Page 19

Austin

“May you rest in comfort, Callie,” I whisper, walking into her small bedroom for the final time. The room is tidy. The steady stream of visitors that have come to pay their respects have all taken care not to disturb the peacefulness of Callie’s home.

I look around the room, letting the weight of grief settle into me. Callie was a gift to our pack. She will be missed for a long, long time.

Just as I go to start my duties and prepare her body to be moved, I notice a letter on the end table. It’s crumpled and half sticking out of the envelope.

I pick it up carefully and turn it over. My eyes widen when I see who it’s addressed to.

Yelena.

Is this what caused her to run away so fearfully yesterday? I flip the paper back and forth in my hands.

On one hand, Yelena and Callie both deserve privacy. Reading a private letter would be, at best rude, and at worst, a deeply inappropriate invasion of privacy.

Except…the letter was left out. Anyone could see it. Anyone could read it. If it were meant to be kept private, wouldn’t Yelena have taken it with her?

My curiosity is burning, and I carefully edge the paper out of the envelope. It’s probably nothing. Maybe a sweet farewell letter from Callie to Yelena.

I start to read, and my heart almost stops beating.

Your daughter will be the next Seer.

Holy shit.

I read the words over and over, but each time they say the same thing. Yelena has a child. A child she never mentioned it to me.

A myriad of emotions washes over me. Anger, betrayal, sadness. It’s all jumbled in my mind. How could she not mention that she has a child? Is the child mine?

I think back to the night that Yelena and I were intimate. The only time . Depending on the age, her child could be mine. If that child is mine, how could Yelena keep her from me?

Am I ready to be a father?

My mind is swirling with questions. I want to go to Yelena and demand answers, but at the same time, I know I have to tread lightly.

I can’t afford to scare her off. Not like this.

I quickly stuff the letter back into the envelope and fold it, tucking it into my pants pocket for safekeeping.

I quickly send a text off to my beta, Vincent, asking him to look into this. I need information, and I need it now.

The envelope in my pocket feels heavy and I’m struck with a feeling of gratitude that my duties brought me back here, alone, to find that letter.

A child Seer.

Callie was right to warn her of the dangers. If our rival packs knew about this, they would try to snatch the child out of our grasp. No wonder Yelena looked terrified when she left here.

Yelena will have to come home and raise the child here. Under the pack’s protection. Whether Cleo is mine or not, I want them here. Under my protection.

There’s simply no other option.

As the future Alpha, my duties for the Farewell Rite are extensive.

I’m responsible for bringing Callie’s body to the funeral pyre.

I look over the body of Callie one more time, closing my eyes in a quick prayer, before carefully moving the amulets and trinkets to the side and wrapping her in the clean sheet.

Once she’s wrapped up, I lift her, carrying her in my arms toward the door where my men are waiting with the platform that we will carry her on.

The mood is solemn as our warriors bow their heads in acknowledgment of our beloved Seer.

Gently, I lay her body on the platform and take my place at the head of it, lifting the heavy wood onto my shoulder.

We march down the main road toward the community area. Pack members wait outside their homes, paying tribute to Callie by both young and old.

When we arrive, I make eye contact with my father. He comes down from his seat with my mother and greets me, taking his place next to me as we finish the walk to the pyre.

Together, we slide the wooden plank onto the pyre and step back.

“You’ve done well, son,” my father whispers, giving me an approving nod. I manage a grim smile back, bowing slightly to show my respect, before marching to my place next to Sylvie.

She grimaces at me but stays quiet.

My father begins the rite and I watch the crowd.

Many are weeping, and the occasional howl breaks through as our pack listens to their Alpha commit Callie back to the Moon Goddess.

My eyes find Yelena in the back. She’s dressed in black and carrying a small basket of wildflowers.

I can tell she’s not trying to draw attention to herself, but I can’t keep my eyes off her.

Knowing what I know now, I can understand the many layers of grief that are written across her face. The loss of her beloved confidant and friend, Callie, the knowledge that her child is in danger, the pain of being back here and feeling like she has to hide from her own family.

It would be a heavy burden for anyone to carry. My wolf demands that I go to her, offer her my support, and care for her, but the timing isn’t right. There are still so many questions that need answers.

“Is this almost over?” Sylvie whines, poking her sharp nail into my side. I hiss in pain and turn to glare at her.

“Show some respect,” I demand with a growl.

She raises an eyebrow at me and then scoffs, rolling her eyes.

“I’m bored,” she whispers, pulling her phone out of her bag. Several of the pack members around us gasp in surprise.

Sylvie’s behavior is abysmal, and I grit my teeth. The way she’s acting not only reflects poorly on our pack, but as my intended mate, it reflects poorly on me.

“Put that away, or I’ll smash it on the ground,” I tell her harshly.

She just curls her lip and takes a step back, just out of reach.

“No,” she says, with a cruel smile. I clench my fists in anger.

My mother gives me a concerned look, and I turn my attention back to the rite. Yelena is brushing tears from her eyes, and it makes my heart hurt.

Her pain is my pain, and I wish there were something I could do to fix it. If I could, I would hold her and lend her my strength while she grieves. But I can’t. Not anymore.

Finally, the rites are concluded, and we all bow our heads as the Moon Goddess blessing is read out.

Then the first torch is lit and reverently placed under the pyre.

The rites of our ancestors require the burning of our earthly forms. It is said that, through the ash, we are able to free our spirits and return them to the Moon Goddess. I exhale a sigh of relief.

It’s done. We got through it. Callie has been laid to rest, and I have survived the Farewell Rite without losing my mind and confronting Yelena.

Sylvie leaves as soon as the fire starts to burn, mumbling something about how she hates the old-fashioned traditions of our pack. I let her go and instead stay in my place, watching over Callie and the remaining members of our pack who have stayed to pay their respects.

The crowd dwindles over time, but as long as Yelena is there, I’m not moving. She has remained in the same spot, sitting on the ground with her arms around her knees. Every so often, she’ll throw a flower or bundle of herbs into the fire, making a little popping sound.

“I got the information you requested,” Vincent says, sliding in next to me. He’s holding a manila envelope, and I take it, ripping it open to scan the contents inside.

“You’re sure?” I ask, looking over at him with wide eyes.

“I verified it myself, sir,” he says, solemnly.

I look down at the paper again and read the name.

“Cleo,” I say, letting it roll off my tongue. “Age five.”

Yelena’s daughter. The next Seer.

I don’t have proof, but I know it in my heart. Cleo is mine as much as she is Yelena’s. I look over at Yelena. Even though I have every right to be angry, I realize I’m not mad at her for hiding Cleo from me.

When Yelena left, we weren’t in a good place. I wouldn’t have known how to handle that news then. While I’m sad that I have missed out on part of my child’s early childhood, I’m grateful that her mother was protective of her and still is.

Protective like a Luna should be . Like my Fated Mate.

My wolf growls, and I clench my fist, trying to keep control over myself.

I still have to figure out how to deal with the fact that Cleo is a Seer. It will need to be handled delicately and quickly. The consequences of word getting out about her, before she’s under the protection of the pack, are too dire to consider.

But now that I know, I’ll be able to protect her too. There’s no way Yelena won’t choose the obvious choice for her daughter’s safety. Our daughter.

She’ll come home. It’s the only reasonable choice.

My mate and my daughter. Living here where they belong.

My wolf wants to howl with joy.

“Set up a cottage ready near mine,” I tell Vincent quietly. “Both of them are moving back home.”