Chapter 35

A/N: There will be some dialect styled typing in this chapter. I don’t believe there are any mistakes.
Tyson
Things died down, but I chose to stand outside and look at the graves. They’d buried them on the packhouse back property, that should we ever come back… our officer’s quarters face this way…. We will never forget…
I know I can’t.
My hellish eyes cast dim crimson light over the silent monuments. The moon was out as well, still red… Grandmother is still upset, though not as much as she was during Harvest.
At least those souls now reside on the safest Layer, in the safest section of it… I’ve seen the ancient city in only dreams, but the Roman town is as big as a country… It does not end since every evil soul that has ever existed ends up on a Layer, divided by the sin, run by a Layer Lord.
“Alpha…. I mean your highness; can I have a word?” Asked Warrior Ludvick.
“I mean I’m still Alpha of RoyalMoon if that title is better.” I chuckled to try and ease some of his nerves. It looked like he *wanted* to say something earlier, but there was a frog in his throat. “Speak Warrior.”
“…Lord Kaizen was mindless, not rabid.” He said firmly. “He was in an absolute panic over the mortal.”
“She tricks him.” I said firmly.
He stood there a long time. His eyes were lit up with his wolf, who wanted to leave me be.
“As I said, speak your peace. I won’t reprimand, nor be angered at you.” I said choosing my words carefully. I heard what he was going to say… I must admit; it already pissed me off.
“…. I… I *saw* sire.” He bowed his head. Now he had my attention. “He held the woman like you hold ‘ur mate… There was no deception: that ginger *is* his mate sire. Please believe me sir… I think it will alter your rulings.”
“Of all the wolves here, you are the most damaged…” I mumbled. “Your mate still lives, yet will never wake because of the man who looks like me. Who sounds like me. Who sliced the red thread of your bond by slaying your mate… Why do you defend him?” I asked.
“Rachel told me to forgive him sir. Last thing she said… I honor it. He’s still Beta to me sire… I feel.” He paused. He knew it was something I didn’t want to hear. As it was, my eyes’ dim crimson light was now bright red, casting shadows along the trees… “I feel like if everyone would have let him run off, gave him room, he would have come to his senses sir.”
“Yet instead I stand in front of 24 graves. As King, those may as well have been *my* murders. I was responsible for your protection, and I failed.”
“Alpha, how could you fail over a thousand miles away? Maybe more.” He said with crossed arms.
“That may be true, however I was the one who appointed and trusted him.” I said crossing mine.
“And there’s also the fact that everyone tried subduing a demigod sir.” He said pleading Kaizen’s case… He’d thought of this before approaching me.
“And his duty at that point was to stand down.” I said Firmly. He looked at me, wondering did I want Kaizen to die, but I don’t….
I don’t know what I want anymore. He’s not the only priority.
“Please consider my words.” He mumbled before leaving.
“I will. You have my word on that.” I said honestly. I would mull over this… Death by my hands will be permanent. Kaizen won’t be able to come back up to this realm once he’s killed… but then would he plot Below? How far will this go?
I still just couldn’t fathom grandmother giving Kaizen a *mortal*.
It isn’t that we’re too good for a human; it’s that they belong to the Light Court. The same Court that put a slash across the face of the Moon Goddess, the same court to imprison her for thousands of years…. The Same Court That Disowned Her. She’d have to not only negotiate with them, but she’d have to had endured the belittling while STILL imprisoned…
She was released from her kidnapping in our 20’s, before the mortal was born… For them both to be linked, she’d have had to get the permission before *Kaizen* was born as well….
So I still feel as if this is unrealistic at best….
But I did not feel right asking…. And neither of them have said anything.
It made me wonder was I even doing something that pleased them… Likely not…. Grandfather… He does value order, but we are his actual blood, not just his ‘children’ as he calls his creations… Even for them, if convinced he *will* bend rules… or break said rules for a wish if someone earns it.
With wishes however… those who are dumb enough to ask for anything without grandfather’s favor usually end up regretting it.
Dearly…
“Oh Remmi! You’d have loved this.” Shouted Warrior Nickelson; he drunkenly staggered to his mate’s grave, purposefully pouring some beer on top of the headstone. “Have one last one buddy… Fuck. You know Yazmine lost her first tooth….” He ran hands through coffee hair, a smidge lighter than mine. “Damn I miss you, you lil shit. The house’s too fucking quiet without you or Vine yip-yappin’…. Don’t have too much fun without me.”
“Come Over here too Alpha… Have one last one, for old time’s sake.” Said a man I’d never seen before, but he smelled of packwolf. The coffee haired mortal’s probably related to Nickelson. Either that, or he traveled for the wake.
I didn’t really drink… but for his sake I went on ahead and grabbed a beer out a cooler.
“I don’t know what to say, but I hope you all hear… Forgive my brother… He will see you all soon.” I poured a little on each one after taking the first sip… I knew this little ritual was more for the people. That they saw me kind of ‘sendoff’ their loved ones personally, probably gave them more closure than I could understand.
This was the good stuff too, but it seemed I did attract a bit of a crowd. I didn’t say anything… I just let them all have one last taste.
“Thank you.” Said the packwolf. It was odd he was *so* casual, but I welcomed it.
“It’s the least I can do…. If there is anything I could have done to stop this, I would have.”
“I know…” Said the packwolf. “I’m Dr. Sampson; I’m off duty of course.” He chuckled.
“Enjoy the party.” I said handing him a beer.
“My wife Lilly and I share our condolences. It’ll work out.” He said patting me on the back, leaving.
“I know.” I mumbled.
It was strange how casual that mortal was, however, I wouldn’t question him. The man who literally runs the planet is stuffing his face inside. I could stay outside, knowing my mate was safe.
I listened to them all happily chatter, now that the mood became drunken joy. I watched some of the wolves go speak to the graves of their loved ones now that I’d sent them off ceremonially… I saw Xaxas allow their connection to be one way so the dead could hear their loved ones one last time, but I’m sure he didn’t want me to outright say anything.
If I did, everyone would flood the small cemetery, and he’d be a messenger boy… a one-way ticket to his temper: Being interrupted. He’d heard me with his warning glare, but I ignored. Uncle’s having too much fun to waste his time smiting.
“Chug, Chug Chug!” Yelled the Warriors in the kitchen… They were getting Samira to join them by chugging apple juice out the fridge…
She literally shined a little with her grin.
She doesn’t realize her radiance now. Samira does well as Queen, even though she’s green, and naturally sweet.
/Sorry Ty-your highness… for earlier./ Said Libby.
“You did nothing wrong. You hurt too.” I said petting her hair. I need to stop being to doting to Omegas; people will begin to think things.
Or troublemakers *say* things.
And I let her hug me. It did get some attention, just like I didn’t want, but Libby is probably as innocent minded as Samira. She has a mate, so do I now…
/Sorry again!/ She was about to leave when I kneeled to her eye level.
“Again, you did nothing wrong, little sister.” I said holding her hand and looking around for her mate… Where was Warrior Gizmo?