I stood around the pit that would hold the last of my childhood friends. Neo held my hand tightly, and Atlas held the other. Bree’s body was shrouded with a white cloth that had been blessed by Vilde, sprigs of lavender and rosemary adorned the fastenings. Her father, cousin, my father, and Alpha Jefferson helped lower her body into the ground; I still could hardly believe that she was gone…but I was glad that they had covered her; I had only caught a glimpse of what she had looked like before she died but it hadn’t been pretty.

When the shroud was in the ground, Vilde stepped onto the podium that had been erected for the ceremony; she was dressed in white, it resembled something a Greek goddess would wear and she had adorned her arms with rose gold bangles, her hair had been braided down her back. She looked like the images of Selene I had seen growing up. This was a Luna’s Rite, a last farewell to the Pack’s mother.

“We are gathered here as a Pack to bid farewell to a warrior, a future mother, a Luna that never was. Breanna Vivian Hammonds died at the hands of a monster…for only a monster could kill their own mate. She was a kind soul, a perfect compliment to my wayward son…she was a sister to my youngest son, a confidant to my eldest child, a friend to all. She died a horrific death but she died a fighter. I as the acting Luna of Purple Moon bless her soul with my love and send her off to the heavens to rejoin our Good Mother, let her body return to the Earth and nourish the soil and bring life where there was death.”

The tears were falling before I even realized I was capable of producing more. Neo discreetly handed me a tissue and then I watched as Bree’s mother dumped the first shovelful of dirt onto the shroud. When she turned around, her eyes were void of any emotion; but when they landed on me I saw a flash of anger and then she was guided away by Ri. One by one, the immediate family and close friends dumped their shovelfuls onto the shroud until it was my turn. With legs that felt like lead, I stepped forward and accepted the shovel from Atlas. I inhaled deeply before sinking the garden tool into the loose dirt; I avoided looking down…I wanted to avoid having to finalize her death, that she was gone too. I tried to remember that I wasn’t alone. I had Neo. I had my new pack. I had Atlas and the rest of the Jeffersons. I know Neo told me that I could cry as much as I wanted…but did I have any more tears to shed? The answer was yes. The tears fell and soon turned into sobs. I collapsed to my knees and cried and I remembered Bree in all stages of her life; 

I walked into my new friend's house, and was immediately tackled by a small blur of color and pigtails. She hugged my legs and then hid behind me, she wasn’t much shorter than I was but she had chosen me as her shield. 

“Protect me from big brother!” 

“Do you mean Sammy?” 

The little girl only nodded, and then Sammy came into view and he looked upset. He was holding a broken game controller and when he saw me he stopped mid stride. 

“Nate! When did you get here?”

“Not long ago.”

“Have you seen my sister? Yay big, wears a lot of pink and pigtails?” 

I looked behind me for a second and was met with the most convincing puppy dog eyes I’d ever seen, I turned back to Sammy,

“Nope, I haven’t seen her.”

***

“Nate, I can’t believe he’s gone!”

“I know Bree, I can’t either.” I held the crying girl to me, she was grieving her brother, I was grieving a boy that I thought I loved. 

“Will you still be my friend?”

“Of course I will.”

***

My bedroom door slammed open and then just as quickly it was slammed shut. I looked up startled and relaxed when I saw it was only Bree. She looked upset,

“Bree, what’s wrong?”

“Beckham is so…so…STUPID!”

“What did he do? You want me to beat him up?”

“He stood me up!”

“For a date? That’s not like him.”

“When I finally got a hold of him he told me he was looking for a birthday gift for you.”

“My birthday isn’t for another month.”

“I know! So not only did he stand me up, he’s lying to me. What should I do?”

“I don’t know Bree.”

***

“Take care of him for me?”

“I will, take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will.”

***

“Nate? You aren’t supposed to be here…”

“Babe, c’mon it’s time to go.” 

Neo roused me from continuing on the path of remembering the worst day of my life. He helped me up and led me away from the burial sight and back to our room. We were heading home tomorrow. I had laid to rest one of my best friends; and maybe if I had been more open to the signs I could’ve warned her. Warned her not to trust Beckham, to break up with him, to stay far away from him…but I hadn’t and I didn’t and now she was dead. No matter what anyone said, I would always blame myself for Bree’s death.

Vilde

I watched Nate be led away by his mate…for one so tall, he looked so small in his grief. Like the little six year old boy that I had let into my home covered in mud all those years ago. I would never see those three boys together ever again and that broke my heart, and now the little girl with pigtails was gone too. Three were dead, and one was traumatized and had the weight of the world on his shoulders and now so did my youngest child. I never meant for his name to be so literal.

I walked through the cemetery and stopped at an empty grave. Only a stone was there, this plot belonged to my son, he was given a monster’s send off. Burned and cast off into oblivion. I really hoped his soul found peace wherever he ended up.

“I will always love you…but I will remember you as the happy six year old who made new friends.”

I kissed my fingertips and placed them to the top of the stone,

“Goddess, have mercy on his soul.”

