CHAPTER FOUR – The funeral

Gabriel’s POV

I was clutching Mira’s hand in a firm grasp.

I needed her support. I would see my daughter for the first time in 15 years. I would witness my real mate’s body being burnt. I would need to talk to my daughter and ask her to come with me.

To say that I was nervous would be an understatement. I was freaking out.

“Gabriel?” I heard my name being called.

I looked around and spotted my old best friend.

“Jasper,” I muttered his name.

He groaned and approached me and Mira. He continued strolling toward the funeral place along with us.

“It’s Alpha Jasper to you, but I will let it go this time,” he added, peering at me from the corner of his eye.

He was still upset with me. He never used to demand I call him Alpha.

“This is my mate, Mira,” I remarked, glancing at her and offering her a little grin.

“It’s nice to meet you, Alpha Jasper,” Mira responded pleasantly.

Jasper looked at her and gave her a slight nod. He stared back at me and narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you here?” he inquired.

I swallowed and took a long breath.

“Lyra called me,” I said. “She asked me to take care of Selene. I am coming to take her home with me.”

Jasper stiffened his jaw and glanced away from me.

“Selene won’t be happy,” he whispered. “She will refuse to go with you.”

I could sense that he wanted to say something else. He started fiddling with his fingers. I knew that he did it when he was nervous. He was my best buddy for years. I knew him.

“But?” I questioned, making him peek at me again.

“But she will have to go,” he murmured. “Her financial situation isn’t good and there isn’t much I can do to help.”

Shit. Cancer therapy undoubtedly costs a lot.

“She is poor?” Mira questioned, making Jasper gaze at her wide-eyed.

That wasn’t very nice, Mira. I mind-linked her.

I just want to know what we are dealing with. She responded. We need to know how much it will cost us to take care of her.

“She is in a little bit of trouble,” Jasper whispered, narrowing his eyes at my partner.

I could sense that Jasper was upset with my partner for asking that.

I sighed and looked around.

So many people were heading to the funeral. Most of them were sobbing and hugging one other. It was evident that Lyra was extremely adored.

I could see the grave site up ahead. I could already see Lyra’s body. It was wrapped in a white sheet. It was tradition. Her corpse was laid atop a framework constructed of wood. It would shortly be torched. The tradition was for the funeral to be held at night. The remains were burned because it was thought that the flames in the night would guide the departed route to the Moon Goddess.

My heart tightened. I adored Lyra. I loved her so much. I simply wanted that my love for her had been enough to keep me here.

My wolf fled totally. He wasn’t able to see his fated mate’s funeral.

He never really forgave me for leaving. He understood why I went, but he always missed his pup. I knew that he would come back when I approached Selene. He would want to see her.

I could feel people’s eyes on me. I could hear them whispering. I didn’t even need to hear what they were saying. I knew precisely what they thought of me. The warriors at the border almost didn’t allow me in. One of them recognized me and I was afraid that he was going to harm me. Thankfully, the other warrior mind-linked Jasper, who enabled me to into the pack.

Their perceptions of me didn’t matter. I was here for my daughter. I was coming to take her home with me.

Everything around me evaporated when my eyes landed on her.

Goddess, she was lovely. She looked precisely like Lyra, except she had my eyes. Her hair was long and curly, and the color was the same as mine. She was a perfect combo of Lyra and myself, and she was lovely.

She was looking at her mom’s body without blinking. She wasn’t weeping though. Her face was expressionless.

“Is that her?” Mira asked.

I nodded, without pulling my eyes away from my daughter. I wished that she would glance up at me. I wanted her would grin at me as she did when she was a baby.

Jasper approached her and pulled her into a hug. He muttered something to her, and she nodded.

She still didn’t look at me.

“Thank you all for coming,” Jasper remarked as he let Selene go.

He threw his arm over her shoulders and glanced at Lyra’s physique. Luna Maren approached Selene and Jasper. She grabbed Selene’s cheeks and kissed her forehead. I noticed a tear fall from Selene’s face. Maren grabbed Selene’s hand in hers and gazed at Lyra.

“Lyra was an amazing woman,” Jasper remarked. “She was a wonderful mother and a great friend to us all. Everyone who knew Lyra knew how much she adored her kid. Everyone who knew Lyra understood how committed she was to our group. We lost a terrific she-wolf, but we are all better people because we knew her.”

Jasper turned to Selene and asked her something gently. She shook her head. Jasper bowed and kissed the top of her head.

He looked at someone in the throng and nodded.

A guy approached the wooden building and ignited the wood on fire.

I gazed at my kid. She closed her eyes and leaned her head down. A girl of her age approached her and pulled her into a hug.

“Let the fire lead her way,” Jasper urged.

“Let the fire lead her way,” I whispered.

I heard folks around me reciting the ancient saying. Mira kept mute. I sighed. It was impolite not to mention it at a funeral.

Mira. I mind-linked her. Say it.

She stared at me but stayed quiet.

I stiffened my jaw. I knew that I would have to talk to her about it later. I knew that Mira wasn’t too thrilled about my kid returning home with us, but she could have at least said the darn thing.

I gazed at Lyra’s body. It was nearly entirely gone.

My heart tightened. I hoped that I could have seen her one more time before she died.

I sighed and looked back to my daughter.

Her big eyes were fixated on me. She knew who I was. She had to know who I was. She recognized me. My pet knew me.

I offered her a little grin.

Anger flared in her eyes and she glanced away from me.

Fear swept over me. Would my daughter even want to talk to me?