Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 582: Its Okay Not To Be Okay

An ominous bell tolled throughout the West Pack at intervals, its resonant sound reminding everyone that today was Alpha Henry’s burial.

The streets were lined with pack members who had left their homes early, standing shoulder to shoulder along the roads where Henry’s body would pass. Everyone was dressed in black, their solemn expressions reflecting the gravity of the day.

The procession began at the entrance of the packhouse. Four Deltas emerged, carrying Alpha Henry’s "supposed" body on a stone slab etched with the West pack’s sigil.

The truth was, there had been no body to recover. The explosion was so consuming that not even a single bone had been salvaged from the incident. All Asher had been able to gather were the ashes left at the site of his father’s death.

But Alpha Henry was still an Alpha, and tradition demanded he be given the full rites of burial. To honor this, the pack had constructed an effigy, shaping the outline of Henry’s body using straw and clay. This form was then wrapped tightly in pristine white cloth, before being enveloped in thick wolf pelts, a final sign of his rank and status as Alpha.

As soon as the delta took a step out of the pack house, the women were the first to break into a wail. The men all lowered their heads with a grunt, bearing their grief on the inside.

While the deltas moved on, Asher was right behind them, bearing a picture of Alpha Henry Nightshade. Elijah and the others were right behind him. They were all heading to the West pack’s sacred ground where Henry’s body would be burned on the pyre.

As soon as the crowd caught sight of Asher, the women’s wailing intensified. However, while some were busy crying, some others began tossing flowers onto his path, a final tribute to their fallen Alpha.

Asher didn’t let himself get distracted. His face was unreadable as he walked forward, following the procession accordingly.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the Sacred Field.

The field stretched wide, encircled by towering stone pillars etched with the packs sigils. It was said that the first wolves had built this place during the Great War, when the death toll had been so high they needed a ground sanctified by the Moon Goddess herself.

Over time, it became a hallowed earth reserved for the most honored dead. Now, only Alphas and those of high rank were buried here. To be laid to rest on this soil, one had to earn it through deeds and rank.

At the center, a raised pyre awaited, while a Moonmother, dressed entirely in white ceremonial robes, stood solemnly at the side of the wooden frame.

Once they stepped back, a heavy silence fell over the clearing, so deep it felt as if the very earth was holding its

was the Novas turn to step forward. They were dressed entirely in flowing white garments, and

in perfect harmony, the Novas began a ritualistic dance, their bare feet gliding across the sacred ground. The mist followed their movements, swirling

the smallest children stilled, knowing this dance was for Selene herself,

hands high, and the Novas froze in place. Then, she began to chant in a language so ancient that none among the

the first language of their kind, spoken long before their people were forced to adopt the tongue of humans through centuries of assimilation. Now, only the servants of the Moon Goddess

even without understanding a single word, every listener felt shivers down their spine.

final note, the Moonmother bowed her head and exhaled deeply. Then, in a tone everyone understood,

his soul!" Everyone in the crowd

offered the moon mother the ceremonial torch, its tip glowing with the heat

the pyre and lowered the torch. The dry wood caught fire instantly, flames roaring

as her wail was joined by the voices of every woman present,

beneath all the anger and resentment, Asher was hurting. Losing Henry meant losing the only family he had left—even if that family had

own family wasn’t great

Roman thought with fierce pride. He would be Asher’s family from now on. Not just him, both Violet,

mourned, Alpha King Elijah rose to his feet. Just like that, the wailing stilled. His presence always brought

across the gathered wolves before his deep voice rang

and made it what it is today. And that legacy

snapped with the speed he turned. Not just him,

the most stunned. What was this old man

He looked like someone had just tossed shit on

declaring Asher

dwell too long. His lips curled into a small smirk as he continued, "Of course, before we crown our next Alpha, we must honor the one

breath. Just when you