cock twitch in my pants. I quickly snapped my eyes to hers, only to see her flashing me the biggest grin, stifling a laugh. I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Don't mess with me Lia, it's a full moon," I flashed her my wolf eyes.

"Oo I'm so scared," she mocked me, letting out another giggle. Her arms snaked around my waist as we stopped dancing, and I couldn't help but laugh along with her. It was amazing how far we had come from that first day at the airport, and finally I felt like we were coming back to a good place.

I looked around to notice that most of the crowd was clearing. Midnight was approaching quickly and wolves were probably shifting to go for a run about now. I hoped seeing any wolves out tonight wouldn't totally freak Malia out again. "Are you ready to go home?" I asked her and she smiled up at me.

"No way, you promised me a milkshake first," I laughed against her, if she seriously thought I forgot about that she was crazy. I would take every second I could get with her tonight and forever.

After saying our goodbyes I led Malia back to my car and she shivered in the cold. I took off my suit jacket and wrapped it around her. Just as I opened the car door I heard a howl close by and Malia froze in place. I turned to where her eyes had locked in the distance and watched as a group of wolves ran by, obviously members of Winston's pack.

"They're really fast," she mumbled, as we watched them disappear into the trees. I turned back to look at her but she just smiled and climbed into the car. That's it? She wasn't going to freak out? I blinked surprised then walked around the car to climb into my own seat.

As we began to drive down the road I felt her eyes on me and looked over to her. "Everything okay?" I asked, noticing her staring at me. She was turned in her seat, pressing her back against the window and focused on me.I could feel my nerves building, preparing myself for her to tell me she's freaking out, she's scared, to take her home as soon as possible. But then she said the most surprising thing.

"You look so good tonight," her voice was slow and filled with lust. I smiled broadly and reached out to grab her hand, she had no idea how amazing that was to hear.

"Can I ask you something?" I said, rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb.

She nodded, continuing to undress me with her eyes. And as much as I'd love to take advantage of that, I needed to know.

"What changed? Something's different tonight, you're different. You're flirting with me more, you're more confident, you don't seem afraid." I gave her hand a squeeze and couldn't help but smile at her once more. I was desperate to hear her answer, would she tell me what I wanted to hear? What I needed to hear.

She took a deep breath, "I actually got some really good advice from a friend."