Chapter 56: 57: The Red Funeral

ARIEL

As I watch the long line of shiny black cars arrive in front of the Royal Pack’s Moon Chapel for the funeral, I can’t stop thinking about the Goddess’s warning.

~Be on guard, my child.~

I feel bad that I haven’t told Alex about what Selene said, but he’s got more than enough on his plate right now.

I’ll talk to him about it after it’s all over and the guests leave.

~Assuming nothing happens by then.~

I stand next to Alex, holding his hand as we watch all of the alphas, lunas, and betas in the region emerge from their cars.

They make their way up the chapel steps toward us, heads bowed in respect to their kings—both former and current.

Alex descends the steps to greet the alphas somberly, leaving me alone next to General Dave.

~Finally.~

“I have something to tell you,” I say to him quietly.

“Can’t it wait till after the funeral?” he says, not looking at me.

“I have a bad feeling something’s going to happen tonight,” I say, trying to contain my anxiety. “Something bad.”

“Ariel, there’s nothing to worry about,” Dave says. “You’ve taken care of the Silver Soldier. The Hunters won’t have the strength to pull off anything for a long time.”

“But we can’t be too careful.”

“Ariel.” Dave puts his hand on my shoulder. It’s strange to see him look so soft and reassuring. “No one’s getting into this temple. We’ve got our best warriors on full security detail for this funeral.

“Plus, right now, this is just about the ~worst~ place to attack. Whoever tried it would come face-to-face with all of our alphas—the most powerful men in the kingdom.”

He allows a small smile. “I’d like to see any of those ragged humans try.”

I nod, pushing down my anxiety.

~Maybe Dave’s got a point.~

I glance down toward the small crowd of alphas as they gather around Alex for the Chalice Ritual, a “cleansing” custom held before any funeral.

Alex holds the ceremonial Royal Chalice in his hands, a beautiful crystal goblet filled with a special wine that’s almost indistinguishable from blood in appearance.

He passes it to the closest alpha, who takes a sip before passing it off to the man beside him. Only Alex doesn’t drink, as he will take the final sip after the funeral is over.

The ancient custom is done completely in silence, the alphas’ toast to the dead king.

Looking at them all in their black suits, it’s almost easy to forget that underneath are the muscular frames of the most deadly warriors on the continent.

One glance into their intense eyes is a reminder that there is an even more powerful wolf inside.

Each one of these men would be a nightmare to face in battle individually.

But all of them together…

~No one would stand a chance.~

ALEX

We walk somberly through the doors of the chapel toward my father’s casket. The alphas, betas, and lunas follow behind me.

Each step I take means one step closer to accepting that he’s gone.

~He’s really gone.~

Once we get to the mahogany coffin, Dom pulls me in for a hug. “Let me know if you need anything at all today, man,” he says. “Seriously, I’m right here by your side.”

“I think I’ll be okay. But thanks.”

I turn to my mom, her face covered by a black veil.

“Are you ready?”

She nods, and haunting organ music starts to fill the air.

My mother takes the traditional “mate’s seat” next to the casket—a way werewolves pay respect to an individual who’s suffering from the broken mating bond.

Each luna takes turns bringing a single flower and placing it at my mother’s feet. Ariel is the last, and then she kneels by my mother as a sign of royal solidarity.

Somehow throughout the whole thing my mom is still keeping it together.

~I only hope I can do the same.~

I peer out over the crowd, scanning the faces.

Some of the alphas I know well. Some are complete strangers.

But all are silent and respectful, heads bowed in respect to my dad.

I motion for everyone to sit.

Before I can begin, baby Camelia begins to cry in Dom’s arms. He gives me an apologetic look, but I respond with an understanding smile. Babies will be babies.

She calms down, though, when Helena takes her and holds her over her shoulder.

I look to Ariel, but she’s scanning the room, her expression tense.

“Before we begin, let us take a moment of silence,” I say solemnly.

