Chapter 4

I could hear sounds of fighting from inside the house.

Sampson was clearly unable to sit still and do nothing anymore once he found out he was at risk of losing his position as Alpha.

I wouldn't give him any chance to get out of this. I wanted him to pay the price!

Since he had severed our mind link and vanished from performing his duties for the pack for three months, it was fine for the Luna to rest for a while from exhaustion, right?

And so, I spent a peaceful day in a house Lambert had prepared for me.

When he came to see me to go to the funeral, he brought some interesting news.

"His friends have been trying to find you. They almost came to my pack to find information on you."

I grinned. "He refused to appear when I was going mad trying to find him, so of course I needed to make him have a taste of my pain."

I pulled out an outdated black-and-white dress, then took out my makeup kit and put on a ghostly-pale makeup. I applied some eye drops to make it look like tears had been welling in my eyes. I looked at myself in the mirror, then put on the face of a hollow and heartbroken woman.

After that, Lambert and I traveled separately to the funeral. My fingers paled slightly as they curled tightly around the flash drive.

When I arrived at the funeral, Lambert was already there, waiting for me. Dressed in a black suit, he made his way to me through the crowd and clapped my shoulders, giving his condolences.

All the werewolves from the pack must join the Alpha's funeral. The plaza was already filled with mourners, as well as friends and relatives who were none the wiser.

I could feel my heart squeeze in pain as I watched them grieve.

Sampson—you were the Alpha, yet your little disappearing act deceived me and your entire pack, as well as family and friends who loved you.

Today would be the day you pay for everything!

I welcomed each guest personally. Some of them were Alphas from other packs that were working together with our pack.

After today, Sampson's reputation with their packs would plummet. None of them would work with him again.

Sampson's close friends looked at me, welcoming the guests with a dark expression, until one of them finally pulled me aside and whispered, "Are you crazy, Bethany? Stop this! Sampson's still alive!"

I blinked; after some difficulty, I forced out a few tears and said in a tone of despair, "No need to comfort me. I know the dead can't be brought back. I should wake up after so many days. I won't cling to any more hope."

He still wanted to say something when Lambert stepped between us. "We're all grieving at this funeral today, Bethany. I hope you can come out of this stronger."

Lambert pulled me further and further away until we lost Sampson's friend.

"Almost everyone's here," he whispered.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "Get ready for showtime, then."

I stepped onto the stage and took the microphone, and announced to the entire pack and the other wolves, "Today is a sad day. Our Alpha has left us. Thank you all for attending his funeral…"

Before I could even finish, a screech cut me off.

"Bethany, have you gone mad? I told you, Sampson isn't dead!"

Desiree quickly ran forward and snatched the mic from my hands.

"What kind of Luna are you? We haven't found Sampson yet, but you're already starting his funeral!"

I didn't see Sampson behind her. Was he still not going to show himself even now?

"Who gave you the right to question the Luna?" I spat coldly. "Who do you think you are? What right do you have to question me?"

Desiree glared at me, eyes wide with disbelief, tears swirling in them. "How can you be so heartless? Sampson isn't dead yet, but you already said he's dead!"

My gaze lingered on the love marks along her neck and my Moonshell Necklace around her neck. I yanked the necklace off her and got closer to her, whispering, "He's not dead, you say? In my eyes, a cheating Alpha is as good as dead."

Desiree froze in place, unable to move.

I took back the mic; I was about to continue speaking when a figure in a tattered outfit suddenly appeared before my eyes.

"I'm alive, Bethany," Sampson choked. "I'm home."