The sun was nearly touching the top of the trees, the bright yellow fading into a golden orange.  Laughter echoed above the hum of happy chatter, plates and glasses clinking against each other.  Preston Grey stood off to the side of the backyard, the pack house looming up behind him against the setting sun.  People, wolves spilled out from the back door, into the yard, many with plates or glasses.  In the center of the lawn was a long table laden with food.  Every family had contributed in bringing a dish and there was plenty of food, nearly more than a pack of wolves could eat.<br/><br/>The previous Alpha and his Luna stood side by side at the end of the table.  As well as food, many families had brought gifts, small tokens of appreciation and loyalty to the mated pair and Preston could bet that by the time the night was over, the retired couple would need help getting all of their gifts back to their new home.  He glanced back over the yard, blue eyes stopping on the new Gamma, Jay.  Jaymus.  His mate.  Yet, the younger wolf had wanted to wait on settling down and considering their slight age difference, Preston could understand.  Jaymus had only been out of pup-hood a couple of years.  It was a wish Preston had reluctantly been okay with, but one that he knew that the younger wolf needed.<br/><br/>He looked passed the younger man to the new Alpha and Luna, Cy and Vicky.  They had their own gathering around them.  Preston could feel it deep inside that they would do the pack proud.  They were a couple one could be proud of being loyal to.  There would be a pack run later, once the moon hit its peak and the entire pack would follow wherever their new Alpha and Luna led them.<br/><br/>It all felt surreal to Preston who would take his position as the pack beta tonight once the ceremony was complete.  Cy had chosen him.  Cy was his first friend in the pack and had chosen him as his new beta and it was nearly unbelievable.  Him, an outsider.  He was going to help protect the pack, his new pack his home and he wouldn’t let anything happen to them.<br/><br/>He wasn’t the tallest wolf in the pack by any means, in fact, the alpha had a few inches on him, but he painted an intimidating picture.  He was broad, his face serious and his arms crossed.  Not many came to talk to him though whether that was because he looked unapproachable or they didn’t agree with the new alpha’s choice was left to a guess.  It didn’t matter.  Preston would prove himself either way.<br/><br/>Unlike the new beta, the new Gamma knew how to entertain a crowd.  The younger wolf had a small gathering around him, bringing a small smile to Preston’s face.  He grabbed two drinks from the table before heading over to the other wolf.  He walked up behind the other wolf, holding out the drink for him to take as he took a sip of his own.<br/><br/>“Having fun, Jaymus?’  He asked, his voice soft once the last person that had been talking to the other man had walked off.