The Broken Warrior’s Daughter by Cooper

Chapter 0597

As Anders finishes his speech, his voice breaking, he stands to light the pyre holding my physical body. I walk to Clint, putting my hand on his shoulder, Andra walks beside his wheelchair and leans against him. both of us lending him what strength we can.

As the fire burns, everyone begins to move toward the packhouse. They will have a celebration of my life. That is what we do in our pack, we celebrate the life of the ones we’ve lost. As I look down, I can see that Clint will not be celebrating today. He stays, watching my body burn, long after everyone else has gone.

Calista comes to take Cara and tries to get Clint to come too, but he just shakes his head. I stay with Clint. “You can do this, my love. You’re so strong, I know you can do this.” I say to him, knowing he can’t

hear me.

As we stand here, Alpha Christopher comes to stand beside Clint. “I know what you’re feeling. And I know you want nothing more than to lay down and hope the Moon Goddess takes you to join your mate. But you have to live for your daughter. She needs you.”

“How?” Clint whispers, his voice sounding rough and raw.

“Everyday when you wake up, you get out of bed. Then you shower. Then you get your daughter up, make sure she’s fed and get her off to school. Then you do it again in reverse in the evening when she comes home. Eventually, you don’t have to fight to do each step, you just start going through the motions. And then you start filling in the time when she’s gone. At least, that’s what I did. You’ll never get over it, never

get over her, but it does get easier with time.”

As the two of them stand together, watching the pyre burn. I turn to find my daughter. When I do, I see her sitting in a chair. Someone, probably Calista has brought her some food, but she’s not eating. When no one is looking, she ducks away and climbs the stairs to our room. The room has been re–arranged. The bed is gone and so are most of our belongings. I’m guessing they had to move Clint to the first floor

since he couldn’t get upstairs any longer.

I watch as she pulls a blanket from the closet and wraps it around herself. It’s the blanket that I had her wrapped in when I took her to the safe room. She takes a deep breath, sniffing my scent on the blanket

down her cheeks.

say anything, he just goes and sits beside Lily, wrapping

at him. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I shouldn’t be crying

I won’t tell, if

heart clenches as I hear my words to Liam all those years ago repeated to my

the tears start again.

know. She was my friend. I’m going to miss her.” He rocks her back and forth as she cries.

my mom when I was about

up at him, her emerald eyes shining through her tears. “You

you know

head at

mom. She gave me her number and told me to call her anytime

always answered

anyone to call.” My sweet

you need to talk, no matter what time it is, you call me, and I’ll answer. Even if you

here for

pen and paper, writing his

right?”

one in

need to get out, Cyran can take you for a run. He’d be happy to carry you or run with you, if you