Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
There had been days when she could barely move. When Clara had sat on the floor with a wet cloth, wiping Nessa’s face and cleaning her body because she didn’t have the strength to do it herself.
“That is how we mourn,” she said. “By throwing ourselves into the pain until it doesn’t hurt anymore, and we can move forward.”
Landon nodded.
“But that’s not how they mourn,” Nessa said, nodding her head toward the door of the mess hall. “They avoid the pain, hold on to the hope that it’s all just a nightmare they can wake up from. They make themselves busy and think of anything except the loss they experienced.”
Landon swallowed and looked back toward the door. He had seen it already, the way that the strong and capable woman he had found interest in had ignored the pain she felt until it became a physical limitation.
“These vigils are the moment that they all dread. They say it is an honor and a moment for them all to remember and say goodbye. But really, it is the moment that they accept the loss. This is when all the pain they have held back comes lurching forward.”
Landon lowered his gaze to the floor and touched his chest. Under his clothing, there was a scar. During the mourning period, when his anguish had been at its height, he had been purposefully shot with an arrow. He wanted to experience Jonas’s pain in his last moments.
He had been lucky not to die from the wound, but the pain and the brush with death had been what got him through his loss.
Landon swallowed and turned back to Nessa with a warm smile.
“Thank you,” he said. “As always, you still know more than me.”
Nessa chuckled and nodded.
They returned to the mess hall, making their way to the table. Landon could not help his glances and the attention he naturally paid to Fiona. Still, he did not approach or attempt to speak with her anymore. He could wait.
At least a few days.
***
The rest of the morning and afternoon proceeded without significant events or issues. As the sun began to set, the torches spread out all over Summer were lit while the pyre was built at the center of the gathering space.
Once the moon was out, the ceremony would begin. There would be memories and kind words, mementos added to the pyre. Songs and prayers, tears and laughter. Finally, the pyre would be lit.
The whole of Summer would stay and watch the flames until the last ember was gone.
“The sun has set,” Axel whispered, glancing out the window.
“We should head done to the pyre,” Alice said. “The moon will be out soon.”
Axel nodded and then swallowed.
“Do you think she made it?” he asked quietly.
Alice smiled.
“You sounded so confident earlier,” she said.
Axel sighed.
“There were still hours in the day left earlier,” he said.
Alice wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his back.
“She’ll be here,” she whispered.
Axel took a deep breath and held her hands.
“How do you have more confidence than me?” he whispered with a laugh.
“I just—” Alice began, but her words were interrupted by a knock at the door.
Axel furrowed his brow.
“Are we expecting someone?” he asked, pulling away from her and moving toward the door.
Alice sniffed the air and smiled.
“Sort of,” she whispered.
Axel reached out and opened the door. His eyes widened when he saw her.
She wore traveling clothes, a pack over her shoulder, and her hair was almost dyed brown with dirt and dried blood mixed into it.
“Selene!” he shouted.
Selene lowered her head and held out her hands to him.
“Alpha Axel,” she whispered. “Please accept this stone and lay it in a place of honor.”
Axel furrowed his brows. He looked at her dirty palms, at the small stone in her hands. He swallowed and took it from her.
“Selene, what is this?” he asked gently.
Selene lifted her head, her eyes shone with tears, and a muddy streak ran down her cheeks.
“The final request of the scout that died because of me.”
Selene turned and pulled her pack forward. She opened it, removed the journal from within, and offered it to her brother.
“This also belonged to him,” she said, lowering her gaze. “He kept a very detailed account, almost until the end.”
Axel swallowed and took the journal.
“Selene…” he whispered. “Did you find what you needed?”
Selene swallowed and looked toward the ground.
“I did find him…” she said. “But I was too late.”
She took a breath.
“I built his pyre and stood witness,” she continued softly. “The rock… he requested that it be placed for him.”
Axel looked down at the small stone in his hand. He squeezed it and nodded.
“His family has already placed one,” he said. “But I will personally place this stone for him.”
Selene nodded and looked down.
Axel turned toward Alice, who already had her hands out to him. He smiled briefly and placed the journal and stone into her hands. He turned back to his sister.
“Selene,” he called.
She lifted her head and was immediately pulled into his strong embrace.
Selene gasped. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest, and her lungs felt too small for the air she needed.
He held her tight, refusing to let her go.
She wanted to push away, escape the warmth of her brother’s uncompromising affection for her, and return to the cold place inside that she had been huddled down in for so long.
“I’m so glad that you came back,” he whispered.
His voice sounded so relieved. So worried.
Was she back?
Selene took a shaky breath. Slowly she raised her arms, and with hesitation, she hugged him.
She let out a breath that felt as though she had held it for much too long. With it, tears streamed from her eyes, and her chest ached with the sobs that escaped her lips.
Her arms wrapped tighter around Axel, and she clung to him as she had when she was a child, scared of the nightmare she had only just woken from.
Axel clenched his jaw and held his sister close. His heart ached as she was finally showing him the pain she was carrying.
“It’s okay,” he whispered, rubbing her back gently. “I’m here.”
“I’m… so sorry…” she whispered through her tears. “I’m so sorry…”
“Sshhh…” Axel whispered. “You’re okay.”
“Selene…” a gentle voice called behind her in the hallway.
Selene gasped and looked back over her shoulder to see her mother.
Corrine swallowed and took a step toward her children.
“Mom…” Selene whispered.
Axel released his hold on her, and Selene pulled away, wiping her face and seemingly just noticing the dirt that covered her entire body. She clenched her jaws and wrung her hands as she stared at the ground.
Corrine took a breath and looked up at Axel.
“The ceremony will soon begin,” she said. “As Alpha of Winter, you really can’t be late.”
“But—” Axel began to protest.
“He won’t be,” Alice interrupted, grabbing Axel’s arm and looking up at him.
He looked at her with objection, wanting to argue that he should stay with Selene.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?