Page 67 of Fated (The Bonded Legacy #1)
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CALEB
C aleb stood at the edge of the gathering on the Bloodstone ritual grounds, watching wolves arrive in somber clusters. They moved together like a tide, heads bowed, movements slow, yet their unity remained unshaken.
“This is strength—grief borne as one.” Fenrir’s voice resonated through Caleb’s bones. “They bleed together, heal together.”
Caleb’s looked toward the she-wolf he had comforted earlier.
Her shoulders had been trembling, hands wringing a woven shawl as though it alone could hold her together.
He’d murmured quiet words, nothing profound, but she’d gripped his hand with surprising strength, her gaze fierce through her tears.
“Thank you,” she said with trembling sincerity. “For standing with us. Then, and tonight.”
That moment lingered in his mind, a poignant reminder of the connections that transcended pack borders. Crescent Fang had been an island for too long. Tonight, more than ever, he knew that isolation wasn’t the answer.
Caleb’s attention turned toward the center as the murmurs of the gathered wolves hushed. Alpha Darius stepped forward, his imposing frame illuminated by torchlight.
“My pack,” Darius began. His voice was steady, but Caleb noticed the telltale signs of strain in the way his fingers curled into fists, in the pauses between sentences, in how his throat worked before difficult words.
“Tonight, we gather to honor the twenty-seven brave wolves who gave their lives to protect Bloodstone. The sacrifice of those we mourn ensured our survival. Their courage, their loyalty, their love for this pack will forever be a part of us.”
Darius scanned the crowd. “Of all the rites an alpha must perform, none are more difficult than this. Saying goodbye to my packmates, my family, is a burden I will carry for the rest of my days. It has been three years since I laid to rest my beloved luna, Althea. I never imagined I would face such a loss again.”
Around him, wolves lowered their heads. An older warrior placed a weathered hand over his heart. A mother pulled her pup closer against her side. Soft whispers of “May Selene guide her” drifted through the gathering like the flutter of fallen leaves caught in a gentle breeze.
Something constricted behind Caleb’s ribcage as Darius’s alpha persona cracked, revealing the raw grief beneath.
His words unguarded in a way that made several wolves drop their gazes, unable to witness such naked vulnerability from their alpha.
Caleb felt their deep respect for Darius, a respect that had been earned through years of steadfast leadership.
The hard lines around Darius’s mouth smoothed as his eyes found a figure standing near the front of the gathered wolves.
“Tonight, I am reminded that even in our darkest moments, Selene provides us with light. Lena, daughter of Alpha Raelen, daughter of Moonshadow, and future Luna of Bloodstone, has carried this pack with a strength and grace that honors both her lineage and her heart. It is in that spirit that I invite her to deliver the Invictus.”
Caleb watched as Lena stepped forward. Fenrir rumbled within him, noticing what Caleb did—the momentary tightening of Lena’s jaw, the deep breath she drew through flared nostrils before squaring her shoulders, straightening her spine as if growing into the mantle of responsibility before their eyes.
She stopped beside Darius, gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on the altar. Her voice, clear and unwavering, carried through the circle.
“Tonight, we gather to honor twenty-seven brave Bloodstone hearts. From untamed freedom to eternal rest, their stories now silenced. In death, their legacy unites us. The moon, a witness to their lives, watches over their remains. Its gentle light reminding us that life is fleeting, but loyalty endures.” Lena paused, body angling toward the altar.
“These urns hold a universe of memories—of laughter, of battles fought and won—but their spirits will soar free as their essence transcends mortal bounds.” She faced the gathering again.
“May their sacrifice fortify our hearts. May their memory inspire our unwavering loyalty.”
The crowd seemed to hold its breath, the power of her words resonating deeply. Caleb found himself transfixed by her grace.
“She speaks with the voice of a luna,” Fenrir murmured. “Bloodstone is fortunate to have her.”
Lena stepped back and moved to the left side of the altar.
Kai, standing stoically on Darius’s right, crossed the space to take his place opposite her.
Together, in perfect synchronization, they lit the ceremonial censers.
