Page 54 of Ascension of the Pack

The path to Nina had been lined with flaming torches that cast an atmospheric glow. Mourners moved from the mansion to stand behind the flickering flames, and Ares and Ivy stood to one side. I didn’t know whether the unicorns understood the concept of a funeral, but they certainly understood loss.

From somewhere came the eerie call of bagpipes. Tristan had loved a bagpipe.

‘Three, two, one,’ Greg counted us in and we started to move. With the casket on my shoulder, I folded my hands in front of me respectfully as we carried Tristan tohis final resting place. Candice followed behind us being comforted by Elena.

Candice had said that Tristan hadn’t wanted a eulogy, so these precious few moments were all we had. I called up my memories of him as I walked.

Tristan’s face flushed with anger. ‘What are you doing here?’ he spat. ‘You can’t help us. He was killed under your roof, your protection. His death is on you. Get out and start running, and maybe you’ll get some life before I kill you.’

The last standing wolves finally knelt; they trusted Liam’s and the others’ judgement of me. Even Tristan knelt, though he kept his eyes locked on mine in challenge.

I dredged the bottom of my magical well; I was holding so much magic I felt like my skin would burst. I reached the magic out to the nearest person to me: Tristan. I tied him to his wolf, carefully disentangled myself from the loop and watched as his eyes lit up with wonder.

He stepped towards me and I tensed even more, but then he sank to his knees – and this time he bowed his head rather than holding my gaze in challenge. ‘Alpha,’ he said respectfully. ‘My wolf Arden and I wish to offer our services.’

Tristan stared at me, his face unreadable, then he held out a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food and a fork.

Arden stumbled, blood pouring from his fatal wounds, his strength fading fast. But even in his final moments,he refused to give in; Tristan always was a stubborn son of a bitch.

We’d come such a long way and it felt so wrong that our journey together was at an end.

As we approached, Nina widened her entrance so that we could walk easily into her warm embrace. She had made us a grand hall clad in dark wood panelling.

‘Three, two, one,’ Greg timed, and we grasped the handles on the coffin and carefully lowered Tristan to the ground.

We stood back, forming a loose circle around the casket. Candice came forward and let out a piercing wail that cut to the heart of me. She threw herself on top of the casket and wept as we stood silently, witnesses to her loss and her grief.

Slowly Nina opened her roof. She didn’t create a small hole as she often did, but instead she peeled back the entire structure so that the moon and stars could bear witness.

Candice’s sobs slowed and she leaned down to kiss the top of the casket before falling into Elena’s arms again. Together they stepped back and waited.

The casket lit up with a fierce fire, so hot it took me straight back to Xander’s death. I inadvertently stepped backwards and Greg’s hand slipped around my waist,silently offering comfort. I leaned into him as the ashes and embers floated upwards, glimmering into the night sky.

Goodbye, Tristan.

Chapter 35

Tristan’s wake was loud and joyful. Everyone had a story about ‘that time when Tristan taught me a lesson’ and it only served to underline how important he had been to all of us. He hadn’t shirked from a fight, hadn’t been bothered by pack politics; he’d been a blunt straight-talker. I would miss him greatly, and I wasn’t the only one. My only regret was that it had taken us so long to reach an understanding.

Daniella stood with Marissa, Seren and Elena. She was grieving, too, but in a different way; she was hurting from David’s betrayal, as were we all. I didn’t have it in me to comfort her just then – and David was still nowhere to be seen.

Ares and Ivy stayed for the wake, although more cynical souls might have assumed that was for the raw burger patties that Finley kept slinging their way. I moved through the crowd, offering touches or words of supportwhere they were needed or sought. Not everyone wanted comfort in the face of loss; sometimes we just need to endure pain alone.

As always I felt like my presence inhibited things, so after an hour I said goodbye to Candice and left. After all, I had a wedding to prepare for.

I jogged up to my bedroom with Greg following me. The dark seraph had agreed to provide security whilst we were distracted and, with his one wing folded behind him, Jacob was manning the security desk.

When I reached my bedroom I stripped off the black dress and shimmied into a pink number that was far more appropriate for a wedding. I paired it with a gorgeous fuchsia fascinator; Mum had taught me that I should always wear a hat to a wedding.

Greg had changed from his black suit into a dark-blue three-piece one. Would our funeral outfits have been appropriate for a wedding? Yes. Did it feel right to wear funeral attire to a wedding? No.

I put on a little more make up. I was just putting the finishing touches to my pink lipstick when Bastion sent me a text message with a link for the video call. I grabbed my laptop and set it up on the coffee table in the lounge so Greg and I could both join in, then turned on all the lights so Jess would see me when she arrived.

I clicked thelink, and moments later Bastion’s tired face filled the screen. Reynard was pacing behind him, practising the words to the ceremony. I gave him a wave, which he returned half-heartedly before he focused again. He was visibly nervous, bless him.

‘Okay?’ Bastion asked me laconically.

I nodded. ‘Yeah. You?’

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