Chapter 66 - Bonfire

Later that night, August and Graeme were getting ready to leave for the bonfire. "Contacts or no contacts?" August asked.

"I'm sorry I had you wear them," Graeme looked at her apologetically. "It was wrong of me. I don't want you to hide anything."

"Will… people be freaked out? Maybe I should just wear them," August said. She was already nervous to go to this thing. Regardless of what Graeme said about people here wanting their Alpha and Luna, she had already witnessed the suspicion and dislike for her. "I just don't want any problems," she sighed.

"The right thing is never easy, is it?" he asked, coming to stand behind where she was facing the bathroom mirror. He embraced her from behind, and they both watched themselves together in the mirror. The gold lacing her irises burned darker, causing her cheeks to go pink. "I love the colors you make," he whispered against her ear.

August groaned and rolled her eyes. "I guess I'm an open book. There's no hiding how I feel."

"And I love it," he said, nibbling on her ear before letting her go.

"Are we walking?" August asked as they started descending the steps outside.

"No, I stopped by Greta's on the way here to borrow the Jeep. I'll figure out a car for us next week. Snow will be coming soon," he replied.

A smile crept up her lips. "Do you like playing in the snow?" She imagined his massive wolf pouncing in snow drifts, covered in white.

"Is that a wolf joke?" he raised an eyebrow at her, and she shrugged.

"It would be cute to watch," she laughed.

"Cute?" he scoffed. "How about fearsome?" And she giggled some more. "Hopefully you don't have to witness the fearsome part," he mumbled to himself, squeezing her hand. "Speaking of… make sure to stick close by me or Greta while we're there, okay? Just in case a fight breaks out."

Her eyes went wide. "A fight?"

"Well, yeah—lycans, full moon, drinking, bonfires… It's not a stretch to imagine something might happen. Emotions are always more intense for us on a full moon," And suddenly she remembered the anxiety she had for this night. "It'll be fine," he smiled warmly at her.

When they arrived, August was shocked to see exactly what these lycans considered to be a 'bonfire.' Rather than a small camp fire in someone's backyard, her and Graeme walked into a large clearing in the woods with logs leaning together in a massive cone shape at its center. The flames were easily 40 feet high. People were spread in a wide circle around the edge of the clearing, giving ample room for the flames and the warmth they offered.

"No one is getting sacrificed tonight, right?" she heard herself whisper, and Graeme chuckled beside her.

"You're safe with me, Moon," he said softly, and the new nickname seemed to fan the flames over her heart.

Greta danced to their sides, squealing as she enveloped August in an excited hug. "We're sisters for real now! I'm so happy for you both!" She giggled, jumping up and down as she embraced the surprised August.

"I see you've been indulging in the moonwine already, sis," Graeme commented.

"Oh, stop it. I can't just be happy for my brother whom I love dearly? And his adorable mate?" She squeezed August's arm before letting her go to hug Graeme next, peach hair bouncing as she danced around them like some kind of fairy spirit.

"Where's Sam?" Graeme asked.

"He was talking with Jack last I checked. You need to thank him properly. I understand you were upset, but…"

"I know," he interrupted. "I'll take care of it."

"Okay, well I'm going to get my new sister a drink to celebrate this historic full moon," she smiled widely. "I'll catch up with you guys in a minute."

Once she pranced away, August turned to Graeme. "You were upset with him?" a look of horror spread across her face.

"Of course. I was furious with both of them. I walked into a nightmare. To find that you had been… And to not have known all that time," he growled at the fresh memory.

"But if he hadn't shown up…" her mouth dropped open, not even wanting to imagine the rest of the scenario that could have unfolded.

"I know," he sighed. "I know," and he spun her into a hug against him. "I don't want to imagine it either," he spoke softly into her hair. "How can anyone blame me, though?"

"Graeme!" an excited male voice called, and Graeme loosened his hold on August. "You brought your mate?"

August turned to see a beaming boyish face approach them. He was tall and lean, broad in the shoulders, but his face was young and friendly framed by short, curly blonde hair.

"August, this is Finn," Graeme spoke deeply—a different tone than he had just been using with her, and August smiled inwardly. Alpha Graeme.

"Oh, Finn. It's so nice to meet you. Thank you for the sunflowers. They're my favorite," August replied for the young man to smile broadly.

"You're welcome, Miss August. May I call you Luna?" Finn looked curiously from August to Graeme.

"Actually…" she heard Graeme start to respond before Finn interrupted.

"Luna, I couldn't believe how you took Marius down that day. It was the most incredible thing I've ever seen. Goddess, Marius thought he was like the ultimate badass, but here comes this small innocent-looking human girl to rip his neck to shreds. I've told everyone about it. I'll never underestimate a human again. Not that you're just any human…" Finn continued.

"Finn, Finn…" Graeme interrupted him, feeling August go rigid next to him at the mention of Marius. "Let's not refer to her as Luna just yet, okay?" And Finn nodded, slightly bewildered by the interruption.

"Sorry, Miss August," Finn smiled at her. "But all that blood, just spurting out everywhere and all down the front of you while the council's enforcer was lying helpless on the bed…" he continued excitedly.

"Finn!" Graeme's voice sounded more commanding this time, and Finn stared at him with big, innocent eyes. "Enough about the damn Marius thing."

"Okay," he smiled, nodding emphatically.

"It is really nice to meet you properly Finn. And it was so thoughtful of you to stop by after I woke up," August offered her kindest smile in an attempt to compensate for Graeme's tone.

"Of course, Miss August. If you'd like, I can take you on a perimeter run with me some time. There are the most beautiful flowers just at the border. There's actually some here tonight…" he said before catching sight of Graeme again who had silently narrowed his eyes at the young lycan. Finn laughed nervously. "You know what? I have a friend over there waiting… I'll see you guys later!" he said before darting away.

August watched him retreat before turning to the fearsome man beside her. "Did you have to scare him?"

"Yes," Graeme answered in a gruff voice. August tried to scowl at him, but he responded with a smile that revealed the dimple under his beard. "What?" he laughed, shrugging his shoulders. "He needs to learn boundaries. You going on a run with him? Is he crazy?" A low growl rose in his chest at the thought, and August elbowed him in the side.

"Insecure wolf," she rolled her eyes.