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.

the pyre. Once they stepped back, a heavy silence

to step forward. They were dressed entirely in flowing white garments, and in their hands,

a ritualistic dance, their bare feet gliding across the

dared to speak or move. Even the smallest children stilled, knowing this dance was for Selene herself,

its peak, the Moonmother raised her hands high, and the Novas froze in place. Then, she began to

adopt the tongue of humans through centuries of assimilation. Now, only the servants of the Moon

without understanding a single word, every listener felt shivers down their spine. It was like

deeply. Then, in a tone everyone understood, she spoke the sacred blessing:

guide his soul!" Everyone in the

forward, kneeling as she offered the moon mother the ceremonial

it with reverence, then stepped before the pyre and lowered the

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

absolute bastard in life, he was still Asher’s father. And somewhere, buried beneath all the anger and resentment, Asher was hurting. Losing Henry meant losing

family wasn’t

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

his feet. Just like that, the wailing stilled. His presence always

gaze swept across the gathered wolves before his deep voice rang

what it is today. And

fuck? Roman’s neck almost snapped with the speed he turned.

was this old

like someone had just

Elijah really declaring

small smirk as he continued, "Of course, before we crown

breath. Just when you think there was hope