Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 77

Xena's POV

We walked toward the entrance together, greeting each guest as they entered the tent. Pack members arrived one by one. Samuel's body lay at the front, and I deliberately kept my focus on the back of the tent. Only after everyone was seated did we see Ryder and the high-ranking members of his pack enter.

William walked straight to Ama. She collapsed into his arms, breaking down in tears once again. Ryder came to my side, placing his hand on the small of my back.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a low voice.

"Barely holding on," I answered truthfully.

Ryder shook hands with Leonard and Logan, and the others followed suit. When Ama finally released William, he joined the line of those offering condolences.

My body instantly stiffened when my father and Martha approached with Samuel's father. My heart raced, my throat tightened, and a sense of foreboding spread through me.

Samuel's father stopped in his tracks when he saw me. His face was

expressionless, his black eyes like bottomless pits. My father whispered something in his ear, and he lowered his head, walking straight past me toward the front.

But I wasn't lucky enough to escape Martha.

up here," Martha hissed, hands on

shame and anger rising simultaneously. I knew

held responsible for Samuel's

my mind, making it almost impossible to breathe. "Enough, Martha," Logan stepped in

won't always be around to protect you," Martha glared

1/3

Chapter 77

humiliation as punishment I

filled with uncertainty. I didn't want to

you're sitting with us in the

I hesitated, feeling

there," Ryder put

looked up at him, his furrowed brow and the

to refuse. I gripped Logan's hand for support as

myself to keep my head high, though it took every ounce of strength

battle, fighting both

and Samuel's father sat on the left side, while

were seated,

gather to remember one of our own. He left us too soon, but