The funeral (Part two)

Hazel P.O.V.

Sitting here and seeing all of the people coming to honor my grandmother, I truly feel the love they had for her. It warms me, and tells me that the pack I’ve seen as all cruel and cold, is not just that. Not to her at least. Grady’s presence at my side is comforting and confusing at the same time. I thought he would be in attendance as the Alpha, but I never thought he would ask to sit with us, let alone my brother moving so he could sit with me. The panic in my being spirals, feelings and thoughts tumbling together into a jumbled heap of uncertainty. Why would Alpha Grady want to sit with me? What is he trying to prove? 

“Mama, are you sad?” A small cute voice asks from beside me. I look down to my side and see Lily looking at me with worry radiating from her whole being. I smile through the tears I had not realized was falling. 

“A little, baby. But it’s okay. Sometimes we need to be sad to be happy again afterwards.” I tell her, taking her hand and kissing her fingers. Her brows furrow in thought. Then she gets up on her knees and kisses my cheek with a little ‘mwa’ sound. 

“Better, mama?” I chuckle a little. 

“All better, sweetie. See?” I smile at her again, brushing a finger down her cheek. Lily sits down again and concentrates on her coloring book and crayons, which Joel is holding for her. Our eyes meet, and in them I see my own feeling mirrored. Sadness, loss and love.

The ceremony is about to start, and I’m starting to wonder if Josie and my parents chose to not attend the funeral at all. I wouldn’t mind if they stayed away, but I would be sad that they didn’t show grandma the last respect. Although I’m not sure Josie has respect for anyone at all. 

An Elder walks down between the chairs with the urn in his hands. I was informed when I arrived that my grandma wanted to be cremated and as there had been no foul play, it had been investigated furrowly, they had gone ahead with her wishes. He places the urn on the raised table between two big pictures of her smiling and laughing. The image of the woman I knew and loved very dearly. The small wrinkles around her eyes as they light up in her happiness. Her big smile and warm presence that filled every space she entered.

The Elder starts to speak as three people rush down the middle of the aisle. They are yelling for him to wait, and as everyone turns to see who they are I can’t help but roll my eyes. I would know that voice everywhere - my mother, Josie and my father. They skid to a halt in front of the first row, where I’m sitting with Lily, Alpha Grady and Joel. Josie narrows her eyes at me, the hatred in the undisguised. 

“Move.” She says, crossing her arms. The little smirk on her lips says that she has every expectation of me complying. 

“No.” I answer flatly, crossing my own arms, staring her down. Josie takes a step forward. 

“What did you say, loser?” She asks, her voice barely audible. I have to strain my hearing to hear her, so she is making sure no one else can either. 

“I said no, Josie. You can be on the other side of the aisle or further back. You being late is not my problem, nor the fact that you want what I have. So, no.” Josie smirks, while she bursts into tears. 

“Why do you have to be so mean to me, Hazle? I just wanted to join you and Joel during this very difficult time. What have I ever done to deserve that treatment? I’m sorry, okay, but none of this is my fault. I just wanted to sit with you both.” She cries even louder, but I seriously have no more fucks to give about her antics. Instead I clap. Slow, deliberate and loud. 

“Very good. Almost an Oscar worthy performance. Anything else you want to accuse me off now that we already did interrupt why we are even here?” I ask her calmly, raising an eyebrow. Mom opens her mouth before Josie can answer me. 

“Hazle, we know this is a difficult time. It is for all of us. Why do you have to be so cruel to your sister all the time? She has done nothing but want to reconnect since you came back.” Big mistake, and I had enough of this. I stand, facing the three most fake people I’ve ever encountered. 

“You can cut the bullshit, mom. You, dad and Josie are the reasons I left in the first place. Her rubbing her naked self all over my mate, for whatever reason, and him being a twatface to not just break her nose to get her off. And you two..” I pointed a finger at them, “you were there with the taxi, the packed bag and the money for a plane ticket. You wanted me to leave so your precious icebitch can be the next Luna. Well, congratu-fucking-lation, I don’t want to be so she can have it.” Silence. Dead silence follows my outburst. Alpha Grady stands up besides me. I can feel the anger radiating off of him. 

“Mr. Dalton, out of respect, seeing as this was your mom, I will let you stay for the funeral, but only if you sit down this instant and shut up. Your daughter and wife are no longer welcome.” He says, calmly, but firmly. That was not just a suggestion. That was an Alpha command. 

“Alpha, you can’t really believe what she is saying. She is jealous of Josie, always has been.” Mom begins, but Alpha Grady holds up his hand.

“I think that is quite enough from you Mrs. Dalton.” He answers as Adrian comes forward and escorts a raging Josie and fuming mom from the area. Dad sits down on the other side, pale and quiet. This definitely did not go as they expected. 

After the ceremony, and lowering of the urn into the pack cemetery, there’s a mixer outside the packhouse. Something the former Alpha and Luna pair insisted on throwing in my grandma’s name. Tonight we’ll have the will reading. Kaia asked if I wanted to skip the mixer, but I told her I would go and show a good face. They did this out of love for my grandma, and the least I could do was show up and smile. Kaia took Lily home to the mansion, promising to mindlink me if anything happened. I promised the same. As we were going our separate ways, Beta Adrian and Alpha Grady came up to us. Kaia agreed, after some convincing from the Beta, to let him join in on the girltime at the mansion, and I honestly am so happy for her. Beta Adrian is a great guy, and I hope Kaia will realise it soon and accept him. I love that girl to death, but she deserves to be with her mate, and not suffer like me. 

“May I escort you?” Alpha Grady asks, and I take a small step back. 

“Why did you defend me?” I ask him, staring into his eyes. He blinks.

“Because it was the right thing to do, and I am not going to let them trample all over you ever again.” He says, which makes Ebony purr in my head. She is so team Grady, and can’t even deal with her right now.

“Even with me going back home after tonight?” I ask. A flash of sadness surges in his eyes, but it’s quickly hidden. He nods. “I’m sorry Alpha, but I don’t understand your motives. We are not mates. Not anymore. I do not feel the matebond. Yet, you act like I am someone special. Precious even. I’m a pack member. I will stay a member if you allow. But I can’t stay in a place with so many sad memories.” He sighs. 

“How about we take today as it is, and worry about tomorrow when it comes?” He asks, gesturing for the tents in the backyard. That just confuses me even more, but I nod, deciding not to worry about it right now.