Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 568: Henry’s Wake keep

Chapter 568: Henry’s Wake keep

Tonight was the wake-keep ceremony for the late Alpha Henry.

Aside from the earlier commotion caused by Griffin and Violet’s escape, nothing monumental had happened since. For now, things had settled into an uneasy calm.

Tonight, they would mourn, and honor the fallen hero, Alpha Henry with proper respect. Then tomorrow, he will finally be laid to rest.

The ceremony was open to all members of the West Pack. Men, women, and even children were permitted to attend, and they had arrived in full force.

Rows of chairs stretched across the wide ceremonial grounds, perfectly aligned, creating neat pathways down the center. At the very front, an exclusive row of high-backed, cushioned chairs was set aside for the high-ranking wolves.

The entire place glowed with the soft light of torches and candles. The electricity had been deliberately turned off to honor tradition and give the night a sacred feel. The moment was heavy with grief, the scent of burning wax and incense saturating the air.

Members of the West pack sat in complete silence, their gazes lowered. Women clutched handkerchiefs or the hems of their dark mourning shawls, while men sat stiff-backed, their hands clasped tightly, and their jaws clenched. Even the usually restless children were subdued, their wide and innocent eyes reflecting the torchlight.

in black from head to toe, was the first to enter, and every head lifted. His expression was so stoic and unreadable, it looked like he was made from

soon as they saw him, the women began to wail. Their cries were piercing, rising in a haunting chorus that sent chills down people’s spines. Some dropped to their knees,

the West pack to mourn loudly, and express their grief in raw, unfiltered waves of sound. Tugging on Asher’s clothes was their way of showing deep

moved forward with unflinching resolve, letting their hands fall away as he passed through them. For once, the West Pack’s traditions suited him because he wasn’t burdened by grief

a glance at his friend, relaxing when he realized he was good. Then he kept moving,

the front, Asher took his reserved seat. Roman sat just beside him, and the others filled in the row. Just like that, a

His presence radiated power that had all spines straightening and heads

crowd

stride was regal and unhurried, his gaze sweeping over his

him. Though not as ornate as his throne back

beside Asher, his presence dominating the space without a single word spoken. The two figures sat side by side, one the heir of the West, the other the King of all wolves,

breaking the heavy silence. From the far end of the ceremonial grounds, Luna Patricia appeared,

She was not alone.

Their movements were perfectly in sync, as though the ritual had been

closed ranks, herding her forward. They forced her back into the ceremonial path until she reached the raised stage at the heart of the grounds, where a massive framed portrait of Alpha Henry stood tall. Before it lay the sealed coffin draped with the West Pack’s sigil, a lone torch burning at