The dawn was cold. The cold winds beat against my body,
but it didn’t bother me. My eyes still burned from the cry that
lasted almost all afternoon but had ceased by nightfall. Jack
held my hand, the warm touch that still got me
reassure me, remind me that I was still alive. I saw a
movement through the corner of my eyes.
— It’s time— the Alpha of the pack communicated in a low voice. Jack nodded,
letting go of my hand and sending me a tender look.
I walked to where Victoria’s dead body was and looked at her
cold face one last time, keeping your image in my mind.
My throat closed. I pulled the white fabric to finish covering
the whole body of the female. I took a bunch of white roses that Ayla me
delivered and placed on his heart.
I looked at the moon and asked for strength to continue, I would not retreat now.
— You want to say something?— Jack asked me with a torch of fire in his hand
right and a bottle of whiskey in the other.
I squeezed my lips and took the bottle of whiskey, pouring the drink to
around Victoria’s body, on the raft of twigs and leaves, swallowing a
long sip of whiskey then. I heard the wolves arch in
surprise when Jack handed me the burning wood. Did you know that
only Alphas could perform that burial ritual, but that
they and their traditions went to hell at that time.
Jack nodded, as if confirming he wanted me to
do that.
I held the torch tight, trying to keep my breath calm and
looked at each of the wolves present. I spotted Nick standing next to
Mark, the male’s eyes shone, wore black clothes, leaving
evident her mourning for Victoria’s death.
Finally, I let the torch fall on the female’s body.
— Just as today’s fire consumes Victoria’s dead body, the flames
burned those who did harm to her and every female. I did not
I will rest until I find the band of strays from these lands, and do
they agonize to death— were my farewell words to Victoria,
reinforcing the promise I made to her.
Ayla pushed the wolf body with the help of the other females to
sail by the river. The raft floated over the waters, and all stayed in
silence in respect of that moment. I held my father’s necklace with
force, as if that object had the magical power to strengthen me.
— May the moon welcome her and make her rest in eternity. The valleys
green under the moonlight awaits, an immortal land waiting. Rest
in peace, valiant warrior, for her struggle has come to an end and has come to
time of reward— Jackson recited the motto of farewell and the sun
began to rise on the horizon, and Victoria’s body was transformed
in ashes.
"I’m tired of losing important people, one more death, more
a scar on the soul."
(....)
I continued on the lake for over an hour, the wolves were leaving
slowly, returning to their homes, to their normal routines as
if nothing had happened, as if a daughter of the moon had not taken
his life because he could not bear to live with the cruel memories of evil
they did to her.
Victoria was another victim of the strays. But she would be remembered
while I lived for your courage, would not allow your name
be forgotten.
The sun had already been born in the sky, nothing left but pieces of
twigs floating in the river waters. The grip on my chest
had not diminished, was still there, that open wound in my
soul would not be healed.
I felt a warm hand hold mine, a familiar touch that me
awakened from my daydreams. I found Jack beside me.
— Let’s go home, werewolf— he muttered, shorty.
I did not have the strength to answer it, just agreed with the head and
looked one last time at the river before returning home. I continued on
silence when we got home, went up to the room and took those
black clothes that smelled of ashes and death. I wore a short sweater
and I sat on the sofa in front of the window that was located opposite the river.
I heard Jackson’s heavy sigh before he sat next to me,
was silent for a few minutes, just watching me.
— You’re worrying me, Hayley— broke the silence.
I rubbed my arms, touching my knees against my chest.
— I’m trying to deal with this loss— I confessed in a whisper.
Jack left a kiss on my shoulder, taking his hand up to my chin
and pulling my face so I’d stare at him. Those green eyes
filled with affection and affection made me sigh, he pushed a
Lock my hair behind my ear.
— Remember I told you that grief should be felt? It’s that pain that you
will give you the strength to keep fighting.
Blinked to keep the tears from my eyes, it was being hard not
cry more for my failure to let Victoria lose hope.
— I’m so tired of losing people important to me, Jack,
I can’t take it anymore— my eyes burned.
Jack pulled me into his lap, snuggled me in his arms and supported
my head on his chest. His hand closed in my hair,
caressing the messy strands. Bite the lower lip hard to
not shed any more tears.
— I’m tired of so many losses, I couldn’t bear to lose more
someone— my voice wavered.
— You’re not alone, little wolf— promised Jack. — Your pain is my pain,
Hayley, we’ll face this together.
I raised my head to be able to observe his face. Jack left a kiss
soft on my lips, gentle and gentle. I held his neck and pulled him to
another quiet kiss, and somehow he managed to take one
little bit of my pain with your affection.
— You’ll never face anything alone, Hayley, I’ll always be with
you— swore against my lips.
— Do not make promises that you cannot keep— I replied, swallowing in
dry.
Jack held my face with his hands, eyes as bright as the
stars in the night sky.
— I don’t mind that I have to face all the darkness of the
world to reach you— my breathing accelerated. — You were a
gift of the moon, the best thing that happened in my life and I
I will never give up fighting for you.
And it was with those words that I was sure my heart had already
belonged to Jackson, my life partner destined by the Moon. With
tears in his eyes, I kissed him once more, each touch a whisper
of hope.
Ayla and Mark’s marriage was postponed a week because of death
of Victoria. The Alpha had decreed seven days of mourning for the death of the female
and no one dared to contest. Some tributes were cast in
river during those days by other females, honoring the brave fight of
Victoria. I threw a white rose into the river waters every day at
sunrise, if I closed my eyes, I could see Victoria on the day
I knew, right there, the body so small and wounded, a shattered soul. 1
Finally came the day of the wedding of Ayla and Mark, the
ceremony would be held the night and in a few days Jack and I
back to your city, to our home. My family did so much
lack that my chest tightened of longing, were a few days
separated, but to me it felt like an eternity.
During the week of mourning for Victoria, Jack and I did not talk
much, words were not necessary, he held me in his arms
every night, hugged me hard and didn’t let go. I had nightmares
some nights with Victoria being killed by unknown hands, and
When I woke up scared, Jackson was there to calm me down.
He stayed with me all the time, even when I lost control
two nights ago for the lack of progress in discovering the whereabouts of
lost. Fury and grief overwhelmed me, I had to kill a gazelle
in the forest not to take the risk of hurting some wolf in a moment
out of control. Jack reached me without much difficulty, I the
attacked and he allowed me to vent my anger on him, endured
my scratches, punches and slaps without complaining. And when I finally
I could breathe deeply, he hugged me and took me home.