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.

hissed, hands on her hips, eyes filled with

shot through my chest, shame and anger rising simultaneously. I knew in their

be held responsible for

almost impossible to breathe. "Enough, Martha,"

be around to protect you," Martha glared at

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Chapter 77

humiliation as punishment I deserved, accepted

whispered to Logan, my voice filled with uncertainty. I didn't want to cause more conflict, didn't want to make Samuel's funeral

in the front row,"

I hesitated, feeling

to be there," Ryder put his hand on

him, his furrowed brow and the determination in his eyes making

Logan's hand for

my head high, though it took

felt like a battle, fighting both

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

seated,

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