The organ stops, and the chapel falls into a complete silence.

The light from the full moon streams through the chapel’s moonroof, casting a blue shimmer over the faces in the crowd.

I hear my mother start crying, and the alphas hold their heads bowed in prayer to the Moon Goddess.

All of them have a look of deep sadness on their faces.

All except one.

Xavier sits in the very back, his face mostly covered in shadow.

~I must have missed him when I was greeting the other alphas.~

He looks up, and my blood boils when he looks directly into my eyes…

Then a wicked smile spreads across his face.

Rage wells up inside of me when I see the absolute disrespect on Xavier’s face.

I warned him to never set foot on Royal Pack grounds again.

Not only that, but none of these other alphas would dare look their king right in the eyes.

Plus, he’s smiling like it’s his fucking birthday.

I feel all my building rage instantly erupt.

“That’s it.”

“After everything that’s happened with Ariel, this is the last straw.”

“I’m going to rip this bastard to shreds.”

My mom’s hand gently lands on my shoulder, bringing me back to reality.

“Alex, would you like to give the first eulogy?”

Looking at my mother, I’m reminded that this isn’t the time or place to kick his ass.

I eye Xavier’s smug face once more and take in a deep breath, suddenly noticing that Natalia and Xavi aren’t with him.

“Strange…”

Xavier came alone.

I rise and take to the podium, clearing my throat before I speak.

“On behalf of the Royal Pack, thank you all for being here today as we celebrate the life of my father, George Landon, former alpha and king.”

I pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and continue, deliberately avoiding Xavier’s gaze as I look into the crowd.

“My father was the youngest alpha to be appointed king in modern history after the death of his own father when he was only sixteen. Far before he was ready, he carried the kingdom on his back and ruled with a rare combination of compassion, strength, and wisdom.”

I feel myself starting to choke on my words, and I give myself a moment before continuing: “He ruled alone for the first few years, but he knew that to be the best leader he could be, he needed a strong luna and queen by his side.”

I take another long pause and look over at Ariel, who gives me a small, encouraging smile. “He was a strict but loving father, and I can only hope to be half the king he was. He may be gone, but he will forever live in our hearts.”

I stifle my tears, and I know I can’t say any more without breaking down.

“If there is anyone who would like to share a memory of my father,” I say, “please come up to the altar and speak.”

A silence descends upon the chapel, as if each person in the room is searching for the deepest memory they have of my father.

“I’d like to say a few things,” calls out an arrogant voice from the back row.

“Xavier.”

I clench my fists as he stands up and casually saunters down the aisle toward me.

“You never met my father,” I growl. “What could you possibly have to say?”

“You’re totally right. I never met your old man,” he says, barely hiding his smile. “But my father met him plenty of times, and all he ever had to say about the king was that he was…well…a giant pussy.”

Gasps rise from the crowd; my wolf growls as Xavier approaches and stares me right in the eyes.

~Challenging my dominance.~

“And you know what they say…,” Xavier says. “Like father, like son.”

“I should’ve killed you the second you stepped foot back on these pack grounds,” I snarl, taking a step toward him as my claws emerge.

Xavier has been trying to start shit with me for too long, and I’m fucking tired of it.

~It’s time to end this.~

I see Ariel out of the corner of my eye, but with the blood rushing through my ears I don’t even notice her cries for us to stop.

The tension is intense, filling the room.

Xavier has made it to the center of the room now, but instead of closing the distance between us, he stops in his tracks.

He shuts his eyes and raises his hands slowly, whispering something under his breath.

~What the—~

Suddenly all the alphas start to scream out in pain, bringing their hands up to their heads as if hearing some horrible noise…

“Today isn’t just a funeral for the former king,” Xavier calls out above the moans of the alphas as their bones crack and they begin to partially shift.

The monstrous, mutated alphas all stand in unison, their eyes red and bloodshot.

“It’s a funeral for the current king as well.”