The blend of sage, bloodroot, and red clover filled the air, its earthy sweetness mingling with the crisp night breeze.
Caleb inhaled deeply, the scents grounding him in the moment’s significance.
“Life, death, and rebirth , ” Fenrir whispered. “The cycle continues, as it must.”
Darius stepped forward once more to deliver the Blessing, his voice strong and reverent.
“Selene, we humbly return these souls to your light. In their strength, they forged our unity. In their legacy, they guide us forward. May their essence merge with the wild, their spirits weaving into our hearts and our pack’s strength.
Grant them safe passage, Great Mother, and welcome them into your eternal embrace. ”
One by one, the families stepped forward to scatter the remains of their loved ones. Caleb watched as the ashes swirled in the cool night wind, carried through the forest as if guided by the Goddess Herself. He closed his eyes, offering his own silent prayer.
May they find peace, and may their families find the strength to carry on.
Heavy silence fell as the last ashes scattered. Darius broke it with quiet authority.
“Join me in the dining hall,” he said, voice carrying over the crowd. “Tonight, we celebrate the lives of those we have lost as they make their journey back to Selene.”
Caleb lingered at the altar as the pack moved around him, shoulders that had been hunched now relaxing, hands reaching out to clasp forearms or brush against backs.
Cedar incense clung to his clothes as tear-stained faces turned toward the dining hall—not with joy, but with the determination that came from knowing that life, however altered, continued.
Scents of roasted meats, spiced vegetables, and fresh bread filled the air, intertwining with faint traces of incense that followed everyone from the ritual grounds.
Long tables stretched the length of the dining hall, adorned with simple greenery and flickering candles that cast soft shadows across the room.
Caleb entered the hall at a measured pace, gaze sweeping over the gathered wolves.
Though grief saturated the air, determination had begun seeping through the cracks—a collective will to honor lost lives through shared memories and warmth.
Gentle hums of conversation filled the space, punctuated by the occasional scrape of a chair or the clink of a serving tray.
It was subdued, but it was life—a testament to the resilience of the Bloodstone pack.
“They grieve, but they do not crumble.” Fenrir’s voice was low but resolute. “This is the strength of a pack, Caleb. Bloodstone will endure.”
Lena’s graceful movement through the crowd drew Caleb’s focus.
Sorrow-stricken wolves gravitated to her, drawn by her gentle warmth as she steadied them with whispered reassurances and soft touches.
Her presence anchored the pack—a healing balm over the wound of their shared sorrow and marveled at the effortless way she held them together.
Fenrir hummed with a note of proud approval. “The daughter of Moonshadow is a daughter of Bloodstone tonight.”
“Alpha Caleb,” a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
Caleb turned to see Darius approaching, gratitude sparking in his green eyes.
“Alpha Darius,” Caleb greeted, inclining his head respectfully.
Darius clasped Caleb’s forearm in a firm grip. His touch held the steady assurance of a wolf who had weathered countless storms.
“It means a great deal that you stood with us tonight,” Darius said. “Your presence, your warriors—it’s a reminder of the bonds that hold all wolves together, even in the darkest times.”
Caleb watched over the room, finding himself looking at Lena again as the significance of Darius’s words settled in his chest. “It was an honor, Darius. Bloodstone’s strength deserves to be seen and upheld. Crescent Fang will always answer your call.”
Darius nodded, expression softening as he followed Caleb’s gaze to where Lena stood. “You’ve seen the strength of our wolves tonight. It’s wolves like her—like all of them—that make leading worth every trial.”
Caleb continued watching her, noting the subtle shifts in her expression before returning to Darius. “Bloodstone’s heart is strong. Your future will be bright.”
Darius’s lips curved in a faint smile, but the weariness on his face didn’t fade entirely. “It’s leaders like you, Caleb, who remind me why we rebuild after every loss. If you can stay a little longer, I’d like more of my pack to meet the alpha who stood with us when it mattered most.”
Caleb’s relaxed his posture in agreement, expression thoughtful. “I’ll stay a little longer. Thank you, Darius.”
Darius lingered for a moment before he gave a curt nod, attention shifting back to the room. “Excuse me. There are others I need to speak with.”