The Stained Omega by Elle T Jefferson

Goodbye.
(James)
“If you will allow me, I have a poem I found that I feel sums up what Momma Beth means to all of us “I look around as the pack looks up at me. “She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She’s the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers vou pick, the fragrance of life itself. She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well She’s your breath in the air on a cold winters’ day She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colours of a rainbow She is Christmas morning Your mother lives inside your laughter She’s the place you come from, your first home. She’s the map you follow with every step you take She’s your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy. But nothing on Earth can separate you Not time Not space. Not even death” The gathering is quiet once I’m done, looking to my side I can see Anna blowing her nose as Fraction gives her a one armed hug
I step aside as Elder Thomas makes his way up onto the platform we have erected near the burial site Momma Beth’s coffin sits m a hole waiting to be covered over. Fraction wanted an open casket but it’s been too long since her death. He wanted to do this sooner but he told me he wanted to wait until he had his family home. I think part of him knew I would want to be here for this Of all the things that have surprised me since coming back, Momma Beth dying while trying to stop Zoe, I mean Eva from taking Aurora has to be the worst thing of all Momma Beth took me in when my own family cast me out, now that I’ve accepted who me and Bellamy are to each other I hoped to introduce her to him.
“That was beautiful.” Bellamy says as I go to stand next to him, I place
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my hand in his not caring who sees, right now I need his comfort too much to care about people’s judgement
“Beth or Momma Beth as so many of you knew her as.” Elder Thomas speaks to the Pack as he looks down at Momma Beth’s coffin “She was the guiding hand within this Pack, she grew her family here, went through heartache and pain here Now we say our goodbyes as we lay her to rest next to her Alpha ” He throws some dirt on top of the coffin before continuing. “although we feel sadness at her passing we must share in the joy that she brought to this Pack Momma Beth was a force to be reckoned with, she loved hard and unlike no other I have ever known. One of the best pleasures in my life was knowing Beth, may she forever run with the Goddess
“May she forever run with the Goddess” The Pack repeats after him. it’s like a prayer they are sending up to the heavens. Looking up I can see the clear blue sky shining down on us as if Momma Beth herself is smiling
Fraction nods at Elder Thomas as they pass on the platform, Fraction just stands there looking out at the Pack, all wearing black and all mourning the passing of his mother
“Thank you all for coming.” Fraction speaks to the Pack with a sad look on his face “As Momma Beth is laid to rest there will be a small gathering at the PAck house As per her wishes this will not be a sad affair. It’s to be a celebration of her life, as she would have wanted we encourage you to bring your pups and loved ones along Let’s make sure we remember my mother the way she would have wanted ” I look over at Anna as Fraction walks down the platform and the Pack starts to disperse, Anna just shrugs her shoulders at me.
“You didn’t want to say anything more?” I ask my Alpha and friend, I
half expected him to have more to say about his mother.

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“She knows how I feel,” Fraction smiles at me as he pulls Anna into a hug. “Will you and Bellamy stay with us?” I feel Bellamy squeeze my hand as Fraction asks us to stay for the actual burial.
“Of course we will.” Bellamy answers for us both, it takes a while for the Pack to leave the graveside. Most stop to give Fraction and Anna a hug or some kind words, some even stop to offer their condolences to me which confuses me. I know how important Momma Beth was to me but I never realised the Pack knew.
The sun is starting to set by the time it’s just the four of us alone with Momma Beth, I hear the clang of metal behind me and see Rick and Eliza walking towards us with some shovels. Fraction shucks his suit jacket off at the same time as me, Bellamy takes mine so I can roll my shirt sleeves up.
“Shall we?” Rick asks as he hands me and Fraction a shovel.
“What’s happening?” Anna asks as she follows us to the graveside, of course she’s confused, she’s never seen a proper Pack burial.
“The immediate family normally covers the grave of a family member.” Bellamy tells Anna as me and Fraction start to drop the dirt over Momma Beth’s coffin, “it’s a sign of great respect and many years ago they said it would allow the passers soul to rest easy.”
“Oh, I had no idea. Should I?” I see Fraction smile at Anna as she asks Bellamy the question.
“Usually it’s just the blood relation, Fraction has allowed James to help because he was a son to her in all but blood. Even as Luna you have to wait to be invited but don’t take offence if he doesn’t.” I look back at Bellamy and smile. I really appreciate him taking the time to kindly explain this to Anna.
“Little wolf, of course you can help.” Fraction says holding the shovel
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out to her, Anna takes it with a sad smile and starts to drop some dirt into the ever filling hole. She only does a few scoops before passing it back to Fraction and going to stand next to Bellamy, Rick and Eliza.
The six of us stand around Momma Beth’s grave, Eliza bends down and puts a single rose on top of the mound of dirt.
“I wanted you to be the first to know,” she whispers while looking down. “We are having a baby girl.” Her hand rests on her stomach, “I wish you could have met her.” Eliza stands back up and Rick pulls her into a hug.
“Shall we?” Rick asks the group, all of us nod but as we go to move Fraction just stays where he is.
“I’ve got him, you go ahead.” I tell Anna in a whisper, Bellamy takes her hand and leads her back to the Pack house with Eliza and Rick. For a while we both stand there in silence looking down at Momma Beth. “Do you remember that time I snuck out to go and see that bloke a few towns over?” Fraction smiles at the memory.