I heard the summons before Pearl did. The Alpha tone reverberated through the basement walls, making the very air tremble with Boston's rage. 'Pearl Mitchell. Packhouse. Now.' The command was unmistakable, and the fear that gripped my heart had nothing to do with my own safety.
Pearl's hand found mine, squeezing gently. 'Stay here, Luna,' she whispered. 'I'll be back.'
But I knew she wouldn't be. Not as a member of this pack. Not after helping me.
I couldn't see her leave, but I could hear the soft rustle of her clothes, the hesitant steps she took toward the door. She paused at the threshold, and for a moment, I thought she might turn back. Instead, she straightened her shoulders and walked out, closing the door with a quiet click that echoed in the emptiness of our basement home.
The walk to the packhouse was short, but I could feel every step as if I were walking it myself. Through our fading mate bond, I caught whispers of Boston's emotions—cold fury, wounded pride, the absolute certainty that he was right. Always right.
I didn't need to be there to know what was happening. I could hear it all in my mind.
'You've been seen with the traitor,' Boston's voice would be low, controlled, the Alpha tone wrapping around each word like a noose. 'You've provided aid to an enemy of this pack.'
Pearl would stand her ground. She wasn't brave because she wasn't afraid. She was brave because she couldn't be any other way. 'She's still Luna,' she would say, her voice steady. 'And her son deserved better than to die alone.'
Then would come the silence. That terrible, expectant silence that preceded an Alpha's judgment.
'You have two choices, Omega,' Boston would say. 'Renounce her. Apologize for your actions. Or face exile as a rogue.'
And Pearl, my sweet, foolish Pearl, would choose exile without hesitation.
I was right. The footsteps returning to the basement were different—lighter, freer, but tinged with a sadness that made my heart ache. Pearl slipped back inside, bringing with her the scent of rain and something else. Something final.
'Pearl?' I called, reaching out with my hands.
'I'm here, Luna,' she said, taking my fingers in hers. 'I'm here.'
But I could hear the lie in her voice, the careful way she avoided mentioning the packhouse. 'What happened?'
'Nothing,' she said brightly, too brightly. 'Just some questions. They needed to understand why I was helping you.'
I didn't believe her, but I didn't press. She was protecting me in her own way, and I would let her have this small kindness.
We worked in silence for a while, preparing the wooden box that would hold Ayden's ashes. My fingers traced the rough edges, feeling every imperfection, every splinter. It wasn't worthy of an Alpha's son, but it was all we had.
'He deserves better,' I whispered.
'He has you,' Pearl replied simply. 'That's worth more than any ceremonial box.'
I reached into the pocket of my worn dress, fingers closing around the small, folded photograph I'd kept hidden. I couldn't see it anymore, but I remembered every detail—Ayden's smile, his bright eyes, the unmistakable glow of Alpha power that had been visible even then.
'Pearl,' I said, holding out the photograph. 'Put this in with him.'
She took it, unfolding the paper with careful hands. I heard her sharp intake of breath. 'Luna... his eyes...'
'I know,' I said quietly. 'I saw it before I went blind. That's why I kept it. So someone would know, someday.'
Pearl tucked the photograph beneath the ashes, her movements reverent. 'Everyone will see it,' she promised. 'Everyone will know what they did to an Alpha's son.'
The funeral procession began as the sun set. I couldn't see the torches that lined our path, but I could smell the smoke, hear the crackling flames. Pearl and two other Omega volunteers carried the wooden box, their steps slow and measured. I walked behind them, my back straight, my face a mask of dignity I didn't feel.
The whispers started immediately. Pack members lined the path, their voices sharp with mockery.
'Look at her,' someone hissed. 'Playing the grieving mother when she betrayed the mate bond.'
'Her son was a rogue,' another voice sneered. 'A bastard who never deserved to live.'
I kept walking, one step in front of the other. My hearing had sharpened since I lost my sight, and every cruel word cut deeper than any knife. But I refused to flinch. I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.
Behind me, Pearl's footsteps faltered once, just once. I heard her breath catch, felt her anger rise like a tide. But she kept walking too, carrying my son's ashes with the honor he deserved.
We reached the clearing where we would perform the final rites. The air was heavy with the scent of pine and earth, and somewhere in the distance, I could hear the wolves of the pack, watching from the shadows.
Ayden would have his funeral. He would have his dignity. And I would make sure they all saw what they had done to an innocent child.
