Chapter 10

The funeral is about to start in an hour, and I’m not prepared for it whatsoever. My eyes are so dry from my endless crying during the night. My eye lids feel like sandpaper against my eyes and my cheeks are tear stained to the point they sting. I felt purely drained from all the crying, thinking, and worrying. Worrying for my family, my pack, Aiden. It’s all getting to me and it’s draining the life out of me. Now today I have to light my father’s funeral pyre and celebrate the fallen with grace. That is what is expected from a leader, and I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I’m an 18-year-old she-wolf who lost her father to battle. I’m still too young to go through all of this. Too young to let go of her father to death. Too young to show she is not hurting. Too young to lead.
I get out of bed and slowly drag my feet to my vanity. I look up into my mirror and I don’t even recognize my own reflection. My ocean blue eyes are absent of all life. They are dull and lacked their usual radiant shine. The oceans don’t reflect in them anymore. All I see is a void. My tear-stained cheeks look pale and loose. I look like I aged about 10 years. My face shows as if there is no happiness left in the world. There was nothing left to hope for, to dream for, or to even smile for. A world full of coldness and despair.
I continue to my bathroom, and I scrub my face from all the tears and brushed out my hair. I decide to keep my hair down and I brush on concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Unfortunately, not even the best makeup can completely hide them. I decide to go with a darker tan eye shadow and some mascara. I’m not worried about running mascara. I don’t have any more tears left to cry.
I go to my closet and pull out my simple black dress. It reaches to my knees and has a clean sweetheart neckline with sleeves that hang off my shoulders. It’s simple, smooth, but also elegant. I sit on my bed and put on my black heel ankle boots and head out to find Mom and Aiden. I slowly walk down the stairs and some wolves I pass, look at me with pity when they see me. I guess my aura could be sensed by anyone. This day is going to be the worst.
I find Mom making final preparations outside where pyres are set up. It’s all beautiful. Dads Pyre is set up in the front and behind it is all the fallen warrior pyres. Each are decorated with delicate red/white roses, and pink lilies. The roses spiritually represent the love of these people and how much they are loved by the pack. Also, the white roses and lilies purify the soul upon entering Artemis’s Domaine. The Lilies also represent the rebirth in the afterlife and the hope of happiness. Many chairs are lined up facing the pyres and chairs are scatter by them for the families who will light them. Mom stops giving orders to the Omegas and she turns toward me and her face mirrors mine. She hasn’t gotten much sleep and her blue eyes lacked life. I wrap my arms around her, and she squeezes me so tight. Like she would be able to hug me again.
“I love you so much my beautiful girl. We will get through this. He is probably scolding us right now for being like this. We need to celebrate his life and the others. They are a part of Artemis’s pack now. Please hang in their honey, because if you can’t, I won’t be able to.” Her hug is now almost crushing me. I need to keep it together. Not only for myself but for her as well.
Not long after those guests start to arrive. Each family filing into their seats and all in black. All with mourning faces. Then I see Darius make his appearance with his Beta. He is in a black polo that fits the nice curves of his body and black dress pants that fit just right. He finds me and approaches me with pity in his eyes. He takes on look into my eyes before engulfing me in a hug.
“I’m really sorry for your loss Athena. He was a good man, and leader and he will be missed by many. I will pray for your family.” I return his embrace and barely whisper a thank you. His kind words almost have tears spilling out of my eyes. Even though I have none left to shed. He goes and takes a seat with his Beta, and I go to find my seat next to Dad. Aiden then makes his appearance. He has the darkest circles under his eyes and his eyes haven’t turned back to their normal chestnut brown. They remain an obsidian black. He doesn’t even look at or acknowledge me. He just takes his seat and once all the guests take their seats, Beta James takes his place to run the funeral.
“Welcome, today we celebrate our fallen and their memory. Death is not the end. They all joined Artemis’s pack to join on her hunt. Both them and their wolf counter selves. May they forever be remembered by us all and know they will forever watch over us. Now let us witness as these fallen warriors and our alpha shed their human forms and become a part of the stars.” Beta James gives the go ahead for the families to begin the stating of the names, the item important to the fallen members family is offered, and then the pyre is lit.
“Frances stone, Commander”
“Hailey Titan. Commander.”
“Drake Taylor. Warrior.”
“Michael Firemountain. Warrior.”
“Amelia Kells. Warrior.”
“Wyatt Schmidt. Warrior.” Each name continues to be called out and Items are offered. The item I chose is the picture I received from him. It’s of me when I was young with Dad holding me with adoration in his eyes. My small arms are wrapped around his neck and my face is smooshed to his. I had the dopiest smile on my face and Dad laughed. His love is apparent in this photo. It was taken when I said he is my hero and he said I would always his little nugget. I wipe a stray tear from my eye and my time to announce his name is coming up. I hug the photo to my heart and look at Aiden. He is holding a signed baseball that Dad gave to him as a gift when he was young. They loved watching baseball. When Aiden was young, they would always go play catch out in the yard. They always wanted to go to a official game but never had the chance to. The last fallen warrior is called and I stand from my seat.
