You remember my fantasy pack-wide backyard barbecue event with a snow fort fight, right? It seems that it will forever remain a fantasy.
The adults had other ideas, and they debated them vigorously. But in essence, they all had the exact same idea, and the debate was about superficial things like terms and conditions.
Unfortunately, I was too busy hearing out all their ideas and figuring out the significance of their discussion to air my own. Actually, no one asked me.
It turned out that my ceremony was not so much for me as it was for everyone else.
It took me a whole meeting to piece together what had transpired and figure it all out, but I'll just give you the lowdown.
Basically, this was how the adults calculated the size of the event:
Announcing the Future Alpha = NIGHT LEAF ONLY Announcing the merger of Night Leaf and Morning Light under our Future Alpha = NIGHT LEAF + MORNING LIGHT + GREEN PACKLAND ALPHA & BETA FAMILIES Announcing the merger of Night Leaf, Morning Light, and Lorent for the unity of the Green Packlands under the new Future Alpha = NIGHT LEAF + MORNING LIGHT + LORENT + OTHER GREEN PACKLAND NOTABLE FAMILIES + THE REST OF THE CONTINENT'S ALPHA AND BETA FAMILIES And because of Dad's family connection, we would also have to extend a full invitation to the NIGHT FOREST PACK, as well as my two uncles who are living on the next continent.
Dad didn't think they would take the trouble to come all the way, but because they were family, we would extend the invitation to let them know they were welcome.
All the invites would be printed and addressed by hand and would be accompanied by a formal announcement certificate and a gift basket, which the ladies got excited about because they had decided it would contain champagne, chocolates, and flowers.
Mrs. Beta thought it would be significant to use white roses (a Lorent favorite) mixed with two other flowers that would represent the other two packs.
Laura wanted to include flowers with meanings like friendship, loyalty, and hope.
Mum felt the baskets and ribbons would have to be blue — which was my color.
"The color of loyalty," Laura nodded approvingly.
I had always thought blue was the sky and sea… the color of freedom.
"Doesn't blue mean sadness?" asked Beta Lucas. "Like if you say you're feeling blue?"
"That depends on the shade of blue," Mrs. Beta told him.
So you can understand that it was hard for me to follow their discussion, right? Why did the color matter?
But they had decided to use the blue for my eyes and highlight it with the gold of my Luna's eyes.
"Such beautiful eyes!" Laura commented (about Bell's eyes, not mine). "I can't help but keep staring at them."
"You're not the only one," Mrs. Beta laughed. "Even the younger girls…" She caught herself and gave me a sideways glance.
I pretended I hadn't heard about the other females checking out my mate.
Beta Lucas cleared his throat. "Perhaps we could plan the details of the announcement and invitations later."
Overall, we were planning an event larger than the average Annual Alpha Conference.
The cost would be borne by three packs. And it would be worth it because it was about time the Green Packlands stood out as one of the leading packlands.
We would set up huge marquees in the open meadow in the center of our three packs and use a bonfire to light and warm the celebration. The ceremony would be held in the Green Leaf Academy's largest auditorium and would seat only the Alphas and Betas, their mates, and other future Alphas and Betas.
Everyone else might watch the livestream from various projectors set up at the different packhouses.
There would also be party packs sent to every home for those who would like to join our celebration from home.
The event would be on a Sunday. Saturday would be for receiving guests into the hotels at Gate City. Monday would be a public holiday across the Green Packlands.
It was going to be huge and crazy and expensive.
Killion added several details that pretty much captured everyone's imagination.
Since our warriors were now combined, he suggested unveiling new uniformed blue jackets that all warriors should wear on duty. Imagine our warrior force on guard and around the event in the new uniform color.
"Imagine the size of our new Warrior Force!" Gamma Harry piped up, and all the men stopped to stare into space, picturing it.
Wow.
Due to the size of the event, they might have to postpone it for a couple of months.
"It might as well be in April," Dad said.
"The costs for heating and flowers would dramatically fall then," Beta Lucas nodded.
"And it would be Sam's birthday," Mrs. Beta remembered. "That seems appropriate."
"We should contact Alpha Lorent and get the paperwork for the merger officiated as soon as possible," Beta Lucas said.
"Can't we just email everyone the update? Wouldn't that save a lot of time and money?" I asked. "I'd much rather spend it on increasing security around our packlands."
"Goddess, you need to put your best foot forward," Killion told me. "This would be the opportunity to set the stage for your reign. And now, it's not just our pack but our whole packland that is depending on your induction into the Alpha circles."
If we put on a solid show, it would deter potential threats and gain favor for inter-pack collaborations. I understood that much.
Killion was right. It was my chance to set the stage and expectations for the other packs.
But what kind of stage or expectations should we set?
"Let's postpone the event then," Dad said. "We need to deal with the negotiations for the mergers first. In the meantime, we might start drafting the work plan and budget for the ceremony."
I really preferred to focus on the merger. Based on what I heard, the Lorent pack had been ravaged from within and did not have many elite-level warriors. Morning Light was also under manpower pressure. Our pack had enough warriors, but spreading them across three packs would be a strain.
On top of this, both Lorent and Morning Light had rogue problems.
Seriously, why were we planning a party? Weren't events like this rogue magnets?
It would take years to integrate our warriors. It's not as simple as putting them in matching uniforms.
How could we ever be ready to host such a huge event by spring?
And why was the teenager worrying while the adults were party planning?
Overall, I just get the feeling I'm in over my head here.