Control

Arrangements

                I laid in my bed, the sun was coming up from the east, and I could hear the birds chirping. Somewhere on the grounds was the sound of a lawnmower. That is the thing about death, I guess. One family, one pack, could have their world turned upside down but everything else keeps moving. We experience the most monumental and heartbreaking moments, but somewhere in the universe, someone else is having the most amazing time of their life. People still go to work, they keep moving. We had to keep moving too.

                When we arrived last night, I was ushered quickly inside by Dante and Jason. Victor met us at the door and Dante’s guards moved around the house. I made my way through the house, with the men surrounding me and everything they were saying turned to white noise when I made it to the back part of the pack house and saw my father. He was standing tall and proud looking down at a table with a white sheet covering it and the body of a woman. The body of my mother. He was in a plaid button up and Levi’s, splattered with blood. Most of it was covering the front of his shirt and arms. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, he was the one that found her. Knowing my father had felt the same immense pain of a mate bond severed made my stomach turn over. He turned to look at us as we entered the door, and I saw the glisten in his eyes.

“Leave us.” I said to the gathering of men behind me. Without another word, Jason turned and began to lead the men to my office. He mind linked me to let me know they would be there when I was ready. I approached the table to the right of my father.

“Jade.” The way he said my name sounded foreign.

“I’m sorry, Dad.” I reached out to touch him but paused. The amount of physical affection this family has shown since we lost Noah has been obsolete. His face was solemn, but his eyes were lost, blank. I faced the bloody sheet covering the body. “I’ll handle all of the arrangements.”

“That’ll be fine.” He rubbed my mother’s hand from under the sheet. “Your mother would warn against vengeance.”

“I understand.”

“However”, he turned to meet my gaze, “I am not opposed to such actions.”

“Consider it done.”

I made my way out of the door to see Dante waiting for me.

“I sure hope you weren’t ease dropping.”

“Never, Alpha Grey. Your council is waiting in your office.” We walked quietly through the house. I took a deep breath once I saw the office and felt him place a chilling hand on my shoulder and gave me a light squeeze. The slight affection was just comforting enough. Normally, I wouldn’t allow this kind of contact but something about Dante made me trust him.  I entered the office with my head held high and my pride intact.

“Ok, let’s get to work.”

We made the decision for families on the outside of the grounds to move into bunk houses. Jason and Victor were setting up perimeters and curfews with Dante, I limited access to the grounds, and made arrangements to turn our cinema room into a temporary vampire den. Our meeting had ended just shy of 5am and I’d been laying in bed staring at the ceiling for the last 2 hours. Today I would need to make arrangements for my mother’s funeral, I would need to contact surrounding packs. The idea of fear spreading through our kind made my anxiety skyrocket. I got up and changed into a tank top and joggers. I felt the need to move.

I ran through the trails close to the pack house, keeping an ear out for any disturbance. The sun was high in the sky and the threat of vampires was a non-issue. I ran for a few hours and started back towards the house. As I was approaching the house, I saw a black car coming up the drive. Three people stepped out of the car and turning towards me was a 6-foot-tall, fair skinned man. His red hair was wild and curly, and he was wearing a white V-neck and dark jeans. He flashed his sparkling teeth at me and from across the yard.

“Awright lassie! Git ower 'ere!”

I smiled and made a b-line to the group, “Brodie!” He picked me up and spun me around. Brodie was the Gamma to our sister pack in Scotland. My mother’s sister had been mated to their Alpha and we kept in touch. Brodie was 3 years younger than me and had grown a bit since the last time I saw him. The other’s with him approached me, my aunt’s eyes were red and swollen. They must have left Scotland as soon as they heard the news.

“Luna Ruby”, I bowed my head in respect. Her arms wrapped around my neck and she pulled me in close. Aunt Ruby was a larger woman and a few inches shorter than me. She was more grey than not and her skin was vastly freckled across the nose, she had the same eyes and lips as my mother.

“Oh Jade, I’m so sorry” Her body began to shake as she cried. Ruby was mother’s only sister and was 5 years her elder. I squeezed her back and peeled myself away, but holding onto her arms. I simply smiled at her. I knew if I tried to speak, tears would flow and this was too public of a setting. Omega’s and other pack members had begun to crowd around, looking to see who was visiting.

“Mibbie gie th' lassie a break Luna!” Brodie laughed while sensing my wariness. His laugh was deep and bellowed around us. I was introduced to the third person with them as an Omega assigned as security detail. My father came out and walked inside with my aunt. I stayed behind the commotion. Aunt Ruby was a tad dramatic and I didn’t know if I was ready for that. Brodie stayed behind and nodded towards the swing set off to the left off the house. He and I walked over and got on the swings, the old set creaked as we sat.

“Its been a long time, Brodie.”

“Ay, lest time a clocked ye wis whin Luke died.” 10 years ago to the day since Noah and Luke passed. I couldn’t believe that much time had passed. “Ye lewk guid, Jade. Muckle better than th' lest time a clocked ye.” His remark made me smile. Last time that visited was for Luke funeral, and I was still just the shell of a person. Our whole pack was rocked from that battle and I don’t remember many of the days that followed, but the few memories I have from the few weeks after the funeral, were with Brodie.

“Brodie, I’m happy you’re here.” I looked at him with a genuine smile. His warm presence had a way of easing me. Jason I trusted, but I felt the need to protect him. Brodie made me feel safe. His eyes lit up and I heard the front door open. An omega was motioning for us to come in, I guess lunch was ready. Brodie stood up first and held his hand out to help me up. We walked inside laughing and making jokes from the memories we had together. The encounter made me feel lighter, made lunch easy, before I had to bury myself in the office. Now I had to decide on how my pack, my father, and myself would celebrate and say good bye to Luna Pearl.