Chapter 104
NADIA.
Iclutched my chest as Riley’s emotions came surging in.
My mate’s pain was so intense that I found myself sobbing for his agony.
Laura and Dad came around me, holding me tightly, and my eyes flew to Beta Dominic.
His hands were balled into fists, and from the expression on his face, I knew we had a casualty.
“Do we have casualties?” I asked the Beta, and he nodded his head in response.
“You need to tell me who…” I told him, my eyes threatening him not to lie to me or withhold any information.
“Luna…”
“Tell me…” I snarled at him as Laura hugged me from the side and I could feel my eyes dilating. I closed my eyes, trying to control my emotions. I didn’t want to add any more to Riley’s agony, and I didn’t want to worry him about my outburst.
“Zahra and Leandro,” he said in an almost inaudible voice. His gaze was anywhere but mine.
My mouth fell open as Laura’s shriek filled the room. Her body collapsed, but Dad was quick to catch her.
Jenny wrapped her arms around me. My tears were not falling as I looked at the emptiness in front of me. “We need to go there.”
“They’re on their way back here with the bodies.”
My feet moved on their own accord toward the entrance of the packhouse. I knew it would take time before they arrived, and I was still hoping it was a false alarm, that they were wounded but alive.
“What were they doing here? Why didn’t they say anything about them coming?” I didn’t know who I was asking, but I wanted answers.
I turned my head to look at Laura. “Did you know they’re coming today?”
“No. She said they’ll be here next week.” She was still crying, and I couldn’t look at her anymore.
My own tears were threatening to fall, but I held my ground. “Beta, can you make sure that all orders and protocols are in place? I’m not sure if Riley…” I couldn’t find the words to say next as the thought of my mate’s pain came crushing in again.
But I was thankful that Beta Dominic understood. “I’ve already taken care of it, Luna.”
It didn’t take long before two cars arrived. The twins ran from the car into my arms. I hugged them tightly while whispering consoling words, but I knew they were of no use at this point, while my eyes waited for Riley to come out of the car.
Soon, Gamma Sebastian emerged, carrying Zahra’s lifeless body, while Tristan carried Leandro’s. They gently placed their bodies on the grounds of the packhouse as Jenny wrapped a blanket around their bodies.
The tears that I was trying to fight off streamed down my face as sobs escaped my throat. Laura wrapped her arms around me as she stifled her own cries.
The twins kneeled down and were hugging their parents, while my eyes scanned the ground looking for my mate.
“Where’s Riley?”
“In the car,” Sebastian answered, his lips pursing.
I ran towards the car, opened the backseat door, and found Riley still sitting. His arms were still placed on his lap like he was cradling someone, and I knew he must have carried Zahra’s body on the ride home.
“Riley…” My tears poured out again as I looked at the pain in his eyes.
“She’s gone…” And his whole body shook.
The strongest man I’d ever met broke down and cried. I’d seen Riley shed tears, but never at this intensity. And I had no idea how I would console him when my own heart was breaking too.
I climbed onto the car and sat on his lap, cupping his face so he would look at me despite the tears in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, baby… I’m sorry.” I mumbled to him, choking on my own tears.
“I told her I loved her and that I was sorry. Nadia, I told her all this time I had never stopped loving her. She heard it. She smiled when she heard that. It was a good thing, right?” He tried to explain despite the sobs in his throat.
And I kept nodding my head as I tried to smile despite the pain. “You did well, baby. You made her very happy.”
“I wish I had hugged her the first time I saw her. I wish I had asked her to take me to the theme park she wanted to take me to when I was seven years old. I wish I could have shown her all the drawings I made of her. Nadia… I wish I were a better son.”
Riley kept mumbling those words, and my heart kept breaking for him.
Tell me, Goddess, how do I make him feel better?
“Riley, look at me. Look at me. Zahra was happy when you let her back into your life. And she died happy, knowing you loved her. That was what she wanted to hear. You gave it to her.”
“I told her I could heal her. But she chose him. She chose Leandro again over us. But I don’t hate her this time. I understand her.”
I didn’t know what happened in the battle, but from what he was saying, it felt like Leandro died first, and Zahra didn’t want to be saved because her mate was gone. I nodded my head as my hand brushed the hair off his forehead. “But it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you and the twins.”
“How do I say sorry for causing her too much pain, Nadia? Do you think she can hear me?”
“Mom never hated you. And you never caused her any pain, Riley. It wasn’t you. You need to let go of those thoughts.”
He nodded his head as he hugged me tightly. “Don’t leave me, Nadia. I don’t think I can survive without you.”
I cupped his cheeks again and peppered his face with kisses, our tears mixing with each other. “I’m not… going anywhere… You and me, Riley... It will… always be us.”