Selene 

Two souls entered the fields of Paradise. One was pearly white and luminescent, beautiful in the way it moved, the other was tainted with black and red. A tortured soul that had committed unspeakable crimes. I moved to greet them, welcoming the pure soul with open arms, my touch bringing forth who they had been in life, she was beautiful, black hair, jewel green eyes, and endearing freckles.

“Bree, I welcome you into Paradise. Venture forth and enjoy eternal peace.”

Bree smiled at me and went peacefully into the fields that expanded as far as the universe could see; her wolf beside her I smiled as the young souls frolicked…I would send them back soon, I made a mistake when I paired them with the soul still before me for judgment. I watched them disappear, and then I turned my attention to the tortured soul.

Many believed me to be a peaceful deity, but I could be vengeful. I was the Moon, I controlled the ocean, the night sky, the tides, emotions, and when someone messed with the natural order of my children’s lives; I got a bit vengeful.

I touched the soul, and Beckham Jefferson appeared before me. I wasn’t surprised, I should’ve interfered sooner but I thought transferring his fixation would solve everything; but it didn’t and that was on me. Beckham was…angry, and sad. 

“Beckham Jefferson you were given a pyre for your crimes so that your soul would be cast into oblivion. I interfered and brought you here. Do you know why?”

“You want to torture me yourself?”

“That’s the idea…you’ve killed two of my children and tried to forcefully mate with another. Did you think I would accept you with open arms? You spurned my gift of a mate, she was made just for you; to compliment every part of you and you threw it away. You killed her just like you killed her brother. Why? Did you think you knew better than I? I created your kind. I handcraft each werewolf soul. I paired you with your wolf, did I make a mistake there? Should I take him away?”

I trailed a finger down his face, and pinched his chin between my fingers. I made him look into my eyes and he had the decency to flinch away at what he saw;

“My uncle has promised me that you’ll have nothing but pain and sorrow for the next thousand years…but you see I don’t think that’s quite enough. I want you to see the one you obsessed over’s future. He’s destined to be happy, to grow old with his true mate and he never thinks of you again. I want you to live with that deep within that tortured soul of yours. Also, you’ll never see Nathan O’Rourke’s soul ever again. Do you want to know why?”

“Why?” he sneered, the audacity of this child,

“Because you’ll never be reincarnated; you’ve lost that right, that privilege. You’ll be alone in your own corner of Hell. Never to be reunited with your mother. With Nate. With any of your friends, and I’m taking your wolf. Calum tried to do the right thing and you overtook him. Goodbye Beckham Jefferson. I hope your eternal solitude teaches you a lesson.”

“What lesson?”

“Don’t piss off a lunar deity.” I sneered before snapping my fingers, making him disappear. Right into my uncle’s domain. Uncle will continue his judgment and then send him to his punishment.

Nate

Neo was reading on top of the covers, fresh from a shower, and he was shirtless. Well if he didn’t want to be interrupted, he should’ve put a shirt on. I crawled up from the bottom of the bed and forced my head underneath the book and settled myself against his chest, snaking my arms around his waist,

“Can I help you?” Neo asked, I could hear his laughter in his voice…which is what I needed. A little bit of sunshine on this non stop day of rain.

“You’re already doing it.” I whispered, snuggling deeper into him, “Continue reading, I’m going to take a nap.”

“Mm, sounds like a plan, love.”

I drifted off, but I didn’t sleep soundly. I heard the door open and Neo shift, I could practically see his death stare,

“Lilah you better have a good reason for barging into our room.”

“Oh! Shit, I didn’t know Nate was sleeping! I’ll come back.”

“Lilah, what is it?”

“The Alpha and Luna have invited us all to a barbeque later.”

“Thank you for telling us.”

“Nate is adorable when he’s sleeping! Can I take a picture?”

“Do so and die.” I growled.

Lilah squeaked and fled the room while Neo chuckled,

“Are you going back to sleep, love?”

“Mmhmm.”

***

              I woke up in the same position I had fallen asleep in, but the room was cast in late afternoon light, making the room much more cozy; or that could've been because of the warm and snuggly Alpha still beneath me. I craned my neck to see if he was still reading but found instead that Neo had fallen asleep, his book laid forgotten on the pillow beside him. His mouth hung open slightly, and his neck laid to the side; so cute! 

              Neo began to stir, and finally he graced me with his beautiful eyes, they were still clouded with sleep but when he saw I was also awake and looking up at him they brightened and a smile also graced his face, brightening his features and making him all the more handsome. I was glad he only smiled like this with me; I'd hate to turn into a jealous bitch. 

"When did you wake up?" 

"Just a few minutes before you. I was admiring the view."

Neo blushed deep crimson before he responded,

"Were you staring at me while I slept?"

"Is that a problem? You looked so cute! How could I resist?"

"I am not cute! I am a grown man!"

"It's even cuter when you deny being cute!" I said while tapping the tip of his nose before scrambling away before he could flip us so he could tickle me,

"Get back here!"