Page 66 of Homecoming

“Seawitch.”

“Right. Good match.”

She inhaled the scent of increasingly tempting food. “Wow. This is turning into quite the party.”

He lifted her hand and kissed the palm. “Of course it is. Betas have weddings, and we are working on designing a pack bond ritual for these islands. Something special for folks who want to have their vows said in a peaceful, natural, and energy-filled environment.”

“Oh, nice. I guess we should have waited.”

Iro walked up, having been listening in. “I think that it was peaceful, natural, and had plenty of good energy. And now, we are having a celebration with friends and family.”

Orla smiled. “Yeah. I guess you are right.” She beamed at Ligo and Iro and said, “It was perfect.”

She squeaked at the sandwich hug, and they laughed. Soon, they were joined by the excited Terro and Jane.

Jane smiled. “He’s gone back to his meeting, and we will talk tomorrow. For now, each of us knows that we weren’t a figment of overstressed hormones. He also thinks that Terro is the most stunning child ever to walk the earth, so I am all in favour of that.”

Orla laughed.

“Well, I am going to put Terro down for a nap, and then, you can finish your hug, and we can chat.” Jane smiled. She took her drooping son into the house.

Orla settled against her mates and watched Jane take care of her son. “Wow. So, he was out here. That explains a lot.”

“The mask is a dead giveaway,” Iro murmured.

Orla chucked, and she could see Serin talking to Avenar, and the expression on the older woman’s face was horror and despair. Whatever Serin was telling her seemed to be getting through to her.

Orla asked, “So, when do we eat?”

Aeryn and her mates came out of the jungle with arms loaded with flowers. They sat and laughed with each other while theymade garlands, and Avenar came and sat with them, helping them weave crowns and columns of flowers.

Ligo murmured in surprise, “That’s encouraging.”

Orla felt a lightening of worry as it regarded Avenar. She wouldn’t let her guard down, but she was broadcasting less crazy than she had been earlier.

Eventually, the hug broke, and they separated with Orla hanging out with Aeryn and Serin, and Avenar came by when Jane came out to have a seat.

The men brought out snacks and beverages, and they waited for the sun to go down. Torches were lit, and Orla, Ligo, and Iro were draped in flowers, and the feast got started.

Terro came out and sat with his mom while she fed him, and he leaned against her as the music played.

Orla grinned when the dancing started. The guys took turns dancing and shouting. Terro ran up to be next to them and started dancing as well. Jane smiled, and Orla asked, “You aren’t worried about him getting squished?”

“No. Watch.”

Sohar stepped a little too close to Terro, and a force field flared up around him. Terro bumped onto his diapered butt, rolled out from under the feet, got in front, lined up with the guys again, and started dancing with them.

Orla put a hand over her mouth. “He is just too cute.”

“He is.” Jane sighed. “He has asked to see the videos.”

“Oh, the diary you kept in case you found him again?”

“Yeah. He said his biggest regret was that he missed being there for everything.”

“That and not talking to you the next morning.”

Jane blushed. “That was partially my fault. When I woke up with him next to me, I said it was a dream, and I wanted to be back in my room, and I was. Right down to my clothing and lanyard. In a hotel across the city.”

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