45

The pack members gathered to send off their fallen brethren. Two massive burial pillars had been erected in the front of the pack house. Tonight, the skies seemed to cloud over and hide her stars as if she too grieved their loss. Every member was present, Mika could even see the new group as they remain a short distance away to watch their customs. No one spoke, you could barely hear the rustling of bodies as everyone came to stand in their place. Ari and Mika stood facing the pack on one side of the pillars. Devion and Theo were on either side flanking the alpha couple. When everyone settled Mika stepped forward, speaking loudly, “Brothers, sisters tonight we will send off three of our own across the Veil. They each had a life, they each loved and had sadness. But they were never alone as in a pack we all stand as one. We will all feel that love, will all feel that loss. I thank you brothers and sister as you helped us to free one of ours and claim a new home for the pack. your sacrifice will never be forgotten."
Mika looked to Cordilla asking if she would say a few words before the fires were lit, she agreed and stepped before the bodies. As she spoke Mika could hear a low hum. She bowed her head for a brief moment, which was when the humming hit its peak. Mika looked around no one else seemed to pick up on this subtle change. A smile spread across Cordilla’s face, and she raised her arms. "Brothers and sisters, Mitchell and Georgia are once more reunited and are in peace. They were greeted by their daughter they had lost many years ago. The joy they have now is wonderful. Their souls are at peace, and they welcomed this release." her voice booming for all to hear. She stepped closer to Clarance's resting place. Again, the low hum, however she took a few seconds longer with the fallen guard. "Clarance has yet to pass the Veil. He wants his pack to know that he was happy to lay down his life for what is right. He loved Alpha Kelon as his father and alpha. He wants the pack to right the wrong and he will be at rest." lowering her arms she looked at Mika, sadness marring her otherwise perfect features. Mika leapt up to Clarance head atop the pillar, a lit torch in his hand. "Brother rest, your guard has ended. We will right what has been wronged. Your loyalty is above all. Thank you brother." he lit the dried timber watching the flames spring to life. He leapt from Clarance's body to Mitchell and Georgia's. He smiled kindly down as their hands had been laid one on top of the other, forever together before lighting their bodies too.
The dried timber caught nicely and soon the flames licked up engulfing the bodies. Heat and light bathed the pack as they sent their fallen off. The smell of burning wood and body soon spread around them.
"Should we be concerned about deaders?" Ari whispered to Devion as Mika was still close to the pillars. Devion shook his head, "They shouldn't we still have the traps up and Mika thinks the vamp heads will help." He jerked his head toward several spikes sticking out of the ground just past were all the pack members stood. Ari saw them in the distance, barely as the flames flickered she'd catch glimpses of various heads skewed in a grotesque version of fence posts.
Many of the members stayed till the the bodies had burned, and even fewer as the fire continued. The females began to take the smaller children inside to rest. Talia came by Ari and whispered her good night as she headed inside with her waddle. “She won’t be too much longer. My bet is she won’t make it past the full moon in three days." Theo said quietly as she came up beside Ari. "You think so?"
"Yes the moon always brings....interesting things out in people and animals. Chaos and life. Expect Mika to be a bit more on edge, as all the males may be as the moon fills. He will be at his peak strength, some cocky adolescences sometimes try to take on alphas then. I do not see such in this group, but nature has a way keeping up in line just in case. As for life." he grinned wickedly, “babies are made and tend to come on full moons."
Ari chuckled, "well ok then." she blushed at the thought of having a baby with Mika. It wasn’t that it was an unpleasant, she just wasn't sure she was ready for something like that yet. Hell, it wasn't just a short few months ago she was alone with no direction of a future and now look at her. She will be the luna o this pack, and she needed to know more of what is expected of someone in that position. She knew from past talks with Mika that children were expected. She choked down the thought again. *But what else?* She watched as Mika seemed so fixed.
Mika remained at his post, several males came and placed their hand on Mikas shoulder as they retired. Mika did not speak he simply nodded his head and stood somber. Ari stepped up to him slipping her hand into his. "Can you tell me about this custom." she said softly.
