Hidden Killers: Shadows in the Dark (Book 3)

19 - Colt POV

Today... was the day that should have never been.

Today... was the day of the funeral.

Today... was the day we would bury all of the fallen pack members from the other night.

Today... was the day we would say goodbye to Austin.

Today... was the day we would say goodbye to Asher.

The atmosphere was heavy as everyone stood around the funeral pyres that had been set up in the courtyard. The physical stains of battle had been cleared, but the mental scars will remain forever.

There were fifty nine funeral pyres in total, all with a coffin sat on top of it - a member of either White Crescent or the Denast Coven; most of the coffins were members of White Crescent.

We thought it would be best to have joint procession, but the Denast Elders had to do a lot of persuading to get Adelaide and Maeve to agree. They wanted to prolong it. They wanted to allow people time to grieve. But, after the talk with their Coven Elders and then speaking to the family members of the deceased, they reluctantly agreed.

Abby, on the other hand, was none too pleased. She was standing coldly, like a statue, to my left as she looked across at the scene.

She did not dare lower her eyes down. If she did, she would have been looking at the smaller pyre that had been set up for Asher.

Hell, I did not even dare lower my eyes. I had to maintain ny composure for the pact, I was their leader so I needed to show that I was being strong for them. But, by the Goddess, everything inside of me was overwhelmed by grief.

Even Ash, the one who hates any strong displays of human emotions, was whimpering in my head. Each whine was a dagger to my heart, but I wouldn't push him aside. We needed this.

Deep inhale... here we go...

"Today..." I had to swallow a lump in my throat before continuing. "We are here to mourn the loss of the fallen, to honour the sacrifice they made for the good and preservation of our two races. We thank them for their courage and their bravery. May the Moon Goddess take them in her embrace as we send them on their final journey."

My head tilts towards Abby - she was blankly looking across the field. "Would you like to say a few words?"

She slowly shook her head. Her hand had been clasped in Helen's since the start. The grip tightened as she dared not look at me. I could feel her anger merging with the sadness. I wonder if she could feel that that was what I was feeling too?

I pick up the torch that was in front of me. The flames twist around the wood as the wind gently rolls through. Looking to the crowd, I signal for them to follow. "Please say your final goodbyes before we light the pyres."

My eyes turn to Abby again. "Would you like to say something to our son?"

Her head shook slowly again as she turned her head away from the pyres, no longer able to look.

A heavy sigh left me as I leant over Asher's coffin, resting a hand on top before I spoke to him. "I am so sorry, my son. This is not what I had hoped for you. I wish you find peace in the afterlife."

I wipe away the tears that were falling from my eyes before turning back to Abby one last time. She didn't dare look at me but I knew she was listening.

"Do you wish to do the honours?" I held out the torch towards her.

"Honour?" She snapped back, turning her eyes to meet mine. "Where is the honour in this?"

"Abby, please. Not here, not now." Helen tries to reason with her.

"I have the right to feel these emotions, Mum."

"Yes, you do. But, please remember that their are others here who are grieving their loved ones." Helen squeezes her hand to try and reassure her daughter that she was there for her, to support her as Helen also said goodbye to her grandson.

Abby's eyes squeezed shut as she tried to hold back her tears, but they still found their way through the cracks.

With one final glance at my mate, I ran the torch along the base of the pyre. They began as a flicker before they rolled up the timber and began to kiss the coffin.

The rest of the pack did the same, including Naomi, who had Tyson and Teagan standing beside her, all followed suit and began lighting their pyres. My heart stung watching the flames begin to flick the edges of Austin's coffin.

Walking backwards, I moved myself to stand next to Abby. The Denast Coven members began to raise their hands to the sky, turning the smoke and embers into dusts of magic that glistened with the stars.

The next words I hear are ones that cause a panic to rise inside of me, and they came from Abby. " I can't be here anymore."

My hand surges back to take a hold of her free hand as she goes to walk away. I do not dare look back at her as I continue to watch the pyres burn bright. "We cannot leave. We have a duty to our pack."

She wriggles in my grip as she tries to break free. "Colt... I don't want to be here anymore. I don't want to see this. Let me go."

I glance back at her - her eyes were pleading with me. But I couldn't. The tough life of being the leader. We cannot leave for our sake. We leave once the pack is ready to leave. "Abby, please. You have to stay." I whisper shouted at her - I was trying to maintain my composure but with everything going on around us, the cracks were beginning to show.

"Colt. I don't want to." She tried to yank her hand free but my grip was strong.

"You are the Luna now, Abby. You have to stay. You have to be here for the pack."

"Surely they can understand if I left. I would no hold it against them if they left." Her words were hitting home but I couldn't let my personal feelings outweigh me here.

I was taught from a young age that, as leaders of the pack, we had to stay behind to show our respect to the fallen, no matter who it was. My parents had to hold me firm when I watched all of my grandparents' funerals. I did not get the chance to witness my father's funeral but I made sure that I did not shy away for my mother's funeral.

My whole body begged me to turn away at each one of those events, including today, but I had to take deep breaths and stand firm.

"We have to show our respects to the pack. Their loved ones sacrificed themselves for the good of the pack, which in turn means they sacrificed themselves for us. We have to stay, even if that means we are the last to leave."

"But..." Abby stutters as she tries to find the words to say. "I don't want to watch my son burn."

My breath was shaky as I responded. "Neither do I."

A hand clasps my cheek - her hand. The one that had been in Helen's grasp. "Then please, we can go."

I hold that hand against. This was going to hurt. "I'm sorry. We can't."

A mixture of shock and disbelief crossed her face that had been riddled with sadness and anger as her hand tried to withdraw. She couldn't believe that I had refused on our behalf.

But I couldn't be Colt, Abby's mate, right now. I had to be Alpha Harris.

Her hands tried to withdraw again as ths fires grew higher and higher. I held her there, begging she would forgive me for this one day.

"No, no! Colt! Please! I don't want to be here." She cried as I pulled her towards me, holding her tightly as I tried to console her.

"I'm sorry, Abby. I am so sorry. Just a few more minutes and then it will be done." But she wriggled and tried to push away for the whole duration until the pyres began to die down. Not even Helen rubbing her back managed to calm her.

Once the embers began to die down, pack warriors began collecting the ashes of the fallen and handed them to the loved one.

Clarke came over with the urn that contained Asher. "Alpha, Luna."

He holds the urn towards us. At the slight release of my hand to accept the urn, Abby breaks free and runs inside.

"Place him in his room. I will be right back." I order Clarke as I dash after her.

The Alpha side could be put away. Now, she can have her mate.