The Clash of Kingdoms

Consumed by Grief

Chapter 2

Adolphus was consumed by grief and wasn't in his right state of mind: "What you choose to believe elder Marcus is really not of my concern."

Snarling at Marcus wasn't his intention; however, he was getting on his nerves.

"The royal family has been slaughtered without mercy; somebody has to answer for this!" Marcus roared with teary eyes; he was also in pain.

"And you think that person should be me, huh, Marcus? Why don't you do us both a favour and kill me right now, Marcus? If it would help you feel better, it doesn't matter whether I live or die anyway."

Seeing the grief in Adolphus' eyes, Lucien intervened.

"Marcus, stop this ruckus. Can you not see how distraught the boy is? How can you blame him at a time like this? he has lost more than anyone in this room; he lost the only family that raised him and the love of his life." Lucien sighed and looked at Adolphus, who had fresh tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Tell me, elder Lucien, how do I live in a world where she doesn't exist?" Adolphus whimpered, slowly rubbing his chest where his heart was.

Elder Lucien knew this pain too well; he was raising his boy by himself without a mate.

He didn't know how to console Adolphus, so he only told him the truth.

"You will not live, my boy, but you will exist," he sighed and turned to address Marcus.

"Listen, Marcus, I know you are hurting, but we're all hurting; let us proceed with the burial first, and then we shall discuss this afterward."

Marcus saw the pain and anguish in Adolphus' eyes, and it made him sink down on the couch dejectedly.

Elder Lucien sighed, seeing his old friend dejected

...........................................................

Later that night...

The pyres for the royal family were ready; the dead warriors and all those who were present during the m******e would be cremated by their families in private ceremonies.

The Elders, Alphas, and their Lunas, along with Adolphus, would be present for the royal family's cremation.

Elder Lucien was openly sobbing as the queen and king's pyres were set on fire, not that anyone would blame him; he was close to them.

Some Alphas and Lunas were wiping their tears, others lowered their heads in grief; all in all, it was a somber moment.

Adolphus walked to Pandora's pyre; he ran his hand through her jet black hair, a habit he had when they were growing up. This time around, she wouldn't accuse him of messing up her hair.

The grief was consuming him alive.

He rubbed his chest with his right fist, trying to get rid of the pain in his heart.

He cried and gave Pandora a lingering kiss on her forehead.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, "It's time, bro," he heard Connor's voice behind him.

"I'm sorry, baby girl, I should have been there for you, I shouldn't have left, I should have protected you. Will you forgive me, Pan? Pan, I'm here now. Why won't you answer me? Are you still mad at me? Pan sweetheart." He was speaking incoherently, looking for any sign that she might come back to life, and Connor was hurting for his friend.

"Dolph, she's gone," Connor reminded him of the harsh truth.

"What are you talking about, man? Pan is right here; she's just mad at me because I was gone, but I'm here now. Will she understand, Connor? She's cold, maybe I should get a blanket for her."

Connor realised that Adolphus was now in denial, and he hugged him tightly.

"She is not mad at you, bro, and she is not cold, nor does she need a jacket; she is dead, Dolph," Connor emphasized the word dead, making Adolphus' body freeze.

Other Lycans and Alphas felt really sorry for him; they couldn't imagine it, and also hoped that they never felt the pain of losing their other half.

Lucien was crying his eyes out, witnessing the scene in front of him.

Adolphus turned around and held Pandora's hand. The pain in his heart returned tenfold, and he rubbed his chest to soothe.

"You have to let her go now, Dolph."

"I can't, Connor." his voice cracked.

"I know, bro, but you have to let her go, man," Connor said, squeezing his shoulder in a comforting manner.

"It's too final, man, I'm not ready to let go yet". He finished that sentence sobbing. Connor just held him as he lost balance and was falling to the ground.

Elder Marcus set Pandora Pyre on fire.

As the flames crackled, burning away her flesh, all the memories of their time together flashed one after another.

He wanted to reach out to her, to let her know that he was there for her, but he couldn't move; it was like being held in chains.

He heard someone screaming to be let go, but he didn't realize that the scream was coming from him.

He heard Connor's voice cracking with sorrow. Connor kept apologizing repeatedly for holding him back.

Adolphus could no longer take the pain, and he succumbed to darkness.