All Hail Alpha Adolph

ADOLPH

The dark mist of sorrow hovered over everyone.

Almost all the people in the hall, and even the sorcerer performing the burial rites, was dressed in black.

It had been two days since his arrival at Alaska.

He had pretty much done nothing all throughout, and during these past few days, he had stayed in the castle, unbothered and undisturbed, only coming in contact with his close family relatives, such as his father's best friend Collins Hart, and some other relatives he needed to know about from his mother's side too.

Also, Adolph had been introduced to his second in command, and beta of the Keanu pack and clan, Connor Alcide, and his third in command too, Ralph Romulus, who was actually his cousin, and Fenris's son.

They were all around him today, here to lend their moral and physical support to him.

In the past few days also, they had made preparations about the burial, and also plans for his induction ceremony which was coincidentally going to happen the same day of the burial, which was today.

Just like his uncle, Fenris had suggested time as really running out of hand, and there were so many things to put too right in the pack, and with no leader, the pack and clan were just in disarray.

Standing by his mother, as the memories of the last few hectic days went by his head, Adolph listened slowly to her as she sniffed back tears.

He raised his hands, placing it on her shoulder and squeezing gently, in a bid to comfort her, but his efforts were actually useless.

There was nothing he could do, to alleviate the pain she felt as she watched the love of her life, get prepared to be buried underground forever.

He had no idea how it felt actually as he had never been in love, nor had he felt anything close to what his parents had fir each other, with any random girl before, but then he was in his own turmoil watching his father, the man who had guided him for over thirty years, get buried, never to come back again.

Looking around the scene, his eyes narrowed on the wooden casket where the mummified body of his father lay, and Adolph sniffled a bit.

White candles surrounded the dead body, and the howl of silent wolves nearby could be heard, as they sang the traditional burial ritual song.

The head sorcerer performing the burial ritual, looked up from the dead body where his gaze had been on for some time, amidst the waning silence, and catching Adolph's unblinking gaze the old man said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "It's time to burn the body, and read the final rites. We have to go outside."

Murmurs arose, as well as sobs breaking out from the crowd, and his mother too beside him, and his hand still on her shoulders squeezing gently, Adolph gave a curt nod to the sorcerer, giving him the go ahead to do whatever he wanted to do.

"Outside..." The old man announced, and Adolph watched as everyone in the hall, began to disperse outside.

The wooden casket, was lifted by some hefty men who started walking outside as soon as the doors were opened, and everyone followed suit, strutting outside.

"Mom... Let's go." Adolph said, removing his hands from his mother's hands, gripping her wrists, wanting her to go with him outside, as everyone was leaving so they could watch the final burial rites, but she wasn't budging.

"Mom..."

"I can't son. I don't want to see my Zion burnt, I don't want to..." She broke of into loud sobs, causing some attention their way, and cursing silently, Adolph tried to embrace her, but she still refused.

"Mom, the people, they're watching. You have to be strong and..."

"Go and watch the processions. I'll stay here with her." Fenris cut in from behind, and Adolph's shoulders became stiff and unmoving.

"Son, you have to go and watch the rites. It's your duty, and your people are looking up to you." Fe ris said again, but Adolph was just not ready for that conversation, and even when he knew that his uncle was right, he still didn't want to leave his mother here.

"I don't care if the fucking people look up to me, my mother is crying here, she's helpless and..."

"Adolph, you have to leave. The people, they're looking up to you. This is a very crucial moment for you. Some are even refusing to go on ahead, as they're basking in this situation, please Adolph, please Alpha."

It was Connor, his beta, and dropping his hands from his mother's arms, clenching his fist, Adolph turned to look back, scanning the crowd and truthfully, the crowd had stopped moving halfway, as their sight were on him, waiting for his next move obviously.

Shoulders dropping, Adolph gave his mother one last look, and then he began to stride away from her, as the crowd straightened making a line for him to walk through.

The sticks were already prepared, the sorcerer with a firewood, waiting for his arrival, already ready to burn the dead body.

The casket was on a pillar, the soft windy breeze blowing the cloth that the body had been dressed with, and apart from the crackling noise and smell of burning firewood, there was absolute silence all around.

"Shall we continue? Any last rites that needs to be said?" The sorcerer asked, and glancing at the closed doors of the castle hall, wondering what his mother would probably be going through, Adolph sniffed, putting on a brave face, and hands clasped behind him, he said slowly, "No, continue."

Nodding in approval, affirming his order, the sorcerer who still had the burning firewood in his hand, started walking round the casket, chanting words in an incomprehensible language while everyone watched.

Muttering slowly, Adolph watched as the old man, placed the firewood on the casket, and there in flames abuzz, and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

It was at that moment, that tears ran down his face.

Adolph couldn't control it any more, as sobs racked through him, this brave countenance breaking into pieces and he felt the hands of Connor around him, squeezing gently, and then he heard the crowd shout disbelievingly.

"All hail Alpha Adolph." They kept chanting and chanting.

At this moment, the title didn't matter at all, because he had just watched his father getting burnt, but then it was tradition, and he had to assume his role now.

He couldn't even blame them, as it was demanded of them.

It was time for him to assume his role as the rightful heir and leader of the Keanu Clan and pack house.

He had no idea what awaited him, but Adolph knew he was going to do his best, and everything would certainly fall in place...

Sniffing, he turned to face the crowd, removing Connor's hands from around him, and waving at them all but then his subconscious, his inner wolf noticed that something was not right.

His hands which were raised up, instinctively stopped, suspending in the air, and then he saw a commotion from nearby in the crowd.

The people were still chanting his name, with his father's dead body burning from behind, oblivious to what he was currently focused on, the commotion that was currently brewing and Adolph's eyes were focused on that particular spot.

His eyes scanned the crowd, watching the people part as someone, a dark haired girl appeared from nowhere, with a hand clutched on her stomach and then she collapsed on the ground in front of him.

The crowd immediately stopped shouting, as chaos ensued, as they all watched the young lady shivering on the floor, her hands still holding her belly tightly, and Adolph's eyes narrowed in recognition.

No, it couldn't be.

There was no way this could be happening today, when there were so many things in store for him, but she was already here, and unmoving too.

"Mate..." The words flew out of his lips subconsciously, and just like that her head turned, as if he had spoken to her and their eyes meeting everything seemed to stop, as he got a good look at her face clearly.

It was her... The woman in his dreams, the woman he had rejected... The woman he felt nothing for... The woman named Melissa.