"As standing alpha, it is my duty to watch that the remains are released so that the bodies cannot be resurrected. I was their alpha, I protect my people in life and even at the time of death. You do not have to stay if you do not wish to." Ari looked back at the glowing embers and various shapes the debris had created. "Would a Luna stand with you?" Mika smiled, "Yes, traditionally she would."
He squeezed her hand lightly, "Then I will stay." and there they stayed well into the night watching as the fire took away any material that was once wolves. It was peaceful in a sense, watching as the fire cleansed their bodies and released them as tiny bits of glowing embers. Each ember dancing up into the dark night sky making them the only stars to be seen as cloud cover had obscured the natural ones.
It wasn't till nearly dawn when no more of the bodies could be recognized and Mika was satisfied in his duties. They turned to retire in their chambers, Ari ready to lay still, and Mika still scanning. It did not escape his notice that the one called Zeek still stood watch in the distance. His figure still and being watched also by one of the scouts assigned to him. Mika sniffed the air once more, no additional scents floated on the wind. No threats just curiosity. Zeek noticed Mika's gaze and dipped his head before turning to leave himself.
Mika made a mental note to question that boy more when he had more time.

Zeek watched as the alpha couple disappeared into the pack house. He was no stranger to sleeping away from the pack. Since he was a young boy King Henry had all the male boys taken from their homes and sent to the boundaries. Only the strongest and most loyal were permitted to live in the pack house with him and his mates. Rumor had once been said that there were even some males who had been "relieved' of their male members to become a castle guard. Zeek shuttered at the thought. He had no idea that packs do things differently though. He was willing to either see what life was like under alpha Keleon or risk becoming a rouge then to go back to king henry’s tyranny. He noticed tonight there were a mix of sexes and ages in the pack ad found it odd. Mika standing guard instead of giving the order to one of his other men struck a chord with Zeek. He had never seen a leader actually do anything other than superficial ceremonies. The cloaked guard did not follow him into the building but remained outside to ensure no one got the bright idea to sneak off. Back at their new "home' Zeek was greeted by Cliff on fireguard. He was a tall man equal to Zeek in height, but slightly broader. He may have been two years older than Zeek, who was in his early twenties. They looked so much younger than their age thanks to poor nutrition and overall health. “Got tired of watching fires did you?" he grunted.
"I stayed as long as the alpha did." Zeek replied.
"Really now? It is almost dawn." Cliff sounded slightly interested.
"Yeah the luna stayed with him too."
"Interesting. Have you learned how many mates he has?"
"Honestly? I have only seen one female near him. He does not look at any others, he will speak to others, but it is with respect not pursuit."
"And the luna? any other mates?"
"I did see her speak with both the beta and omega. But again, there was no appearance to be anything more. This pack is not like the one we have left Cliff."
Cliff grunted in response. "We will see. Everyone has secrets."
Zeek shrugged and went to lay down in the corner he had laid all his worldly possessions at earlier in the night. A tattered bag with two changes of clothes, and a few knives. It was not much that was everything he had held on to. The knives had cost him a to obtain as the soldiers weren’t paid and the barter system was king among them. 3 months doing sewer duty. Zeek gagged at the memory of the smell. God he hated it the entire time. But the quality of the blades had been worth it. There was two of them, both Damascus steel. One being a short blade good for skinning or stabbing, but the second one. this is the one that really cost him. It was about the length of his forearm, it had a curve along the dull side. the blade itself was fatter toward the head than at the base. It was incredibly sharp. Zeek kept it sheathed in a deer skin wrap. The previous owner had warned him that the blade had a ledge that if it was ever drawn that the blade would demand blood as sacrifice. “If you draw it, it better be for blood. If you do not boy, I would shed my own blood that blade has been around a long time. No telling what magic it has had. Either give it the enemy's blood, or your own." the old guy had warned. The old man even cut himself as she had unsheathed it to show Zeek. Zeek didn't want to test whether it was true or not, so he had yet to draw it. He had his claws yes, but a life time of scrapping, and barely being able to shelter one’s self he was not in his peak physical. He had hopes that eventually as he grows that he was not stunted, and he would become stronger. *Only time will tell.* he thought.