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.

have some nerve showing up here," Martha hissed, hands on her

my chest, shame and anger

responsible for Samuel's death. Perhaps they were

almost impossible

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

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Chapter 77

welcomed Martha's humiliation as punishment I

Logan, my voice filled with uncertainty. I didn't want to

sitting with us in

hesitated, feeling

you need to be there," Ryder put his hand on my

looked up at him, his furrowed brow and the determination

Logan's hand for support as we walked down the aisle.

my head high, though

felt like a battle, fighting both the fear inside and the pressure from

father sat on the left side, while we sat

we were seated,

He left us too soon, but he died