Five years later.
Ruby:
“May her soul rest in peace,” the priest announced as the guards lifted my grandmother’s casket, lowering it gently into the large, dug hole. I watched through tear-blurred eyes as they carefully covered it with sand.
My heart ached as I stood by her gravesite, knowing that I was going to miss her deeply. Despite having a family of my own now, she has been the only true parent figure in my life. She had lived a long and full life, but her passing left a void that seemed impossible to fill.
Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to hold back sobs. The priest’s words became a distant murmur as he prayed for her soul. I clutched Damian’s hand as the overwhelming grief made it hard to breathe. But I knew I had to be strong for the sake of my kids.
My two daughters, Abigail and Addison, stood beside me, their eyes red from crying-just like me, they also had a strong bond with their grandmother. Damian held me closer to his chest, his large arms wrapped around my waist, bringing me a small comfort against the overwhelming grief.
“She was the heart of our family,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”
Damian tightened his grip around my shoulders, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know, love. But she wouldn’t want us to be sad. She would want us to celebrate her life.”
“Yes, mom, dad is right,” Adrian said as he stood a few steps away. His silver eyes, so much like Alex’s, reflected the pain of losing his great-grandmother. He stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“Mum, Dad, everyone,” Adrian began, his voice filled with an unexpected calmness. “We need to stop crying.” I looked at him, confused and a bit annoyed by his suggestion, like he had grown another head. I was expecting him to be the person who cried the most, as my granddaughter had loved him more. For the first time ever, I couldn’t help but glare at him harshly.
“Adrian, it’s okay to grieve. She was very important to all of us.”
He shook his head gently, a small smile playing on his lips that made me furrow my eyebrow.”No, Mum. I mean, I can see her. Granny is smiling at us. She’s in a peaceful place.”
A hush fell over the crowd as everyone, including myself, stared at Adrian in shock. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
“What do you mean, you can see her?” I whispered lowly, and Adrian’s gaze was unwavering.
“I can see her spirit, Mum. She’s happy and free. She wants us to know that she’s watching over us, and she’s at peace.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but this time they were not just from sorrow. There was a strange, comforting warmth spreading through me, knowing that my grandmother’s spirit was still with us and also knowing that maybe just maybe Adrian just like Alex, could still have the soul of the chief spirit judge inside him.
Damian pulled me closer, his own tears finally spilling over. “If Adrian says she’s at peace, I believe him. Our son has always had a special connection to the spirit world.” I nodded, feeling a deep sense of relief wash over me. Looking around, I saw that the pack members were also finding solace in Adrian’s words. My daughters, standing close to their brother, seemed to draw strength from him, their tears slowing.
“Thank you, Adrian,” I said, my voice choked with emotion.”Thank you for letting us know.”
“Anytime mama.” He grinned as I wiped my tears, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. Then a thought crossed my mind, and I looked at Adrian with a smile.
“Son,” I said, my voice softening as I spoke to him, “your birthday party is next week, and you’ll be having your first ball. Females from all over the world will attend, and hopefully, you’ll find your mate.”
Adrian’s cheeks flushed a deep red, and he looked down, kicking at the dirt with his foot. “Mum, it’s not just my birthday too,” he said in embarrassment, which made his sister’s, who had been crying, start laughing. It was funny how he was about to turn twenty and become a man, yet he still got shy whenever I talked about the topic of a mate and matebond.
“It’s also Abigail and Addison besides I’m not too excited about it.” I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction, and soon the entire family joined in.
“Oh, come on, Adrian,” Damian teased, his voice filled with affection. “Don’t be shy. This is an important milestone. This birthday is more important for you as you are going to become the future alpha.”
Abigail and Addison jumped in, their faces lighting up with mischief. “Yeah, Adrian,” Abigail giggled. “Imagine all the girls swooning over you.”
Addison chimed in, “They’ll be lining up for a dance with the future alpha.”
