Chapter Forty-Eight

I take a moment and look over the crowd and I see families huddled together, hugging in grief. I see a woman standing by herself, staring up at the sky, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She’s holding so tight it’s as if she’s imagining she’s in the arms of her lost love.

My heart breaks for everyone here, for the women who lost their mates, the children who’ve lost a parent, and the families who lost a son, daughter, brother, or sister. For the ones who lost someone to the outside. I don’t know which loss is harder, never getting to see someone again but knowing they passed on valiantly. Or knowing your loved one is now on their own, living in a world apart from you with no magic or wolf. Always wondering how they are doing, if they are surviving. Even though they were banished, you can not banish love from the heart.

“Good evening,” I say, letting my magic carry my voice so all can hear it.

Once everyone’s attention is on me, I falter for a moment, trying to think of the righ