Riley’s lips captured mine fully as he kissed me passionately and deeply, pouring out all the agony and love he felt at the moment. I wrapped my arms around him, kissing him with the same intensity before I slowly pulled away.
“We have each other. We have to be strong for Bella and Ellie. They need you more than ever.”
He nodded his head as he wiped the tears from my face with his thumb and I did the same with his. “My pack and my sisters need me. And I will be there. But you, I need you. I need you to stay with me.”
“Forever, Riley. Always. I will be with you.”
BETA DOMINIC.
The Alpha didn’t want to prolong the burial for his mother and stepfather, and he wanted to keep the ceremony private.
After an hour, Zahra and Leandro’s bodies were burned, and the ashes would be buried in the cemetery assigned to the Alpha family. He chose to bury Zahra beside his father’s grave and Leandro’s beside Zahra.
Alpha Vesmont and Luna Graciella arrived, as well as their sons. Trent and Dawson immediately attended to their mates. And later, Alba arrived with her mate, Beta Paul. Alba informed me that Alpha Caspian wanted to come, but they respected Riley’s decision to keep the burial just for the family.
“... What the Moon blessed us with, the Moon will take back in time. May the memories of Leandro and Zahra Grayson forever live in our hearts as we surrender their souls back to the Moon...” Elder Rufus was stating his final honor to Zahra and Leandro, while my eyes scanned the cemetery grounds.
The pack was notified of the casualties and who they were and was informed that they were not required to be present at the burial. But there was a big crowd outside the gate of the private cemetery. They were in mourning alongside their Alpha.
Alpha Riley was summoned by Elder Rufus to say his final goodbye to his mother and stepfather. The Alpha nodded his head and took the Luna’s hand before they stood in front of the couple’s grave.
The Alpha let go of holding the Luna and slid his hand into his pocket, taking out the pack dagger that was only used during pack ceremonies.
He sliced his palm as he began speaking, “I, Alpha Riley Adams of the Silver Moon Pack, accept you, Zahra...” His voice broke, but he was fighting his tears from falling while the Luna was trying her best to stifle her sobs beside him.
“... and Leandro Grayson as members and part of the Silver Moon Pack. I vow to protect your memories and the people you love to the best of my ability. I swear this oath to the Goddess and to the wolves present today...”
He let his blood drop on the graves of Zahra and Leandro, and when he was satisfied, the Luna assisted him and wrapped his hand with a white cloth as the crowd gave him solemn applause.
THEODORE.
The packhouse was quiet, but it was not empty. It was in mourning.
The flag on the outer post was drawn midway. And the curtains were changed to black. The flowers decorating the house were now all white.
After the burial, Alpha Riley and Nadia requested time to mourn alone, so they retreated to their room.
The twins were with their own mates. Gamma Sebastian was busy rounding up the patrol team and taking charge of the security around the pack, while Beta Dominic was left to receive the condolences coming in through the phone lines or from the pack members who visited the packhouse.
Riley’s aunt, Luna Graciella, was helping him out.
I placed the glass of whiskey to my lips as I sipped the drink gently. My eyes were focused on the grounds outside. The sun was still up, and despite the presence of a few pack members who came in and out of the packhouse, the place felt hollow and empty.
“It was a surprise to see you here, Theo.”
I turned toward the voice and saw Vesmont approaching. I smirked at him before taking an empty glass and pouring whisky into it. I handed the glass to him before responding to his words. “It’s been a long time, Vesmont.”
Vesmont and I went to the same Alpha camp when we were younger. It was he, Marco, Jason, and I who built a tight friendship then. But after I was thrown out of my own pack and off my title, I didn’t bother to approach them anymore.
“It’s a small world, isn’t it? My nephew to your daughter.” He raised his glass and I did the same before we drank to it.
“Small world, indeed. How are you?” I asked.
“I should be the one asking you. Where have you been? I couldn’t believe you just gave up and threw away everything you worked hard for.”
“Sometimes you need to know where you need to raise a white flag.”
He smiled, but I could see the pain in his eyes, and my gaze followed his line of sight. He was looking out the window. His youngest daughter, Alba, was standing beside her mate and was speaking to Luna Graciella.
“You have wonderful kids. All grown up.”
“I do.”
“If I haven’t met Nadia, I’d say I envy you. But you’re lucky to have many. I hope they’re worth all the trouble.” I chuckled.
“Not an easy bunch to raise. But somehow, they turn out well, far better than I am.”
“Do you have any plans to retire? Your oldest son… I’m sorry. You know me, I talk when I can. No filters.”
He cocked his head to the side before he let out a faint smile. “I know, and I don’t mind. But to answer your question, I think I will be stepping down soon. Maybe it’s time to enjoy my time with Graciella before it’s too late. Before I lose everyone important to me.”