Adrian groaned, covering his face with his hands. “You’re all terrible,” he muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. The pack members around us laughed along, the sound of their joy mingling with our own. It was a moment of levity on an otherwise sombre day, a reminder that life goes on and that we still have reasons to celebrate.
“Don’t worry, son,” I said, squeezing his shoulder. “No matter what happens, we’ll be right there with you. And who knows? You might just find someone who makes you as happy as your dad makes me.”
Adrian rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the smile that spread across his face. “Alright, alright,” he conceded. “I guess it won’t be so bad.”
As the laughter died down, we made our way back to the pack house with our members for a short celebration. Anna had stayed behind, refusing to come to my grandmother’s burial, stating that she had no bond with her.
I didn’t force her since she was a mature 26-year-old woman who had full control of her life-just as she had made the decision to reject her first mate when she met him two years ago, claiming he wasn’t up to her standards as an alpha’s daughter.
Honestly, I was worried about her. She hardly participated in any of our family gatherings, and everyone had gotten used to it just to keep her happy.
Entering the pack house, I was surprised to see Anna seated on the couch with a large frown on her face. It was unusual, as she usually preferred staying at home, locked up in her room, distant from the rest of us. It hurt to see her this way, but she had always insisted that I shouldn’t try to play a mother figure in her life.
“Anna,” I greeted her, taking a seat beside her, but she didn’t return my smile. Instead, she suddenly stood up from the couch and marched over to Damian, glaring at him with barely concealed anger.
“Father,” she began, her voice loud enough for the whole pack to hear, “since I am officially your first child, I should be made alpha during Adrian’s mating ball.”
A stunned silence fell over the gathering. I saw the shock mirrored on the faces of the pack members around us. This was the first time Anna had made such a bold claim publicly.
Damian took a deep breath, clearly taken aback by her sudden outburst. “Anna,” he said calmly, “seniority isn’t what determines who becomes alpha. It’s about strength and power, qualities that Adrian possesses. That’s why, after he finds his mate, he will become the alpha officially.”
Anna’s face was twisted with rage, her eyes blazing. “So, you don’t love me because I’m not your real daughter!” She screamed, her voice shaking with emotion.
I stepped forward, trying to calm her. “Anna, that’s not true. We all care about you very much.”
But she wouldn’t listen and glared at me with hatred in her eyes, which I was slowly becoming used to. “If you cared, you’d make me alpha! I’ve been training just as hard as Adrian. I deserve this!”
Damian’s face softened for a moment before becoming hard almost immediately. “Anna, it’s not about deserving. It’s about what’s best for the pack. Adrian has shown the qualities needed to lead. This isn’t about love; it’s about responsibility.”
Anna’s fists clenched at her sides, her body trembling with anger. “Responsibility? I’ve been responsible! I’ve trained! I’ve sacrificed! And yet, you choose him over me, just like you always do. You all will regret this,” she spat, her eyes filled with tears of anger and frustration. Turning on her heel, she stormed away, leaving the pack in a state of shock.
I watched her go, my heart aching. This wasn’t how I wanted our family to be. Damian sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “Everyone, please return to your homes; there will be no more celebrations today,” he announced, addressing the pack. “We will handle this privately.”
The pack dispersed, murmuring among themselves. I turned to Damian. “We need to talk to her. She’s hurting.”
He nodded, his expression weary. “I know. But we also need to stand firm. The future of the pack depends on it.”
Adrian approached us, and his eyes, which were usually so expressive, were guarded. “I’ll talk to her,” he offered. “Maybe I can help her understand.”
I smiled at my son, pride swelling in my chest. “Thank you, Adrian. You’ve always had a way with people.”
He nodded and started walking in the direction Anna had gone, his pace quickening. “Anna, wait!” he called out, breaking into a jog. For a brief moment, the image of them together, almost like lovers, flashed in my mind. I shook my head to dispel the thought, finding it absurd. They had a five-year age gap, not to mention they were practically siblings.
“Old age is definitely making me crazy,” I muttered to myself, and my wolf howled in agreement.