25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Whilst I waited for the Devon Pack to join me, I popped in to see Nina. ‘Hey,' I called as I entered. ‘Any progress with the orb?'

None, Nina replied sulkily. I did too good of a job in sending it to sleep.

‘Evidently so,' I said drily. ‘Listen, we need to bring young Xander here to lay him to rest.'

Yes, she said. Terrance told me of his passing. I was sad to learn of it.

‘Me too,' I sighed. ‘We have his ashes. Will that be enough for you to send Reeve to the Great Pack?'

I think so, though I am not certain. I have done it plenty of times with dismembered bodies so hopefully we can do it with ashes. Her tone was dubious and my heart clenched.

‘Fingers crossed, then.' I should probably have checked that before inviting forty or fifty people to witness the ritual. I really hoped Nina could pull it off, not to save my face but because the thought of Xander's wolf not making it to the Great Pack just about killed me.

‘How's Terrance?' I asked lightly.

Oh, he's just fine, Nina whispered dreamily. I missed him. I know you need him, she added hastily, and I don't begrudge you his presence, but I did miss him. David's a nice lad and our love of plants gives us so much to discuss … but he isn't Terrance.

I stifled a smile. ‘No, he isn't.' I checked my watch. ‘I'll go out and wait for the others.'

They've already gathered, Nina said calmly.

‘What? Why didn't you say so?'

Sure enough, there they were around Nina – and it wasn't just the Devon Pack but my pack and the lones, too. It was an incredible show of solidarity; surely I had to be doing something right?

We are doing lots of things right, Esme said firmly. We are a mighty leader.

I smiled. She had more self-belief in one claw than most people had in their whole being.

The ceiling split open and Terrance dropped down. I caught him expertly. ‘I thought you were in the basement,' I said. ‘How did you end up there?'

Oh... I was keeping Nina company, he said finally .

‘Oh,' I echoed faintly as I placed him on my head for all to see. It was probably best not to ask any more questions. I tapped Nina on the walls. ‘Be ready,' I murmured.

Always, she promised.

I left the seat of power to face the assembled crowd. Thea had taken point and was standing next to Archie who had his arm around her. Her grief was written on her face, raw and unapologetic. She'd grown up with Xander and he'd been as much of a friend to her as Beckett Frost had allowed his then-crippled sister to have. To Beckett, a werewolf that couldn't shift had been a disgrace; he'd stopped Thea from mingling as much as he could lest people learn of her freakishness or it was somehow contagious.

She didn't look freakish now; she looked strong, even in her grief. Her shoulders were braced to face this loss.

Next to her, Archie looked so much older than his physical age. He had matured greatly in the last few months – the death of a parent will do that to a person. I felt inexplicably proud as he supported Thea.

I cleared my throat and started possibly the shortest eulogy ever. ‘Thank you for joining us to celebrate the life of Xander…' I trailed off. I didn't even know his surname. How utterly absurd .

‘Of the Devon pack,' I rallied. ‘In the short time that he was here, he was a friendly, smiling presence, always eager to help others and me. His dying day proved no exception and his actions were heroic. He stepped into dragon's fire and saved me from the brunt of it. I will never forget him as long as I live.'

I nodded to Ben, who stepped forward with the rucksack full of ash. I suppressed a grimace: he was using the pack I'd given him years ago. I'd had it personalised with a joke that read: What's the difference between accountants and lawyers? Accountants know they're boring. I disagreed with that, of course – there was nothing boring about me – but it had made us both laugh at the time.

The rift between us felt particularly uncomfortable as he passed the bag to me. I took it and went into Nina, carefully unzipped the main compartment and tipped its contents onto her floorboards. When I was sure most of the ashes were out, I gave the bag a firm jiggle and set it down. Inwardly praying, I stepped back and waited.

Suddenly the pile of ash glowed with a warm light. A hole appeared in Nina's roof and slowly the ash moved upwards and floated up into the bright morning sky. Excited cheers and chatter broke out behind me as tears filled my eyes. Thank goodness it had worked. Reeve was restored to the Great Pack .

As I passed Ben his empty bag, I held his gaze. ‘Thank you.' We both knew I wasn't thanking him for the bag. I seized my courage. ‘Don't go,' I whispered. I didn't want him to leave my pack, not now, not ever. Having family with me here like this meant a lot.

His shoulders relaxed. ‘I won't,' he promised. ‘I've grown to like it here.' His eyes lingered on Noah. ‘A lot.'

I suppressed my smirk: I'd been sure they'd make a great match. They weren't the only ones. David was comforting Daniella, his arms wrapped around her. I met his eyes and smiled but he looked away, embarrassed to be caught canoodling. Marissa and Seren were cuddling too.

The sharp reminder of death always brought people together: life really was too short. I felt a pang that Xander would never have moments like this. I didn't think he'd ever even got to date. His young life had been cut unfairly short.

My gaze returned to Archie and Thea as they moved through the crowd offering comfort and soft words to the members of the Devon Pack. Ben followed my gaze and quirked an eyebrow in question. ‘They should be the new alphas of the Devon Pack,' I said

‘That's not how it works,' he pointed out drily.

I shrugged. ‘I'm the Queen, I decide how it works. I only want one pack – mine. I'll travel to the others and appoint a new alpha or alpha team. I think Thea and Archie would do a wonderful job together.'

Ben's eyes shone for a moment with an alien light. ‘I think you're right,' he paused. ‘But there will be objections. There can only be one alpha.'

‘That's where you're wrong. We're always stronger together.' I looked at him. ‘You're a lawyer, find me a precedent.'

He laughed. ‘You got it.'

‘Thanks – but first we have more business to attend to.'

‘What business?'

‘Geneve.' I said grimly. ‘She let slip that Dad didn't get himself cleared willingly. Someone did it to him and we're going to find out who.'

‘How?'

‘We're going to break the clearing,' I said grimly.