CHAPTER 16
1064 Words
Death.
That’s what it signified. A mighty death had taken place.
The dark clouds that loomed over the pack meant only one thing.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, fear tightening in my chest. My black eyes were wide with panic as I pushed forward. Around me, the pack was in chaos—whispers turning to frantic questions, uncertainty filling the air. But deep down, we all knew the truth.
The Alpha was gone.
The weight of the realization stopped me in my tracks. My heart pounded against my ribs, the sheer magnitude of it crushing.
“You have to stop running, Princess Elodie.”
Jessica’s voice came from behind me, breathless from chasing after me.
“I don’t think your husband will want you out here like this. We have to go back inside, please.” She pleaded softly, concern etched into her voice.
For a moment, I just stood there, the grief pressing down on me like an unbearable weight.
Even Zoe, who always had something to say, was silent. The fear of the unknown coiled tight in my stomach.
Slowly, I turned back, wiping away the tears that burned in my eyes. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it.
When we returned to the house, the silence was deafening. The pack had already retreated indoors. That was our custom. When someone powerful died—especially an Alpha—no one stepped outside for two days. It was our mourning period.
I sank onto a chair, my mind spinning with thoughts of Williams. He had always tried to stop his father from leaving the safety of the pack. He feared the unknown, feared something like this happening.
And now his worst nightmare had come true.
I knew he would blame himself, even though it wasn’t his fault.
The Moon Goddess, who gave life and took it away, had called the Alpha home. There was no questioning that.
“Do you know where Williams is?” I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jessica hesitated. “He’s either in the house or with the council of elders, preparing for the funeral.”
A fresh wave of sorrow washed over me. The Alpha had treated me like a daughter. He had protected me, made sure I was safe, made sure I felt at home here. And now he was gone. The pain of his loss twisted in my chest, sharp and unrelenting.
Jessica excused herself, promising to find out as much as she could.
But even as she left, my thoughts were consumed by Williams.
How was he going to bear this?
He never wanted this burden. He wasn’t ready for it. And now it had been thrust upon him without warning.
When Jessica returned, her eyes were red-rimmed, her expression solemn. She wiped at her cheeks, sniffling.
“He died in his wolf form.”
Her voice broke, and then she sank to the floor, wailing in anguish.
A fresh ache tore through me.
For an Alpha to die in his wolf form meant only one thing—he had fought until his very last breath. He had been protecting his people, his pack, until the end.
The grief was too much to contain. Before I knew it, I was sobbing, my cries filling the silent room.
Two Days Later
The mourning period had ended, and the pack finally emerged from their homes.
The Alpha had been buried, laid to rest with the honor he deserved.
But I still couldn’t step outside—not yet. Not until the formal ceremony.
Because soon, Williams would be named Alpha.
And when that happened, I would become Luna.
The thought sent a fresh wave of fear through me.
I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t been trained for this.
I had no idea what to do.
And that terrified me more than anything.
I was eager to see Williams.
I needed to know how he was holding up, how he was processing all of this—how he was going to cope with the pain of such a devastating loss.
“Zoe, can you reach out to Ian?” I asked my wolf, knowing she was the only one who could help me now.
The uncertainty that clung to the air was suffocating. I needed answers. I needed to hear his voice.
I waited in silence, my heart pounding as Zoe reached out.
Minutes passed. Then her response came, her voice laced with regret.
“He’s shut down the mind link. And since he hasn’t marked us… I can’t find him.”
The words struck me harder than I expected.
He was all alone in his grief. He was carrying this unbearable weight on his shoulders with no one to share it with.
“Try again,” I pleaded, my hands shaking. The fear, the uncertainty—it was all too much.
Zoe was silent for a moment before responding.
“He doesn’t want to speak to me. He’s completely shut us out.”
I sat there, my chest tightening. There was no way to reach him. No way to help him.
The cool night air brushed against my face, and with everything weighing on me, I knew what I needed.
A run.
I had too much on my mind, too many wild thoughts swirling in my head. I didn’t know what to do with any of them.
Walking to the open field, I let the breeze wash over me, willing it to ease the fear rooted deep inside me.
Tomorrow, Williams would be officially named Alpha.
The pack had given him a few days to grieve, to gather his thoughts. But tomorrow, the ceremony would take place.
As I approached the large tree where I usually left my clothes before shifting, I froze.
Someone was there.
A familiar presence.
“Williams?” I called softly.
His scent was already filling my nose—warm, familiar, unmistakable.
Slowly, he turned to face me.
And my heart shattered.
This wasn’t the strong, confident man I knew.
The man standing before me was broken.
Completely, utterly broken.
I walked toward him, my movements hesitant.
Then, without thinking, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around him.
He didn’t resist.
He didn’t push me away.
Instead, his body welcomed me, as if seeking the comfort he so desperately needed.
- Writer
