Chapter 130: Let's Get Married

Chapter 130: Let's Get Married

Elena

Yesterday was such a chaotic day, Bernard and I managed to get to bed at 4 o'clock in the morning and woke up by 8 am because of the mass funeral today.

Kaba had gone back to this pack, he said he would be back soon to check on things here but I told him he didn't need to rush. He should handle his own issues with his Pack, we would manage.

I felt responsible for my Pack, I wanted to give them a fair shot at a normal and safe life and I knew that Crescent Wolf Pack offered them that. I needed to speak to them alone after the funeral, I needed to gain their trust.

I was just wearing the engagement ring when I met Bernard's eyes in the vanity mirror. Unlike human funerals, we don't wear black, we wear white instead to symbolize the ascension of the souls that were lost. I was in a long white dress and Bernard wore pants and a white button down with this family crest around his neck.

"How are you feeling today?" He stared at me through the mirror.

"Like my heart is in my stomach." I let out a nervous laugh.

"How are you?" He shrugged.

"I felt heartbroken for my people but a part of me is happy that it is not you I am mourning." I turned around to face him.

"Is that why you kept tossing and turning in bed last night? You thought you had lost me?"

He walked up to me and pulled me to his chest, he captured my lips in a soft kiss. The kiss told me many things I believe he did not want to say out loud but the loudest of them was telling me that he will never lose me. I pulled back and cupped his face with my hands.

"You will never lose me, I am with you for life. No matter what, I got you and I know you got me, okay?" He nodded and kissed my lips once more.

"You look beautiful, my love."

"Thank you, are you ready? It is almost time and we have to be there before everyone else is seated."

"Yes, let us go." He grabbed my hand and led me downstairs where Jasper and a few other warriors were waiting. They all bowed when they saw us, this was something I was still getting used to.

"Everyone has gathered in the meeting hall, Alpha. They all await your arrival now." Jasper muttered.

We walked out of the house. I had never attended a funeral before but I knew the basics of what was going to happen. Bernard will speak first and then I will address the congratulations and lead them in the chant ascension. All the dead bodies had been burnt yesterday and their ashes were ready to be spread. Each family member would carry the ashes of their loved ones, they would scatter them into the river and it would all be done.

I held onto Bernard's hand all the way to the meeting hall. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have been here but I had duties that needed to be attended to. When we arrived at the hall, there was an eerie silence about the building that had my heart breaking. I could hear the quiet whimpers of children, mothers, widows, and widowers as they mourned.

Bernard and I walked down the long aisle to the center stage where the elders, his parents, and Liam stood. Jasper walked behind us along with the other three warriors who had escorted us here. Normally, we wouldn't have needed the protection but tension was extremely high and grief made people do crazy things.
Bernard helped me up the stairs and I took them one at a time. My heart was hammering in my chest and the moment I had been dreading for so long was here.

We turned and stood in front of our people hand in hand, I looked over all the faces and saw a lot of red rimmed eyes and somber faces.

"Today," Bernard started.

"We lay our brothers and sisters to rest, we set them free and allow them to walk into the ascension so they may find everlasting peace. They fought bravely in battle and gave the ultimate sacrifice, not only to protect this Pack but to protect this land. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, their names will be etched in our history. We will remember them all.." He started mentioning the names of all those who died on the battlefield and their pictures displayed.

I looked to the left and saw Alisha and Jack sitting hand in hand. Her wounds had healed very nicely and had been discharged from the hospital. I hadn't had a chance to properly talk to her but I would make time after this is over.

"And now, your Luna will lead us in the ascension chant."

I opened my mouth to begin the chant but I faltered. I felt something was heavy on my chest that I needed to say. I didn't know how this would go over with the congratulations but I just knew what was on my chest needed to be shared.

"As you mourn and cry, I mourn and cry with you too. The sacrifices that were made yesterday will never be forgotten, not by me or my family. My children will learn of everyone's bravery and sacrifices, I will not lie to you, I felt like I had failed you all. I had thought that I could keep every one of you safe but I learned the hard way that you can't always save everyone. When it comes to war, there is always a give and take." I had thought that Bernard would have stopped me but he allowed me to keep going.

"Grief is a terrible thing, it can bring about two outcomes. It can either soften your heart or it can make you harden your heart to the point where you are closed off and bitter. I ask that you allow this grief to draw you closer to one another, that you may lean on each other and me for strength when you need to. All pain can serve a purpose and as our Pack grieves, I only hope that our pain draws us closer to one another and grows to love and respect we have for each other." I lifted my chin.

"We are one people."

I couldn't tell if they agreed with me or not, I hoped that my words would calm some of the anger they had brewing within them. We all saw what hatred and bitterness did to Richard and Nicholas, I didn't want the same for my people.

"Please stand for the ascension chant." They all stood up.

"Moon Goddess, our fortress and light. We send these souls to you and ask that you bring them home, may they find peace and rest in you alone. Our hearts mourn their loss but we know they are safe within your arms, soften our pain, and help us fill the void they have left. We ask you to lead our loved ones home in your magnificent name, Arvent."

"Arvent!" They all replied.

Everyone took their seats once more and waited for further instructions. Bernard and I stepped back and allowed Liam to take over the stage to instruct them on how to proceed to the river for the ceremony. I turned to my mate.

"I know I wasn't meant to say anything apart from the ascension chant but I felt like I needed to say that."

"I know," he smiled knowingly.

"That is why I didn't stop you, they are as much your people as they are mine. We lead them together, what you said to them needed to be said. It helped to calm some of the raging anger that was floating around."

I leaned into him as everyone started getting up to prepare for the walk to the river. Bernard and I would be the last to leave.

Being surrounded by all of this death and sadness really puts things like life into perspective. Life was so fragile and unpredictable, one moment you could be there and the next you were gone. Nothing except the present was guaranteed in this life.

I looked at my mate, suddenly feeling this wave of adventure take over me. I was never an impulsive person which was a contradiction to my past actions but I was always the person who did things after much planning and a lot of thought. With Bernard, I didn't want to sit and wait around for that perfect moment. That perfect moment is here and now that we are together. I turned to look at my mate.

"What?"

"I want to get married." He looked a little confused.

"We are getting married, my love. We are already engaged." I shook my head.

"No, I want to get married now. Well not at the moment, but in two weeks' time."

His eyes went wide with surprise. Maybe I had jumped the gun a little on that one but I knew what I wanted and I didn't want to delay it anymore. I only hope he felt the same way.