~Celine~
All dressed in black, we stood in front of the coffin which my father was in. Ashley, Charles, the guards, and other friends we never thought he had, and I.
We listened to the Priest as he prayed and did the necessary things. I had a straight, cold look, just like everyone else.
At some point in my life, I thought I was going to bawl out my eyes at my father’s funeral, but I was wrong. I had never felt this kind of relief before.
He made my life a living hell, why would a teardrop?
After Charles told me he killed our father, I wasn’t sure how to react. I mean, even though he was evil and a monster, he loved me and my son in the way he knew how to.
But when he told me he ripped Danny’s heart out of his chest, damn… he f**king deserved it, and I was so glad that Charles had the honor of ending him.
I moved my gaze from the casket and looked at Charles’ face. His face was very void of any emotion, even though it was the same for almost everyone in attendance, his was darker.
I couldn’t sense an iota of guilt and this pretty scared me. ‘What if Darius turned him into something he would have never wanted?’
“Celine, are you alright?” Kilhan asked in a low voice, bringing me back to reality. I looked at his face and let out a faint smile.
“Yes,” I answered, shifting my gaze to Kendrick’s face which lay beautifully on Kilhan’s shoulders.
“We’ll be out of here soon, baby. And we can finally live happily together.” He uttered.
This genuinely sparked a wide, hearty smile from within me, and I nodded in agreement. That was all I had always wanted. To live happily ever after with Kilhan and our son, and now that the only person stopping that is gone, nothing can stop us.
After the ceremony, everyone began to depart one after the other.
“Kilhan, can you please wait at the car? I’d love to speak to Charles before we leave.”
“Of course. Take your time.” He answered and walked away with Kendrick.
“Charles!” I called as I noticed that he was about to walk away too. When he looked at me, I saw him force a grin.
“Hello, sister.” He uttered, giving me his hand as soon as I got closer to him.
“Hey… how are you doing?” I asked, and he scoffed. “I’ve never been better, Celine. I have always waited for this day to come. I’m the happiest son on earth right now.” He answered, and I nodded slowly.
“I.. I’m sorry about Danny once again. He didn’t deserve that.”
He clenched his jaw and lowered his head. “No, he didn’t. It’s my fault he’s dead. If I hadn’t pulled him into my business, he’d still be alive.” He muttered with pain evident in his eyes.
“I’m so so sorry, Charles…”
“It’s okay, Celine.” He cut me short.
“So… what next?” I inquired as we both began to walk out of the graveyard with our arms entwined.
“What next? I haven’t asked myself that question. I’m yet to figure out what to do next. I guess I’ll just rewind to the time when I never knew who Alpha Darius Gomez was and pick it up from there.” He answered.
I heaved a sigh and abruptly stopped walking, causing him to look at me. “You know that you can talk to me anytime, right? You helped me, Charles. When I least expected it. I’ll be here to do anything you want.” I assured him, and another smile formed on his face.
“Don’t you worry, sister. The only thing I want from you right now is for you to be happy with the love of your life and your son. I’ve always wanted to help my sister even when I had no idea that one existed. I’m glad I could help.”
Hearing him say this melted me and I proceeded to give him a warm hug. “Please be fine, Charles,” I mumbled against his chest.
“I will. Take care of yourself, sister.” He answered, planting a kiss on my forehead. I eventually let go of him and kept waving at him as I walked up to Kilhan, who was watching us.
“Let’s go,” I said with a smile as soon as I got to the car.
“Sometimes I forget that Charles is the younger brother. He always acts so mature.” Kilhan uttered as we both entered the car.
“I just hope he’s okay,” I answered with a deep sigh, reaching for Kendrick and carrying him in my hands.
With my eyes on his face, I asked, “So what next, Kilhan?” I raised my head and looked at him as he ignited the engine.
“We’re going home.” He answered.
“Home? You mean home home?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes. We are going back to my house. Our house.”
***
Getting to Kilhan’s house, I stared outside the window, staring blankly at the building. Both good and bad memories came flooding into my head.
I knew my father was no longer a problem, but what of Kilhan’s mother? Betty? The whole pack my father almost killed?
“Baby, are you coming out?” He asked, and I let out a smile and nodded. I headed out of the car, holding Kendrick firmly while Kilhan helped with the bags in the boot.
“I don’t know how to face your people, Kilhan,” I whispered as I heard the main door open.
“You don’t have to face them. I’ll do the facing.” He answered with an assuring nod.
I looked at the door again and I saw all the pack members walk out. My eyes met with Betty’s, and I could see the extreme shock on her face as soon as she saw me.
“What is she doing here, Kilhan?!” She asked angrily, rushing down the stairs, towards us.
We stopped walking, and Kilhan moved forward.
“I know all of you all are confused, and you need an explanation. I’ll be doing that right now.”
“As we all know that Alpha Darius is dead now, we have no reason to worry about him bothering us, or my relationship with Celine, his daughter. Today, I announce to you all that Celine and I are back together, and this time, with our son.”
“Son? What?” They all murmured amongst themselves.
“What are you talking about Kilhan? You rejected her! You can’t just come back together.”
“Yes, we can, Betty. And that is what is happening. And for our son, she was pregnant with him the day I rejected her and sent her out of this house. That was highly irresponsible of me, and this is me, trying to make sure I’d never make that same mistake again.
“The real enemy, Alpha Darius Gomez is dead. It’s time I, and you all, embrace my family. Please welcome Celine and Kendrick to the pack once again.” He uttered with a wide smile, and to my greatest surprise, they all began to clap, except Betty.
“You think everything would just go back to normal?! Everywhere she goes, she carries bad luck with her and you know this!” She yelled, causing Kendrick to flinch in my arms and break into tears.
“Betty, can you please not do this?” Drex asked, walking up to her.
“Why? Why can’t I? You all are so scared to tell the truth! She came into our lives, endangered everyone in this house, her father almost killed you and the pack, your mother is in there striving to live and you’re telling me to welcome her back?! Hell no!” She yelled again, and this time, she turned to leave, storming into the house.
‘I mean, she has a point. You did endanger their lives.’
‘Really, Kiara? Thank you for making me feel better.’ I thought, rolling my eyes.
“Sorry about that, Mrs Celine. She’ll get used to it, sooner or later.” Drex encouraged me, and I nodded.
“Thank you, Drex,” I answered as Kilhan led the way into the house.
Just when we stepped our feet into the living room, one of the guards ran up to us, breathing very hard.
“What’s going on?” Drex asked him.
“It’s Mother. She’s awake!”
‘Shit. Just in time.’