36

Mika sat there completly torn apart at the sight of her limp body. His throat threaten to close from the lump that had developed, he was choking. He couldn't leave her though. She still called to him. *Was she calling him to follow her on the otherside?* he mused. Genetly Devion rested his hand on his alpha's shoulder. "Mika?"
Mika's body shook with the grief that was trying to break surface. "Are there any left?" his voice breaking. He cleared his throat and wiped away the tears that streamed down his cheeks making strikes through the blood that had splattered on him in the battle.
"Yes, from what we can tell the very few that managed to survive have fled." Devion reported. Theo stepped into the room quietly observing his alpha.
"How many lost?" Mika asked.
"We have lost three alpha. Two males, Clarance, a guard from your father's unit, and a farmer Mitchell. Mitchell's mate Georgia fell at his side." Devion's voice was soft.
"Four, have ben lost!" Mika corrected him with a snap.
"Yes alpha, four have been lost in total from our pack." Devon bowed his head in submission and in respect to Mika.
"They will be honored." Mika nodded his voice much softer now. "We will remain here for now. Allow our forces to rest, heal any that need to be. I want this place reinforced so there isn't any suprises. We can make this into a strong hold for the childern right now."
Devion and Theo did not speak but nodded their agreement. "One more thing."he stopped them before they turned to leave. Mika reached down and picked up the severed head of Drax."Collect each fallen and steak them outside surounding the post. I want to make a statement to any fuckers who want to piss me off." he thrust Drax's head into Theo's arms. Stumbling back from the suprise Theo took hold of his charge."Yes alpha it will be done."
Theo left to begin gathering up the others and start orders. Devion remained still, half in the door and half out, watching, waiting to see what Mika would do next. He could feel the pain his alpha had radiating off of him. His heart was crushed. He cleared his throat trying to swallow the lump that had swollen in his own throat."Alpha,..Mika what would you have me do with Ari?" Mika did not respond for a few moments, Devion had begun to believe that he had ignored him till he bent down and saw him pick her body up with such care. He craddled her, her tiny body laying so still in his massive arms. His tears dripping as he silently sobbed for his mate. "I can not do it Devion. I can not" he whipsered. The manner that wolves cared for their dead was to burn the bodies so that deaders or any other savage supernatural would feed on the flesh of their fallen. Devion nodded his head, "May I suggest we lay her body for viewing so that we may give farwells? We do not need to burn her today alpha. Let us all grieve."
"Find a room large enough for all to be laid out to."
"Yes alpha." Devion bowed his head once more and exited the room to do his orders.

The runners had been sent to bring in the others from the cave to help clean and fortify the new homestead. Mika watched from Drax's old room. Below he saw Theo and several other guardsmen staking the vampire heads facing the outward courtyard. He had a threoy but that was all it was. He had seen how the deaders stayed away from or where controled by the vampires and he wanted to see if perhaps they would stay away if he made them into lawn ordanements too. If not he guessed it made it clear to any unwanted what would happen if they crossed him.
As for the clean up the pack was efficient. Everyone helped, it was not just women cleaning the men, the childern, the young and the old all pitched in. Those who were not as mobile gave their skills to where they could- some helped to clean injuries, others helped to prepare a kitchen and a meal for their mass. the childern brought supplies to help close up any holes or areas that needed to be reinforced. Young Gabriel had found a large room that the pack agreed should be where the fallen were to be laid in the deepest section of the "castle". Four long wooden tables had been brought in and each body was laid with care.
Several of the elder women asked that they clean their bodies and to present them. Mika had agreed but refused to allow anyone to carry Ari but him. He laid her on the table and placed her tiny hands neatly over his stomach, one on top of the other. She was beautiful, even in death. He leaned down once more to kiss her lips but stopped himself. Instead he breathed her scent once more and leaned up to kissed her forehead. Tears dripping again on to her pale cheek.
"Excuse me alpha there is someone here to see you." a gentle voice, female spoke to him. He could not think of her name off the top of his head, Kimmy he thought it was.
"Thank you." she sent the image of the front room to Mika and he left the small group to see who the fuck dared to improach on his personal hell.
With every step away from Ari's body Mika's anger grew. *What fucking blood sucker thought it would be wise to speak to me right now!* he growled. Images from other wolves revealed it was a lone figure in a dark cloak. The figure's face was well hidden in the cloak's shaddows.
Mika reached the top of the stairs and jumped down in one swift move to stand right infront of the person.
"Who dares to enter **my** home this day?!" he growled.
The lone figure gave no certain shapr as the cloak was from the top of their head to the floor. No feet could even be seen. In height they were smaller than Mika, especially since he was in his partial form towering over the person. The scent of fresh rain and moss rolled off them. A tiny pale hand moved up to pull back the grey colored cloak hood. Strands of white hair could be seen as the cloak clowly feel back.
Mika starred in disbelief.