“Granite Goldstein, Alpha of the Mystic Evergreen pack.” I say as strongly as a can and place the photo near Dads hands and Aiden does the same with his baseball. We both grab our torches and carefully place is on the wood of the pyre. Each of them are burning magnificently. Mom steps up to us and holds both of us.
“You both did wonderfully, he would be proud.” She says with misty eyes. I squeeze her a bit as if to say, I’m hanging in there. Beta James takes his place once again.
“Families may stay and mourn as the pyres are burning. There are refreshments in the gazebo, and we will gather once again when the last flame goes out.” Everyone lifts from their seats. A few sobs can he heard from a few and everyone heads to the gazebo. Everyone leaves and leaves me alone at the pyre. I watch it burn. Every aspect of him is being burned away.
“I’m sorry Dad. I should have gotten to you in time. I should have tried harder to shake that rogue off of me. I should have saved you.” I choke back a sob. “I’m so sorry. You won’t be able to see Autumn grow up. You can’t see me, and Aiden grow as individuals. You won’t be with Mom anymore. She is miserable without you, her mate. I should have saved you Dad; I hope you can forgive me.” Tears are now spilling out of my eyes. I put my hands over my face and grieve.
I hear footsteps approaching behind me and find Autumn. She is looking at me with pure sadness in her eyes. With just one look at me she also breaks out into tears and runs up to me. She wraps her arms around my waist and cries into my stomach. I bend down and I squeeze her with all of my might and cry with her.
“Don’t cry sis. If you cry, I cry too. I miss daddy. Will we ever see him again?” She hiccups with every word.
“Yes pumpkin, we will see him again. He is with Artemis now. She is taking real good care of him.” I answer her and try to wipe her spilling tears.
“Promise?” She sniffles and looks at me with pleading eyes. “Yes, I promise with all my heart. I pinky promise.” I hold out my pinky to her and she takes it. “Now let’s dry our tears and let’s be happy Dad is in a better place now.” I pick her up and we walk and join the rest of the guests. Everyone is in their own groups saying their condolences and sipping coffee and tea. There are no smiles on anyone’s faces.
I sit down with Autumn, and I grab her some hot chocolate and I grab a coffee for me. I sit her on my lap, and she lays her head on my chest and we are silent. I think this is what we both needed. Comforting silence holding each other. Celeste comes and sits in the chair next to me and hugs the both of us.
“How are you two holding up?” She asks.
“Better now that I’m all cried out.” I give her a pitiful smile. She looks at me with understanding. “Well, the hardest part is over now. All we have to do is let them go and let them live out their happiness in the stars.” She puts a hand on my shoulder and gives me a comforting squeeze. I see a figure approaching us and find Darius. He sits with us and sighs. He gives me a small smile and looks down at Autumn.
“I’m guessing this is your sister?” He offers his hand to her. She looks at his hand confused and takes it.
“Yes, this is my little sister Autumn. The most adorable little girl in the world.” I giggle and give her a loud smooch on the cheek. Autumn squeals and wipes her cheek. She then looks back at Darius with wonderstruck eyes.
“You look like Prince Charming. Are you Athena’s mate?” She asks innocently. Darius’s eyes light up and chuckles a bit at her question.
“Unfortunately, I’m not your sister’s mate. I wish I was though.” He smirks slightly at me and causes me to blush slightly. I look to Celeste who is giving me a sly smirk.
“I hope you’re my mate one day. I always imagined my mate who looks like Prince Charming.” Autumn giggles and causes Darius, Celeste, and I to burst out into laughter.
“Well little one, I’m sadly a little too old for you. I bet however, that your mate will be like Prince Charming in his own way.” He compromises with her. She then crosses her arms and pouts. She’s adorable when she tries to be mad. This causes Darius to laugh harder.
“Your right Athena, she is adorable.” He says still laughing. For the next hour we continue to talk and comfort each other. Darius and Celeste know how to make my mind get off of the funeral.
Finally, the Pyres are done burning and the families collect the ashes into jars and we all head into the forest to the river with ashes in hand. We finally reach the river, and the families take their places and we all let the wind carry our loved ones ashes into the river. Aiden and I both hold the jar together and he doesn’t say a word to me. Or even look at me for the matter. We let the wind carry the last of the ashes and we begin the transform into our wolves.
When Aiden and I finish phasing we lift our muzzles to the sky and howl a mournful cry. The rest of the pack and guests follow our lead. Our heartfelt wails can be felt by every creature and every tree on this forest. We all become breathless and have no more voice to howl. We all transform and back and put our cloths back on. We all head back to the pack house feeling slightly better.




*Author's note*
Hey guys! Sorry it took me a while to update. Im currently back in school and my 18 credits worth of classes have me crazy busy. Im going to try to give you guys a chapter a week. Im hoping you guys are enjoying reading as im enjoying writing this heart felt story. I cried writing this chapter and i hope you guys can just feel Athena's sadness.
As always i welcome any and all feedback you guys can give me so i can make this a better and grammical error free story!
Thank you for reading! :)